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Chris "Lucky" Carnes and his wife, Melanie,
at E-Fest.
While at the 2009 Great Planes E-Fest in
Champaign, Illinois, I met Chris Carnes and
his wife, Melanie, who are members of the
Radio Active Airshows team that is based in
Danville, Virginia. Chris has a great story
about overcoming his disability and
promoting model aviation with the help of
his friends and family.
Following is the interview I conducted with
him during our visit.
JS: How long have you had muscular dystrophy
[MD]?
CC: I was diagnosed with MD when I was 11
years old, so I have lived 22 years with MD.
JS: What led you to start flying model
airplanes in 2004?
CC: A family member was just learning to fly
and told me to come and check it out. Well,
it didn't take but one trip for me to figure
out that I had to try that! The very next
weekend I was there with my own airplane and
ready to go. Only took a couple of sessions
to solo and I was off on my own.
Sometime later we made a trip to The Masters
at Triple Tree [Aerodrome in Woodruff, South
Carolina] to see the contest, which was the
first time I had seen one, and I was blown
away watching those guys. I told the guys
that came with us, "I'm going to do that." I
haven't stopped trying yet.
JS: When you first got interested in flying
model airplanes, did you ever think you
would be unable to do it because of physical
limitations?
CC: I had some doubts, but I'm not one to
let anything stand in my way. There is
always a way! It has been all possible with
the support from my wife and son and a group
of guys from Chase City to Danville,
Virginia. If it wasn't for them helping me
on everything, I don't know how far I would
have been able to come in this hobby.
This hobby has given me the best friends
anybody could ask for, and has helped me
physically and mentally. Also, all the
support that we get everywhere we go is
unbelievable. That is what makes this hobby
so special: its people.
JS: How long have you been flying with Radio
Active Airshows and how did you get started
with the team?
CC: I was lucky enough that some of the guys
who were training me to fly knew the guys of
Radio Active Airshows. We would go to
Danville, Virginia, once in awhile and fly
at their club field. Then we all grew to be
great friends. I always told my wife that
would be a very cool thing to do.
One day, Jeff Phillips called and said that
they need another experienced flier on the
team and asked if I would join them. That
was the phone call that changed my life! I'm
very honored to be a part of Radio Active
Airshows and able to promote the hobby—a
hobby that I love so much!
JS: Approximately how many air shows do you
participate in each year?
CC: We try and do as many air shows as
possible. It is usually around 10 to 12,
plus we are doing the indoor shows now too.
JS: How often do you fly when not doing
shows?
CC: I fly every chance I get. I have
thousands of hours on the simulator. If it
isn't cold or raining, you can find me at
the field every weekend, and during the
winter months you can find me in a gym
somewhere.
JS: What has been your most rewarding
experience since you began flying model
airplanes?
CC: I would have to say the most rewarding
experiences have been having people tell me
that knowing me or just seeing me fly has
touched them to take on anything and never
to give up—that they, too, can do anything.
One experience, for example, was when we
were at the end of our air show, a gentleman
came up to me in an electric wheelchair,
introduced himself, and told me he had MD as
well. He said that his wife had got him an
electric airplane for his birthday, but he
had never opened it, for he was afraid that
he would not be able to fly it. After
watching me, he wanted to tell me he was
going home and get it out of the box. Oh
man, that touched all of us on the team!
I would also like to say to all of our
clubs, members, etc., take someone any age,
disabled or not, and teach them to fly; show
them the hobby. They just might change
someone's life or even save it! I'm living
proof that it works!
Also, special thanks to my wife, Melanie,
and my son, Austin, for all of their support
and love, and to all my friends that have
helped me on my quest. Thank you! If it
wasn't for you all, I would not be where I'm
at or the person that I have become. Love
you all!
You can read more about Chris on his Web
site at
http://luckyrc260.googlepages.com and find out more about Radio
Active Airshows at
www.flyradioactive.com. MA
—Jay
Smith
MA Assistant Editor
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