It’s not an uncommon sight.

Navy planes rip and roar through Whidbey Island’s skies on a daily basis.

There’s a group of local flyers, however, that in terms of size and decibel level, might soar under the radar of Islanders.

Whidbey Island Radio Control Society, a group of 95 remote control plane enthusiasts, have shared airspace over Oak Harbor and Coupeville since the early 1980s.

“It’s basically radio controlled aircraft in all its versions,” said WIRCS president Ken Woblick, defining the club’s purpose.

Any weekend the sun peeks through the clouds and there is minimal wind, club members can be found lining the airstrip at Outlying Field south of Coupeville.

Carrying park flyers, gliders, sport planes, helicopters and even some single-turbine jets, members seem to share one true passion for their hobby.

“I enjoy the camaraderie of it all,” said 69-year-old Keith Dubendorf. “Everybody out there enjoys flying and talking about planes.”

Standing over his fleet of six airplanes, Woblick proclaimed it’s not always the flying that’s the most rewarding part of radio control planes, but working up to it.

“I love to build airplanes,” he said. “Flying is the second part of it.”

Several of Woblick’s planes were constructed from the ground up with balsa wood kits, while a couple are “already ready to fly” planes.

“They take minimal effort to put together and it gets you into the field,” Woblick said.

His most prized possession, however, is his orange Dazzler, which he constructed over a 30-hour period, using fine detail.

“It’s more of a sport airplane that does loops barrel rolls and just about any kind of maneuver you want,” Woblick said.

Although he has 10 years of radio control experience under his belt, Woblick has yet to work up to the level of flying jets, which are legally allowed to reach speeds of 200 mph.

“When you’re talking a $4 or $5 thousand airplane you want to have control of it,” he said.

Due to its rare facilities, WIRCS holds one of the largest jet meets on the west coast. This year’s event, which will draw people from British Columbia, Montana, Idaho and California, will take place Aug. 27-28 at Outlying Field.

“This field here, we’re really fortunate the Navy lets us use it because a lot of fields are grass fields,” Woblick said. “The jet pilots love it here.”

Several people in other western states subscribe to a WIRCS membership just so they can attend the annual event.

WIRCS also holds smaller events throughout the year, including many just for fun, like pylon races and weight lifting competitions.

Members range from middle-school age to 85-year-old Burt Burnham of Coupeville.

Burnham, who flew his first radio control plane in 1927, still loves making it out to the airstrip when he can. His favorite part of the hobby, however, has always been putting planes together.

“I’m a better builder than I am a flyer,” he said, laughing.

WIRCS also works with students at the Oak Harbor Christian School in a special program. Five or six kids are selected at the beginning of the year to participate in a six-month program that introduces them to basics of flying. Students then build a glider and work their way up to constructing and using a trainer model plane.

Woblick said that people can get involved in the hobby of radio control planes fairly cheap. For a trainer plane, which is what most people learn on, he spent $64 for a kit, $45 on a motor and $120 on radio gear.

“You can do it pretty inexpensive,” he said.

For those interested in joining WIRCS, the club meets at 7:30 p.m., the final Monday of every month at the VFW on Goldie Road in Oak Harbor. According to Woblick, annual dues are reasonable because the club is allowed to use Outlying Field. Membership costs $20. He said other area clubs charge anywhere from $40 to $100 for a membership.

Call 679-2171 or e-mail kwoblick@aol.com.