QUICK CLUB UPDATES

December 5th, 2024

In lieu of a December meeting, the 2024 End-of-Year Holiday Party will take place on Friday, January 3rd. Cocktails will start at 5:30PM, with dinner scheduled at 6:30PM. We will meet at our usual venue:

DeLuca’s Italian Restaurant
27424 Warren Road
Westland, MI 48185

Dinner is $20 per person, which can be paid to a club officer or on our web site here: https://www.signalseekers.org/product/annual-holiday-party-fee/

Soft drinks are included, and there is a cash bar available. Don’t miss this opportunity to close out the year with some great food and socializing! See you there!

September 5th, 2024

NOTAM / TFR – ALL FIELDS ARE CLOSED TO RC FLIGHTS FROM FRIDAY 1:15PM THROUGH 5:45 PM FOR VIP MOVEMENT IN THE AREA.

September 5th, 2024

WEEKEND EVENTS – The Main and Control Line Fields are reserved (closed for regular flying) this weekend for two events, the 6th annual Signal Seekers Heli Fun Fly Weekend (Friday at 6PM through Sunday at 3PM) and a drone racing event all day Saturday

• The Main Field will be reserved for the Heli event from Friday at 6PM through Sunday at 3PM.
• The Drone Field will be reserved for the Drone event all day Saturday (sun-up to sun-down.)
• The Control Line Field will be reserved for parking and camping for all pilots and spectators throughout the weekend.

Fun Fly Details

Bring a heli and join the fun, or just come enjoy the sunshine. Campers and tents are welcome, but note that we do not have water nor do we have electrical hook ups, so you’ll have to bring a generator if you need power.  The Landing Fee for pilots is $20. Current AMA membership is a requirement to fly, so please have your info ready for the sign in sheet.

Spectators are always welcome! Drinks, snacks and dinner will be provided (pulled pork with mac and cheese is the current plan.)  If you are attending but not flying (i.e. not paying the Landing Fee), donations toward food and drink are greatly appreciated!  

August 19th, 2024

SCARE IN THE AIR – Thanks to everyone who braved the unpredictable Michigan weather and joined us for Saturday’s Model Aviation Day and annual Scare in the Air competition with the United Flying Organization (UFOs) from Highland. Even though the UFOs went home with the traveling trophy this year, it was still a great time, and *mostly* sunny and warm. Here are the final scores:

Special thanks to our pilots Bob Shuler, Jim Rich, Jeff Spaulding, Charlie Thomas, Dave Fenrich, Dave Mellert, Mohammed El-Haouli and Dave Schneck, and UFO pilots Greg Staeuble, “Kokomo” Joe Roose, Dave Weatherup and “Dollar” Bill Maynard for a great day of competition. Final scores:

We’ll take home the trophy next year!

August 6th, 2024

NOTAM, FIELD CLOSURE and TRAINING NIGHT CANCELLATION – The FAA has issued a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) for tomorrow, Wednesday, August 7th and Thursday, August 8th for VIP Movement in the Detroit Metro area.  Signal Seekers Field will be CLOSED at that time, and there is no outdoor RC flying allowed on or off the field (within 5 miles of Detroit Metro Airport) from WEDNESDAY 5:30PM through THURSDAY 3:30PM.

NOTE THAT TRAINING NIGHT HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THIS WEEK.

July 10th, 2024

RAIN CANCELLATION – Due to residual rain and wind from Hurricane Beryl, training night has been cancelled for July 10th. Come back next Wednesday when the sun is shining!

REMINDER: All fields are closed for regular flying this weekend, July 13th and 14th for our annual Control Line Competition. Come out and watch the action!

June 5, 2024

RAIN DELAY – Due to thunderstorms, winds and hail, training night has been postponed to Thursday, June 7. Please check your email, our Facebook Page and our Twitter Feed for up-to-date information!

Click here for current METAR and TAF data for our area.

April 1, 2024

Signal Seekers Members, Friends & Supporters,

I regret to inform you that for the second time this year we have experienced a vandalism event at our flying field in Westland.

The first event was on February 24th. At that time someone cut the power cables from the solar panels, stole the security camera and cut and removed the chain protecting the storage container doors. They did not gain entry, but they tried their best (and damaged the door and lock in the process.) The damage was repaired, but the camera was not replaced.

Yesterday was much worse. Someone (maybe the same someone) climbed up on the top of the container (no small feat) and took a baseball bat or a crowbar to both solar panels, completely destroying them. They then proceeded to the shelter and broke every chair, upturned the picnic tables, destroyed the starter benches and smashed all of the photos, the bulletin board and (the worst part) the nice framed artwork given to us by the kids at Burger School. It appears they also punched holes in the side of the shelter, and climbed onto the roof to poke holes there too. The shelter is a mess. The damage done and the obvious anger shown toward us was shocking, considering how this club has supported the community, local business and local schools (particularly the Burger School) over the years. It’s just so senseless.

There is a lot of cleanup to do and thousands of dollars of damage to repair. Westland PD has been contacted and police reports filed, but the remote location of the field makes it difficult to patrol. Our best bet is to catch whoever did this by getting the word out and keeping our eyes and ears open. If nothing else, our presence and vigilance may be a deterrent.

“Stuff” can be replaced. People cannot. Whoever did this is obviously violent and cares little for the people around them. While we sort this out, please be watchful, and fly with a friend or two. There is safety in numbers. Of course, if anyone reading this has any tips for the Westland Police Department, please reach out to a club officer and we will notify the proper authorities.

Fly safe everyone.

Dave Schneck
President
Signal Seekers RC Club

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February 1, 2024

2024 is here, and Signal Seekers is now 60 years old! It’s going to be another great year at the field, hopefully with many returning members and some new members and guests interested in getting into this great hobby!

February is expected to be warmer than usual, so we might even get a head start on the 2024 flying season. Best case, we bundle up and get out in the sun without getting too much mud on our boots. Worst case, you get to break out those floats and practice your snow and water landings. Please remember to drive slowly on the road, keep the field clean and let an club officer know if you’ve seen any damage or necessary repairs to our property.

Now is also a great time to brush up on the Field Rules, Standing Rules and Bylaws, as well as AMA safety policies and our airspace agreement with DTW. All of these documents can be found here on the club web site.

Don’t forget our club meetings the fourth Wednesday of every month. We will continue to meet at the EAA hangar until April (the March meeting is the last at EAA.) Then we will move back to the field for the rest of the summer.

See you there!

Your 2024 Signal Seekers Officers:

Dave Schneck, Bob Shuler, Richard Smith, Josh Lange, Ray White, Jim Rich, Dan Brown and Dave Fenrich