Welcome to the Marion Airfoils. We are the Radio Control Flying Club of Marion, Ohio. The Airfoils began in the Spring of 1971 with 8 devotees.
The Marion Airfoils is a Club devoted to the hobby and craft of flying radio controlled model aircraft. Their first flying field was at the, now defunct, Grand Prairie School, which was located north of Marion. Over the years, the Club, like many around the USA, has moved. Most of these moves are required by forces such as the landowner needing his land for other purposes, complaints from neighbor
s with regard to noise, a need for more room, etc. The first move of the Airfoils was to a location on New Road, just north of the old Marion Municipal Airport. That flying site lasted for about 10 years before the Club was forced to move. The next location was an unused (land was in the Soil Bank) farm field just west of New Bloomington. In 1986, facing yet another move, Gary Smith (for whom the current field is named) was enjoying some liquid refreshments with an acquaintance who happened to be the Parks Director for the City of Marion. They discussed the Airfoils problem and eventually negotiated a deal for the use of the Club’s current location on Herr Road. When a formal lease agreement was first agreed to, the site was simply vacant land covered with the brush and plant life common to any unimproved land in Central Ohio. The improvements visible today, such as a smooth grassy runway, a shelter, drainage tile, safety fences, etc., are all the result of member’s hard work. The field maintenance and improvements are still done by the members. Although there are annual membership fees, the Airfoils Club has always been a truly non-profit organization. Membership
The Marion Airfoils Club, although not a public entity, is open to anyone interested in radio controlled model aircraft. Virtually the only requirement for membership, over and above the payment of the annual dues, is an agreement to abide by the Club’s rules. The rules themselves, apart from some common sense items such as don’t throw cigarette butts on the ground, no dogs allowed, are driven by a serious regard for the safety of our neighbors, spectators, and other Members. Whenever there is a member flying, spectators are welcome. Drive in, take a seat, talk to the flyers and watch the action. The membership fluctuates with time. There have been as many as 72 flyers; but for the past 10 years the count has varied between 10 to 30. Of the original 8 founders, there are still 2, Jerry Galbreath, and Vearl Gamble, who hold membership. The sport/hobby has a strong attraction for many. Flying at the Field
Anyone can fly at the Airfoils field, even non-members, BUT every flyer, whether a member or not, is required to be a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). The AMA, among other valuable services to the sport, provides liability insurance and our landowner, the City of Marion, requires the Club to carry liability insurance. Again non-members of the Marion Airfoils may fly at our field when accompanied by a member, but we ask anyone who flies more than 3 times a year to join the Club.
