With temps in the 100’s as school begins this week, chances are good that Lone Tree’s Fall Fest won’t feel quite like fall on Friday and Saturday, August 25-26.  But that’s no reason not to get out there: the city has much fun planned for the weekend event, starting with the all-new Knockerball on Friday night and Saturday, which replaces carnival rides this year.  

There are plenty of competitions and events to enjoy (see lonetreeiowa.com for the complete schedule), including a few that are sure to keep you cool, such as water activities by Lone Tree Fire and Rescue, a dunk tank, and an ice cream social.  

One feature of Fall Fest you won’t want to miss is the Lone Tree Flyers, the local RC aircraft club, who will be flying planes at the airfield next door to the American Legion from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and will have a float in the parade at 11 a.m. that morning.

“I think we had an argument this year on what was the best chocolate [to throw at the parade],” club president John Biondo says.  “I think the conclusion was, don’t get chocolate because it will melt by the time we throw it.”

So, don’t expect chocolate, but do expect candy, in addition to a variety of remote-control airplanes and one of the club’s flying trailers when you see the Lone Tree Flyers at the parade.  

“This event will be the third or fourth year we’ve done this,” Biondo says of the club’s official participation in Fall Fest.  “It really is our way to give back to the community since the city owns the property that we fly on.  They’re very supportive and we’ve got a great relationship with them.”

The club hopes you’ll come out to the airfield, located at 300 N. Devoe St., to watch them fly, check out the variety of RC planes they’ll have on display, and ask questions.

Inside the spectator area, club members will have RC aircraft that range from giant scale planes with 80” wingspans, warbirds, biplanes, and jets to foamies -- fun, smaller, entry-level planes that can get you quickly and easily into the hobby.  And that, really, is what the Lone Tree Flyers hope to accomplish.

“We’re always looking for new members.  We’re always looking for people that have an interest in model aviation who want to learn to fly,” Biondo says.  “There’s quite a bit of capability within the club to do that.”

“Most people that know about the club also know that Gary Kleinmeyer, who was one of the founding members of the club and lives in Lone Tree, has a world-class shop in the downtown area where we work on and build the planes,” he continues.  “We’re always willing to help people out that have an interest in it.”

Club members have invited friends from other parts of Iowa to join them out on the airfield this Saturday.  

“It’s really just a relaxing day just to enjoy and put on a show for the community,” Biondo says.

The Lone Tree Flyers are a sanctioned club of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), and their field is offically identified by the FAA, which means that RC pilots have the freedom to fly up to 1200 feet, and anyone who might be flying a full-scale aircraft in the area knows they are there.  

It also means “the club is going to be around for a while,” Biondo chuckles.

For more information about the Lone Tree Flyers, including their pilot training program, visit them during Fall Fest or see them on Facebook.