Editor’s note: Reporter Mark Boyle takes us behind the scenes of news stories in the area. This week, he catches up with a group of pilots who spend most of their time flying, with both feet planted firmly on the ground. The Jayhawk Model Masters fly model aircraft that span all shapes, sizes and price ranges.

Those of you who visit the Clinton Lake dam area may have seen the aerial show put on by the Jayhawk Model Masters.

The club’s nearly 80 members — the youngest member is just 15 years old — spend their free time flying model airplanes based from their own miniature airstrip just east of the dam.

“It’s just a really great hobby,” said Patrick Deuser, club president. “The building, the flying, it’s wonderful. The camaraderie of the guys in the club is fun.”

The hobby attracts pilots from all walks of life.

Several are former pilots who want to continue the pursuit of the perfect flight, without investing the time and money to fly a full-scale aircraft. They say model airplanes can be just as fun as piloting on a larger scale.

“You can always take an instructor or ride with somebody else,” said George Jones, former pilot and club member. “This is about the next best thing.”

The size of the airplanes can be quite deceiving when airborne. Some are very intricate and have wing spans of more than 8 feet. I took over the controls of a trainer airplane, which was much smaller, and got the hang of it within 10 or 15 minutes — but still had plenty of room for improvement.

Club members urge anyone who enjoys building, tinkering and flying to join them and learn more about the hobby. Jayhawk Model Masters is host to three air shows a year at the airfield. I can tell you first-hand, the show is designed to impress.

If you’re interested in learning more, contact Jayhawk Model Masters at jayhawkmodelmasters.com or call at 766-9254.