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2020 Inductee
Wayne Cartwright
2018 Inductee
Brian Howser
2018 Inductee
Gary Burrows
2013 Inductee
Frazer Briggs
2011 Inductee
Joe Wurts
2010 Inductee
Brian Borland
2010 Inductee
Bill Shannon
2010 Inductee
Don Putt
2005 Inductee
David Hope-Cross
David Hope-Cross (-2006 )
David was raised in the Wairarapa and commenced his model building career as an eight year old with a TEAL Flying Boat, one of Airsail’s earliest models, made from the then new material, balsa wood and printed on one single sheet. An early experiment with a skyrocket powered model met with a small disaster and a birthday visit to Auckland produced an E.D. .46 “Baby” and a bottle of diesel fuel that lead to “home brew” fuel mixing and a sleep in the sun after too many ether fumes in the back shed.
The family moved to Auckland and high school years were spent at Mt Albert Grammar where there was a strong Aeromodelling influence. Visits to Modelair lead to “Pecks Paddock” (now Keith Hay Park) and a connection with the Roskill Club. He helped build the present clubhouse in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. David was also Secretary of the Building Committee, later the Club’s Secretary/Treasurer for seven years. He was made a Life member of the club in 1964.
A career move took David overseas for a number of years. Upon return, Wellington was home for several years and frequent trips back to Auckland revealed that the Roskill Club was in serious trouble. Membership was down to four only and on one night when David turned up, the decision was being made to donate the clubrooms to another club. David, mindful of all the work that he and many others had put into the club, took over as President that night and proceeded to lead from afar. With the help of other past members, the club found a new footing and went on to become New Zealand’s Champion Club year after year.
David attended many National Championships (with family) and it was at one of these events that a decision was made to form the Scale Association. This became the forerunner of the Scale Tech Committee. His over-riding passion has been for Free Flight Scale and his name adorns many trophies around the country. His particular interest focuses on De Havilland aircraft, but he is equally at home with Avro or Miles and many of the World War One types also. He is in fact a great enthusiast of aviation in the golden era and has collected documentation on a wide variety of aircraft. He favours New Zealand historical aviation and has been a member of the Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand for many years and recently helped to revive the society when it was fading away.
When the Auckland area took over NZMAA Council in 1982, David was Treasurer for four years. He retained his interest in club activities at the same time and as if that was not enough, with two others took over Airsail International, which was in danger of closing. That little event took place 21 years ago in November this year. Both Airsail and the NZMAA have had their ups and downs but both are still around and David’s input to these organisations has been invaluable.
Many of Davids aeromodelling goals have been curbed in recent years by the increasing load he carried in the commercial world as MD of AGFA, then to the same position in Bayer New Zealand. David is almost certainly the most fluent German speaking New Zealander in the country and was the only non-German to be appointed to the top job in an AGFA establishment in the world. The NZ Model Flier’s World has a great deal of assistance, organised by David, with the inclusion of colour pages in the magazine and he was able to arrange for all the original NZMAA Newletters (from 1947 to 1982) to be copied onto microfilm as a permanent record.
There’s a touch of the kindly prankster within this (sometimes) serious individual also. There was a rumour put about by the man himself (and one of his henchmen who shall remain nameless) that as members of the Roskill Club they were going to build a quarter scale Zeppelin. There was much consternation and head scratching, particularly from the deep south after someone had done the calculations and realised that the model would be almost as long as a Boeing 747, maybe even longer!
David’s love of Free Flight Scale and De Havilland aircraft lead to him designing a 1/8th Scale Fox Moth. The plan for the design was published in the “Aeromodeller” and has remained a good seller for them. It is a particularly fine flyer and very accurate as you would expect. David has recently built another Fox and with it won the F/F Scale event at this year’s Australian Nationals at the same time heading the winning New Zealand Team for the first Trans Tasman F/F Scale Challenge. He’s also been at the head of the group responsible for the introduction of F4A in the FAI Rule Book, an International class for the F/F Scale event.
2005 Inductee
Alf Leong
Alf Leong
Alfred Leong was a founding member of the Hamilton Model Aero Club in 1932. During the Second World War he served with the R.N.Z.A.F. and after the war was instrumental in reforming the Hamilton Model Aero Club. He remained a member of this club until he passed away in 1988 he was the club Recording Officer until the early 1950’s. Alf never aspired to administrative positions in the club or to N.Z.M.A.A. because of a concern to avoid a conflict of interest with his business activities.
