Who are the Signal Seekers?
The Signal Seekers RC Club was founded on March 8th, 1964 in Wayne, Michigan by a group of RC enthusiasts who were looking for a place to get together to hang out, swap modeling ideas, and (most of all) fly model aircraft. Now in Westland, Michigan, we are a community-centered, non-profit organization that promotes building, instructing, promoting, advancing, and ultimately flying model aircraft.
Our club is a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (www.modelaircraft.org), a national organization that promotes our hobby all across the United States. Over the years we have been home to hundreds of aero modelers all across the Metro Detroit area, with members all across the United States (and even some in Asia.) Members of the club (at least the ones within driving distance) meet once a month to report on club business, review current events in the hobby and share build projects. Our club continues to grow as we introduce new members, both young and old, to this fantastic (and educational) hobby.
Club meetings are held on the 4th Wednesday of every month at the Canton EAA Chapter 113 Aviation Center during winter months and at the field during the flying season. At these meetings, members and guests come together to discuss club business, and current events in the hobby and share build projects.
Our Flying Field
Our field is located at 3821 South Henry Ruff (on the border of Westland and Inkster, just south of Michigan Avenue) and is open year-round for club members and their guests. The grounds on which we fly used to be owned by Wayne County, and were once part of the Eloise Psychiatric Hospital compound. When the hospital closed, the land was partially reused by the county and the rest sold off. The majority of the land to the south of Michigan Avenue became the property of Ford Motor Company, who generously allow us to use a portion of the land in exchange for taking care of it and using it to further the hobby and serve the community. We also share a portion of the grounds with a local farmer, as well as a community garden just inside the front gate.
Pilots enjoy almost unlimited flyover space for all varieties of aircraft and helicopters. We offer a 450′ manicured turf runway on a 300’x 300′ plot of land, as well as a separate 200′ turf circle adjacent to the main field for park flyers and control line flight. A permanent shelter, added in 2013, provides 720 square feet of shade and a place for spectators to relax and watch the pilots.
The Academy of Model Aeronautics
The Academy of Model Aeronautics is a world-class association of modelers organized for the purpose of promotion, development, education, advancement, and safeguarding of modeling activities.
The AMA serves as our voice to Congress, the FAA and the general public, and provides leadership, organization, competition, communication, protection, representation, recognition, education, and scientific/technical development to modelers, as well as valuable insurance benefits to its members. AMA membership is a requirement for all members of our club.
More info can be found here – AMA Website
Our Training Program
AMA registered flight instructors are available most Wednesday evenings during the flying season for member flight training as well as “Discovery Flights” for new pilots looking to experience RC flight for the first time. Several club trainer airplanes are available for those new to RC, but more serious students are encouraged to purchase their own equipment and airplane (with expert guidance from our members and instructors.)