With the fest fast approaching, the BOSM English Press sat down with Rupen Kakuste, Coordinator of the Radio Control (RC) Club, to learn more about the club’s activities and their preparations.

Rupen shared that while the RC Club had been inactive for a long time, it was one of the most active technical clubs on campus. He explained that the club was divided into two main teams: the plane team, which focuses on aeromodelling and aerospace; and the drone team, which works on electronics, software and drone development. Highlighting past successes, Rupen mentioned that the club had a remarkable run last year, winning RoboFest with a grand prize of nearly nine lakhs.

 Rupen revealed that the RC Club will be hosting its second ‘Air Show’ after the successful inaugural edition last year. He recalled how heavy rains had disrupted their debut event, leading to a plane getting stuck in live wires near Gym-G. Despite the setback, the team managed to deliver an impressive performance during halftime of the football finals, complete with drones and smoke effects. He assured that this year’s show would be ‘grander’ and—hopefully— uninterrupted.

Rupen stated that the idea for the event came from a desire to give BOSM a unique and memorable inauguration, moving beyond traditional ceremonies to something more ‘dynamic’. He added that preparations for the Air Show were extensive, involving building of planes, autonomous drones and an octocopter, along with arrangements for fireworks, smoke shows, and sparklers. He admitted that delays in receiving permissions meant that crucial equipment would only arrive a few days before BOSM, creating a tight schedule. Even so, he expressed confidence in the team’s ability to meet the challenge.

Reflecting on his role, Rupen noted that managing a 30-40 member team required constant coordination, but the workload was shared with the Joint Coordinator and team leads. He praised the aeromodelling lead as ‘the best craftsman’ he had ever seen, and emphasised that his own duties extend beyond projects to finances, permissions, collaborations, inventory and training juniors. Despite feeling that the role could be hectic, Rupen expressed satisfaction in ensuring that every member got the ‘full RC experience’. On a parting note, he assured the BITSian community that the RC Club was working tirelessly and promised that this year’s Air Show would not disappoint.