Connecticut Clubs’ Annual Joint Float Fly

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JOE CORNACCHIO(Shelton, Connecticut) wrote the following to introduce readers to the Annual Float Fly that is jointly hosted by the White Hills Eagles RC Club and the Country Squire Modelers.

For the past nine years, the White Hills Eagles RC Club (whitehillseagles.org) and the Country Squire Modelers (countrysquires.com) have proudly continued the tradition of the Annual Float Fly event, which was originally started by the Trumbull Indian Ledge RC Club and passed on to the other clubs in 2016. Held at William E. Wolfe Park’s scenic Great Hollow Lake in Monroe, Connecticut, this event has become a beloved gathering for RC enthusiasts across the state.

What began as a collaboration between two local clubs has now expanded each year to include seven or more guest clubs that stretch from Torrington, Connecticut, to Westport, Connecticut. The Float Fly continues to grow in both size and excitement, and the location recently became an FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA) flying site!

While the heart of the event remains the floatplanes, which range from a 100-inch-wingspan Van’s Aircraft RV-8 to a Twin Otter and other popular models, the fun doesn’t stop there. When the wind picks up a bit, you’ll find RC cars and trucks kicking up sand along the beach, as well as sailboats and speedboats of all sizes zipping across the water.

We host this event twice a year, once in May and again in September, bookending the opening season of Wolfe Park. Our clubs are proud to provide complimentary coffee, donuts, and sometimes bagels for our guests for a small donation of their choice. Soft drinks and water are available throughout the day, and attendees can enjoy a well-earned break with a pre-ordered personal pizza pie.

As the photo shows, there’s no shortage of variety, fun, or camaraderie. Whether you are flying, driving, or simply spectating, we warmly invite the RC community to join us each year for a day full of energy, excitement, and connection.

I would like to personally thank Ken Tatsuno for the brilliant idea of the clubs’ group picture.