It's Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock, and normally, on a day off, there would be a gravity field drawing me to the recliner for a nap.

But my wife knows better. After 26 years of marriage (this Thursday) she knows what I'm going to say.

"I'm going down to my secret clubhouse," I recite, checking her knowing eyes for a response. Approval? Not quite. Resignation? Maybe. Tolerance? I'll take that as a "yes."

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When I was in junior high, a few of my friends and I had a secret clubhouse. It was an old chicken coop, actually, and I don't remember much about what went on there.

Activities probably centered around the Estes rockets we used to build, model hot-air balloons or other adventures. The friend who owned the chicken coop had an old Buick out back that he had hopes of driving, once he reached sufficient age.

But one feature I do remember was an escape tunnel. Actually, it was a ditch, covered with boards and dirt. Exactly who we were escaping from, and where we expected to go once we made our escape, I don't think even we knew.

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The guys I hang out with at the current secret clubhouse are not much different, except perhaps less hair and more experience.

The weekly topic is supposed to be radio controlled aircraft, but it's just as often the City Council's latest ideas on drinking water, or other political or societal goings-on.

The informal weekly meeting of the McCook Area Radio Control Society are often better attended than the official meetings, held the second Sunday of the month at 7 p.m., at Mexico Lindo in McCook, or at the flying field on River Road.

As for the escape tunnel, well, escape is what it's all about.

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Attendance at this week's meeting might be a little sparse, because of an auction in Arapahoe on Saturday which includes a lot of radio control aircraft and gear. We'll see how many make the trek east.

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Model aircraft are an interesting hobby, but that doesn't keep some from making more of it than a pastime.

Two former MARCS members have gone on to become professionals.

Larry Bartlebaugh and Dean McCoy left McCook to fly radio-controlled target drones for a company which helps train military personnel around the world. McCoy is now training for a job to teach Navy Seals personnel to fly remotely-piloted vehicles used for reconnaissance.

And, in Stratton, accomplished modeler Lynn Latta and his wife, Sandy, recently formed the Bluejay Airplane Kits company, and purchased the full line of Bridi Airplane Kits, putting many of them back into production. De-signed by Joe Bridi, who spent over 40 years designing and manufacturing high-quality radio controlled aircraft, the Bridi line is known around the world.

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The R/C sport has made some exciting strides in recent years, especially in the field of electric-powered, park flyers and even indoor airplanes are becoming more and more popular. And, like personal computers, the price of the equipment has dropped while capabilities have increased.

If you're interested in learning more, contact me, one of the other MARCS members, or check out one of the following Web sites:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/clubs/index.cf...

http://bridiairplanes.com/index.html

http://modelaircraft.org

Or, stop down at the MARCS flying field on River Road on a Sunday afternoon when the winds aren't too high. You may discover a new kind of escape tunnel.