“THE FLYER”

YARRA VALLEY AEROMODELLERS NEWS LETTERMarch 2015

This years International Air show at Avalon Airport comemorated the centenary of the involvement of Australia and new Zealand in areal warfare. And so there were many examples of machines from the Great War (A Misnomer if ever there was one) on show both static and in the air… Some of the machines owned and shown by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson’s “The Vintage Aviator” were present (if only I had known!!!). Alister Nicholson has penned a report and supplied a great many photographs that he took on my old DSLR now owned by David Nichols. Well done Al! There are some beauties there. See inside this issue for the report and LOTS of photos.

Next Meeting - The Next General Meeting will be on the Monday 30th of March 2015

at the Red Earth Centre in Mooroolbark. Newsletter now on our website at:- www.yarravalleyaeromodellers.com.au

The Committee:

President – Jon Goudge

0400 688 787

Vice President – David Nichols

9752 5830

Secretary – Hugh Coleman

0429 993 411

Treasurer – Adrian Whiter

9739 6686

Registrar – Alister Nicholson

97362058

Public Officer – Hugh Coleman

0429 993 411

Editor - Hugh Coleman

0429 993 411

For Sale Seagull Sparrow Hawk 60 – Excellent Condition. (Airframe Only) $80.00 Brian Taylor FW 190a Short kit with Glass Cowl and Vac Form Canopy. As New. $175.00 E-Flight Taylor Craft 480 – New in Box (Airframe Only) $125.00 Phone Hugh Coleman – 0429 993 411 Please send all For Sale and Wanted adds to me at hrcoleman66@gmail.com

Mary Hipwell Accounting Services – Lilidale Tel: 9737 6495

Email: mary1950@ozemail.com.au

The YVA Committee would like to acknowledge the generous and ongoing support of

Andrews Scale Models 20 Hewish Road

Croydon VIC 3136 Tel: 03 9723 1003

Email: enquiries@andrewsscalemodels.com.au Scale Model Kits, ARFs, RC Radio Equipment. Spares, Balsa and Building Supplies.

If he hasn’t got it, he will make every effort to get it in. Andrews Scale Models has now introduced a VIP Club. Call in to Andrews to pick up your card

– to be stamped at the time of each purchase.

Dates to note! April 26th 2015 Club Day Round 1 At Bleases Lane April 26th 2015 Hayden Hampson Memorial At Bleases Lane April 26th Inaugural Frank Curzon Memorial At Bleases Lane June 27th 2015 Club Day Round 2 At Bleases Lane August 22nd 2015 Club Day Round 3 At Bleases Lane

Presidents Report Hello YVA members one and all and welcome to the March 2015 edition of YVA news Supporting the field fund Just a reminder, you will recall we have agreed to a system of making a gold coin donation each time we use the field ($1.00 per head) as a way to recognise the generosity of the property owner. This will be an honesty system and we expect the membership to support this initiative. I trust you see the merit in this approach and the honesty it invokes. What’s happening at the field. A major spring clean of the club house was performed on Sunday 15th March by Alister , Daniel and Myself. You will notice the furniture has been re-arranged and has become far more functional. Again I would remind you this is a facility for all members and

as such must be kept clean at all times. I trust you will all appreciate the effort applied to make the club house a pleasant environment for everyone and keep it that way. The car park is not a rubbish bin I was very disappointed to find a large amount of fruit scraps strewn across the car park on the same day (Sunday 15th ). I was at the club on both days and last to leave on Saturday, so I can confirm the culprit was someone in attendance on Sunday morning. There is no need for this type of behaviour and despite the fact that the food scraps were degradable it does not justify this action. Hence another clean-up job for committee members! New BBQ Delivered On a brighter note, Many thanks go out to David Hipperson for his generous donation of a brand new BBQ. This will be assembled and put into action when we have completed our modifications to the club house deck (very soon). Windsock Replacement The Windsock has been destroyed yet again by strong winds. It also seems to have blown away the lid to the old BBQ as well. The Wind sock will be replaced in due course by our resident sock maker , Adrian Whiter, and anyone knowing the whereabouts of the BBQ lid is asked to advise the committee. 2015 Working Bees. We continue our plans to construct bench seating , and a club house repaint but are yet to find the time to get underway. Club competition Round 1 and the Hayden Hampson /Frank Curzon trophies Refer to Calendar on preceding page and notices later in this issue. Christmas Party (end of year break-up) The committee unanimously agree to step away from the organising of this event. We request that member volunteers take on this activity and co-ordinate with the committee/membership on what we do to celebrate the year. We are seeking a volunteer to take this on sooner rather than later because the bookings for this time of the year need to be made well in advance. Happy Landings; Kind Regards, Jon Goudge YVA President

Black Horse FW190 Progress Jon Goudge Looks Lovely Doesn’t it?

Jon has done a super job refurbishing this! But…

Come along to the meeting next Monday and Jon will tell you why the maiden was not very successful.

Haydn Hampson Memorial Trophy APRIL 26th 2015

This year’s Haydn Hampson Memorial Trophy day will open classes up for a lot of other categories than the strict Scratch, Plan or Kit Built Warbirds that have been taking part the last two years. This time we will be having classes for ARF and Civilian models as well. Of course the actual Memorial Trophy is still only open to the afore mentioned Scratch, Plan or Kit built Warbirds, And the pilot, has to have built the model. But there will be prises awarded also for the following catagories.

• Scratch, Plan or Kit Built Warbird Over 60 size (90 FS) • Scratch, Plan or Kit Built Warbird Under 60 size (90 FS)

• ARF Warbird Over 60 size (90 FS) • ARF Warbird Under 60 size (90 FS)

• Scratch, Plan or Kit Built Civilian Any Size • ARF Civilian Any Size

So, there are plenty of options for prises in thie next HH Memorial. But note, that the entrants must still be scale models of the prototype… That is, accurate or semi accurate scale outlines (not Flair Magnaitillas etc as models of Eindekkers). Any power source is allowed - Electric, Glow or Petrol. Any scale is allowed… But you’ll see above which classes they fit into. Please note that this is not about flying skill, and it’s not about building skill, it’s about building and flying… in short, taking part! There will Also be a Bumper Raffle on the day with heaps of great prises to be won. So even if you don’t manage a prize in any of the classes, you can still be in the winning!

On top of all this, the day will also see the awarding of the inaugural Frank Curzon Memorial Trophy. This is a specific trophy to be awarded to the best World War One model flown on the

day.

Avalon International Air Show – A report by Alister Nicholson When I heard that the International Air show was almost upon us I was a little exited to say the least. I hadn’t been to the International Air Show before, one of those events I really wanted to attend but always lacked the time or the funds to go. I had been to the RAAF 100 year anniversary Air show out at the Point Cook RAAF Air Base a while back which was very impressive and also very popular, lots of beautiful war birds all in one place. You would have to have no pulse to not feel like a big kid around them. Well the International Air show was that and more!!! Blake and I had met up with Jon and Daniel early on Saturday

morning and proceeded to join the lengthy line of spectators waiting to get in. As we walk in, there are a number of different aircraft lining the walkways waiting to have their image captured by the local enthusiasts. We also went to find the VMAA tent to say hello to Greg Lepp and David Nichols who both had models among many others displayed proudly for everyone to see, encouraging a bit more interest in the hobby. Some of the boys starting up a model jet every once in a while definitely drew a large crowd. Gregg also won best model aircraft at the show with his large scale Decathlon. One of the advantages of arriving at the Air Show early, is gaining a great viewing position for the show itself. First was the parachute drop with large Australian, Australian Air Force & NZ flags dangling from them, as commemoration to the ANZACS being the 100

year anniversary. The wingsuit man came down soon after being circled by his wife in her extra 300. (You would want to be on good terms with your wife before each jump no doubt). Then the Winjeels & CT-4A’s came out for some formation flight. The Hawk127 showed us a couple of passes and then the highlight of my day was when the WWII piston engine fighters were released from their cages. A Supermarine Spitfire MK VIII, a Boomerang, P-40 Kittyhawk (my personal favourite) & the P-51 Mustang

all took to the skies carrying out some formation & solo flying. The roar of those inline Merlin, V1710 Allison and Pratt & Whitney radial engines made my day. The heavy’s were there from all time periods including the DHC-4 Caribou & Lockheed Hudson to the C-130J Hercules, C-17A Globemaster & the giant B-52 Stratofortress . Oh and the old Black Cat Catalina. Another head turner for me was the Meteor and Sabre Jets, they held quite a presence in the air with the loud roar of the jet engines flashing past. A real privilege was to see the WWI fighters in a mock dog fight scene where you were taken back to

how difficult and skilful a pilot you had to be to manage these planes in a conflict situation. The collection had come over from “across the ditch”.

The aircraft are perfect full-sized replicas and include many marquee names of pioneer military aviation. Among their number is a French Nieuport 11, one of the most successful fighter aircraft of World War One.

The Nieuport was the first allied aircraft to mount a serious challenge to German air superiority in the early days of the conflict. They were made in large numbers and flown not only by the French but also by the British, the Russians and a few American privateers. The New Zealand group also includes four British aircraft, a Sopwith Camel, a SE5a, an RE8 Bomber and a Bristol F2 all of which were flown by the fledgling Australian Flying Corps. There was also a couple of very impressive aerobatic displays featuring a couple of Pitts, Extra 300’s & not one bit disappointing. Some of the piloting I would not even attempt with a model let alone a full size.

A Heli display from the ADF, King Air 350 formation, PC-9 Roulettes and the list goes on. I could recite the whole air show to you good folk but the newsletter is not a novel. I hope to see you all at the next one. Alister Nicholson

FLOAT PLANE FRENZY Sometimes a spur of the moment idea can work out to be a great thing. Of course not always do the planets align but on this occasion they did. A small group of club members got together for a weekend away at lake Eildon. The weather was the cause of late decisions as it seem to be so fickle these days. Arriving late afternoon on Friday, my group was tailed by Alister and Blake for a camp site acquisition. There were lots of people already at the site and this was primarily due to the opening of Duck season the following morning at 7.30am. We were lucky to have found only one couple with their campervan at our usual site and as it turned out they were leaving in the morning. Apparently after having

spent the week there and getting sick of the wind they had decided to go. It was very windy that night , and with the late arrival of Ewan and Cassey there was little to do but sit around the camp fire and wash down the dust with a couple of cold beers. (HMMM perhaps too many) but we woke to a glorious day on Saturday and got straight into the flying. Dave turned up mid morning to join in on the fun. Young Daniel performed several rescues on the ever faithful Bolt (blue cannu) and was assisted by Cassey and Simone whom both had a paddle. The Lake was very refreshing with all but one of us going for a swim at some stage over the weekend. I presented a float plane project at show and tell a couple of meeting ago (some of you may remember the red fuse and white floats. The model had its maiden flight off the water and for once , things went perfectly.

Others had less fortunate experiences but in all we had a fantastic week-end. The weekend was one out of the book with perfect flying conditions throughout the two days. Of course these outings always have some interesting events to report but we might leave that for show and tell at the next club meeting. Story by Jon Goudge and Photos courtesy of Simone Goudge.

Haydn Hampson Memorial Trophy 26th April 2015

(Anzac Day Weekend) Incorporating the Inaugural

Frank Curzon Memorial Trophy for WWI Models

• Scratch, Plan or Kit Built Warbird Over 60 size (90 FS) • Scratch, Plan or Kit Built Warbird Under 60 size (90 FS)

• ARF Warbird Over 60 size (90 FS) • ARF Warbird Under 60 size (90 FS)

• Scratch, Plan or Kit Built Civilian Any Size • ARF Civilian Any Size

• Bumper Raffle • BBQ Catering

YVA General Meeting Minutes 23-02-15 8.01 Visitors – Als Kids, Peter Feller, Jim Pawson. Apologies – Bill Wheeler. Minutes acceptance – Bill Coombs, Euan Haige

Matters Arising – Great thanks to David Anderson for the painting of the Windsock Mast. Still awaiting fitment of bearings for fitment of swivel.

Treasurers report Club check account – $2,630.93 Money Extra – $4,104.96 Outgoings - Prizes for HH Day. Fire fighting Back Pack. VMAA Insurance. Club Comp Prizes. Accepted – Al Nicholson, Roger Eggleton. Jon announced that due to low funds at the moment, mainly due to halving halved membership fees for the current financial year. Hence, we will be cutting back on spending. Event prizes will be cut back to first prize only. The purchase of the new BBQ will be postponed to next year. The new bench seats and wind break will still be arranged.

Correspondence in. None.

General Business. New date will need to be set for a new date as a result of bad weather (Suggested the 26th of April). Also the first Club Day will be postponed to the end of the series. VMAA trophy has been postponed to September. All classes to be pilots choice. Thanks to Roger for arranging the fire fighting sacks. Roger also spoke to fire fighting strategies. Roger will remind Adrian Browne that an article needs to be written regarding the incident that nearly caused a grass fire. Bill Coombs asked about the protocol around the gold coin donation system. Bill believes that not all flyers are contributing their coins. Jon checked that all understand the idea of the gold coin donation. Add a note into the news letter regarding the matter. Roger mentioned thanks to Adrian Whiter for the repairs to the mower. Darryl noted that Colin Booth of the Cobram Club passed away a couple of weeks ago.

Show and Tell Jon Goudge - Primus Solid State Power Supply. 48 Amp Hours 12 Volt output. Available from Anaconda for about $400.00

Bill Coombs – American Ace Free Flight (Converted to rudder and elevator). Kit and parts from Bob Holman. Covered in Solartex. Glen Dunstan – ESM PC9. Hardware supplied with the kit was rubbish and has been all replaced. Glen has built a full cockpit to allow access to the batteries. And has built undercarriage and wheel wells. Using a 160 size E-flight motor. Adrian Whiter – P38 Lighting. Airborn Plan. Has taken Adrian years to build. Adrian says the plans had a great deal of errors and inconsistancies. Test flown about three weeks ago. Mick Lynch test flew it. Overall flying weight – 14 Lbs. Powered by 2 x OS 70 FS engines. Robart Retracts. Adrian says it flies very well, if a little nose heavy.