Model Aero Clubs

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 270, 13 November 1937, Page 3 (Supplement)

Model Aero Clubs

(By PROPELLEB.)

Last week I had a little to say about the Southern Districts' meet at Palmerston North, and now a week later here is a very brief report of the doings at our own competition. Arrangements had been made for some months and the site chosen was Mr. Barnaby's field in ftarrisville, just past Pukekohe. Every time our members go into the country they become more and more enthusiastic over the conditions prevailing there. For some reason we do not get the "risers" so near the sea coast. Well, to start with the northern districts' committee must be heartily congratulated upon the completeness of their arrangements. Assisted very ably by the Pukekohe business men's committee, and not forgetting the ladies' committee, arrangements went like clockwork throughout the two days' meet. The big event was the Power Chief championship for petrol models, and there were over 30 entries, of which nearly half turned up to fly. This is not bad going when the difficulties in having petrol-powered 'planes all ready and in tritn for flying is concerned. The full lists of times have been published in the "Star" and I will not concern myself greatly with them except to mention that Mr. E. Mahony won the event with a flight of 4m 21s, the fuel allowance being 1-lGoz of petrol mixture for every pound weight of the 'plane.

The crowds of spectators contributed liberally at the gate and were kept interested by the use of a loudspeaker which carried the news of the events, the starters, the times . and running comments to the far corners of the field. Snapshots: Mr. Les. Mayn looked very

* \bj xra THE NORTHERN DISTRICTS MEET.

MEET.

were in the open flight competition (no gas allowance) and later on the Dobson-Allen-Martin composite T-D got awav to emulate the feat, though it wa's found late that afternoon. I hear, just as I write these notes, that Mr. Eade's machine was found in the Pokeno Valley several days later.

One_ matter may be of interest, and that is that the power-governed competition was not held. The idea was to have a timer on the model, clock it away for a 45s motor run and judge the best duration flight madt. If the motor ran more than 45s the flight waa to be disallowed. This seemed all right in theory, but when the actual time to run the came on, even though it was a perfect day, there was just enough wind to take those models so far away on a 45s motor run that the timers could not possibly check just when the motors stopped. " I understand the same thing happened at Palmerston North, so we will have to see if we can find out some other form of judging on these restricted flights.

The two days' meet was a great success and many useful lessons were learned by all—competitors and officials —and the northern district fighting fund was very nicely augmented.

THE PALMERSTON NORTH

{Continued From Lot Week.)

After the trials of a wasted day, owing to the terrible weather, to the Regent Theatre the contestants hied themselves about 7 p.m. The Auckland boys had rather an idea that they could do something in the indoor events, but fate ruled otherwise. Vern Gray smashed his one lone model on the way down. R. E. Allen had a. broken leading edge and couldn't do better than run second to E. Thornly, of Wellington, who, by the way, is an indoor flyer of no mean ability, and should prove a real thorn (no pun intended) in the sides of the indoor aces any time now. Bill Mackley made no mistake about the R.O.W. event, winning it easily, and Allen won the autogiro class. Actually, this was a demonstration, as no other contestant came to light at all. His model certainly "autogiroed" and no doubt about, some of the flights being over 30 seconds duration.

Sunday was to have been the big day with fuselage R.O.G. and petrol model events. It was decided to make these events fit in if possible on the Monday and the very energetic committee decided to get up very early and be on the ground at 6 a.m., weather permitting. It didn't and at 10 o'clock we decided to go home. The southern members are evidently of a sterner breed for they flew their contests off in wind and rain that no self-respecting Aucklander would have even gone out in. Good-byes were shouted through the wind and messages were given to all and sundry. And so we set off on our return trip. The lees said about that the better. It rained and blew, then it blew and rained, and when it got tired of that it started all over again. I will say this. Whilst away I heard no grouching of any kind. It was accepted as bad luck that the weather should be unkind and left at that. Everyone seemed to be full of fun and good nature, and there was no unpleasant spot anywhere to mar a delightful trip.

It is with pleasure that T mention that several more of our model and gliding fraternity have been given a greater chalice in aviation. Neville Milligan. of Wellington, is off to England to join the R.A.F. Following him in December is Ron Laud, of Auckland. Ron has been a very old member of the Auckland Club and also of the Gliding Club. Bill Mackley is now solo. Henry Lamond has taken his A license and has been drafted to the R.A.F.. «r* we will be losing him, too, soon. Well, it is a great chance these younger members are getting and I feel sure all will unite with me in wishing them all of the best and a happy time away.