Alf’s first major achievement was in 1938 when his model was flown in the Moffett Trophy in the U.S.A. His next was in 1940 when he flew in the indoor event at the Centennial Exhibition in Wellington. He was the National Champion at this event.
Alf was Champion of Champion at the second Nationals at Hamilton in 1949-50. Alf represented New Zealand in Wakefield at World Championships in 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1961.
Alf was an ardent Free Flight modeller and had numerous successes at local and national levels over the years. Including A2, Gas, Payload, Chuck Glider, as well as Wakefield. Also a very competitive Control Line flyer, Alf performed with distinction as an Aerobatic and Speed flyer and held New Zealand speed records. He was known for his distinctive style, flying control-line models clockwise, opposite to the present accepted norm.
In 1969, 1970, 1971 1972 he was a team member contesting Trans Tasman Radio Control Aerobatics in competitions in Australia and New Zealand.
In 1972, 1973, 1974 he was a New Zealand team member flying Radio Control Pylon Racing. Alf could be considered the Father of Pylon Racing in New Zealand as he was one of the earliest proponents of the class. He encouraged others to compete and enjoys the thrills and put a lot of effort into promoting the event, his kitset Pylon Racer was just one of his promotional efforts.
At club level, A.P.M.A.A. and Nationals level, Alf supplied cups, trophies and prizes for many events. A good supporter of all our activities.
People do not realise, that if it had not been for Alf Leong’s ingenuity and talent in making accessories and parts, their participation in a great many modelling activities would have been seriously curtailed during the years of N.Z. import restrictions. A man with modest outlook he was a meticulous craftsman with great patience who gave so much to New Zealand Aeromodelling.
2005 Inductee
John Ensoll
John Ensoll
First experienced aeromodelling when he saw a model being built by a school teacher about 1937. In 1938 his father brought him a rubber model kitset (bamboo, tissue, banana oil and wire construction) built and flown inside the house!!
John joined the Wanganui Aeromodellers 1945-49, was a Founder member of North Shore model aero club 1950-52, then moved to the Christchurch MAC, with gaps, till now and been a life member of the Christchurch MAC for 10years.
In 1950 John joined Aircraft Services Ltd at Mangere Aerodrome (now Auckland International), the base of the Auckland Aero club, as a “Boy”.
Transferred to National Airways Corporation in Palmerston North as an apprentice, he became a Aircraft engineer, licensed on engine overhauls, then an engine shop inspector, moved to the technical section where he worked until retirement.
During this time John learnt to fly the Tiger Moth and Auster, and worked on AeroClub aircraft including the Beech Staggerwing.
Was part of production team producing Easicut lawn edging tool in spare time to fund his modelling habit.
Johns modelling career has not been continuous with wife, family and fishing interrupting (as they do).
With Dave Griffen, John became “Canterbury Sailplanes”, building the ARTF sailplane “Prima” (over 100 of them) thereby encouraging thermal soaring in NZ. Also produced slope soaring foamies, literally thousands of models for New Zealand and export sales.
He a committee member for the inaugural Trans Tasman R/C 1974 consisting of pylon racing, aerobatics, with thermal soaring as a supplementary event. The committee then created the Cirrus Trophy for club team competition (in the Christchurch area) in thermal soaring to class D rules (formula 500)
Attended many nationals Wanganui, Hamilton, Fielding, Carterton, Invercargill, Christchurch, Omaka, he enjoyed numerous successes, mainly in Free Flight and, later, in R/C Soaring.
Positions held in the CMAC. Currently Club President 2003,4,5. Soaring liaison officer for 7 years. Free flight liaison officer for 5 years. Torque editor for 3 years. Secretary for 1 year. Held positions on the S.I.M.A.A. for a number of years.
John is also currently on the Air Users Safety Committee which overseas the activities of all users of the airspace around Christchurch, putting forward the aeromodelling perspective.
John also has been a member of the Soaring S.I.G. and been contest director for Thermal soaring at club and Nationals.
Currently John is revelling in the resurgence in Vintage modelling with several old designs coming off the building board lately.
