Wings Across America 2008
A hand-delivered RC park flyer crossed 48 states in over five years.
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Wings Across America 2008 (WAA-08) was a project in which a battery-powered radio-controlled park flyer aircraft was flown in all 48 contiguous United States, with hopes to also reach Alaska and Hawaii. The aircraft, a SQuiRT (Simple, Quiet, Robust, Trainer) model donated by Stevens AeroModel, was hand-delivered from pilot to pilot across the country, never shipped by mail. The project was created by Frank Geisler of Gloucester, Virginia, an avid RC pilot, USAF veteran, and AMA contest director.
Quick Facts
- Total distance traveled
- 26,587 miles
- States visited
- 48
- Registered pilots
- 333
- Coldest temperature flown
- 0°F
- by Richard C (#263) in Butte
- MT
Facts from the source article.
Background
The project was conceived by Frank Geisler, who discussed it with friends and received enthusiastic support. Within five weeks of inception, 230 pilots had joined, representing all 48 continental states. Geisler used internet RC forums and emailed Academy of Model Aeronautics chartered clubs to recruit volunteers. The plane was hand-delivered from pilot to pilot, creating a chain across the United States.
Over 340 RC pilots registered to take part, and 248 AMA chartered clubs hosted the adventure. All equipment was donated by participating pilots, including the SQuiRT model from Bill Stevens of Stevens AeroModel and a radio control system from Horizon Hobby. The first flight launched on May 24, 2008, and the journey ended at the home field in eastern Virginia 5 years, 145 days, 21 hours, and 50 minutes later.
Did You Know?
- The youngest pilot was Evan Holman, age 6, and the oldest was Bill Baily, age 97.
More in Radio-Controlled Helicopters and Model Aircraft
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Wings Across America 2008 (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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