Model Airplanes

As Greg Mitts guides an aerial drone over farm fields he creates more than just pictures. He can provide farmers with detailed data that can locate bug infestations, plant diseases and harvest indicators.

“We create a 3-D model of the field that lets the farmer turn and twist and look at things, down to a half-inch detail of the crop itself,” Mitts said.

Mitts and his wife, Paige, founded Vision Quest in 2009. The couple, who split their time between Quincy, Ill. and South Carolina, bought their first drone in 2013. Initially, they used the remote controlled aircraft to shoot video of hotels, real estate listings and businesses. They have traveled to all 48 of the continental United States doing that work.

Now they are doing more work for farmers.

“We believe that drone technology in agriculture will account for 80 percent of drone use in the future,” Paige Mitts said.

Drones — also known as unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs — are a hot item right now. The Consumer Technology Association said about 2.8 million drones were sold in the United States last year. Industry experts say as prices come down, they expect sales could top 5 million units this year.

The Federal Aviation Administration has been struggling to control drones for the last several years. In 2014 the agency ruled that drones could not be used for commercial purposes. At that time, Paige Mitts said the drone they used to shoot 360-degree pictures could be used to take pictures of her mother-in-law’s garden but

Article source: https://www.agweb.com/article/drones-help-local-farmers-businesses-apnews/

The Woodland Davis Aeromodelers will host their annual radio-control airplane pattern contest and control-line stunt contest Saturday and Sunday, July 8-9. See radio-control airplanes especially designed to do precision aerobatic maneuvers.

Most of the planes are electric-powered using the latest battery technology. Pilots are coming from all parts of California. Flying will start at 9 a.m. and run to 3 p.m. both days

This event is at the Woodland Davis model airplane Field northeast of Davis on County Road 29, 1.4 miles east of County Road 102. The event is free and open to the public. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

For more information and a map, visit www.wdarc.org.

Article source: http://www.davisenterprise.com/local-news/briefly/radio-control-planes-take-to-the-skies-this-weekend/

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Schnobrich Field at 3004 South Red River Road is home to the Bell Aire RC Flyers Club of radio-controlled (R/C) model airplane enthusiasts. Club members can be seen flying their planes most any rain-free days at the field.

According to club members who were out today, it is important to realize R/C aircraft by their definition does not include the quad-propeller drones that have become popular in recent years.

The model planes range from a couple to many feet in length and their engines run on gas, electricity or even nitromethane.

Many members have built their mostly single-propeller aircraft from scratch. “They see a picture of an aircraft that appeals to them, sometimes at a historical level, and start making the parts,” said one member. These planes can end up requiring hundreds of hours and several thousand dollars to complete.

Others make use of kits that can be purchased and assembled starting at around $200.

The field was purchased in 1995 by Hoby (sic) Acres Association and is leased to the club of nearly 80 members.

Safety at the field is governed by standards set forth by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). For instance, barriers are in place to protect the pilots and the onlookers and there are strict protocols for take offs, landings and flights. To be allowed to fly at the field, pilots

Article source: https://www.discoverferndale.com/rc-model-aircraft-field-local-best-kept-secret-video_66250/