PILLOW - The Aerobats Flying Club, a radio control airplane club, will host the first Carl Bredbenner Fly-In starting at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28, at a private airstrip on a farm owned by Carl Bredbenner, who died last year.
A fly in is an event where radio control (RC) pilots from this and other clubs gather at the flying site and enjoy flying any type of aircraft. The only requirement for flying is that pilots are members of the Academy of Model Aeronautics.
The Aerobats was organized in 2003 and has been holding a RC airplane fly-in every year. Last year the club had a full-size single-person ultra-light at the fly-in, as well as a two-seat experimental full-size helicopter.
The helicopter pilot gave Bredbenner, the landowner, a helicopter ride. Bredbenner was a pilot and an airplane enthusiast. He enjoyed the ride and talked about it frequently. Though in poor health, he came to the airstrip on his golf cart during the past few years to watch the Aerobats fly and share stories of the many types of aircraft he flew in.
Unfortunately Bredbenner passed away a few weeks later. Club members misses him and will dedicate the annual fly-in to his memory.
The airstrip, located at 452 Flying Eagle Road, Dalmatia, is on a farm across a creek just west of Pillow on Flying Eagle Road.
There is no charge to attend the fly-in for pilots or spectators. The club especially welcomes spectators and will have refreshments available.
For more information visit the Aerobats Flying Club on Facebook.