Hobbyists fly military replica planes at warbird event

Military aircraft finatics from around the state and Midwest gathered on Saturday for a day-long event to fly remote-controlled replica planes.

The Cedar Rapids SkyHawks, a non-profit aeromodeling organization, hosts a yearly event called Warbirds Over Iowa. Warbirds refers to any military aircraft replicas.

'It's one of the most exhillerating hoppies I've had,” said Randy Lepsch, a member of the Cedar Rapids SkyHawks. 'For the 10 minutes you're flying, you're not thinking about anything else.”

The insignia for this year's event honored Dean Huston, a World War II veteran from Iowa.

Lepsch said he spent nine months building the replica of Huston's aircraft called the Hawk-Eye-Owan. He concentrated on the plane as he zeroed-in for its first flight of the day at Warbirds Over Iowa.

'You're thinking totally about the plane,” Lepsch said. 'You can't take your eyes off it.”

He said learning to fly Warbird planes didn't come easily at first.

'I've flown for about three-and-a-half years to work up to the Warbirds,” Lepsch said. 'And I still get nervous.”

Dave Kania, of Oelwein, Iowa, crashed one of his Warbirds at the event. Kania said he spent three years building the plane and more than $1,800, but said crashing is all part of the sport.

The event raises money for Honor Flight, an organziation that flies Veterans to Washington to visit their memorials.

'They've been a great supporter for Honor Flight,” said George Kickey, the public relations representative for Eastern Iowa Honor Flight. 'It's another opportunity for us to get out and educate people about what we do.”

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