Flying Fever : The county has six model airplane clubs, and older men make up most of the memberships.

Outdoor hobby enthusiasts come in all ages. And if you are not up for motorcycle racing or bungie-cord jumping, you might try building and flying model airplanes. It combines artistry with mechanical skills. It gets you out in the fresh air with the companionship of other modelers. And it’s easier on the knees than jogging.

Membership in the six model airplane clubs in Ventura County is made up largely of senior men who construct and fly large replicas of airplanes. Most enthusiasts fell in love with these aircraft during the 1940s and ‘50s when they piloted the real thing.

Howard Broughton, 76, of Ojai has been a member of the Ventura County Comets since his retirement 12 years ago. But he credits The Times with sparking his interest in his hobby in 1928 when he was 13.

The newspaper, he said, was “publishing a section to promote the interest of boys in aviation much as they now promote an interest in sports.”

“There were no model airplane stores or supplies available,” Broughton recalled. “I lived in Highland Park then and belonged to the Los Angeles Times Playground Aircraft League. The Times got balsa wood, piano wire and glue to the parks and helped hire people to help us.”

These days, Broughton can be found flying model airplanes every week. But now they are radio-controlled.

“These are not toys,” he said. “It takes skill and technical expertise to build and fly them. But guys our age are interested in the history also because we lived through it.”

The three California Senior Legislators from Ventura County will be at the State Capitol in Sacramento to participate in the organization’s 11th annual session Nov. 4-8.

The 120-member California Senior Legislature was created in 1980 as an advocacy organization for the more than 4.2 million elderly residents in California. It was modeled on the state Legislature, with 40 senior senators and 80 senior assemblymen. Volunteer members are registered voters over the age of 60 who have been elected by their peers through local Area Agencies on Aging.

According to Senior Assemblywoman Maxine Culp, 67, of Ventura: “The CSL has been very effective in bringing the top legislative priorities of the elderly of this state to the attention of the state Legislature and the governor, and in getting these priorities signed into law.”

The two top local concerns continue to be an affordable health delivery system and transportation for the elderly.

Schedules of hearings and copies of proposed legislation are available at the office of the California Commission on Aging, 1020 9th St., Room 260, Sacramento 95814, (916) 322-5630. For information locally or to share your views with your senior legislators, call 482-7085 or 646-3078.

HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS:

* A Halloween dance for senior citizens will be held at the Goebel Senior Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, from 7:30 to 10: 30 p.m. Saturday. The $5 admission charge per person includes live music and refreshments. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes. For details, call 497-1639.

* The Camarillo Nutrition program invites all seniors to a Halloween costume party featuring door prizes and the big band sounds of the Conejo Valley Senior Dance Band on Halloween at the Camarillo Senior Center auditorium, 1605 Burnley St. The music will begin at 10 a.m., followed by lunch at noon. Reservations must be made by Monday by calling 484-8449 between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekdays.

JOINING THE CLUBS

The following is a list of the model airplane clubs in Ventura County. In addition to outdoor flying sessions, most clubs hold regular indoor meetings with speakers on topics of interest to the members:

* The Channel Islands Condors Model Airplane Club, P.O. Box 1993, Camarillo 93011.

* The Camarillo Flying Circus, 5103 Laurel Park Drive, Camarillo 93012.

* The Conejo Valley Model Radio Control Modelers, P.O. Box 4704, Thousand Oaks 91360.

* The Ventura County Comets, 522 Pleasant Ave., Ojai 93023.

* The Simi Valley Flyers. P.O. Box 3343, Simi Valley 91311.

* The Thousand Oaks Soaring Society focuses mainly on gliders. P.O. Box. 1955, Thousand Oaks 91360.

To compete in flying contests for official records, participants must belong to the Academy of Model Aeronautics, 1810 Samuel Morse Drive, Renton, VA 22090, (703) 435-0750. The $40 annual membership dues include liability insurance and a subscription to the organization’s “Model Aviation Magazine.”

The following stores carry a wide range of model airplane supplies:

Oxnard: Blue Max Hobby Distributors, 1637 S. Oxnard Blvd., 483-0664. HobbyTown USA, 2061 N. Oxnard Blvd., 988-4838.

Ventura: RadioWave Hobbies, 1891 Goodyear St., No. 611, 642-0390. Ventura Hobbies, 2950 Johnson Drive, No. 128, 658-8138.

Camarillo: The Red Baron, 77 Daily Drive, 482-0250.

Thousand Oaks: Marty’s Hobbies, 1728 N. Moorpark Road, 497-0346.