The 2023 NEAT Fair

Built on legacy, bound by passion

By Scott Copeland [email protected] | Photos by the author except as noted

As seen in the February 2024 issue of Model Aviation.

Awise man once said, "How lucky we are to have been alive for the speck of time in human history that aeromodeling existed." Many modelers might expand on this concept, exclaiming, "How lucky we are to have existed during the 24 years of the NEAT Fair!" Conceived in 1999 and inaugurated in 2000, the Northeast Electric Aircraft Technology (NEAT) Fair filled the void left by the KRC Electric Meet, held during the fall in eastern Pennsylvania.

The NEAT Fair has flourished as the premier all-electric event in this country and perhaps the world. The Peaceful Valley Campsite, where the event is held, is nestled in the sleepy town of Downsville, New York, at the base of the Catskill Mountains and tucked into a bend in the Delaware River. Situated in this scenic valley is a long, grass runway that almost appears to have been carved from the mountains specifically for our aeronautical pleasure. Most mornings, the foothills on either side of the venue are shrouded in a low-hanging mist that mixes with the first rays of sun to cast a mystical haze over daybreak. A modeler’s heaven, if ever there was one.

Prolific builder Rob Caso and his Tiger Moth. If the devil is in the details, Rob’s moth is Satan incarnate!

Steve Halpern’s outstanding Fokker D.VIII from a Balsa USA kit. The model won the Best Military Scale award. Photo by Stephan Lemmason.

Freddie Backhaus’ Stinson Gullwing settles in for a landing. The model was started by Freddie’s late father and was finished and flown by Freddie.

The NEAT Fair has borne witness to tremendous changes in the field of electric RC, yet there remain common threads that cinch the tapestry of our hobby together. The same tenets of camaraderie, collaboration, and creativity are as present now as they were at aeromodeling’s inception. By nature, technology continues to progress, and, in doing so, cannibalizes the previous generation. Geared, brushed motors and NiCd batteries have yielded to brushless motors and LiPos. FM radios have capitulated to 2.4 GHz. Balsa and plywood have largely given way to foam and carbon fiber.

Although the overall "look" of the NEAT Fair has changed, the legacy of the "built" airplane remains. Modelers continue to develop the classic virtues of model airplane builders, where a blend of skill, patience, and understanding of aeronautic principles meld. All along the flightline, airplanes built from kits, built from scratch, built from balsa, and built from foam are sprinkled among the ARFs. In every corner, modelers compare notes, not only regarding radio programming or flight setups but also building techniques, future projects, and design dilemmas. The essence of our hobby is alive and well.

Roger Post and Marty Ludwin with Marty’s Peter Goldsmith-designed Sapphire. As an EDFpowered sailplane, it is in a category by itself.

Don Belfort’s 1/4-scale Druine Turbulent won Best Civilian Scale.

First to fly? The author’s Whitehead #21 was unsuccessful but lives to try another day.

A commonality that the NEAT Fair shares with other perennial events is steady leadership. Event Director Tom Hunt, along with members of the Silent Electric Flyers of Long Island (SEFLI) and a host of volunteers, have consistently shouldered the herculean task of planning, organizing, and executing the event. Throughout the weekend, Tom’s unmistakable voice can be heard over the PA system announcing events, providing direction, and occasional one-liners. Teamwork and coordination don’t happen by accident, and it is evident from the smooth operation of the NEAT Fair that Tom’s leadership has been effective.

Throughout the years, the NEAT Fair has attracted a "who’s who" of electric modelers, names familiar to folks that have been in the hobby for some time. The likes of Bob Kopski, Laddie Mikulasko, Keith Shaw, Bob Aberle, Bob Boucher, Jim Ryan, Terry Nitsch, and Joe Beshar have all graced NEAT’s hallowed ground. The torch has now been passed to Rob Caso, Thayer Syme, Don Belfort, Joe Malinchak, Dave Baron, and others who continue to keep their vision alive. The bulk of the patrons at the event are not big-name modelers but "regular" people. They are as unique and diverse as our hobby itself. People from all walks of life, from different parts of the country, with different skillsets and different experiences, share a common passion and all connect through this great event.

Most of the event schedule is occupied with casual flying at one of the four flightlines (main flightline, park flyer area, micro [one cell], and float-flying area), with a break at noon each day for demonstration flights. The first 10 minutes of four selected hours are reserved for 3D flying, while the remainder of each hour consists of flying a typical circuitous pattern. There are plenty of casual events in which to participate or be entertained by. Most days have a Dawn Patrol flight while the wind is calm, consisting of biplanes and World War I-era aircraft. There is a scheduled Battle of Britain tribute flight on Thursday, and some impromptu sorties, such as the flight of five A-10 Warthogs.

Jim’s Wright Flyer from a Radical RC kit flew magnificently during NEAT weekend!

