Our Flying Site:

NeST-RC’s Flying Site is located about 20 miles northeast of Indianapolis Indiana, first chartered by the AMA in March of 2011.  We have developed a flying site near the intersection of 166th Street and Boden Road, just off exit 210 on I-69.

New amenities included:

  • Runway 9/27 is 450’ long and 52’ wide, and is covered by a smooth Geotextile fabric material.  The fabric is an excellent flying surface for all wheeled aircraft.
  • The entire pit area and ample taxiway space is also covered in Geotextile fabric.
  • The runways are marked with numbers and center lines, the safety flight line and taxi areas are also marked.
  • There are 6 safety pilot stations in front of runway 9/27.
  • There are 10 custom-built pit tables in the pit area.
  • There is a 20’ x 20’ metal shelter on the spectator side of the pit fence with 3 picnic tables and a locker cabinet (all members have access to the locker cabinet).
  • There is a 12′ X 10′ shed that contains a the field maintenance tools.
  • Port-a-potty on-site (March through October)
  • Parking on site for up to 10 vehicles. Overflow parking available on the mulch and grass areas.
  • 3 – 120VAC 20 Amp circuits. Sixteen outlets.

Field Hours

Daily – Dawn to Dusk

Electrics ONLY before 9:00 am
(due to residential noise abatement)

Challenges

NeST-RC started in 2011. To create our airstrip, we started out with Geotextile fabric. If you have been to our Home page, you have seen what a lovely site we have during the season. But, we have had some challenges. Even with those challenges with this material, I think that anyone in the club would tell you that it has been a good experience. Much easier to fly off than grass, and much less expensive than asphalt or concrete, it is a fine surface. We hope that the information presented here will help other clubs in their decision-making process when it comes to Geotextile fabric.

Setting the plastic sheeting.
Getting Down the Plastic
Sorting out the Mess
The Jumbled Fabric
Getting to Work
Finishing the Second Strip
The Finished Repairs
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While during the season, we generally love flying off the fabric, each winter we usually have some wind damage. The cold, hard west winds come ripping across the open fields and turn the fabric into a sail wing. And, before too long, it has ripped the stakes out of the ground.

We first began by staking the fabric down with 8 inch pins; basically like large staples. Then, last year we staked the edges and down the center of the runway with longer, 18 inch stakes. And that helped. But, not enough. Come January, we still had quite a bit of wind damage. But, this year, we have staked each individual strip down the center. So, we are hoping that next winter, we won’t have as much damage.

For more detailed information regarding our history with the Geotextile fabric, check out our runway process document.