I have been involved with radio-controlled aviation for more than 35 years.
Some of my earliest memories are of a, large to me as a kid, RC airplane hanging from the floor joists in my parents’ basement. I would spend hours studying it, trying to understand how the control surfaces worked together to move the aircraft through the air. Several years later, I had the opportunity to build one of my dad’s RC kits - the Kaos 60. That experience sparked a lifelong passion for building, flying, and sharing RC aviation with others.
I was able to build a trainer aircraft - PT60 - and learned to fly when I was in high school. I continued on this journey and was always involved in the RC world. When I began teaching in 2003 at Franklin Central High School, I intentionally incorporated radio control into my courses. I taught Introduction to Drafting where students designed various aircraft and also had opportunities to build their own models. In my transportation course, students studied the fundamentals of flight and built radio-controlled AT-6 Texans from plans. These projects allowed students to move beyond theory, experience firsthand how design decisions affect flight performance, and also allowed me to pass my RC passion on to others.
After transitioning to Center Grove High School in 2014, I continued expanding RC opportunities for students. Through the Project Lead the Way Aerospace Engineering course, students design, simulate, build, and fly scale gliders with focus on aircraft balance and trim. Students learn how center of gravity impacts stability and performance, using resources such as “Balancing RC Airplanes – How to Check Your Plane’s Center of Gravity” (https://www.rc-airplane-world.com/balancing-rc-airplanes.html).
They apply these principles directly to their own aircraft, making adjustments to control surfaces and observing how those changes influence flight characteristics.
I also have my students work with small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), including the LocoDrone platform and the DJI Mavic Mini 2. Through these systems, students learn safe operation, control inputs, flight planning, and real-world application of RC flight principles. They transition from simulators and small training platforms to more advanced aircraft, gaining confidence and technical skills along the way.
Then, in 2015, there was a student at Center Grove High School who was also involved in the RC aircraft world who came to me. They wanted a place to fly during the cold winter months, and the current gymnasium allowed them to do just this. This quest of the student sparked the formation and organization of the Center Grove RC Flying Club. Now, this has evolved into a high school student club where I am the teacher sponsor. I have great support from the school system, administrators, athletic department, school board, and the community. The club provides students with opportunities to build, maintain, and fly RC aircraft in a collaborative environment. Students develop technical skills, practice safe flying procedures, and mentor one another.
Through RC aviation, they see engineering concepts come to life, gaining both practical knowledge and a deeper appreciation for flight, just like I have.
The Center Grove RC Flying club also hosts a monthly indoor community fly-in during the winter months as fundraisers. We are now able to fly in the large, four basketball court Student Activity Center. Students gain even more valuable experience from others who have been in the hobby and gain a vast amount of knowledge from them. It’s also a way to show and see firsthand the up-and-coming future pilots.
I have been working diligently to keep the club going, but also growing.
I’m able to do this through various grants to support the growth of the RC program, including the AMA and Civil Air Patrol grants who’s provided a Radio Controlled Mini Apprentice S airplane system. I have utilized the connections I’ve made within the RC community to receive generous donations from others who also see the greatness of having students be a part of this program. I was able to obtain simulators to help teach the students, but also trainers to get the real feel of RC flying. The community has also been wonderful with their generosity and kindness to the students of the Center Grove RC Flying Club to help keep the club thriving. I have been able to keep my enthusiasm for aviation alive and also pass it along to others.
I enjoy seeing the adrenaline rush with the students when they are flying for the first or even hundredth time. This brings back the same reactions and feelings I've had when flying for the first time and it always brings me back to that same feeling that I sometimes forget I’ve had. I want to continue to pass this along to others and keep the RC world alive and thriving for generations to come.
