RAMS Club

400 Acres of RC Heaven

While recently browsing through the AMA web site, I looked up the RAMS club listing and found your web site. I also read the AMA article about the club.

I was a member of the RAMS in the late eighties and early nineties. This was my first experience with RC. I left the club when we moved to Greenville, SC.

Much has changed with RC since I was a member of the club: growth of electrics, better radios, true turbine engines, better ARF and RTF models, to name a few. Some things never change, though: Saturday fellowship at the field, helping each other with all kinds of projects, and the thrill when a newly-built model flies well.

I remember many happy hours spent at the field. Without a doubt, it is one of the finest RC locations around.

When I was an active member, we had a single small shelter, but that did not deter us from having a great time. After all, the huge (approximately 15’ x 300’) paved runway plus ample grass space provided all the room we needed.

We spent many hours searching for lost planes in the cornfields that adjoined the flying space, but everyone helped each other in this quest.
There was never a shortage of people willing to help a newcomer as well as an experienced flier who wanted to get better.
Whether it was a normal weekend, a fun-fly, or a pattern meet, we always had a great time. We even managed to have fun flying in the snow a couple of times.

As a side note, in the late 80’s, a member named Ken (?) designed a model which he named the “Snapdragon”. Its plans were carried for several years in AMA magazine. The model had fully symmetrical wings, zero dihedral, and a rather boxy fuselage, and it flew amazingly well – very aerobatic and easy to fly. Several members had built these in both .40 and .60 sizes. I still have two of the .40 size models in my collection. I would be interested to know if any current members remember this model and the member who designed it. If you’re interested, I could send you a couple of pictures of this “relic” from 20 years ago.

The main reason for this email is to express my congratulations that the RAMS club is thriving and growing.

I wish you and the club much success as you carry out your projects and as you keep the club at a thriving, growing level.

Bill Allen
Greenville, SC