NC Space Cowboys

It began as a dream in a little white building with two men. The Greenville Flying Pirates soon took flight when Frank “Frankie” Coburn, along with his friend and business partner James Mayo, realized their hobby business was taking on more RC enthusiasts with nowhere to fly. After much consideration and help from Frankie’s dad, the two settled on a spot, a small portion of a cornfield on the family farm.

It wasn’t long, and they had prepared the land for its first maiden flight. There were still some hurdles to overcome. Pilots had to know how to take off and land in a short distance. Trees and obstacles on each end of the strip prevented the faint of heart from attempting this feat alone.

As membership grew, the Greenville Flying Pirates needed a larger field and staging area. After his father’s death, Frankie donated the current location to the club for all to enjoy. As with any club, like family, part of the members branched off and remained the Greenville Flying Pirates. Frankie, along with its remaining members, changed the name to the North Carolina Space Cowboys.

Since its inception in 1991, the club has hosted over 50 fly-ins with pilots traveling as far as Florida. The largest fly-in registration the club has seen was over fifty pilots and their families. The club continues to host and help modelers of all ages.