Okay, so Macedon, NY probably isn't too well known the world over. It is out in the sticks between Rochester, NY and Syracuse, NY. Deep in farm country. Tucked away on the edge of a corn field, bordered by trees and high tension power lines, is the Rochester Aero Modeling Society's main club field. This is Kyle Stacy's home field as well as Chris Reibert's home field. It's a nice flying area with plenty of side to side and outward room for flying any style you please.
It's a three day event, with many people coming in with campers and RVs to stay the whole weekend. A few tent camp it as well. The first day is open flying while people arrive and get settled in. Flying, I'm told, is much more open and laid back. The early comers are usually repeat attendees and there is a "family" atmosphere to the whole thing at this point. They pretty much maxed out their RV/Camper space this year at around 10 or 12 in attendance. The first night there is a group dinner at a near by diner/restaurant where people come together and chat about their year and get reacquainted. If you go it's entirely possible to end up having a meal and talking bikes, travel, politics, and maybe even helis, or whatever with Kyle, Ray, Bert, Chris, and other famous and not.
The second day is the main event with noon time demos covering 3D, scale, turbine, quads, and other aspects of the helicopter part of the hobby. Around 5:30 the main flight line is closed down while the pyrotechnics guys show up and setup for the night time fireworks show. A side flight line is setup while this is going on, with narrower, shorter flying areas out away from the main spectator area. A lot of the up and coming/semi-pro guys took this opportunity to pound out flights without the tension/expectation of the crowd. Bert Kammerer had a number of BK servo and Switch blade rep pilots there and he was out there a good chunk of time helping and mentoring people while throwing down a couple of flights himself. Around this time they also serve the pilot dinner, included with registration, of delicious slow roasted pulled pork, corn on the cob, potato salad, cookie and a drink. Chris Reibert and the RAMS club really do a great job taking care of the pilots and attendees.
Just based on my observation I'd say they had 200 people or so move through the event throughout the day with a solid 50 or so pilots and their families there throughout the day. For the night fly and fireworks show they probably had 100 people there along with the pilot contingent.
The last day is similar to the first. All open flying. The public does show up around noon/1pm to watch, but the crowd is much less and I don't think there is any official demo flight schedule setup during this time. Any remaining raffle items or pilot drawing items are given out and cleanup ensues as the last people pull up stakes and take off for home.
I was only able to attend the 2nd day this time around, though I think I'm going to make the effort to be out there for the full thing next year. Not sure if I'll camp it or use a local hotel or what, but definitely wanting to be there for the 1st and 3rd days too.
I'll be posting up pictures and videos from the event in follow up posts in this thread so check back over the next day or two.
