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Paul Comstock
ThisWeek
More than 130 central Ohioans with a love of flying have a way to explore the wild blue yonder while standing on the ground.
They are members of the Westerville Model Aeronautics Association in Galena and take to the air with radio-controlled fixed-wing aircraft. It s as close as you can get to flying a real airplane, said WMAA secretary Dave Dumond of Worthington.
WMAA member Mike Barbee of Delaware said the aircraft can range from those with 3-foot to 15-foot wingspans, with speeds ranging from 40 to 200 mph, powered by electric, piston or jet engines.
Although the use of radio-controlled drones – which use four propellers and can hover and take off vertically – has increased in the 21st century, Barbee said, aviation s history and traditions lead WMAA members to favor fixed-wing planes.