MODEL AEROPLANE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 85, 11 April 1931, Page 2 (Supplement)

MODEL AEROPLANE NOTES.

SOME CANADIAN RECORDS. (By PROPELLER.) In a journal dealing with model aeroplane news and construction I read the following interesting items and pass them on to my readers, who will see that the wonderful records being put up in America are within the reach of all: —

"Forty youthful competitors representing cities from Vancouver, 8.C., to Montreal, took part in the first national championship meet of the Model Aircraft League of Canada, at Ottawa, the Canadian capital. The programme comprised a two-day meet, with the outdoor contests at Uplands Flying Field and the indoor championships at the Ottawa Auditorium. Perfect weather conditions were encountered, with the result that the winners in the outdoor flying stick, event established what is claimed to be a world's record. The tractors and pushers were able to climb into an 'air chimney,' which carried many oi the machines into the clouds. The rules of the competition provided that the timers were to clock a flight when a machine disappeared from view. "With this in mind, Walter Allder, of Vancouver, 8.C., was credited with a flight of 18 minutes 49 2-5 seconds when his model aeroplane disappeared into the clouds almost directly overhead. Arnold Rose, of Toronto, won second place in the senior class when his tractor disappeared in 18 minutes 49 seconds. Boss Farquarson, of Vancouver, 8.C., took third place with 16 minutes 10 2-5 seconds. , . "These times were official, but it is interesting .to note that one of the winning 'planes returned almost to the starting point in 41 minutes, but it had been out of sight for a considerable portion of this period and the whole time, therefore, could not be credited. "When it was seen the tiny craft were climbing and continued to make altitude with dead props, a number _of the Ottawa Flying Club took off in a real aeroplane to search for the tiny craft. On returning to the field this pilot reported that he had seen one of the models at 2800 feet. Which one it jvas he could not say. Various machines were entirely lost." The foregoing sounds "a bit tall, but when you remember that Robert Ivronfeld and the other aces in the gliding world can put up hours and hours in uprising currents of air, flying a machine without any power plant and weighing 300 or more pounds in weight, it must be conceded that the feat is not by any means impossible. At our model meetings at One Tree Hill we have seen machines make a considerable height after the rubber had wound out. In all cases the models were of very light weight. These Canadian tjmes certainly knock back the British Empire record if they are official and the Model Aircraft League of Canada fly under the rules of the Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers, the governing body in the British Eiy)ire. However, with the use of Balsa wood and efficient design there is no reason why we should be far behind these figures in a short time.

I bear that our Christchurch friends are now "-oil in the running, having held several very successful meetings. They are looking forward to the time when a championship for New Zealanders can be held. Their records so far are not available, but I will publish them in these notes when they arc sent up here. There has been a direct response to my suggestion of building flying scale models, and inquiries for plans are coming in from all sides. Next week I hope to let you have the constructional details of a De Havilland Gipsy Moth. Well boys if you have any little difficulties in your model work write to me, enclosing a stamped envelope and I will be pleased to help you if I can.