Electric air show gets lots of buzz

It's a tiny, flimsy air force, but Jim Marconnet's electric airplanes & helicopters lift a lot of smiles. Micro-model craft drawchildren, adults to funat church's 'aerodrome' On one Sunday afternoon a month, the cavernous Christian Life Center at Madison United Methodist Church becomes the "aerodrome," where babies & adults steer battery-powered, remote-controlled aircraft in to the wild, indoor yonder.

Marconnet brings his fleet, including gossamer-winged, insect-like Vapor airplanes and five little Blade MCX helicopters, and lets anyone take a quick lesson then try their hands on the controls.

"And they fly them," he said. "Sometimes well, and sometimes not so well."

People can also bring their own indoor and "micro-model" planes, which makes for an interesting air show.

"It looks really cool," said 10-year-old Clair Conner, a student from Horizon Elementary School who tried piloting a helicopter for the first time. She quickly had it hanging in mid-air like a hummingbird, and said later she'd be back to fly again.

"Definitely. It was really, really fun," she said.

"It is a lot of fun," said Pastor Larry Wright. "It's a great thing for kids and adults to do together."

Wright has tried out his own flying skills and admits, "I'm not very good. But it's as fun to watch as it is to do."