2005 Inductee
Russ Johnson
Russ Johnson
Russ was born in Palmerston North and became interested in aviation during his high school years in the 1940s. He modelled small solid balsa aircraft by reference to newspaper 3-view identifications of both allied and enemy aircraft during the war years.
In 1946 a public meeting was called to form a club for those interested in model aircraft, and Russ was elected its first Secretary at age 16, a position he held for the next four years. He has held continuous membership of the club to the present day. Over the next 47 years Russ regularly took on management positions, alternating between Secretary and President for a total of 19 years service. In 1968 he was elected to Life Membership of the Palmerston North Aeroneers.
Russ took an active part in the national association, being elected Secretary in 1962 and 1963, President in 1977 and 1978, Area Representative and Councillor from 1987 to 1990, and a member of the Scale Tech Committee for several years. In 1985 he was elected life member of the N.Z.M.A.A.
His early modelling interests included control-line (particularly team racing), free flight, and rubber power. He held the N.Z. record for outdoor spar models with a Modelair ‘Monarch’ of 2 min 40 secs. In the early 1950s he won a place in the N.Z. team for Nordic A2 which was contested in Austria. He began radio control with the N.Z. designed HMV set and an R6B model. Buoyed by success he then built a kitset Controlaire superhet system, followed by a kitset Digitrio 3-channel proportional, and later a 4- channel set, also built from a kit. Russ progressed to the reliable Kraft gear, and finally to JR and Hitec systems. Initially Russ built the popular sport/aerobatic type of model in which to mount his radio gear, but his main interest turned towards scale models. In 1980 he was a member of the R/C Scale team which travelled to Australia for the Trans Tasman contest. This was repeated in 1987 when he again took part in the R/C Scale contest in Australia.
His interest in large scale models began in 1979 when he built a 9 ft span quarter-scale model of the ‘Citabria’ a model he still flies regularly. In 1982 he was a foundation member of Miniature Aircraft NZ (MANZ) the group dedicated to promoting the correct construction and safe operation of large models. He held the position of President for 16 years and was elected life member of MANZ in 1992.
June has been a supporter, almost from the day they met, and Russ spends much of his time is now caring for her. Russ is still actively flying large scale R/C models as time permits, choosing from his fleet which includes the quarter-scale Citabria, quarter-scale Cessna Birddog, one-third scale Spacewalker, and a one third scale Tiger Moth. Occasionally he brings out a glider to take part in a club glider contest.
Russ has played a major part in fostering interest in aeromodelling in the Manawatu. Over the years he has encouraged younger members, promoted club contests, organized local rallies, supported other club rallies, and given freely of advice to anyone who asked. He was also heavily involved in preparations for and running of the Nationals during the years when they were held at Feilding.
2004 Inductee
John Sheppard
John Sheppard
John built and flew models as a youngster on the family farm at Tairua. The May 1952 Aeromodeller magazine mentions a New Zealand record set by John, for Waterplane (rubber) Junior. He was runner-up to the Junior Champion at the Nats that year and there was a plan published in the January 1953 Aeromodeller magazine. The “Karoro” as it was named, was a floatplane designed in 1950, powered by an E.D. Bee and was flown from the Tairua estuary..
When the family moved to Ramarama, South of Auckland, John joined the original Papakura M.A.C. and was soon involved in competition. Winning Payload at the 1954/55 Hamilton Nats, runner-up to the Champ of Champs at the 1955/56 New Plymouth Nats with good placings in C/L Speed (yes C/L), Free-Flight Scale and Payload. Early modelling expeditions used the family Bradford van and in later years 4 modellers and their models and their gear, packed into John’s Mini Minor for trips to the Waikato Champs and other contests.
John went to England in 1959 and soon became involved with some of the best U.K Free-Flight exponents. Henry J. Nichols model shop was the Saturday afternoon meeting place where ideas and theories were discussed, accepted or discarded. A model with great performance was lost (flyaway) with only 6 weeks to go to the World champs at Cranfield, so the construction of the “Gloworm” was started.
John’s crowning achievement was the marathon fly-off at the 1960 Free-Flight Power World Championships. After 12 rounds following the 5 round contest John was one of five declared joint winners after all had scored 17 consecutive max’s.
