WANGANUI MODEL AERO CLUB ENJOYED A SUCCESSFUL YEAR

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 November 1949, Page 4

WANGANUI MODEL AERO CLUB ENJOYED A SUCCESSFUL YEAR

A successful year was reviewed by the president (Mr. L. A. Newman) at the third annual meeting of the Wanganui Model Aero club. Mr. Newman said that greater activity was evident in the club since the previous year, and the club now holds no less than seven New Zealand records.

Mr. Newman brought to notice of members that the club had been the first to introduce many activities connected with the sport in New Zealand. At the national championships, Wanganui competitors were present in their club uniform complete with monogram. This created favourable comment and it is expected that many other clubs will be attending next year’s nationals in club uniforms. The club gave a U-control display at Cook’s Gardens during the February carnival and this was the first occasion in New Zealand that model controlled planes were flown publicly at night. The club was also first in the development of U-control team racing in New Zealand. Team racing is the latest form of U-control flying and originated from the United States. It has become a great public draw and consists of three or more models flying in the same circle controlled by their operators, who crowd together in the centre of the circle. The rules are similar to the Goodyear air races in the United States for full sized planes, in that a specified number of laps have to be covered by each model with landing and refuelling in between. The model which does the lap in the shortest time is the winner. Each pilot has a mechanic who refuels and re-Starts the engine. It is a test'not only for speed, but also for reliability of engines. An engine which is not as high powered as another may win the race by starting easier and by running longer. Mr, Newman predicted that the club would compete with success at the forthcoming New Zealand championships, which are to be held at Hamilton. Twelve members will be competing and the majority of them have entered in all the classes. Messrs. Bosselman, Reid, R. Handley and Ensoll will give a demonstration of U-control team racing at a public show during the championships. A discussion was held regarding the danger of flying U-control models in public parks when tile rules of the New Zealand Model Aeronautical Association were not adhered to. It was decided that in future, identity cards would be carried by model pilots, who agreed to abide by the rules of the parent association in regard to safeguarding the public. Many clubs in England and two in New Zealand have already been debarred from flying on public parks, and it was felt that the privilege the club had gained from the authorities here should not be jeopardised by careless and irresponsible fliers. It was pointed out that many persons not members of the club had been observed flying on public parks. To safeguard the club, a system of identity cards was instituted and these cards will be required to be shown on demand. Tlie club and the New Zealand association cannot be held responsible for damage done by persons not holding identity cards. The election of officers resulted:— President, Mr. D. V. F. Smaller; secretary, Mr. B. J. Reid; treasurer, Mr. A. Christie; club captain, Mr. J. L. O'Brien; time-keeper and recording officer, Mr. R. H. Kelpe; public relations officer, Mr. O. A- Handley.