MODEL PLANES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 October 1941, Page 7

MODEL PLANES

ANNUAL INTERCLUB CONTEST MEETING AT HOOD AERODROME DURING WEEKEND. WELLINGTON WINS VINSON CUP. The annual interclub contest of all model air clubs from Palmerston North to Wellington was held at the Hood Aerodrome during the weekend.. The splendid accommodation available for such big meetings attracts more competitors than would usually be the case, thanks to the Wairarapa and Ruahine Aero Club for placing the full use of its, facilities at the disposal of the Masterton Model Air Club, which, co-operating with the Wellington club in managing the contest. The weather was very disappointing at first but a fair amount of night flying opened the proceedings on Saturday night and this gave some of the visitors a chance to get their engines going.

At least 34 competitors were housed at the aerodrome and everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. With a glorious flying day yesterday planes were in the air before 6' a.m. and continued till 5 p.m. There was a continuous roar of engines throughout the day.

The prizes were well distributed, the Masterton Club winning two firsts, one second and two thirds. Wellington won the Vinson Cup, competed for between the Masterton and Wellington clubs, by 11 points to 7. A misfortune befel a Wellington competitor who has lost a magnificent rubber model in the direction of Donald’s bush from the aerodrome. This plane is of a new type, designed and built by Mr E. B. Lattey (Wellington), who is known to all clubs as the neatest builder of planes in the Wellington to Napier section. The plane’has a retractable undercarriage, new to model builders, and has been lost in its first flight. It went out of sight after 6 minutes 4 seconds and disappeared towards the hills. Any person finding the plane is requested to look after it and ring Mr W. G. Perry, phone 2496 or 1362. Mr Perry intends to exhibit the plane in his window so that the public will be able to see something remarkable in the building and detailed work of a model plane. It is to be hoped that the model is not severely damaged. Following are the results of the con-tests:—H-L. Gliders: J. Beck (Wellington), 2min. 3secs., 1; R. Dale (Masterton), Imin. 46 4-ssecs., 2; R. Watson (Wellington), Imin. 11 3-ssecs., 3. Fuselage: E. B. Lattey (Wellington), 7min. lOsecs., 1 (out of sight); J. Beck (Wellington), 2min. 36 l-ssecs., 2; A. Carmine (Masterton), Imin. 2secs., 3. Towline Gliders: R. Dale (Masterton), 3min. 54 3-ssecs., 1; L. Pattinson (Wellington), 2min. 16 l-ssecs., 2. Gas, 20secs. engine run: J. Gower (Foxton), 3min. 51 l-ssecs., 1; C. Ingram (Foxton), 2min. 51secs., 2; W. G. Perry (Masterton), 2min. 24secs., 3.

Juniors attaining the highest points during the contest: R. Dale (Masterton), 1; J. Beck (Wellington), 2; R. Watson (Wellington), 3.