The Aero Amateur Radio Club, W3PGA

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Middle River, MD
The Aero Amateur Radio Club, W3PGA

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The amateur radio club for Essex and Middle River, Maryland. New club page as of 2024. Established in 1946 in cooperation with the Glen L.

Martin Aircraft Plant in Middle River, Maryland, the Aero Amateur Radio Club continues to serve the communities of Essex and Middle River. Members of the club are active in the Baltimore County Civil Defense network to provide shelter area communications in the event of disasters. Club members are also active in the SKYWARN spotters program, Boy Scouts and Civil Air Patrol. The club is also associated with Kenwood High School in the Essex area which has the call sign AE3RO. Amateur Radio repeater systems are located at the school using the clubs call W3PGA. The club also provides VE testing for amateur radio operator licenses and upgrades. In addition to providing a public service to the community, the Aero Club has been affiliated with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) since 1956 and participates in national and international league activities including sponsored contests that simulate emergency conditions in the field. These events include Field Day and VHF contests using emergency power while operating in the field. The club ventured to Hart Miller Island and placed it on the IOTA (Islands On The Air) list . The club participates with the Essex Sky Park Association events such as Wings and Wheels and the Fly in Pancake Breakfast events throughout the year. The Essex Sky Park FBO is our meeting facility and our Field Day Site is in the Community Hanger. The club conducts nets on the the AIR the second and fourth/fifth Wednesdays of the month at 8:00PM local time. The second Wednesday net meets on 28.445 MHz. using USB, the fourth Wednesday net meets on 147.240 MHz. FM Repeater, and the fifth Wednesday net (when applicable) meets on 449.575 MHz FM Repeater. All nets are open to licensed radio amateurs. We have meetings regularly beginning at 7:30 PM on the first and third Wednesday of each month at the Essex Sky-park Association FBO Building at 1401 Diffendal Road Essex, MD 21221.

10/21/2026

Join us tonight at 7PM down at Essex SkyPark for our second monthly meeting. Folks should start showing up around 6PM so feel free to arrive early.

10/15/2026

It's Wednesday but Saturday's coming! Come see us at the 2026 Wings & Wheels event at the Essex Skypark and let us remind you why you love amateur radio so much!

10/04/2026

The October Aerial is up!

Click here for the back-issues of the Aero Aerial going back to 2004. The Aero Aerial, October, 2026Download Click here for the back-issues of the Aero Aerial going back to 2004.

09/23/2026

OK, folks! As you recall, we wrapped up our cable party this past Saturday and sent off some old equipment to hamshack heaven. We do have two military floodlight telescoping mast/tripods that could be quite valuable to you or your club. Unfortunately, they are too heavy for us anymore. We're asking $300, each, but will entertain any offer. Pictures below. They are available for pickup in the Baltimore metropolitan area. We're pinging our friends at Baltimore, Harford, Chesapeake, Northeast Maryland, Maryland Mobileers, Columbia, Anne Arundel and the National Electronics Museum. Funfetti and glitter available at no extra charge!

09/20/2026

The Aero ARC, callsign W3PGA, will be at the 2026 Wings & Wheels Event at the Essex Skypark again this year. We look forward to seeing you!

09/20/2026

We had a great time at the cable party yesterday down at Essex Skypark checking all the coax. A few lines needed new terminations and we were able to catalog all we had with several items sent away to ham shack heaven.

A big thanks to:

Marty, KC3AID
Cathy, W3CLF
Bob, WA3SWA
Phil, W3VRD
Joe, WB3FMT
Jim, WB3FMS
Kenny, KB3JVP
Rob, AE3B

09/18/2026

07/14/2026

Our 2026 Field Day pictures are up! We worked 3A this year and did quite well!

This year, the Aero ARC operated 3A using a DXCommander vertical folded dipole, a Mosley Tribander and a Radio Wavez DX80 OCFD. Getting the Mosley and the DX80 up and running was no small task but …

07/14/2026

Given the hot weather predicted tomorrow, Wednesday, 7/15, we'll be meeting online via Zoom. Contact us for the passcode or use the club's repeater frequency. Meeting starts at 7PM but we'll likely be online around 6PM to meet and greet. Look forward to seeing you!

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07/02/2026

Our July Aerial is up.

Click here for the back-issues of the Aero Aerial going back to 2004. TheAeroAerialJul2026Download Click here for the back-issues of the Aero Aerial going back to 2004.

Address

Middle River, MD
21221

Website

http://www.w3pga.net/

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