Roger with his Bridi Big Bee. This classic kit is finished in a color scheme resembling a Fokker D.VII from Jasta 15.

The pilot in Jim’s 1/4-scale S.E.5a awaits his next sortie. The model features a sound system that imitates the sound of a Wolseley Viper engine and machine gun fire!

This year included FPV racing and the popular Vapor Games at the south end of the runway. One of the most popular spectacles is the World War II masslaunch event. With Wagner’s Flight of the Valkyries playing over the PA, upward of 70 aircraft are put aloft to tangle their way through the crowded airspace until the music stops. On cue, pilots must land within 30 seconds and the airplane closest to the cone in the middle of the runway wins a cash prize. There is predictable carnage, mishaps, and near-misses all, to the delight of the crowd.

"Lobstah" Combat (pronounced in the Maine dialect) is an event where a streamer is towed over the runway with a gaggle of screaming chase airplanes attempting to cut it. The first pilot to do so wins one of Lobstah Al’s famous lobster rolls! There is an indoor flying event at the local high school, showcasing the incredibly Lilliputian works of art that have been made possible by the advances in electric modeling. And finally, after nightfall, the night fliers weave their neon patterns through evening chill with a bowl of stars as their backdrop.

Despite all of the aforementioned events and the wonderful people who attend NEAT, the most satisfying aspect for me is seeing a multitude of "built" airplanes. These models are not all scale and are not all museum pieces. They are made from a variety of materials by modelers with varying degrees of aptitude, but all have been assembled with an investment of time, resources, skill, and, above all else, a bit of the modeler’s soul. Those willing to invest themselves in a project, to acquire the skills and knowledge to complete a flying model, and to not be satisfied with the mass-produced status quo can connect in a special way with model aviation’s true heritage.

Marty’s 1/3-scale Baby Ace lumbers around the patch. The model is an exact replica of the full-scale aircraft built and flown by the late Dave Jackson.

Members of the Connecticut Silent Flyers club pose with their models. Standing (L-R) are Roger, Marty, and the author. Kneeling is Mike Fusco.

Steve Halpern’s Fokker D.VIII was built meticulously from a Balsa USA kit and flew majestically, as though Ernst Udet himself were at the controls. Equally impressive was Don Belfort’s 1/4-scale Druine Turbulent in its striking red color scheme, which flew steadily in gusty conditions. Marty Ludwin brought two outstanding models. The first was a 1/3-scale Baby Ace that is an exact replica of the full-scale aircraft built and flown by the late Dave Jackson, a classic stick-and-rudder airplane that flew with authority. The second was a Sapphire EDF glider designed by Peter Goldsmith. Resplendent in its transparent blue and red color scheme, it was a fine example of the kit builder’s art.

Rob Caso always brings an interesting new project, and this year was no exception. His Thulin K, which resembles a Fokker Eindecker, is a seldom-modeled Swedish aircraft from WW I. Covered in classic Polyspan and dope, with just the right amount of weathering, the Thulin cast a big presence despite its relatively small scale. I brought a model of Gustave Whitehead’s #21, which is believed by some to have flown in 1901, two full years before the Wright brothers.

As luck would have it, Jim Lloyd showed up with a model of the Wright Flyer. My Whitehead was unsuccessful. Jim’s Wright Flyer put in at least two magnificent flights, sparking much applause from the gallery upon landing. The debate of who flew first in full-scale aviation might never be resolved, but as far as the 2023 NEAT Fair, the Wrights win hands-down. One of the prettiest models at NEAT—and certainly the one with the best story—was Freddie Backhaus’ Stinson. The project was originally started by his father, who was unable to complete it before he passed. Freddie finished the model, with its eye-catching American Airlines livery, and flew it to the delight of the crowd. This was an example of the aeromodeling legacy coming full circle.

Marty’s Sapphire pilot. Instead of building an enclosed cockpit as shown on the plans, Marty opted for an open cockpit to resemble a German glider from the 1930s.

Bob Kopski’s article from the February 2001 issue of Model Aviation predicted that the NEAT Fair was destined to become a mecca for electric modelers. Looking back, it is safe to say that he was correct. The NEAT Fair’s silver anniversary promises to deliver what we’ve come to expect of the event—a week’s worth of model aviation peace and goodwill, centered around an iconic event in an idyllic setting.

Come for the opportunity to be a part of something special and to share in the celebration of the largest meet of its kind in its 25th year. Come to meet some of the icons of our hobby and to find new acquaintances with common interests. Come to share in the spirit of the electric portion of our hobby, and come to see a collection of models that you won’t see anywhere else. Whatever your motivation, come experience the NEAT Fair in 2024. How lucky we are, indeed.

SOURCES:

NEAT Fair

www.neatfair.org