Spirits of St. Louis R/C Flying Club Holds Annual New Year's Day Fly-In

By Carmelo Turdo

When New Year's Day arrives each year, you can be sure that a group of radio control aircraft fliers will participate in the annual Frozen Fingers Fly-In. Members of the Spirits of St. Louis R/C Flying Club gathered at the Robert W. Gizzie Flying Field last Sunday to enjoy some flying and fellowship on an unusually warm first day of 2023. The field, named for the Late Bob Gizzie, offers a 600ft runway, pavilion, charging tables and other amenities. Club members fly a variety of aircraft types, and they are friendly and welcoming to guests. The Aero Experience visited the club this year, and the photo essay included here conveys some of the fun and excitement experienced at this great R/C aircraft flying event.

The Spirits of St. Louis R/C Flying Club traces their history back to 1965 when it received AMA club charter number 396. Members flew their R/C aircraft from various locations in St. Louis and St. Charles Counties before landing at their current home in 2000. As mentioned above, it is now dedicated as Robert W. Gizzie Flying Field. Bob Gizzie, pictured at right, welcomed The Aero Experience to our first visit in 2014 and gave us a few minutes of dual training with his SIG Kaydet Senior. We will never forget his enthusiasm for the sport and the warm hospitality he offered. We dedicate this story to his memory and the future success of the Spirits of St. Louis R/C Flying Club. 

The R/C aircraft hobby offers first-hand flying experience that requires attention to spatial orientation as the aircraft maneuvers while the flier remains stationary. The aircraft involved here range from basic cardboard and foam designs to wood and carbon fiber models powered by electric and gas engines. As with any hobby, the investment can be minimal or extravagant, depending on the model desired and skill level employed. The members of the Spirits of St. Louis R/C Flying Club are experts at helping new and experienced fliers alike find the aircraft and other accessories they need to thoroughly enjoy the hobby. Contact them for further information on joining the club and getting the most out of flying R/C aircraft. 

The Aero Experience thanks club President Ralph Grant and the other club members who welcomed us to their event and gave us every opportunity to capture the day's flying. 

Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum Updates Hangar Lighting, Prepares for Active Year

By Carmelo Turdo

The Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum is preparing for an active year ahead by making physical improvements to the museum hangars while also planning for even more exciting news in the near future. Anyone visiting Creve Coeur Airport in recent days could see a kind of "musical planes" occurring in front of the museum hangars as aircraft are shifted to accommodate the crew replacing the overhead fluorescent lights with LED fixtures. Most of the rare vintage aircraft in the museum are in flying condition, and catching many of them outside, even on a cloudy day, is a real treat. 

Creve Coeur Airport has added more aviation services and community attractions in the last few years, now with three flight schools, the Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation, the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation, maintenance facilities, flying clubs and corporate aircraft on the field. The airport is studying plans to accommodate the growing demand for additional hangar space, more educational facilities and a runway extension to serve larger aircraft. More details on the airport's expansion plans will be posted when available.

Here we feature some views of the museum aircraft being rotated as the lighting project continued this week.