Would you like to be part of a unique project in the East Bay
Hills. We have several needs for possible Eagle Scout or
Gold Award Projects at the Masonic Home. Would you like
like to learn more about 2 possbilities. One is helping
residents with their "Flying Club" in creating a stand for
residents to view and to stay out of the elements and the other
one is to help with tree planting and trail creation in a one of
kind reforestation project in Union City. What is so
unique about the project is that it uses food waste incorporated
with horse manure and wood chips to create soil that can once
again support a forest. As the project progressed
residents realized that this area, which has a view of the
entire bay area was ideal for activities especially flying.
Meeting will be on September 29, 2018 at the Masonic Home
from 9:30-11:00 and meet at the restoration site. If
interested please register and we will send you directions of
where to meet and provide a parking permit which you can show to
the guard as you enter the facility.
The
Masonic Home Flying Club is located in Union City, CA. The club
has been an AMA Chartered Club since November 5, 2014. The
Masonic Home Flying Club is a group of eight retired seniors
passionate about model flying. They have started a community
outreach program and are currently reach out to local schools
and various youth groups. The club is a brand new club and is
currently looking to increase membership with individuals who
are interested in the hobby of model aviation. To accomplish
this, the club offers to buy the youths’ trainer plane and
accessories and teach them how to fly.
The club wanted to improve their site by fixing the old runway.
The old runway was unpaved and located on a hill. The home
administration paid for the work and the money from this grant
will go towards repaying them. The total cost of the project was
The Home’s Flying Club, which has about two dozen members, meets
between 8:00 and 10:00 each morning to hone their model airplane
and drone flying skills at the on-site landing strip. Officially
dedicated in February, the strip is 100 feet long and made of
asphalt and cement. A 30-foot carpeted extension is in progress.
“We have people flying there six to seven days a week weather
permitting,” says Jack McClellan, one of the Home’s novice
pilots. Several residents have learned to fly since the airstrip
was created. The Club has a flight simulator and two model
planes that can be borrowed by those looking to hone their
skills before purchasing their own aircraft.
McClellan bought his plane in April and started flying in May.
Since then, he has completed about 140 flights. He describes his
plane as “an overgrown Cessna.” Specially designed for those new
to flying, it can operate in three ability-based modes and has a
panic switch that stabilizes the plan if the pilot loses
control. (All Club members join the Academy of Model
Aeronautics, which provides educational resources, as well as a
liability policy in case a plane hits a person or property.)
A highlight of the Club for McClellan is getting to fly his
model aircraft alongside seasoned pilots of commercial and
military planes. Jack Wright flew with the Blue Angles. Dick
Sullivan was an Air Force pilot who flew B-25s. “They tell me
that it’s harder to fly a remote control plane than a
conventional one,” McClellan says. “When you’re landing, the
model plane comes straight at you – it’s not like sitting in an
aircraft.”
All Masons – in addition to Masonic Homes residents – are
invited to join the Club or to just stop by to give flying a
try. The Club includes several off-campus members, including one
from San Jose who just completed his third degree. Members are
hopeful that by the spring they’ll have more experienced pilots
to serve as instructors so that they can invite Masonic youth to
campus to experience the delight of flying.
“I get a real sense of accomplishment,” says McClellan. “It’s
not easy to take off and land perfectly every time. The first
time I flew it was kind of scary – I even had shaky knees. But I
kept trying. I’s really fun to fly.”
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