The following year, after his return to New Zealand the same model was proxy flown to 4th place at the World Champs, the best placing by any of the “famous five” from the previous year.
2003 Inductee
Angus Macdonald
Angus Macdonald
Angus Macdonald joined the Auckland Model Aero Club in 1935, but judging by photographs in his old photo album had had already been building models for several years by then. He joined the Auckland Model Aero Club in January 1936. Angus has always taken more than his share of responsibility in club management. He was a Committee Man in 1942, Treasurer in 1944, Bulletin Editor in 1949, Committee Man again in 1955. Vice President 1956 – 1964, Secretary in 1964, President 1965 – 1968, Vice President 1969 – 1973, Vice President 1975 – 1984, Patron 1985 – 1986, and Patron again in 2003
Angus represented New Zealand in F1A in 1965 and Wakefield in 1949, 1973 and 1989. He was Champion of Champions at the 1948 Nationals, and was also Rubber/Glider Champion in the same year.
He was the designer of many models kitted by Modelair. In 1948 came the Buzz Bee, in 1950 the Gnat, (both control liners), and in 1950 and 1952, the Kea I and Kea II free flight kits respectively, After the death of his father in 1952, Angus took over the running of Modelair, and continued to design kits. In 1962 came the Humming Bird, (probably the most popular kit of all), the Seeker series of R/C gliders in 1968, followed in 1980 by the Bazooka R/C combat kit, and later the Lancer and Skinny B R/C kits.
More recently, Angus has been a tireless worker for Auckland Soar, and has always been ready to adopt the latest air-frame technology, and develop it further. As a person, Angus has always been willing to provide help in a quiet and modest manner, be it in Club matters, or in assisting fellow modellers.
2003 Inductee
Winston Brooke (Bill) Mackley
Bill Mackley
Bill Mackley joined the Auckland Model Aero Club in October 1930 and was soon making a name for himself in both contest flying and club management. His Yellow Bird fuselage rubber design was one of the first really successful Auckland fuselage designs. This was kitted by Modelair. A little later, Modelair also kitted his Red Bird and Hornet designs. He was a New Zealand Wakefield team member in 1936, and represented New Zealand at the 1937 Moffett contest. He also coached the members of the Auckland Grammar School MAC to such good effect that the soundly beat AMAC in a competition!
In 1936, Bill set new records in Fuselage Indoor ROW, Spar outdoor ROW, Senior Spar indoor ROW, Scale outdoor ROG, and in 1937 he set a new mark in Senior Spar Indoor ROW.
Bill always played an important role in club management. He was a Committee Man in 1933, Secretary for a time in 1935, Club Captain in 1936 and 1937, Vice President in 1938, 1940-41, and 1943 to 1949. He was Club Patron from 1978 to 1984, and again in 1987 to 2002.
He was also active in NZMAA matters, being the Public Relations Officer in 1937, a member of the Technical Committee in 1937, and a member of the Board of Management in 1937 and 1938. In 1937 he was co-editor of the NZMAA Notes in Fernleaf, the Official Organ of the Association. He won the NZMAA Silver Badge for June/July 1937.
2003 Inductee
Desmond McAnelly
Desmond McAnelly (1930 - 2001)
Des McAnelly’s modeling activities started in the late 1930’s as an impressionable teenager carving solid scale models of wartime aircraft. He started work in 1947 and joined and became a very active member of the newly reformed Southland Model Aero Club.Des could wall paper a room with all the tickets and pennants awarded for his contest flying. He was perhaps best known for his Class B Team Racing in the 1960,s and early 70’s. Son’s Peter, Nigel and Stephen were all part of the McAnelly team. Des also specialised in C/L Speed. He represented NZ at TT level in 76, 80, 83, 91, and 95. He flew in the World C/L Champs in 84 and was manager of the C/L TT team in 1985.
Des flew FF F1C for NZ at Lost Hills in California as well in1993.
Through those years Des was active in administration, chairing at least two separate South Island Association’s, as well as being instrumental in hosting the Southland Nationals in 1978. He has also served as Chairman of both C/L and FF tech committees at different times.
Always the gentleman, Des was honored with Life Membership of the Southland Model Aero Club in the 1980’s.
