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Central Kentucky Float Flyers host second fly event

June 15, 2012|By Rachel Parsons Gilliam | The Winchester Sun

James Mann/jmann@winchestersun.com

Butch Krebs logged more than 400 jumps out of planes and learned to fly one before turning his attention to model airplanes.

“I’ve always been interested in aviation since I was a kid. I’ve tried most of it out,” Krebs said.

This Saturday, the public will have the opportunity to learn more about model planes from Krebs and fellow members of the Central Kentucky Float Flyers at the group’s second model airplane show in Winchester.

Saturday members will meet at their home base, the Winchester Municipal Utilities Northeast Retention Basin on VanMeter Road from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to fly “float flyers,” model airplanes that must take off and land on bodies of water.

The show is free, but donations will be collected for the Clark County Animal Shelter and the Winchester Youth Soccer League.

The Central Kentucky Float Flyers has six members from Winchester, including Krebs and friend Bob Strosnider, who Krebs taught to fly.

“I was fascinated by things that flew — birds, butterflies, model airplanes,” Strosnider said.

Although the members of the club come from diverse backgrounds — Strosnider worked as a forester for 38 years and several club members are airline pilots — they all share a love of model planes.

“The one common thing is airplanes,” Strosnider said.

Club member Dan Thompson, of Bourbon County, said model airplanes are a great way to learn mechanical skills, math and engineering. He and other members of Central Kentucky Float Flyers and Clark County RC Barnstormers work with technology students at Conkwright Middle, using planes to illustrate scientific principles.

In 2011, approximately 30 people came to the club’s first show, and members are hoping for a larger crowd this year. Although many people think of model airplanes as toys, Thompson said “nothing could be further from the truth.”

He also has a pilot’s license and said his work with planes helped him with his job in engineering and software at IBM.

Flying all types of model airplanes has helped the club members make friends and challenge themselves in new ways, something they would like others to enjoy as well.

“I’m 81 now, and I enjoy ver much flying model airplanes. I’m not very good, but I enjoy it,” Strosnider said.

Contact Rachel Parsons Gilliam at rparsons@winchestersun.com.

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