The Orange County Modelers Association is the field association that operates Bob Swenson Memorial Field in Silverado, California. OCMA is AMA chartered club #58. It exists so the participating AMA clubs that make up the association can share one County Parks flying site — safely, and under one set of field rules.
An OCMA badge is what lets you fly at the field. It is not a substitute for belonging to a participating club. To fly you need AMA membership, FAA registration, membership in a participating club, and the OCMA badge. See Membership for the application steps and Field Info for location, hours, and flying requirements.
Who we are
OCMA was formed in 2000 as an AMA certified chapter of participating local clubs. It started with 14 clubs; there are currently 10. The association’s job is the field: keeping Bob Swenson Memorial Field open, meeting County Parks requirements, and giving members a place to fly — fixed-wing, rotary, scale, FPV, and the rest of the RC hobby — as long as it is done safely and according to AMA and OCMA rules.
Members are expected to fly inside the defined airspace, wear their badge at the field, and work with Field Marshals when they have something to say. Board meetings are open. Volunteering for field work and events is how the site stays usable.
Field history
2000
OCMA is founded as AMA chartered club #58. From January 2000 through June 2006 the association flew at El Toro Field on the former El Toro Marine Base.
2006
OCMA leased 68 acres above Irvine Lake at Black Starr Canyon. The new site was known as Black Starr Field. OCMA has flown there ever since.
2009
After founding member Bob Swenson passed away in July 2009, the field was dedicated in his honor as Bob Swenson Memorial Field.
Participating clubs
You must belong to one of these AMA clubs to apply for an OCMA badge. Club websites are listed where the association publishes them. TMAA is closed to new members who live in Orange County. Current TMAA members may continue to use it as their participating club.
| Club | AMA charter | Website |
|---|---|---|
| RC Bees | 143 | |
| Circle City Flyers | 1862 | circlecityflyers.com |
| Scale Squadron | 1520 | scalesquadron.com |
| California Scale Modelers Association | 4649 | |
| Anaheim Model Airplane Club | 1472 | |
| OCRCC | 1330 | ocrcc.com |
| Harbor Soaring Society | 128 | 1hss.org |
| Orange County Rotary Modelers | 4533 | |
| Orange County FPV | 5442 | |
| TMAA | 1316 |
2026/2027 officers
| Office | Name |
|---|---|
| President | Tim Cardin |
| Vice President | Jerome Mezzasalma |
| Treasurer / Membership | Greg Stone |
| Secretary | Nathan Stone |
| Safety Officer | Dave Kadonoff |
Officer contact details are on Contact. Membership questions go to Greg Stone, treasurer and membership chairman.
Board meetings
The Board of Directors meets monthly, and members are welcome. Recent meetings have been held at Round Table Pizza, 1737 E Katella Ave, Orange, CA 92867, with dinner beforehand and the meeting at 7:00 PM. Confirm the next date on Notices or the home page.
Come to a meeting. Make flying friends. Volunteer. That is how OCMA actually works.