Climbing into the air, a remote-control airplane circles Lake Poway before descending gently to skim the water’s surface.
The moment it touches down, another aircraft, waiting nearby, launches upward to continue the display.
For 36 years, members of the Lake Poway Skimmers have been taking off and landing their remote-control airplanes at the lake every other Monday afternoon. But that is nearing an end.
The model airplane enthusiasts were informed last month by the city that their permit to use the lake for flying their airplanes will expire at the end of the year and will not be renewed.
The city is developing updated recreation policies and exploring options to expand recreational opportunities at the lake in early 2026, said Rene Carmichael, city spokesperson. And they can’t move forward with any plans because of safety concerns about remote-control airplanes skimming the lake, Carmichael said.
“It’s going to hurt to lose this. I hope they reconsider,” said Bob Mosley, a five-year member of the Lake Poway Skimmers.
Members of the club planned to attend the Nov. 18 Poway City Council meeting to ask the council to save one afternoon a month for them to fly their model airplanes at the lake.
“Technically, we really only fly 24 days a year now,” said Curtis Kitteringham, 70, club president. “We would at least like to get 12 flight days in, if possible.”
Lewis Dotson, a retired nurse at the VA Hospital, enjoys his turn at flying his plane from the boat dock. (Criselda Yee)
Scott McCurdy prepares to fly his plane from the shore. (Criselda Yee)
From left, Lake Poway Skimmers members Mark Lukens, Bob Mosley, George Sager and Lewis Dotson. (Criselda Yee)
Mark Lukens, Bob Mosley and Lewis Dotson preparing to fly their radio-controlled planes at Lake Poway. (Criselda Yee)
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Lewis Dotson, a retired nurse at the VA Hospital, enjoys his turn at flying his plane from the boat dock. (Criselda Yee)
The Lake Poway Skimmers was founded in 1989 as a sanctioned Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) club. The AMA is a nationwide nonprofit community of individuals who fly remote-control airplanes that provides information about groups to join, competition opportunities and insurance coverage for clubs that fly on public land.
Members said they put significant time and effort into their hobby. Some of the remote-control planes are purchased as complete models, and others are assembled from scratch.
“I have models in my garage that are worth thousands of dollars,” said Kitteringham, an Escondido resident. “It’s a hobby, and it depends on how much you want to put into it.”
Curtis Kitteringham flies his plane from the boat dock. Kitteringham’s planes are dedicated float models. The floats can be removed and replaced with landing gear. Kitteringham, the president of the Lake Poway Skimmers, was inducted into the Model Aviation Hall of Fame on June 30, 2024. (Criselda Yee)
Bill Hill retrieves his plane at the end of the flight. (Criselda Yee)
Three model planes flying over Lake Poway. (Criselda Yee)
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Curtis Kitteringham flies his plane from the boat dock. Kitteringham’s planes are dedicated float models. The floats can be removed and replaced with landing gear. Kitteringham, the president of the Lake Poway Skimmers, was inducted into the Model Aviation Hall of Fame on June 30, 2024. (Criselda Yee)
Before retiring, Kitteringham worked for telecommunication and data companies, building server rooms. He is active in the AMA and was named to its Hall of Fame last year. He previously taught AMA-sponsored classes for kids at the San Diego Aerospace Museum.
Kitteringham said he believes the Lake Poway Skimmers is the only AMA sanctioned club that allows flight over water.
“There is a challenge of getting the model off the water and putting it back on the water without wrecking it,” he said.
Carmichael said the decision not to renew the club’s permit came after a new concessionaire — the Lookout Restaurant and Tackle Shop — came aboard in 2024 and expressed interest in enhancing the public’s access to the lake and providing more recreational opportunities.
Lake Poway is open for boating and fishing six days a week, except on Monday. This spring, the city expanded fishing and boating opportunities to include Tuesdays, Carmichael said.
“We understand the impact that this will have on the club and hope they can find an alternate location to fly their aircraft,” she said. “At the end of the day, we have a responsibility to provide the greatest amount of good for the greatest (number) of people. Our focus is on maximizing access and benefits for Poway residents.”
Skimmers members, most of them retired, said they look forward to socializing at the lake as they fly their planes. The club has 50 registered members.
“There’s not a lot of activities for senior citizens, and this is fun,” said George Sager, 78, a Poway resident and club member for 10 years. “Many members have become friends through this club and go camping together.”
The group has a true sense of camaraderie, said Ferdinand Custodio, 57, who lives in Scripps Ranch.
“This brings me joy, and I will miss the whole experience,” Custodio said. “We have been here for so long.”
Lewis Dotson has been building model airplanes since he was 11.
“I love flying over the water. It’s more enjoyable than flying over land and takes more skill,” said Dotson, who is retired, spent 35 years as a VA nurse and 22 years in the Navy Reserve. He has been a club member for four years.
Longtime member Steve Belknap, 70, a resident of San Diego who is the webmaster for the group, said he wishes the city had given them more notice — particularly since they’ve been together so long.
“Surely they can carve out some time for us to use the lake,” he said.