Who We Are

We love all things that fly!
Just who are the Tri State Modelers?      We are a bunch of people who love aviation, especially flying model airplanes that are controlled using Radio Control (R/C) systems.  Our members range from highly experienced flyers to beginners. Our members are of all ages, from youngsters in school to seniors who are retired.  Some fly a lot, some rarely fly.   Some fly only electric planes, some fly fuel powered airplanes, others fly airplanes that are powered by gasoline engines.  Some models are very small and light ... others are up to 1/3 scale models of real aircraft.  Some members prefer helicopters and drones.   Some members love to build airplanes, others want to avoid building as much as possible.

The club is very loosely organized.   We are incorporated in the State of Iowa and we have a board of directors.   There are club meetings on the second Wednesday evening of each month at 7:00 PM.  They are held at Mt. Pleasant Home in Dubuque except for the summer months when meetings which are held at the flying site (weather permitting).     Attendance at these meetings is completely optional.
We fly at what was once called FDR park.   The park has been closed for many years so access is a bit of a problem.   We have a lease arrangement with the City of Dubuque Parks Dept. for the use of the field and access to it.   Each member receives a key for the lock at the gate which must not be duplicated or passed on to non-members.   Guests are always welcome at the flying field ... they just need to be escorted in through the gate by a member.

Our field was graded and developed entirely using funds and labors of club members many years ago when the park was still open to the public.  The field was developed and graded in 1977, so we have been at this location for quite a while!   Shelters and storage areas have been added since that time.    A few years ago we added a section of black landscape fabric to the north/south (main) runway so that the smaller lightweight electric models have no problem taking off or landing.   We do all the grass mowing and field maintenance with our own equipment.   We also maintain the road inside the gate when it needs grading.
Meetings at the Flying Field

Weather Criteria –The present criteria for moving the May thru August club meetings to Mt. Pleasant Home is as follows:
  • A severe weather watch
  • The wind is too high for most club members to fly comfortably (much over 10 mph)
  • The temperature is less than 60 degrees and wind other than calm
  • There is a significant threat of rain
Meetings at the Mt. Pleasant Home
1695 Mt Pleasant St, Dubuque, IA 52001

Park behind the building in the parking lot.
Enter the right rear door (NW corner), go past the dining area on your left, turn right, and we are in the meeting room ahead of you.

A peek into our meeting room