About Us - Club History

After an extensive search by air and on the ground for a suitable and available location, the present Phelan Road site was selected in 1988. Under the guiding hand of Lou MacDonald, a twenty-five acre parcel of land was purchased by a company established for that purpose. The company was incorporated as the Phelan RC Flying Club, Inc. (usually referred to as The Company) under the direction of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Field Officer. Under the Corporate Laws of Ontario, shares were issued and purchased by 19 Founding Members.

The founding members were: Lou MacDonald, Ray Baldwin, Bruce Coldham, John Dixie, Russell Holmes, Dan McLeod, Gerry Brown, Keith Gillespie, Lindsay Blair, Len Dickie, Don Gamble, Don Cavanaugh, Al Denton, Dave Thorburn, Graham Ireland, Dominique Gravel, Debbie Mcdonald, Ron Ginsberg, and Gerry Pronovost.

This investment was not only financial but included many hours of mental and physical effort to build a site for model airplane flight. The hard work and dedication by this original group, along with later members, has resulted in the first-class flying field and clubhouse now enjoyed by all!

From the beginning it was agreed that The Company would construct a flying facility which would be made available on a rental basis to a charter club of MAAC, i.e. the Rideau RC Flyers, to be set up by the shareholders of The Company. In 1989, the founders decided to invite several more members to join the RRCF, upon payment of a substantial initiation fee and an annual assessment. The membership was limited to a maximum of thirty people at that time. Over the years, nearly two-thirds of the original founders and members have moved away, left the hobby, or passed on, and as a result, the club has recently invited a number of new members into its fold. Our membership currently stands at 57, and is capped at 60, subject to executive decision.

Obviously, the number of club members has a bearing on the amount of flying at the field and the noise levels associated with same. The Company, as site administrator, exercises overall control of flying activities which affect the maintenance of good relations with adjoining neighbours and thus, the preservation of the flying site. The advent of electric flight, which is favoured by most of the newer members, has scaled down considerably the noise associated with model airplane activities, to the benefit of all.

(* Honorary member)

Here's a photo of our club founder in the good old days, firing rockets at the defenseless countryside.