Model Airplane Club, California, USA 12/01/06
About UsThe Black Sheep Exhibition Squadron model airplane club was founded in 1976, with 12 original members. At the time a popular TV series was “Baa Baa Black Sheep” (later “Black Sheep Squadron”), about Marine fighter squadron VMF 214. NBC and the Marine Corps sanctioned the club’s name, and the show’s stars were members, along with “Pappy” Boyington who commanded the real squadron during WWII. A studio publicity campaign was built around model demonstrations by the group. Eventually the TV show ended its run but the model club continued to thrive. Membership stands at approximately 105, throughout the US and Canada.
An unusual aspect of the Black Sheep club was that it did not specialize in one particular aspect of model aviation. Members then and now fly all varieties of models from CL to Oldtimers to indoor scale. Meetings feature an eclectic show-and-tell which is as likely to include an RC model as a peanut.
Some Black Sheep are professionally involved in cutting-edge aviation research, and have been known to use club sessions to test-fly the latest innovations. Other members work at more pedestrian jobs or are retired, and fly models as a pure hobby. Numerous aeromodeling world records have been set by Black Sheep.
The club was founded “to promote aeromodeling among youth”, and that mission continues. The squadron runs Delta Dart building programs that teach over 1,000 kids per year the basics of model aviation. Members frequently perform demonstrations for schools and youth groups, often inside classrooms using indoor-type models.
The yearly Pasadena, CA trade show formerly known as International Modelers Show (IMS) is now operated by the Academy of Model Aeronautics, and the Black Sheep have a tradition of active participation. Indoor flight demonstrations include a wide variety of model types, and the “building booth” produces hundreds of Delta Darts with eager test pilots. Club members have enjoyed success in the static-display contests as well.
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