About Sodbusters       

The club is a non-profit corporation and formed during the winter of 1982 / 1983. Currently, our club membership averages 140 people each year. Originally, the club name was the Stillwater Flyers; however with time, the name changed to the present Sodbuster’s R/C Flying Club and the club was chartered by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (commonly called the AMA). Originally, the founders had flying sites near highway 36 and Manning Avenue on and old sod field just south of the present Stillwater Motors, the group also flew north of the current Herberger’s location and where the Stillwater High School is located.  The sod fields were owned by Anderson , whose house and buildings are still on the east side of the road. During the fall of 1981, the group collected donations from those who flew on the Anderson property and Bruce Staberg along with Mark D’Aloia presented Mr. Anderson with a Christmas card and about $120 cash. They approached Mr. Anderson about designating his sod fields as a AMA flying site if a club was formed and He seemed agreeable. So, over the winter of 1982/83 the club was formed. Jim Kriesel filed the papers for the club and his daughter helped things along by getting shirts and jackets for the club. A logo was needed for the materials and this lead to the development of the ‘Sodbuster” name and our present logo.

 Development forced the move in 1987 to a site in West Lakeland Township directly across from the location where we presently fly at the sod farm located at Manning and I-94. This early site at the I-94 / Manning Avenue intersection was named “Medved Field” after Don Medved, an early member of the club now deceased. Don had been an early driving force in the club’ and, as a result of his contributions to the club efforts, the club named the Sodbuster field “Medved Field” in his honor. The name continues.

Early members were Jim Kriesel, Mike Kriesel (Jim’s son), Mark D’Aloia, Bill Soete, Scott Russell, Don Medved, Frank Selbitschka, Al Stroth, George Gary, Bruce Staberg and Jim Staberg (Bruce’s Dad).

Over the years, the club has provided a much needed civic service to our communities. Club members routinely lecture at local schools, scout activities (both boy and girl), various law enforcement programs and give assistance to the Civil Air Patrol training programs. Many current members instruct new students how to safely fly remotely controlled aircraft and a number of these students have gone on to fly full size aircraft as both private and commercial pilots. This civic need goes on today and continues to be served by our club members.

Members operate a variety of gas engine, electric powered and glider type radio control airplanes. Each type presents its own challenge with size and design of the airplane dictating the flying skill needed.   The exception is that no planes controlled by wires (U-control) are permitted. Safety issues preclude the flying of these aircraft types. All members must also have current membership in the AMA). The AMA - in addition to providing insurance coverage to members and owners of flying sites - promotes model aviation by sponsoring competitive flying events nationwide.

Sodbuster members are also involved in float plane operations. The club maintains a flying site at Lynch Lake in Washington County . Different flying skills are required for flying off of the water and this represents another challenge for radio control model airplane pilots.

Thanks to Bruce Staberg for sharing his memories with us.