MODEL FLYING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 286, 14 September 1933, Page 2

MODEL FLYING.

ACTIVITIES IN ASHBURTON. It is gratifying to know that the Mid-Canterbury Model Aeroplane Club has entered upon the new season with Such vigour. Activity among members lias resulted in the construction of some of the finest models one could see" anywhere in the Dominion. Until one has witnessed the whole process of the making of a scale flying model out of pieces of balsa wood, weighing onethird the weight of cork and only onesixteenth of an inch square, or has seen even some portion of such * a 'plane being made, one has no idea cf the precision and skill required. The scale models are dominating the activities of the Club just now, and it will mean a big thing to members to be able to get out on Saturday afternoons and put their ci-a-t into the, air. With the increase in temperatures these days and more uprising air it is anticipated that many excellent 'flights will be made. The Club twice held the New Zealand record for hand-launched 'planes of one type, and it seems not too much to hope that the members will be able to regain the laurels which have gone to the Auckland model fliers. A contest was staged last Saturday afternoon for a 12-inch air screw pre-, sented by an Auckland firm, and an interesting event resulted in a win for L. Fittock, who well deserves the prize, for he is one of the youngest, or rather the latest, members of the Club, and he has displayed a great deal of enthusiasm in the making of models. Flying times were somewhat on the low side on Saturday, as there was such a heavy wind blowing, but it says much for the sturdy and skilful construction of the models that so many were able to take the air at all. The scale flying model record for' tke Club, which stood at 15 sees, to the credit of Bruce G. Craighead, was raised by this member to 17 sees. The S.E. 5 model he flies is a marvel in its detail and is well worthy of study. Four flying scale models were m action last Saturday. Three Avere S.E. s's, and one was a Gypsy Moth. A fifth scale model , will appear next Saturday afternoon, white the following scales are under construction: —Heath Parasol, Nieuport Baby Scout, Polish Fighter, Lockheed Vega, and American Aristocrat. Three or four endurance models are also being 1 made, and they include one around which a good deal of interest is centring. It has a wing span of no less than five feet, and will be driven (pusher) by two propellers.