“Aircraft have always been captivating to me,” said John Hudak.

A member of the Southern Indiana Flying Eagles, Hudak was one of many aviation-enthusiasts present on Sept. 7 at the club’s remote control plane fly-in to benefit the Humane Society of Jackson County.

The fly-in, held at the club’s RC field in the northwest corner of Freeman Field, was started two years ago by club member Rick Marksberry.

While landing fees serve as a donation, attendees also may donate cash, Purina pet food, treats and biscuits, paper towels, bleach, detergent garbage bags, toys and clay cat litter.

In total, the club garnered $903 for the Humane Society this year, amongst other donations.

According to Hudak, the club was founded around 1982 and the records are unclear as to who founded it.

He said this year’s fly-in featured a new aspect.

“This year, a group of people from Seymour, surrounding areas and Louisville who fly paramotors at the airport also joined us and contributed generously,” Hudak said.

Paramotoring involves a person flying with a motor on their back and a parachute, which allows them to glide through the air.

“The paramotor guys are a super good group of guys [and] I am friends with the majority of them,” local resident Daron Fleshman said. “I’m getting one in the near future, hopefully by next spring, and I’m going to be taking the classes instructed by Richard Turner and his helper and dear friend of mine John Rivera. Those guys contributed a good portion of the cash donations at the benefit fly-in with generous donations.”

Fleshman, a member of Flying Eagles, said his interest in aviation began at a very early age.

“Growing up, anytime I had a dollar or two in my pocket, I was buying a cheap wooden glider of some sort or a foam glider that was free flight, meaning there was no motor or engine. The only power was your arm throwing it,” Fleshman said.

His interest in aviation never waned throughout the years; however, Fleshman did not pursue flying remote-control plans as a hobby until six years ago.

“I always heard they were harder to fly than a real full-scale airplane, plus [it was] very expensive for a kit and took several weeks and months to build — and if you didn’t know how to fly, all of the money and time spent building it would be destroyed in a matter of seconds,” Fleshman said.

After seeing an ad in a magazine for foam electric airplanes with stability systems built into them and “safe technology” with three different modes of flying, Fleshman began to do research about flying RC planes. He downloaded an RC flight simulator and practiced for weeks with it before buying an E-flite Apprentice S 15e RTF (as well as a mini version of one).

Fleshman took both planes with him to the RC field at Freeman Field.

“I held my breath and throttled up and the plane gained speed and lifted in the air, and it was at that point I became addicted to this hobby,” Fleshman said. “It hooked me instantly. I flew it like I was an experienced pilot.”

At that point, Flying Eagles member Bob Bast of Seymour informed Fleshman that he was actually flying in the wrong spot and invited Fleshman back to the club to meet members and discuss joining, which Fleshman did.

Fleshman said he has acquired over 300 planes since.

“But I won’t mention how many of those I’ve crashed,” Fleshman said.

The fly-in is sanctioned by the Academy of Model Aeronautics and anyone who is an AMA member can participate.