We’re just connecting the dots
WINTER TEXAN
Volume 10 • Issue 20 March 5, 2025
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I’m already starting to feel it. The start of March does it every time. I feel my days with all of you winding down for the season, and I’m just never ready to send you on your way, back to your northern homes. But what I’ve learned over the years is that there’s still a lot happening in March you don’t want to miss. As you know, South Padre Island is my place of peace—and fun! Every week in Welcome Home Winter Texan, you can read about the latest and greatest events happening on good ol’ SPI. The Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show in Mercedes runs from March 6 through March 16. Pull on your favorite cowboy boots and enjoy the rodeo, live music, students showing their animals, delicious food, and a wide range of vendors. And don’t forget the Texas Onion Fest in Weslaco March 22. I can almost smell those blooming onions as I type this. Speaking of food, McAllen bids farewell to the month with Taste of McAllen March 30 at magical Oval Park at the McAllen Convention Center. Over 25 local restaurants offer attendees a taste of their signature dishes. This is just a sample of the adventures awaiting you. I sure hope I see you at some of them! We’re just connecting the dots…
Thank You
SEASON SPONSORS 2024-2025
Aviation Club Shares Love of Flying by Ric Cavazos Photos courtesy of Small Model Aircraft Society of Harlingen
The sounds of vintage World War II planes flying over his boyhood home in Harlingen inspired a love of aviation for a young Pat Reilly. They were the prime years of the Confederate Air Force era at the Harlingen airport in the 1960s and 1970s. Reilly, his home located near the airport, took it all in. He grew up to become a pilot, fostering a love for flying. All these years later, Reilly has given up his days of being in a cockpit, but that doesn’t mean he has lost his appreciation for aviation. Reilly is, today, the president of an organization of aviation enthusiasts who enjoy flying model airplanes controlled by a remote control and powered by electricity. He calls it “a big hobby,” and with its accessibility and relative ease--as compared to past years--Reilly says “anyone can do it.” Ready To Fly The origins of the Small Model Aircraft Society of Harlingen go back to 1985. It is billed on its website as being an organization “to enjoy the fellowship of others who share our love for the sport of model aviation.” Its acronym is SMASH, and it utilizes two main airfields in the Rio Grande Valley. The primary flying space is found in Rio Hondo on South Arroyo Boulevard, in close proximity to the city’s lift bridge. The second air space has ties to the old CAF in that it is found in Mercedes at the original headquarters of the legendary organization and is located on Mile 2 E Road. It is at these flying spaces where SMASH members
The SMASH airfield in Rio Hondo near the city’s arroyo lift bridge features an 800-foot runway.
and anyone at-large who loves planes gather for picnics to see the models take flight. These days, the electronic-powered planes are called “foamies,” Reilly says, and are largely ready-to-fly, upon purchase. Radio equipment is built into the foam model planes. From there, it’s a matter of practice and patience when learning how to maneuver the planes skyward. “It’s not like learning to ride a bicycle,” Reilly said. “These foamies have electronics that help you keep the wings level. It’s something you have to work at.” From Wooden Planes to Foamies Reilly recalls the years of his youth when old-school planes were made of balsam wood and were handlaunched. The wooden planes glided without a power source and were guided by wind currents. They were, as a result, vulnerable to the elements, and crashes were CONTINUED ON PAGE 2