Miniature Aircraft Association of Westchester

"When we were kids, we used to fly wind-up rubber-band planes off the rooftops of buildings in the city," said Chester Babbin of Somers. Nearly 80 years later he's assembling his radio-controlled P-51 Mustang for a day of flying at Croton Point Park. With "Kiss Me Kathleen" on the fuselage in honor of his wife, Babbin said "This is my favorite plane. I've built 5 or 6 of these, but this one has lasted the longest. It even has retractable landing gear," he said as he pumped air into the lines that controll that particular feature of the replica WWII fighter plane (which also bears his name painted beneath the canopy). "I used to fly real ones, but after the war was over."

Down the flight-line, a group of younger members, four men in their late 30s and early 40s were flying their radio-controlled helicopters. The club's "Heli-Director" Steve Lesnick of Cortlandt Manor watched as fellow member Frank Chiaia of Hartsdale flew aerobatic maneuvers over the club's runway atop their aerodrome overlooking the Croton-Harmon Metro-North station. The club leases the space from Westchester County. "This is an unbelievably beautiful site to fly," said Lesnick while preparing his own helicopter for flight. 

"It can be frustrating in the beginning," said Lesnick. "First you have to learn how to work on them—they really don't fly well right out of the box. You have to learn how to do all the maintenance—some of these things can cost $3,000. We help each other out and learn from each other," he said.

According to Lesnick, the club has 90 members, though not all of them are actively flying on a regular basis. The club, which is open to all Westchester County residents requires everyone to also become members of the Academy of Model Aeronautics for insurance purposes. Following acceptance into the association, new members must qualify their flying skills under the tutelage of club officers before they are permitted to fly solo at the site. The club has strict guidelines members must adhere to while flying, including flight times and proper use of airspace, or face expulsion from the club for any violations. "We're fortunate to have this site and it's important to be good neighbors," said Lesnick.

After a rest in the shade and a drink of a cold beverage, Babbin assembled his replica German "Stuka" dive bomber and with the help of Eddie Dietz of Eastchester, brought the model with it's four-foot wingspan out to the flight-line. The older gas-powered engine roared far louder than it's newer, electric counterparts and as Deitz released the plane, it roared down the runway, lifted off the ground, but banked hard left and nose-dived into the ground, breaking apart into several pieces as Babbin wiped his once again sweating brow. The two walked down to the wreckage, picking up the pieces as they went.  "I'll fix it," Babbin said. "And it will be better than ever."

Anyone interested in joining can visit the club's website at www.maawrc.com