This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Business & Tech

An Airplane and Helicopter Hobbyists' Heaven

BP Hobbies offers model airplane hobbyists an opportunity to see items from their online catalog in a new showroom.

In a time when so many young people are mesmerized by video games, activities that favor the outdoors or hands-on experiences are to be treasured.

Although they may not have had the rescue of sedentary youth in mind, BP Hobbies in Hillsborough is one place where kids and parents alike can start a hands-on activity that could last for years to come.

BP Hobbies is an airplane and helicopter model shop, complete with a full line of engines, fuel and other components required to make models fun. They also sell model rockets.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

"We had a warehouse in Piscataway since 2004," BP Hobbies Operations Manager Jim Minadeo said.. "We were selling to about 300 hobby stores across the country. The hobby stores locally then started dying off."

BP Hobbies is somewhat of an anomaly in the industry. While many model airplane hobby retailers offer their wares on the Internet alone, BP Hobbies, which began with an Internet site, had just opened a showroom in Hillsborough in early November.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

"Hillsborough is one of those places that lets you have a showroom and warehousing at the same location," Minadeo said.

Prior to Hillsborough, the BP Hobbies warehouse was located in Piscataway, but without the showroom.

"People would come to our warehouse and literally knock on our door asking to buy items," Minadeo said.

What is unique about the showroom is that customers have the opportunity to see a great deal of the catalog of components and parts that comprise a full range of model airplanes.

"Until you hold in your hand and see it..." Minadeo said, alluding to the kid-in-the-candy-store effect that some hobbyists experience in the showroom. "Customers come from other states to purchase items in the showroom. Our busier time of year is January, February and March, known as the building season."

The way one gets into the hobby is to purchase a "ready to fly kit," a complete package that includes the airplane and the controller.  From there, hobbyists can work their way into high grades of model materials, engine sizes and controller sophistication.

Minadeo said he typically recommends that new hobbyists join the Academy of Model Aeronautics, which provides support, insight on places to fly,  and liability insurance in case of that errant plane. 

"You can't fly at any club unless you have the AMA card," Minadeo said.

Minadeo said that locally hobbyists can fly at the 4H Field in Bridgewater, among other areas.

Minadeo said BP Hobbies' goal going forward is to support the airplane hobbyist clubs locally, whether independent or in the schools and demo days to attract new hobbyists.  

BP Hobbies cane be found online at www.bphobbies.com

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?