Chris Callow F3D
5 time FAI World Champion's 350kph beat up along the main straight at Sandown 2015 emptied the exhibition hall in 30 seconds
RCM News #160
One year after construction commenced Damien Mould's 50% Christen Eagle took to the air. After sixteen long years Grahame Goodson's Paulo Severin Bleriot is ready to fly. Finally! Now I have to fullfill a promise and feature both models in print
As Australia's F4c Scale Team prepares for the World Championships it reminded me of 2006 calling for my Father in the 2006 FAI F4c Scale World Champs. Two years later Dad replicated his vision for improving standards of F3a aerobatic flying in this country by bringing top overseas competitors down under
In 2008 Australian modellers got the opportunity to see Englishman Pete McDermott's Scale World Champs static judged winning Sopwith Snipe at the Sth Pacific Scale Masters. Three companies selling ARF's jumped at the chance to promote scale flying in scale features in this magazine. Thanks principal sponsors Model Engines, Tates Performance Hobbies and Hobby Headquarters that money was raised in a couple of days. There are plenty of world class scale models in Australia. Wouldn't it be great to get them all together?
Flying planes in front of people remains the best way of inspiring new and existing model fliers. As the hobby industry continues to shrink the local community airshow remains vital to promoting your model club. Pictured below are photographs of leading modellers previously published in the magazine
Where are our next aeromodellers going to come from?
Jim Brennan's B747
Scratch built in foam for the Futaba Trophy in the 1970s by the best builder I've met it ended up in RCM News reader Richard Able's hangar
Bill Hamilton's P-51
Fibre Classic kit transformed to electric power with a scale size four blade flying prop by our resident high power specialist
Damien Mould's A10
Debuted in 2006 you could have heard a pin drop at engine start for Damo's epic display flight at Sandown 2016
Richard Mudge Mew Gull
1st first place at Cobram Air Races and countless demo flights with the jaw dropping 300 kph snap roll
Ian Water's Cub
Absolutely pristine example of a Grasshopper turns to line up at Burley Field
Jeff Sussman's UH-1
On final into the pad at Melbourne RC Helicopter Club is one of this afficcionado's many scale machines
Ken Thomas Gigant
Mark Collins did the finishing touches to see Ken's scratch built dream take flight
Marie Pedroz
The joy on Marie's face when she passed her Bronze Wings flight test time FAI World Champion's 350kph beat up along the main straight at Sandown 2015 emptied the exhibition hall in 30 seconds
Scott Bonnar
The lawn mower gag remains a favourite. The Skycutter was an ARF. Possibly still available in kit form, click the pic for the website
Graeme Johnston
Excellent club President of Greensborough Model Aircraft Club at the annual airshow that raised money for local charities
Prop Head Ted
My first RC flight school customer, introduced me to a Mr John Walker. For excellent model aircraft stands click the pic for Teddy's website
Clive Butler
Early pioneer of Giant Scale I spent a most interesting weekend at Grand Southern Cross Rally with Clive and Dr Ken Lawson
Dr Ken Lawson
Beautiful example of scale art at Luskintrye Park it was a privilege to be offered a fly of Ken's giant Lysander
Peter Coles
Putting his money where his mouth was the Grand Southern Cross Rally was a cracking event that raised funds for a special Rotary project
Scott Matthews
Lifting off for the RPAS flight test brilliant model builder Scott and professional RC flyer and built a full size RA Zenith Cruzer
Steve Turna
Competing against five time winners of Adelaide Texan category Gary and Steve opitimises what competition flying is all about
Chris Henry
This wonderful one fifth scale Yellow Aircraft kit was on the front cover of our best ever selling edition #97
Damien Mould
His epic A-10 display flight at Sandown 2016 was something to see. Damien nutted out a fix for his Jetcat turboprop lube problem
Grahame Goodson
One of my first RC Flight School customers we test flew his Paulo Severin J3 Cub off the beach adjacent the Great Ocean Road
Bryan Harper
Best President ever our hand shake deal to do a 2 day airshow / competition resulted in a $10,000 nett profit for his club
Greg OKeefe
Phillip Island Motorcycle Grand Prix the Corporate Airshow went within a whisker of doing the Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park
Phil McGrane
Shit stirrer like his old man, lost my best friend recently but landing his combat wing into his Ute when he bet I couldn't was gold
Brian Green
Gas turbine folding wing Panther prior to detailing for the 2006 F4C World Champs. Dad is the most forward thinking RC mover and shaker I've ever met
2022
RCM News Racing
Next year marks twenty five years since that Sensational Adelaide Air Race event
In addition to raising aeromodelling's profile Sandown F1 Air Race offered up and coming fliers an opportunity to demonstrate their particular discipline in a high pressure environment in front of a crowd. A small taste of what it's like competing in a World Champs. I managed to jam pack the exhibition hall with radio control but my dream of filling that grandstand continues to elude me
Building a major event on the RC calendar requires funds to be raised and put back in to grow it. The successful Cobram Air Races business model can do that. So could an Aussie SCale Masters