Delectation

Quartzsite has an airport, but it’s not what you think. Home of the Quartzsite Desert Flyers, the James B. Colwell Flying Field is a miniature airport used by remote control airplane enthusiasts. Luckily for us, this past weekend was their annual air show.

We had been seeing a few small planes rising up into the air from our motorhome, and upon learning they were having a show, we decided to check it out. They had two shows; one Friday night and another on Saturday morning.

The Friday night show was held at dusk. We parked the truck along the edge of the runway, and sat on the tailgate watching them perform. There were only a few planes up in the air that evening, but we delighted in seeing them glide through the air, lit up like neon sign. Their colored lights let us follow their paths through the night sky as they showed off their flying skills. With almost silent electric engines, the planes would make graceful arcs and lines as they calmly climbed and turned in front of us. Suddenly, the quiet would be interrupted by a smaller, quicker plane zipping past us with its motor whistling as it tried to reach the heights above. The show lasted a little over an hour, upon which the parking lot began to clear. We were chatting with friends who showed up late, when a few more planes took off as a bit of an encore. As an added bonus, we saw the moon encased in a halo directly above us.

Saturday morning was their main event. I think there were no less than 50 aircraft with an impressive variety of shapes and sizes. We saw military style planes as well models of the smaller one or two-person propeller planes. Those with electric engines would quietly soar through the sky, while those with gas powered motors would rumble and roar as they went past. When the jet plane took the runway, the distinct whistle and whooshing sounds of the air being force through was undeniable. The whole aircraft was trembling as it powered up on the runway, and when they hit the throttle, zoom, it was gone. It was a “don’t blink or you’ll miss it” moment when it went by, and when it curved around to come back, it seemed like I could feel the g-forces pulling sideways. It was the fastest craft by far. The brightly painted aircraft contrasted against the cerulean blue skies. I think the yellow and black one was my favorite. It was exciting to see the control they had over the planes: the loops, rolls, and spins, as well as the stall and recover maneuvers were fun to watch. These miniatures can do everything a full sized one can do, and need much less space to do it. At one point, we noticed a full size plane flying over these smaller planes of the show on its way to a destination further west. Most went by so fast it was hard to focus the camera or get a good photo, but I have a few to share to remember the day. If I didn’t know better, I would think they were full size planes from the photos.

I didn’t know if I would enjoy an event like this, but I did, and am glad we went. I would go again if I had the chance. It made me think it might be a fun hobby, when we settle down again.

Delectation is a new word for me, but it describes what I felt watching them perform their maneuvers. It simply means delight or enjoyment. I don’t think I have heard it before, but I like it. Life is not always easy, and too often I am stuck in a cycle feeling blah and unmotivated. Small events like this can break up that routine, bring moments of glee, and set a better mood. I ought to seek out delectation more often.

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