Des met and married soul-mate Alvena, who predeceased him on 5th April 2001 after 48 years together. No contest in the South Island or a Nationals would be complete without the McAnelly family and caravan. Alvena was very supportive and, not one to be left at the camp made certain that the van arrived each day at the field, a facility not lost on the rest of the competitors especially in inclement weather. In latter years the family aspect changed almost seamlessly to Grandchildren instead. It certainly did not do the Southland MAC points tally any harm.
The family business in the 70’s was The Southland Foundry where Des learned the casting trade. From the earliest days he cast his own pans for team racers and speed models. This hobby developed into a business that supplied pans and engine mounts to the modelling trade. It also expanded into other lines, motoring accessories etc and soon out grew his garage and was taken over as McAnelly Castings by his daughter Maryanne and son-in-law Wayne Renton.
2003 Inductee
George Bolt
George Bolt (1893 - 1963)
George Bolt was born in Dunedin, but moved to Christchurch in the early 1900s, before coming to Auckland in 1913. Around 1910, while he was living in Christchurch, he helped to set up the Canterbury (NZ) Aero club, which was really a model club, which held flying meetings in Hagley Park. From 1913 to 1923 he was an engineer, instructor and pilot with the Walsh Brother’s flying school at Kohimaramara. While there he continued to make model aircraft, and model engines. He later moved to Wellington to a position of engineer with the Wellington Aero Club. While in that position he became a foundation member and instructor of Wellington Model Aero Club in 1932.
After moving to Auckland, he joined AMAC in April 1940, and held the position of Vice President for 8 years, and was Patron for 12 years. He was also a Vice President of the NZMAA for 14 years.
He held two New Zealand Records; Twin pusher duration, 48 sec, set in 1910, and in 1936, a record of 2 min 38sec for “Other than rubber power.”
He published an article on an early petrol model in Model Aircraft, 1934. This machine, designed by C.A. Philpot and powered by a model aero petrol engine designed and built George, was flown successfully. Later, George designed and flew a number of his own successful models in the pre-1940 period. While no details or plans have survived, some photos have been preserved in E.F. Harvey’s book: “George Bolt Pioneer Aviator”.
George’s major contribution to model aviation was developing model designs in the pioneering days, before much was known about model aeronautics, and, particularly, in fostering early clubs.
2003 Inductee
Harvey Westland
Harvey Westland
Harvey Westland, originally a sheep farmer from the Cheviot hills, spent most of his aeromodelling years making and developing racing glow plug engines- always striving to get more power from his engines he was forced to develop new techniques, understand metallurgy, the mysteries of tuned pipe design, and learn the art of chrome plating.
In the early 70’s he made 2.5 cc glow plug engines suitable for both free flight and control line speed and those engines compared favourably with the then popular Rossi from Italy. During the mid 70’s he designed and made all the components, including castings, for the Westland 29- a 5cc rear exhaust engine. These were made in two configurations- control line speed and teamrace- and these established many records in NZ and Australia. In later years he produced a Westland 40 pylon motor and although 3 were only ever built, they were, in the right hands, equal to the worlds best.
His interest in control line speed saw him represent NZ many times at Trans Tasman contests, and compete at the World Control line Championships in Woodvale, England in 1978.
A man generous with his time when working with/ for his friends spent time during his active years on the committee of the Kaiapoi Model Aero Club, and two terms on the NZMAA Control Line Technical Committee.
2003 Inductee
Verner Perpperell
Vern Pepperell (1900-1966)
Vern Pepperell was a foundation member of the Gore Model Aero club when it was formed in 1938. The club affiliated with the NZMAA in 1939. He built a number of power models, and was a regular flyer at the Club’s field at Knapdale. It was while at Gore that Vern designed and built his first model aircraft engine. In 1940 Vern moved his family moved to Auckland, where Vern was manpowered to Ceramco, working as a tool-maker under Vern Gray. Vern joined the Auckland Model Aero Club in 1944, and held the position of vice president from 1947 to 1951.Around 1940, Vern worked for Fred Macdonald at Modelair, and while there, machined a number of Modelair Nimrod spark-ignition engines. He later designed and built his Godwit series of spark-ignition engines. About 1945, inspired by an Italian diesel engine brought back to New Zealand by NZ serviceman Bob McQuillan, Vern designed his own version. This ran well, and was the fore-runner of the very successful range of Pepperell diesels. It is often not realised that the revolutionary Pepperell 7/16′ diesel with radial porting was contemporary with the 1946 Mills 1.3 and ED Competition Special, both loop scavenged designs.
