Military Retiree Still Active in Retirement Community

Model Plane Hobby Fuels Lifelong Passion for Flying

SAN ANTONIO, Texas: If Vic Lucas had a theme song about his life, it might be the Frank Sinatra song, Come Fly with Me. The former Air Force fighter and corporate jet pilot now sticks to flying very intricate and detailed scale model planes on the campus of Air Force Village, a San Antonio-area retirement community for retired military officers and their families.

"I love the challenge that model plane flight brings," said Lucas. "I started flying models when I was a boy, but stopped when I entered the Air Force and could fly the real thing. I recently got back into it, since flying real planes has become too expensive."

Seven other residents of Air Force Village - some of whom are former pilots themselves - have also embraced the challenge that flying the planes presents. In fact, most of the residents now flying took up the hobby after moving to the retirement community. Weather permitting, the group gets together to fly about once a week throughout the year, creating a mini air show on grounds specially set aside for this activity on campus.

"I've been flying all my life, but as the cost of flying real planes has increased, I've had to scale down to flying these models," said Lucas.

Despite their smaller size, these planes are impressive. They have wingspans ranging from two-and-a-half to seven feet in length, electric motors and myriad moving parts to control flight. Most of the planes are built and stored in the community's hobby shop, where great skill and large amounts of time are devoted to building the replica aircraft. Lucas is currently building a new, ultra-maneuverable acrobatic plane. These planes are surprisingly agile, and can even hover a few feet above the ground vertically. "These planes definitely inspire oohs and ahhs from people who see them fly," said Lucas.

The hobby shop stays very busy when both plane builders and another group, known as the Village Yacht Club, are also using the shop to build their radio-controlled water-going crafts.

"I've also got a small helicopter that can be flown indoors, and sometimes I like to take it into the dining area and have a little fun," continued Lucas. "Even though my cockpit is now on the ground, I still get the same thrill."


ABOUT AIR FORCE VILLAGE

Founded by the Air Force Officers' Wives' Clubs, Air Force Village is a retirement community with two campuses located in San Antonio for retired officers and their parents or spouses from all branches of the military. Air Force Village I, off of Ravenswood Drive, and Air Force Village II, off of John D. Ryan Boulevard, offer a full continuum of care, including apartments, homes, assisted living, skilled nursing and memory support, if ever needed. Air Force Village is the first military-related retirement community to be accredited by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission.