Diary fo Events for 2009

I have next to nothing so far by way of events fo next year.

Contributions gratefully reveived.

Send by email to johng at cis dot co dot za

John

Poll on glow fuel -- Piet le Roux

Debate about glow fuel has been going on for years and I suppose will still go on until glow engines becomes obsolete. The needs and perceptions as far as fuel goes seems to differ from continent to continent and is determent by availability, disposable funds, peer pressure and some times common sense. I thought it would be interesting to see where the South African model fraternity stands on this subject. To help us determine this  I have started two polls on the Sarfly web page : one to tests our feelings about nitro methane and one to test our feelings about synthetic and castor oil.

You can vote here : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sarfly/polls

The more people vote the more accurate it will be so please vote!    

Regards

Piet le Roux

The Lotto Report

Enclosed with the latest isuue of SAMAA News is the 2008 report to the NLDTF on the SAMAA's role in transformation.

It's spectacular, both in the number of disadvantaged citizens involved and in the amount of money spent.

What makes me a little sad though is that there is no mention of the low cost, but equally spectacular efforts of individual clubs. I know for instance that both CRF and JOMAC were active and very successful in this area.

Jets over Henley

PSS weekend at Volkrust

More photos on the JOMAC BLOG and on the BERG BLOG.

2008 Aerobatic Masters -- Piet le Roux

This year, like so many times in the past, Bloemfontein had the honour of hosting the top event on the model aircraft aerobatic calendar: The Pattern Acrobatic Masters. CRF Chairman Wynand Swart and the CRF team did an excellent job again. Not even an untimely burglary shortly before the event could disrupt this machine. The stolen windsock mast was replaced by a mast from my Ham Radio days and erected by Wynand in a matter of days, most of the box markers and clubhouse equipment had to be replaced before the event. The missing competition pegboard was the only thing that we missed, but this was soon rectified with an improvisation from Toit Venter.

Read the full report with photos here, (520 k pdf).

Early Aeromodelling -- Fritz Johl

Fritz sent in this info on aeromodelling in the nineteen thirties:

Dear John
I have read with interest your organisation’s activities and association with AeSSA in the AeSAA news letter and am wondering whether you are aware that SAMAA has its origin in about 1937 and that in 1938 the first radio controlled model aircraft was flown here at Hout Bay. Perhaps you know this already. I believe that at that time I was one of the first members.

The photos show the SAMAA buttonhole badge at that time, The actual radio controlled flight, and the glider fuselage under construction.



W.A.T. "Fritz" Johl (FRAeS)

I asked Bob if he couls add any more to this. Here's his reply:


Dear John, Fritz

Here is some info from my archives:

In 1934, Mr Lilly flew a 5-ft span balsa and tissue model aircraft, "Albatross" for nearly 5-minutes. Movement to establish a club at Cape Town Technical College.

(1 August 1937) Four Wakefield model aircraft from South Africa were sent to compete by proxy in the Wakefield Cup in England (Fairey's Aerodrome at Hayes, in Middlesex). USA and GB domination was broken by a French win.

In August 1937, The South African Model Aeronautic Association was formed on initiation of Viv Gracie of Cape Town, Phil Dalgety of Durban, and Alf Yardley of Johannesburg.

In June of 1939, Viv Gracie and Henry Rieder flew the first radio-controlled glider (14' span) in South Africa, on the beach at Hout Bay. They were also building a powered model aircraft, that flew successfully some time later (date unknown to me).

The documentation is vague, but to my knowledge, the first powered R/C flight was made at Leach's Bay (East London), with 9-foot single-channel model, V3, powered by Forster 99 with hand-carved 18" propeller. Pilots were probably Bob Masters and Viv Andrews. This was late in 1946. Control line flying took place at East London airport. Gerry Masters was first C/L flier with Jim Walker Fireball.

In 1948 in Cape Town, Con Wallis and Mr Gemeken flew a radio-control model with Lorenz Airtrol and E.D equipment. Chips Wannenburg flew a Good Brothers Rudderbug with their (Good Brothers) R/C equipment.

Fritz, I would be very happy if you could forward any information on the early years of South African aeromodelling.

Best regards
Bob Skinner

Fun Fly scores for 2008 -- Andrew Hirst

Herewith the final series scores for Fun Fly 2008 for the SAMAA website. The top 12 from each class qualify of the Masters event to be held in Welkom on 8th and 9th November. If any of the top 12 cannot make it then the selection moves down the list.
Last years Champion, Christopher Harris qualifies automatically.
Regards,
Andrew Hirst

New world Record -- Dave Armitage

Just to whet your appetites guys and to keep the electric fundies happy - New world record claim for electric flight with rechargeable batteries by Stefan Penz of Germany
394.3 Km/h
Regards
Dave Armitage