In the five or six post-war years, when overseas engines were virtually unobtainable in New Zealand, the Pepperells produced over forty engine designs, many of them one-off experimental engines. Their range included spark ignition, glow ignition and diesels. Perhaps the best example of their engineering genius was the Team Race diesel, which beat the Eta 29 racers in the class B event at the 1953 Waikato Championships.
When the demand for engines fell off around 1951, Vern and Ira ceased making engines, and designed their propeller making machine, which produced literally thousands of their Whirlwind propellers. A significant number of Whirlwinds were exported. Propeller production ceased around 1952.
2003 Inductee
Ira Perpperell
Ira Pepperell (1921-1996)
Ira Pepperell was a foundation member of the Gore Model Aero club, which was formed in 1938 and affiliated with the NZMAA in 1939. Both were regular fliers at the Gore field at Knapdale, with Ira building and flying a wide range of models, both rubber and power While in Gore, Ira designed his Pep Zipper, based Carl Goldberg’s Zipper, which was very successful, winning the South Island Championships held at Oamaru in October 1939.
Two years after coming to Auckland in 1939, Ira joined the RNZAF ground trades. In 1944, Ira joined the Auckland Model Aero Club. A year later, Ira left the air force, and joined his father in the manufacture of the Pepperell model aircraft engines. Of particular note were the radical Pepperell 7/16′ and 1/2′ radially ported diesels which provided New Zealand modellers with engines when there were virtually no imported engines. Their range included spark ignition, glow ignition and diesels. Perhaps the outstanding example of their engineering genius was the Team Race diesel, which beat the Eta 29 racers in the class B event at the 1953 Waikato Championships.
After coming to Auckland, Ira took up control line flying, and was successful in both Aerobatic and Speed classes. The won the Peroa Hardware Cup for Aerobatics outright after a third win in 1954. He was awarded an NZMAA silver medal in August 1948 for the first NZ flyer to exceed 100 mph in C/L speed. He set three new records in Control Line Speed: May 1949, Class III speed, 110.12 mph; February 1950, Class III speed, 126.79; March 1951, Class II Speed 115.4 mph. The first two records were set with a Pepperell 61 glow engine, the last (also an Australasian record) with a Pepperell’ modified Eta 29.
2003 Inductee
Vernon Gray
Vern Gray (1923- )
Vern Gray was one of the outstanding early leaders in indoor flying in New Zealand. He joined the Auckland Model Aero Club in August 1931. He served on the committee in 1935 and 1937. He served on the NZMAA Council for a total of six years.
Vern set 16 indoor records between December 1935 and March 1993, starting with 6 min 29 sec for H/L Indoor Spar in 1935 to 16 min 16 sec for Class D Indoor in 1993. In 1937 he was awarded NZMAA Silver Medals for flying 13m 13.2s in Indoor Spar and 6m 40.2s for Indoor HL fuselage.
In International events, Vern took 7th place in the 1935 Moffett contest, and won the 1936 Moffett event. Together with Stan Eade and Ray Allen, Vern represented New Zealand in the Australian “Internationals” in 1938. He represented New Zealand in the 1948 Wakefield contest.
Frank Zaic published two of Vern’s Plans in the Frank Zaic 1938 Yearbook. These were Vern’s 1937 ROG indoor record holder, and his 1937 Moffett design.
Vern is remembered by his fellow club members for his meticulous attention to detail in both construction and trimming, for his original thinking in developing his designs for still higher performance, and for his relaxed reaction when he accidentally dropped his glasses on his F1D model at Kawarau, completely destroying it.
2003 Inductee
Laurie Ackroyd
Laurie Ackroyd (1923-2007)
Laurie was born in Hawera where he developed an early interest in aircraft at a tender age, building models with plasticine, and graduating to wood in his father’s home workshop.
His first flight was as a passenger in Charles Ulm’s AVRO 10 trimotor “Faith in Australia” in January 1934. In that year he initiated a classroom project on the “MacRoberton” air race from London to Melbourne, using researched material from aviation magazines. This sparked an interest in aviation history which he has retained throughout his life.
