The State College Radio Control (SCRC) club has a long and varied history in the State College area. The club was formed in the late 1950's by several engineers at HRB Singer, now HRB Systems. The club at that time was known as SPARC, Science Park Aero Radio Club. Click here to see some SPARC Members and Spectators. But that was just the start, more details about the club follow.
What you will find on this page
SCRC Membership Application Form
Help Choosing, Building, and Flying Radio Control Model Airplanes
The State College Radio Control club is a group of approximately eighty individuals who share a common interest, building and flying radio control model airplanes, and helping others that are interested in the hobby to get started. Click here to see how one 13 year old got started. We have a wide variety of airplanes, and flying abilities. The club flying site is located at Centre Airpark near Centre Hall, Pa. Click here for directions to the flying site. Members may be seen flying there almost any Saturday or Sunday afternoon or nice evening. If you're interested in watching feel free to come to the field. If you would like to join us, keep reading and maybe we'll convince you that joining us is the right thing to do.
There are a number of advantages to becoming a member of our club: if you're interested in learning how to fly radio controlled airplanes or if you know how to fly already and you're looking for a place to fly. We have a beautiful flying site. It is located at Centre Airpark near Centre Hall, Pa. Click here for directions to the flying site. A portion of the active runway is used for the R/C runway. The pit area is adjacent to the runway and and between the airport office and the runway. The club dues cover the rental and upkeep. As a member all you do is come when you want to fly.
If you want to learn how to fly, there are many members qualified to instruct you (they're tired of crashing their own planes). We have many members with vast experience building and rebuilding airplane kits, who can answer your questions arising from kit building. If you have made a dumb mistake, call us; we have probably already made that mistake more than once and have a few ways to correct it.
We like to help kids get involved in aviation. Click here for an example. For over 30 years we hosted a contest (with Centre Region Parks and Recreation, and the Optimists') called the "Delta Darts." The contest allowed kids to build a simple airplane kit (called a delta dart) and compete against kids their own age. The object was to see whose plane flies the longest time out of three tries. It was a great time for kids and for us. Due to the lack of facilities, the contest has not been held for several years. In its place, several SCRC members hold classes for 3rd and 4th grade kids during the school year where they build and fly the "Delta Darts" models.
Dues, AMA and SCRC top of page
I mentioned dues earlier, so I'm sure you want to know more about our dues. We're a charter club of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). This is a national organization of modelers. It provides our insurance (up to $2.5 million) and a great monthly magazine, Model Aviation. An may be obtained from the AMA Web site. AMA dues as of January 2004 are:
- $1.00 Youth (not 19 by July 1st of the application year, without the Model Aviation magazine)
- $15.00 Youth (not 19 by July 1st of the application year, with the Model Aviation magazine)
- $58.00 Open (19 or over by July 1st of the application year)
- $48.00 Senior Citizen (65 or over by July 1st of the application year)
- $30.00 Second Adult (any one individual who currently resides with a current Open member)
Please check the form for the current AMA Dues.
Note that the dues are much cheaper for youngsters and senior citizens and families. When you think about it, this is a small price to pay for so much insurance. All we have to do is fly safely. (see Club Safety Rules attached).
The SCRC Club dues as of January 2006 are:
- $35.00 All flying members
- $10.00 Associate, non-flying, member
The flying membership dues for new members that join during the flying season are prorated as:
$24.50 From June 1 to August 31
$17.50 From September 1 to December 31
Contact the SCRC Treasurer for current information on the club dues.
As mentioned earlier, the SCRC Club dues is the primary source of income and is used to cover the flying field rental and mowing costs.
Ready to join? Click here to join SCRC Online.
How to Make Contact top of page
I hope I have convinced you to join SCRC, we're always looking for new members. Ready to join now? Click here to join SCRC Online.
If you're interested, but would like more information, contact George Gurney (treasurer) at 238-9448 or Bernie Herbst at 237-7100 (the hobby shop) for details and answers. You're invited to attend a club meeting as well. We meet the first Tuesday of each month (holidays excluded) at the Old Fort American Legion, Centre Hall, PA. Except June through September we meet at the flying field at 7:00 PM (any excuse to keep flying). Check the current meeting notice for the current location, date, and time. Please review the following information: it may answer some basic questions you probably have about the hobby, like "How much does it cost?" or "What plane is good for starters?" Thank you for taking the time to read this; maybe we'll be seeing you at the field. You won't meet a nicer bunch of folks!
Ready to join now? Click here to join SCRC Online.
Help Choosing, Building, and Flying Radio Control Model Airplanes top of page
.SPARC Members and Spectators -- about 1960
Left to Right: Bill Brown IV, Duane Benton, Al Niessner, Dave Bruce, Tom Collins, Carl Wendler, Mel Waxham, Angi Campanella, Dean Poeth, Bob Olson
Return to SCRC Home Page
Last Updated 2/20/1999