FALLBROOK -- Pass the junction of Interstate 15 and Highway 76 any day of the week and you're likely to spot tiny airplanes streaking above your head.
On Saturday, the sky was especially crowded as the 10th annual Flights of Fancy brought young and old alike to the large private field to learn about the sport of model aviation. Proceeds from the event are donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum in Balboa Park.
"I brought my daughter Veronica because I thought it was an interesting subject to expose her to," said Lawrence Wang of Poway. "She likes biology and dinosaurs, so hopefully this will develop even more interest in science."
Veronica, a third-grade student at Morning Creek Elementary, said she "came to fly airplanes" and that she does like science because "it's just fun."
Organized by the nonprofit Palomar Radio Controlled (RC) Flyers, Flights of Fancy is a "one-day educational field trip" featuring model building. Students are given the materials and instructions to build their own stick-and-tissue flying models, and then shown how to fly them. An instructor guides the students with a dual-control model airplane.
The lesson also covers aviation principles. Students view a cutaway model and principles of flight are demonstrated using classroom aids. And there's a competition, where students can win prizes for the longest flight time.
As a large group of children, parents in tow, quietly watched on Saturday, John Sebastian of Escondido explained the working parts of a model plane.
"This part is like your mom or dad and these parts are like three kids," said Sebastian, who teaches at Shivela Middle School in Murrieta. "This part says what to do, and these say, 'OK, OK, OK.'"
Eyeing the group, concentrating heavily as they carefully cut out paper templates to transfer onto Styrofoam plates, Sebastian took the pressure off.
"It doesn't have to be perfect at all," said Sebastian. "Look at mine, it's kind of sloppy and it will still come out to be a great plane."
"I knew a lot about airplanes from school and books, " said 10-year-old Max Faller of Rancho Santa Fe. "Today, I learned how the insides work."
Max came with his brother Marcus and his father after learning about the event while waiting to attend a Sally Ride presentation at the Aerospace Museum last month.
His father, Martin, said the boys were reluctant at first, but, as is usually the case, were later pleased that he had dragged them to another new activity.
"Once I saw they had all this, I was happy he brought me," said 8-year-old Marcus.
Every Monday evening, the Palomar RC Flyers, a chartered member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, holds instruction days, encouraging the public to check out the club. For more information visit www.palomarrcflyers.org">www.palomarrcflyers.org
