MODEL PLANES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 July 1941, Page 7

MODEL PLANES

IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING MASTERTON CLUB CONTINUING ACTIVITIES. MR W. G. PERRY' ADDRESSES ROTARY CLUB. “The ■ one insurmountable handicap that has prevented model building from attaining its rightful respect in the eyes of the general public has been the erroneous impression held by the layman—model airplanes were branded as ‘kid stuff’ ” stated Mr W. G. Perry in an address on model aeroplanes at the Masterton Rotary Club today. The president, Mr P. F. Fagan presided. “Aviation commenced in December 1903, near the little village of Kitty Hawk, by Wilbur and Orvill Wright and near a great sand dune called Kill Devil Hill, a granite memorial was erected where the first man flew,” said Mr Perry. Experiments with gliders and model aeroplanes, he said, were the true foundation of later work. In 1938 there were over 2,000,000 enthusiasts in North America, which showed that model building was an established fact throughout the world and played an important part with the R.A.F. today, as all demonstrations for training pilots were done with models. Through the activity of model clubs throughout the world of recent years, an enormous* number of members joined the Air Force and today these men were doing marvellous work in the defence of their own countries. Pilot Officer W. B. Mackley, who was captain of the Auckland Model Aero Club for four years, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, for constant devotion to duty and consistent flying skill. Clubs were proud of him and his work. Samples of the woodwork customary with model builders were handed among members of the club, who could see that fine work was necessary for good results in building models. Mr Perry explained that clockwork switches controlled gas models. The switches stopped the engine and the plane glided down. The speaker demonstrated the causes of “stalling,” and explained details of thermals. ‘He said the models rose in various heights up to 3,000 feet. “Ten members of the Masterton Club are working in the Air Force, some in the R.A.F. and some in the R.N.Z.A.F.. all of whom are giving a very good account of themselves,” said Mr Perry. “All of these members have an excellent knowledge of aerodynamics and are proved builders, which is more than essential to the Air Force, .thanks I to model building. The one aim of the mcdel clubs is to get the members air minded early in life and it is to be hoped that this will not be discouraged by the parents if . they wish to build models in their homes once they become interested. Youths usually commence with small models and later with engine models which introduces electrical and mechanical work; clubs usually have advisors for this work. It is a great event '■ when a member launches his or her first gas model. A certain amount of testing is done by gliding the plane before letting it fly under power of an engine. In a London broadcast of July 14, 1941, a R.A.F. pilot referred to the advantage of the

model building in his work. He said it was of great assistance.” Dealing with radio controlled models, Mr Perry said that they were being tested in Masterton when the war restrictions came in, preventing further experiments from being made but these models provided great sport as they were controlled from the ground with a transmitter to a receiving relay set in the plane. At one demonstration the plane, after flying for about ten minutes, was brought back to exactly where it took off. Ho would never forget the thrill all the club members got ■ with that model. Radio models would be very popular once the licences were renewed after war was over. Interclub contests were very popular when it was possible to get benzine for car ( travelling. Hundreds of club members I met at centres and camped during the ! contests, and many new friends were made as the result of these trips. Mr Perry said that he had some of the happiest outings of his life nt these club camps. Mr Perry said that although so many senior members were going on to war training he was determined to keep the Masterton Model Club going and sincerely* hoped that many other men who We#b not engaged in war work would join as members and help to further the activities of the Model Club and enable him to have a little time off occasionally, as he had to see that all went well while the club had the privilege'of using the Hood Aerodrome add the spacious hangar. All this had to be properly cared for and ready for any emergency.