Laurie’s modelling activities progressed as new materials and equipment became available. He joined the Hawera Model Aero Club in 1937, and retained membership until he moved to Wanganui in 1968. During the intervening period he served the Club as Secretary, committee member and President. He has filled those positions in the Wanganui Aeromodellers Club, and is now a Life Member of both clubs.
A modelling dynasty started with Laurie. His son Murray and two grandsons all fly R/C.
Model building has not been Laurie’s only interest. He hosted the Hawera nats in 1952, organised hobby displays and exhibitions in Hawera and Wanganui, instructed modelling classes in Taranaki, Wanganui and Waikato schools in the 1980s, introduced “Buddy Box” instruction in Wanganui, and continues to train newcomers. Acting as commentator at rallies has provided a valuable service.
Editing the “Egmont Emitter” was Laurie’s responsibility between 1962 and 1968. He has filled the same role in Wanganui for the past 23 years. He has had historical avaition and modelling articles published in “Fliers World”, “Aeromodeller”, R.C.M&E (U.K), M.A.N and R.C. Modeller (U.S.A.) since 1956. Included in these publications were plans for a Southern Cross control line model in 1958, (now on loan to Motat), and a Piper Comanchie, built in 1959 and still flyable.
Many national titles since 1951 have been held by Laurie. Those titles include rubber, control line scale (9 titles in 20 years), FAI power, Nordic A2, and R/C power. He has been an international competitor, having taken part in the Wakefield and Nordic A2 world championhips in 1955, and the R/C scale world championships in 1982.
After nearly seventy years of aeromodelling enthusiasm, Laurie was still flying whenever the opportunity arose, and immaculate scale models continued to appear from his workshop until his death in July 2007.
2001 Inductee
Ian Barber
Ian Barber
Ian became interested in Aeromodelling as a teenager and is best known for his Radio Controlled Soaring World record, built up over a period of time, finally achieved in 1960 with a time of 9hours 4minutes, and not exceeded as a World record for 5 years and stood as a New Zealand record until 1995, thus establishing his own position as a noteworthy exponent of radio controlled flying and contributing substantially to New Zealand‘s reputation as a pioneer in that discipline.Actively involved with the Wellington Model Aero Club, Ian was on the committee in 1955 – ’56 and edited the club bulletin in 1958 – 59.
Ian was a competitive modeller in the ’50,s and ’60,s with successes in local and National competition in Free-Flight, Indoor and Radio Control events.
The MacDonald Memorial award was presented to Ian in 1960 in recognition of his aeromodelling achievements.
Full sized gliding was a passion and until recently Ian was the oldest glider instructor in New Zealand.
After nearly seventy years of aeromodelling enthusiasm, Laurie was still flying whenever the opportunity arose, and immaculate scale models continued to appear from his workshop until his death in July 2007.
2001 Inductee
Alan Barnes
Alan Barnes (1929 - )
Alan Barnes was born in March 1929 in Wellington. The family moved to New Plymouth area in 1936 and Alan commenced model flying in his teens, joining the New Plymouth Model Flying Club in 1945, when this disbanded he joined New Plymouth Model Aero Club in 1955.
His early interest in Free-Flight saw him represent New Zealand at World Championships and Trans-Tasman events seven times, with creditable placings on many occasions.
A growing interest in engines and engineering lead to eleven appearances at World and Trans-Tasman Control-Line contests.
Alan has held numerous New Zealand records, mainly in Control-Line Speed and Team-Race events, but on two occasions held the NZ, FAI, F1B Wakefield record. If he attended a National Championships, he always took home a good collection of trophies, usually for first place.
Alan (more usually know as “Barney”) started modifying engines about 1975, improved performance and hand fitted parts lead to the manufacture of his own piston/cylinder parts and ultimately to the production of his own complete engines. Many people who have flown F/F or C/L international events in the last 20 years have had “Barney” work on or check their engines. R/C Pylon contestants have also benefited from his touch and his engine work has been recognised overseas by “Model Engine World” magazine published in the U.K.
Always generous with his time when working for the club, Alan has been New Plymouth club President and Committee member for many years, has served on the Control-Line Technical Committee and was instrumental in the construction of the New Plymouth concrete Control-Line circle, offering to loan and guarantee the money to build the circle. This, the first, paved circle in N.Z. enabled the C/L Trans-Tasman contests to continue.
