In
the
early 1970's, a
group of modelers met at the old Community
Hospital on Glennwood in Tyler and formed the Tyler Modelers Club.
Model supplies were obtained from a small hobby shop in the Green Acres
Shopping Center.
By 1975, the club had grown and became registered with the AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) and chartered as Tyler Modelers Club # 960.
Flying was done mostly on Sunday afternoons on the site which the Broadway Square Mall now occupies. The flying site was later moved to where TJC's RTDC is now located on west Loop 323. Next it was moved to Interstate 20 Drag Way on Hiway 155, north of Tyler.
The club continued to grow and moved to an excellent site in Teaselville, former site of the Teaselville Airport. The TMC had over 70 members at this time and spent a considerable amount of money to improve the site, including a 12 ft X 70 ft shelter, storage building, and hard surface runway. Sadly, after 15 years, the owner of the field decided not to renew the lease and the TMC was forced to search for another location.
After trying other sites for a couple of years, an arrangement was made with the City of Tyler to use the present location at Northside Park. The TMC moved to this location in 1992 and has been there since. The City provided the location, but the TMC made, and paid for, all the improvements except the bleachers, which the City provided in 1999. The City provides mowing at regular intervals for the club runway and other TMC areas, and for bush-hogging of the flying field, twice a year.
In 1999, the TMC became a member of the IMAA, #684, and had our first sanctioned Combat Meet. Several BIG BIRD events have been held since that time.
In 2000, the first jet model successfully took off and landed at the TMC flying field.
In 2001, the field was scraped, leveled and re-seeded. Many truckloads of dirt were moved to fill low areas. Members provided the funds, labor and seed. The City provided the dirt. That year, the club purchased robust metal covers for three work areas and installed them, along with fabric covers for the bleacher and a rest area adjacent to the covered work areas. Pilot safety barriers were installed for six pilot stations, adjacent to the runway.
In 2002, the TMC club members poured concrete slabs under the large work areas. A large windvane was also permanently installed near the pit and pilot stations.
The TMC areas include a 60 ft X 600 ft grass runway, a large pit area, covered bleacher, four covered work areas, parking areas, a small metal storage building and a portable toilet. The club installed a sprinkler system for the runway, pit area, and areas around the work areas. A drinking fountain was also installed near the bleacher.
In addition to yearly BIG BIRD events, the TMC has a Black-Eyed Pea Fun Fly on the first day of each new year, and hosts a yearly two day Float Fly at the Lakewood site on Lake Palestine. There are also several club Fun Fly events at both the flying field and lake site.
The TMC is an active and growing club with members ranging from about 9 to 90 years of age. Visiting flyers are always welcome. There are flyers at the field almost every day of the week, weather permitting.
Check back for history updates........
By 1975, the club had grown and became registered with the AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) and chartered as Tyler Modelers Club # 960.
Flying was done mostly on Sunday afternoons on the site which the Broadway Square Mall now occupies. The flying site was later moved to where TJC's RTDC is now located on west Loop 323. Next it was moved to Interstate 20 Drag Way on Hiway 155, north of Tyler.
The club continued to grow and moved to an excellent site in Teaselville, former site of the Teaselville Airport. The TMC had over 70 members at this time and spent a considerable amount of money to improve the site, including a 12 ft X 70 ft shelter, storage building, and hard surface runway. Sadly, after 15 years, the owner of the field decided not to renew the lease and the TMC was forced to search for another location.
After trying other sites for a couple of years, an arrangement was made with the City of Tyler to use the present location at Northside Park. The TMC moved to this location in 1992 and has been there since. The City provided the location, but the TMC made, and paid for, all the improvements except the bleachers, which the City provided in 1999. The City provides mowing at regular intervals for the club runway and other TMC areas, and for bush-hogging of the flying field, twice a year.
In 1999, the TMC became a member of the IMAA, #684, and had our first sanctioned Combat Meet. Several BIG BIRD events have been held since that time.
In 2000, the first jet model successfully took off and landed at the TMC flying field.
In 2001, the field was scraped, leveled and re-seeded. Many truckloads of dirt were moved to fill low areas. Members provided the funds, labor and seed. The City provided the dirt. That year, the club purchased robust metal covers for three work areas and installed them, along with fabric covers for the bleacher and a rest area adjacent to the covered work areas. Pilot safety barriers were installed for six pilot stations, adjacent to the runway.
In 2002, the TMC club members poured concrete slabs under the large work areas. A large windvane was also permanently installed near the pit and pilot stations.
The TMC areas include a 60 ft X 600 ft grass runway, a large pit area, covered bleacher, four covered work areas, parking areas, a small metal storage building and a portable toilet. The club installed a sprinkler system for the runway, pit area, and areas around the work areas. A drinking fountain was also installed near the bleacher.
In addition to yearly BIG BIRD events, the TMC has a Black-Eyed Pea Fun Fly on the first day of each new year, and hosts a yearly two day Float Fly at the Lakewood site on Lake Palestine. There are also several club Fun Fly events at both the flying field and lake site.
The TMC is an active and growing club with members ranging from about 9 to 90 years of age. Visiting flyers are always welcome. There are flyers at the field almost every day of the week, weather permitting.
Check back for history updates........