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The Alaska Radio Control Society is the largest and oldest R/C club in Alaska. It was founded in 1957 at Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage Alaska for the benefit of civilian as well as military personnel. In 1968, a permanent club field was set aside on Elmendorf AFB and has been in use ever since. ARCS Club field has been improved over the years and currently boasts a clubhouse, paved runway, grass runway, helicopter pad, and paved pit area.

In 1996, the club leased a second site 40 miles north of Anchorage. Located in a hay field in Palmer Alaska, Moffitt field has a beautiful panoramic view of mountains and glaciers. The Palmer site has a grass runway, and since there are no altitude restrictions, operation of our larger models and sailplanes is possible on this site.

We have been flying indoors at Teeland Middle School since 2001 and before that at Colony Middle School for almost  four years.  Teeland allows us use of two large gyms with the larger being approx. 145'x125'.  A very wide variety of flying machines uses the gyms each Thursday night:  Aerobatics at its best, indoor gliders, helicopters, tiny aircraft weighing only a few grams, some of the wildest combat contests.  All aircraft are electric, rubber-powered, or non-powered gliders.  The school is open to us because of the time ARCS spends helping and giving young kids training in the Science Olympiad program.  We teach Wright Stuff ,Wheeled Vehicles, Bridges, Robo Billiards, Mission Possible and Bottle Rockets. Through ARCS generous contributions, we have helped Teeland go to several national Science Olympiad events. We invite you to come and participate with us.  Contact Fred Keller, 907-746-0991, for information.

ARCS also provides RC demonstrations and introductory flights to students from a variety of institutions, including Homestead Elementary in Eagle River and The Imaginarium in Anchorage.  In 2004, ARCS assisted Palmer school teacher Heather Pelletier with an unusual project.  Ms. Pelletier had obtained funding and a small RPV (Remotely Piloted Vehicle) from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center for her science class.  ARCS helped the class assemble and fly the highly-modified ImageAire II aircraft, which gathered visible and infrared imagery of the area around Moffitt field.

ARCS is a competition oriented club. Because our club is isolated from most of the rest of the country, the only opportunity many of our members have to try various facets of R/C aircraft modeling is for the club to sponsor these events. Contests are held in Pattern, Scale Aerobatics (IMAC), Scale, Competition Fun-Fly, Old Timer flying (SAM), Thermal Duration sailplanes, and Limited Motor Run (LMR) electric gliders. In the past we have had Float Fly-ins, winter flying, pylon racing, and even cross-country rally races.

For the last fifteen years, we have recognized the best pilot in all of these events combined with the ARCS Pilot of the Year Award. We are pretty sure no other club offers this many different kinds of events, so winning this award is a challenge.

Almost every August since 1992, ARCS has hosted the Alaska Statewide R/C Championships. Contestants from all over the USA and other countries have attended this event. In the past, we have been fortunate to have as our guest such great pilots as Dave Von Linsowe, Dave Patrick, Jerry Smith, and Jason Shulman.  The event lasts for three days and includes AMA Pattern, Scale, Scale Aerobatics, Competition Fun-Fly, and Old Timer flying (SAM).

The most popular activity for most of our members is the same as anywhere else, Sunday Sport flying. If you are ever in Alaska, we hope you will join us and enjoy one of our facilities. We look forward to meeting you.

ARCS is AMA Chartered Club #1998.

2/13/2004