MODEL AERONAUTICAL

MODEL AERONAUTICAL

ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INC.

Newsletter

NO. 6/2004

The M.A.A.A. Manual of Procedures is on the M.A.A.A. web site. Please note that the MOP is constantly being updated and you should check the list of documents regularly to ensure that you have the current version.

Attention is drawn to the M.A.A.A. Policy on Mobile Phones. The document is in the M.A.A.A. Manual of Procedures which is on the M.A.A.A. web site. It basically states that mobile phones should be kept well away from radio transmitters.

Whilst some members have an opinion that this policy is an overkill as it appears that their transmitter is not affected by a mobile phone, it is interesting that a major radio manufacturer recommends that mobile phones should not be taken near radio transmitters as the signal from them exceeds the design specification of their equipment. To ensure that radio transmitters are not interfered with by mobile phone members should be aware of and comply with the M.A.A.A. Policy. If your radio has been close to a mobile phone that was switched on check very carefully that it functions correctly before take off. There are reliable reports of information in the memory being changed

The Executive positions of M.A.A.A. Vice President and M.A.A.A. Treasurer are due for election at the 2005 Council meeting for three year terms. The Council meeting is scheduled to be held on Saturday and Sunday May 27 and 28. Nominations are therefore called for these positions. In accordance with the M.A.A.A. Statement of Rules, nominations shall be in writing signed by two Affiliate Members of the M.A.A.A. accompanied by written consent of the candidate. The consent can be in the form of an endorsement of the nomination. The nomination to be delivered to the M.A.A.A. Secretary by March 3rd 2005.

Currently an honorarium of $4,515 per year is paid to the Treasurer. The position of Vice President does not have an honorarium.

How many times have you said or heard ‘if all else fails read the instructions’. The instructions often contain very important safety information, which could be vital to your safety and that of others. You should never assume that you know it all, particularly for new or evolving technology. For example, Lithium batteries are very different from the NiCad and NiMH batteries that we are more used to using. If the manufacturers safety warnings are not followed they can catch fire in a very serious way. Always read the safety information on all products.

Two M.A.A.A. Members have recently set new world records. Ray Cooper (Vic) has added to his world record tally by setting another world record of 54.30kms in the F5-S (Aeroplane, electric motor, rechargeable sources of current) Distance – Goal & Return. Ray Pike (Vic) has also set a new world record in the F5-S (electric motor, rechargeable sources of current) Helicopter – distance in a straight line. Ray’s record distance was 4.85kms.

Naturally Ray Cooper and ray Pike also collect Australian Records for their flights. Well done.

Chris Callow (Qld) has again broken the F3D Australian record with a time of 55.4 secs. Chris is the current World F3D Champion and also holds the World F3D record. Chris’s new Australian record is some 2.3secs faster than his World Record so all looks good for the next world championships in 2006. It should be noted that F3D world records can only be set at World & Continental Championships.

Richard Blackam has also set a new Australian record of 2710secs in F1B. Richards record was set at a Free Flight World Cup event at Lost Hills in the USA.

Congratulations to all of the record-breaking modellers. A list of the Australian records is on the M.A.A.A. web site and world records on the FAI web site.

The Australian Pattern Association have advised that the team trial for a place in the Australian F3A to compete in the 2005 F3A World Championships, to be held in France, will be held on Monday, 1st of November, 2004 at the Belconnen Model Aero Club in the ACT. Start time is 9.00am sharp, four flights of P05 followed by two flights of F05, If a large entry is received relegations will occur after the preliminary rounds. The Club web site is: www.bmac.org.au

All entries to Henry Hutchinson 03 59 871 811 or hhutch@surf.net.au one week prior to the event, late entries will not be accepted.

All members of the M.A.A.A. are eligible to compete at the team trials. Please contact the APA for more information. Contacts for the APA are on their web site www.australianpatternassociation.com.au

Team Trials for the 2006 F1 (Free Flight) Trans Tasman competition will be conducted over the period starting December 2004 and conclude on 30 November 2005. The Trans Tasman contest is planned to be held at Omarama on the South Island of NZ after Easter 2006.

If you are interested in competing for a place in the team please obtain information from your Free Flight group or contact the M.A.A.A. Secretary.

The 5^th F3A Combined Asia Oceania Continental Championship (CAOCC) was held during July at the Suncoast Club’s field at Coolum in Queensland. From all reports it was a very successful contest. Our overseas guests were impressed with facilities and although the weather was not quite up to the normal Queensland standard the flying program was completed as programmed.

The organization was up to the normal very high standard of the APA. The CIAM F3A Chairman Bob Skinner was so impressed with the organization that he has suggested the APA put in an application to host the 2007 World Championships. The APA is starting to see if it is possible.

The APA, the Club and all others involved are to be congratulated for the success of the championship. Well done. For a full report, results and pictures visit the APA web site at - www.australianpatternassociation.com.au/

1^st Tetsuo Onda - Japan 2^nd Yoichiro Akiba – Japan 3^rd Toshiyuki Fukuda – Japan 4^th Fraser Brigg - New Zealand 5^th Bill Bloodworth - Australia

Several Australian team members stayed on after the world champs and competed very successfully at the US Nationals. Mark Ellins & Robert Fitzgerald won F2C in 3:18 heat & 6:44 final – an AMA & Australian record. Robert Fitzgerald & Greg Pretty won Goodyear. Richard Justic placed 3^rd in F2A and Ryan Comisky place 3^rd in Junior Combat.

Congratulations to all the Control Line team members for putting up such a good show in both the World Championships and the US Nationals.

David Law (Vic) flying his GT powered Vampire came 7^th and Noel Wjitehead (Vic) flying a Winjeel came 21^st. In the teams Australia came 12^th,with only two team members. A great result for the scale boys.

To get updates on the 2004 world championships that have either just finished or are about to start see the web sites below.