11th annual Huntsville area Aerotow glider event slated for Oct. 4-7

HARVEST — Airplane fanatics will be able to come together this week for the Huntsville area’s 11th annual Aerotow glider event, sponsored by the North Alabama Radio Control Association (NARCA), at Epps Field in Harvest.

The field will be set up Oct. 3, and pilots will be able to fly their model gliders from Oct. 4-7. Cliff Lanham, who handles public relations for NARCA, said the event is a “big deal” for the club and modeling glider builders across the Southeast.

“In the past we have had pilots from far away as Texas, Florida [and] Illinois with large contingents from local radio control glider modelers,” said Lanham. This year, he said pilots will be present from as far as Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta and Jacksonville, Florida.

According to Lanham, many of the model gliders are not as small as people might expect. They can have wingspans ranging from six feet to as large as 20 feet. Since gliders do not have a powered source, a powered plane must tow the gliders up to the sky and release them from high altitudes. These powered planes are also large models, Lanham noted.

Lanham encouraged a large turnout for the Aerotow glider event, as there may not be many more.

“This may be the last event for gliders, for Congress is placing limits on altitude and size of model airplanes due to alleged air security,” Lanham said.

Lanham said both pilots and spectators are welcome, and there is no admission fee for spectators. Concessions will be available at the event. Dry camping will also be available for RVs. To fly a glider in the event, call Lanham at 256-325-3775 or Tim Batt at 256-721-0404.

Epps Field is located at 1635 Harvest Rd. in Harvest. For a map to the field, visit www.flynarca.com.