===  New Field Progress Report # 1  ===

After almost twenty years at the Highway 71 flying site, the new Interstate 49 project will be closing us down!   Through the generosity of Stephens Production Company and the hard work of many club members we enjoyed what many visiting pilots have described as, "The best grass flying field in the Southwest"!

All the members of the Flightmaster Model Airplane Club wish to express our sincere thanks to Stephens Production Company for the use of this property -- you guys have been great!

We first learned of the I-49 project several years ago, and knew that it could possibly impact our flying site, so in June of 2009 a committee was formed for the express purpose of obtaining a low cost lease on at least 30 acres of property that could be used for a flying field.   That committee was comprised of Bill Womble, Tom Minton, Don Jones and Ron Roberts.

On June 9th of 2011, almost two years to the day later, a 5 year renewable lease was signed with the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority for 30 acres of property on old Fort Chaffe land, at no cost!   Mission Accomplished!

SLIDE 3 is a "Google Earth" overhead photo of the new property with lines drawn to form a map along with directions on how best to get to the new location.

SLIDE 4 is a photograph taken in the Spring of 2011 showing a "ground level view" of the field.   This photo was taken from the South-East corner of the field looking to the North-West.

SLIDE 5 is a photograph taken from an overflight of the area just after it was mowed.   This photo is orientated so that the top of the photo is North.   As you can see there are some large trees that must be taken out.

SLIDE 6 is another photograph taken from an overflight of the area just after it was mowed, but from a slightly different perspective.   Due to the perspective, there is some distortion, but this is one of the proposed layouts we are looking at.   We are asking the FCRA to take out all trees within the red boundry lines and you can see the two runways, pit area and pavillion near the center of the photo.   The yellow rectangle is the parking area.

This is not a finalized layout, but just one of the suggetions.

This is going to take a lot of work, and pages will be added to this section as decisions are made and work is completed.