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Tim Key of Summerfield and Bill Fullington of Greensboro have been buds for more than 25 years. The two share a special bond, both vowing never to grow old, at least not in spirit.

“Be a kid and play,” Key said.

“Act young and don’t be embarrassed about it,” Fullington added.
Still boys of summer, at least in their hearts, the men love to be outdoors beneath a clear sky, the air sweetened by cool breezes. On such days, they load up, taking their toys to either an open field or a small pond.

Key and Fullington’s current favorite toys include radio-control model airplanes and boats. Relatively inexpensive to build or purchase, easy to operate and environmentally friendly, the gadgets guarantee an afternoon of fun.

Ten years ago, Fullington, a member of Greensboro Radio Aeromodelers, introduced Key to radio-control airplanes. Key was hooked.

“My favorite place to fly my model sailplanes is the Blue Ridge Parkway,” Key said. Enjoying the beauty and serenity of such places adds to his pleasure. In part, it’s the simplicity of the sport that lures him.

“I don’t play golf,” he said.

With other fellow aeromodelers, Fullington enjoys flying his “Alley Cat,” as well as other model planes in the organization’s RC Park in Browns Summit.

Member Pat Foley, who flew for 20 years in the military and 20 years as a commercial pilot, also derives pleasure from flying RC airplanes — smaller and far less risky than the large planes he originally piloted.
All the aeromodeler pilots take pride in sharing their small-scale hobby with children of all ages.

Recently, Key and Fullington have neglected their RC airplanes and have, instead, opted to launch radio-control sailboats on cool bodies of water during hot August weekends.

Only six months ago, they began building these vessels. From 1 to 3 feet in length, the bodies of the boats can be made of fiberglass or balsa wood.

The 1-foot versions are called footies. Wind on the sails powers the boats, which are controlled by radio transmitters.

Racing RC-powered boats is popular in several countries, including the United States. Though relatively new to North Carolina, some locales, particularly Asheville, Charlotte and Raleigh, now have groups of wannabe sailors racing these miniature sea craft.

Typically, Key brings his kayak, then paddles across the water setting up markers. Once the boys of summer place their sailboats in the stream, the race begins.

Sometimes, George Lawson, an avid footy fan, joins them. His boat is smaller and not as expertly constructed.

“My footy has calluses,” Lawson said, laughing.

Fullington has a 35-foot sailboat he keeps anchored at Oriental in eastern North Carolina. But in Greensboro, he’s with his forever-young friends proving that bigger isn’t necessarily better.

Sometimes, it’s just more trouble. Here nothing, except for an occasional curious turtle, threatens their miniature boats.

The men’s race attracts visitors. Key said he recognizes those really interested. There’s a twinkle in their eyes, he said. Key answers questions, showing what the sailboat can do. Then, if the twinkle’s there, he offers them the radio control and demonstrates how it works. Few refuse.

Recently, a new boy of summer (chronologically as well as in spirit), Price Lombardino, 12, stopped by. Eager to learn, he took the controlling device.

“It’s like playing chess,” Key told him. Evidently Price understands both chess and RC sailboats because he won a race.

“Sailing is artful,” Key said.

Contract Sandra Redding at Redding@earthlink.net