The Tuscarora R/C Flying Club held their annual R/C Air and Car Show Aero-Rama on Aug. 8 and 9 at their field, 70 Foothill St., Barnesville, at the Tuscarora State Park.

Club members were on hand to demonstrate various types of remote control aircraft: planes, jets, helicopters, drones, and rockets. They even had a flying simulator attached to a TV set to give attendees an idea of what flying is like.

“This club has been around for 65 years,” President Ed Pollack said. “This is our biggest event, we do this every year. Two days of demonstrations of flying, and we have the polka show and the car show Sunday.”

Polka Joe Manjack and the Magic Polka Machine from WMGH Magic 105.5 FM broadcast live from the field on Sunday.

The Marian Catholic High School Blue and Gold Club was selling food both days: hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, meatball hoagies, pierogies, chicken Parmesan, macaroni and cheese, plus snacks and drinks.

“Back when the club started, most of the guys who started the club were World War II veterans, and flying planes was a natural progression,” Pollack explained. “Eventually, they grew older and passed on, and now younger people started joining with the helicopters and drones. Attendance dropped off for a while, but, it’s been slowly rebuilding.”

Pollack said that sometimes people don’t know their club is there.

“We have been trying to get the word out about our club. We have our website, Facebook page, advertisements. And we had people about a mile away saying they didn’t know we were here.”

Dave Kessler, a member from Tamaqua, had several planes with him.

“I started flying in 1974, stopped in 1980, and got back into it around 2005. Transmitter technology has boomed!”

Nancy Stephens demonstrated firing rockets.

“That one went pretty far,” Stephens said of the first rocket, which flew high into the clouds, eventually coming down near a shed across the street from the park. “You have to connect the wires just the right way, then the remote control fires the rocket.”

Another member, Alex, from Pine Grove, had a display of several helicopters. He has been flying for about 26 years.

“I’ve always had an interest, always wanted to try it when I was a kid, but didn’t have money for this when I was a kid,” he said. “Now, I have adult money for it.”

Club members hold several events throughout the year. Their next event will be Fright Night, which is a Trunk or Treat event on Oct. 24. Trunk or Treat for kids 16 and under is from 4 to 6 p.m., with flying from 5 to 8 p.m. All events are admission free; donations are accepted.

The event is sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Tuscarora State Park.

The organization is open to anyone interested in model aviation. Because the club is associated with the Academy of Model Aeronautics, members are required to hold a current AMA license. Visitors must be accompanied by a Tuscarora R/C Flyer member.

The club meets promptly at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of each month at the Tuscarora State Park Office, 687 Tuscarora Park Road, Barnesville.

Visit their website at TuscaroraRCFlyingclub.com for more information on events and becoming a member.