Brian Richmond has spent 25 years as a pilot for Alaska Airlines.
But last Saturday, he stood near the air strip at the Outlying Field in Coupeville and was at the controls of a model airplane.
He was there for the 24th annual “Jets over Whidbey” event, put on by the Whidbey Island Radio Control Society.
He couldn’t stay for a second day.
He needed to get to SeaTac to fly a Boeing 737 to Orlando, Fla., Sunday.
“I think I was 6 years old when I started flying radio-controlled stuff,” said Richmond, who lives in Gig Harbor. “I’m 55 now and I’ve been flying these things 49 years, which is a long time. I just absolutely loved these airplanes and was fascinated by it.
“Naturally, I just wanted to be a pilot.”
Richmond and his son Alex were among 27 registered pilots flying radio-controlled planes under blues skies at OLF Saturday.
The Navy allows the Whidbey Island Radio Control Society to use the airstrip during times when jets from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station aren’t flying. Navy jet activity canceled the first day of the model airplane event Friday.
About 60 people attended Saturday to watch the little planes whiz by and perform the sort of maneuvers one sees at air shows.
“We’re airplane cuckoos,” said Everett’s John Rogalski, who came with his friend Jeff Nikolaidis. “Both of us are docents at the Historic Flight Foundation in Mukilteo.
“We’ve been inoculated with the airplane virus.”
Two types of model aircraft were on display — electric-ducted fan jets and true turbine engine jets.
The planes range in price from $5,000 to $23,000, according to Tom Berry, the event coordinator.
An operator needs a waiver from the Academy of Model Aeronautics to fly a true turbine engine jet and isn’t supposed to fly the plane in excess of 200 mph.
“It’s just like you see in a 737, just smaller,” Berry said of the true turbine engine. “They put out 12-to-24 pounds of thrust.”
Richmond’s father, Stuart, got him involved with radio-controlled planes, and he used to compete with his older brother Bruce for years in pylon racing in sites across the country and in other parts of the world.
Richmond took an extended break to raise his family and is now getting more involved with model airplanes again.
He was flying his brother’s model plane, a Bob Violett Model Bobcat, with “Bruce Richmond” etched on the side.
“He died when he was 45, 10 years ago,” Richmond said. “He left me that jet.
“My brother was kind of a gruff character. He was really smart. Whenever we’re flying that, we feel he’s standing over our shoulders, saying, ‘Don’t screw up!’ I always feel like somebody’s out there helping us.”
