MODEL AERO CLUB

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1934, Page 11

MODEL AERO CLUB

VALUE TO AVIATION. TRAINING THE YOUNG IDEA. Reproduced on this page is a group photograph of members of the New Plymouth Model Aero Club, a young people’s organisation which has lately been extremely active as a result of the keen interest taken in it by members of the senior body, the New Plymouth Aero Club. Arrangements have just been completed by which the two organisations will co-operate closely, and by which the adult club as encouragement of “airmindedness” in the growing generation has granted privileges to, the boys and a certain degree of responsibility in major club matters. Perhaps best of all, from the boys* point of view, is the concession that the most proficient among them in model aeroplane design will receive a weekly dual instruction lesson free of charge. Such a prize is a tremendous stimulus for members to acquaint themselves with the principles of aero design and the theory of operation in heavier-than-air craft. Actually, the experience they gain in making and flying their, models will be of hard, practical value to them when they take up real flying in the future. The proficient pilot must understand.’the physical laws that .permit his machine to fly, and the atmospheric conditions that are liable to upset or interrupt its flight. In this regard at least, apart from merely stimulating interest in flying, the Aero Club is doing work of considerable value to aviation in encouraging the boys in their hobby. Most of them are “flying mad,” and the experience they gain in doing painstaking and exact work to build and fly their models will serve the very useful purpose of dividing the wheat from the chaff. . Two successful field meetings. have been held tills month and excellent performances have been made, one‘ model remaining in steady flight for pearly a minute. As time goes on the workmanship and performance of the miniature aircraft will undoubtedly improve ■ until the New Plymouth Model Aero Club should be able to compete successfully with any similar organisation in New. Zealand.