Flying Site Case Study #22
In 2000, a few RC fliers got together to talk about finding somewhere to fly. At the time, they were flying from a pasture on the Griffin Ranch in Lander, Wyoming. The site was okay, but there could be no development of any kind, and you never knew when 100 or so cows would come wandering through.
The group contacted a local group of RC car buffs. That started the idea of a combined RC park. A site on the Wyoming Honor Farm (prison) was identified as a possibility. Investigation found the prison management open to the idea. The site is 26 acres of nonproductive farmland with 400 acres of adjacent overfly area.
The prison management found that the Department of Corrections could not lease the land to the modelers. Through discussions, it was found that they could lease the land to the City of Riverton, and that the City of Riverton could sublease the land to the modelers. Thus, an arrangement was put in place and the Wyoming Modelers' Park Association (WyMoPa) was formed.
The group originally had II members in the fall of2000. We moved onto the site in the spring of200I. With our own funds and sweat, we built an off-road RC car track and graded a dirt runway. We used those facilities that summer.
We worked with various groups in the community to develop support and raised money through demonstrations and a raffle. We submitted grant applications to various sources. Our main source of funding has come from the local school district's recreation fund and the county's recreation fund. With their support, in the summer of 2002 we paved runways. We have a main east/west runway that is 450 x 50 feet and a 350- x -50-foot north-south runway with a paved 150- x I OO-foot pit area. We also built roads, parking areas, and will be building a facility.
We started with II members and now have 115. We provide FF aircraft instruction and RC car instruction, providing the beginner with all of the equipment needed.
Last summer, a local summer youth program held a program called Young Aviators. Twenty fifth- through eighth-grade boys participated. They build five Sig LT- 40s (kits, not ARFs) that are available for them to fly when they come to the field.
This summer that program plans to offer an Amelia Earhart program for girls.