About the Club
The original hangar at Fair Haven, built in the 1920's.
Our History
The Rutland County RC Flyers have been around as a group since the early 1970's. During our early days, club members actually flew their models at what is now the Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport. While at KRUT, we safely mingled RC operations with full-scale aircraft. As the Rutland Airport grew, however, we needed to find a new home.
We found it in at the site of the former Fair Haven Municipal Airport, and with the support of the Town of Fair Haven, we have been there ever since. At first, club members flew in coordination with full-scale aircraft, using a grass runway adjacent to the airport's original 2,000 foot gravel runway.
On May 17, 1991 the club became an officially chartered club with the Academy of Model Aeronautics. Our charter helps ensure that all club members adhere to the AMA Safety Code, keeping pilot and spectator safety right at the top of the list, and provides additional liability insurance for our members.
In 2006, Fair Haven Municipal Airport closed to general aviation, which left the club a superb area in which to fly RC aircraft. The airport property consists of some 140 acres of land, and is ideal for operating RC aircraft of all types, large and small. The Fair Haven Municipal Airport, itself, has a fascinating history, which is detailed on Paul Freeman's site, "Abandoned and Little Known Airfields".
Fun Fly events are a celebration of model aviation!
Our 800 x 75-ft grass runway is adjacent to the airport's gravel runway.
In addition to having fun flying RC models, the Rutland County RC Flyers also give back to our host community. Each year we donate to Fair Haven area organizations, such as Fair Haven Concerned, and other organizations in town such as police, fire, EMS, and the DPW. We also distribute free ice cream cones each summer at Fair Haven's Concerts in the Park series.
If you'd like to simply visit with us, meet the pilots and watch the action, you are most welcome to join us during the warmer months at the airport. We generally fly on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays although we do fly on other days depending on the current weather. See details, below, for a map and directions to our site. Contact us via email
How to Find Us and Remote ID
In July, 2023, our airfield was approved by the FAA as a "FRIA," or FAA-Recognized-ID-Area. This means that pilots can enjoy RC without using remote ID modules in their aircraft while flying at Fair Haven.
Take Exit 2 off of US Route 4; head south towards the Town of Fair Haven.
Take the first left after you pass McDonalds onto 4th Street, then an immediate sharp left onto Airport Road.
Follow Airport Road to the original gravel runway. STOP until a club member waves you in. Proceed slowly down the runway to the pit area.
Click on the diagram, below, to get directions from Google Maps.
Our GPS coordinates are: 43.615451, -73.274495
Aerial view of our home field FRIA in Fair Haven