Ian became interested in Aeromodelling as a teenager and is best known for his Radio Controlled Soaring World record, built up over a period of time, finally achieved in 1960 with a time of 9hours 4minutes, and not exceeded as a World record for 5 years and stood as a New Zealand record until 1995, thus establishing his own position as a noteworthy exponent of radio controlled flying and contributing substantially to New Zealand‘s reputation as a pioneer in that discipline.
Actively involved with the Wellington Model Aero Club, Ian was on the committee in 1955 – ’56 and edited the club bulletin in 1958 – 59.
Ian was a competitive modeller in the ’50,s and ’60,s with successes in local and National competition in Free-Flight, Indoor and Radio Control events.
The MacDonald Memorial award was presented to Ian in 1960 in recognition of his aeromodelling achievements.
Full sized gliding was a passion and until recently Ian was the oldest glider instructor in New Zealand.
After nearly seventy years of aeromodelling enthusiasm, Laurie was still flying whenever the opportunity arose, and immaculate scale models continued to appear from his workshop until his death in July 2007.
2001 Inductee
Allan Rowe
Allan Rowe (1917 - 2007)
Allan Rowe flew models from a very early age in the Wellington area and served in the RNZAF from 1940. He built models from balsa wood supplied for repairs to Short “Singapore” flying boats while serving in Fiji.
Allan was one of the Les Wright group who became particularly interested in the design of aerobatic single channel models, this lead to one of New Zealand’s most famous model designs, the R6-B, dozens of which have been built in NZ and probably hundreds overseas. Allan Rowe came up with an innovative and appealing layout in 1953 and the publication of a feature and plan in a 1955 “Aeromodeller” made it an all-time classic.
R6B was followed by R6C and R6D. R6C first flew on 28 Feb 54, was little smaller and was a success right from the start. It was in demand for demonstrations – HMV and others. Allan got carried away at a RNZAC pageant at Hood Aerodrome March 54 and crashed after starting a loop too low after 25 minutes of “aerobatics”. Rebuilt with an Elfin 2.49 – far too much power and finally written off in a spectacular dive at Palmerston North from the top of the climb.
Always an active club member, Allan wrote the Wellinton MAC newsletter on 1950 – ’51, was a committee member of Wellington MAC in 1952 – ’54 and became NZMAA president from 1954 – ’57.
For many years Allan was involved in “full-sized” gliding, owning an Olympian 463 named “Kotuku” (White Heron) Later there was Jodel homebuilt and a microlight, until deteriorating eyesight made flying impractical.
Awarded the MacDonald Memorial Trophy in 1957 and made NZMAA Life Member in 1961, Allan played a major part in the location of the first Les Wright Radio Model in 1988.
2000 Inductee
Paul Lagan
Paul Lagan (1941-2018)
Paul Lagan has been modelling since a very young age. While best known for his FF success, he has flown in all classes of Aeromodelling. He has represented both Australia and New Zealand internationally on many occasions, and was awarded the FAI Alphonse Pernaud Diploma in 1993. Not only a dedicated modeller and competitor, he has also served in key administrative roles in the NZMAA on several occasions.
Paul Lagan was born in Christchurch in 1941 and flew models from a very early age with the Christchurch M.A.C. He chose an Airforce Avionic Engineering career and married Pamela in 1961. No matter where his job took him, Aeromodelling has formed an inseparable part of his life. Perhaps best known for his successes in Free Flight competition, Paul has flown, and continues to fly all disciplines; an inveterate and consummate aeromodeller.
A regular Nats and South Island competitor, at National level Paul has won more events and broken more records than any other. This includes winning the National Champion of Champion award an outstanding 18 times. Paul first achieved National success and recognition when he won the Radio Control event at the 1959 Blenheim Nationals. At International level he started in 1965 with proxy flown Free Flight representations. And from 1971 Paul has traveled to World Championships in Sweden, Spain, U.S.A, Australia, Switzerland and Israel. He has placed 2nd and 3rd at World Championships for F1A (A2 Glider) and 4th in F1B (Wakefield). Paul has won the individual Trans Tasman title in Wakefield, FAI Power, A2 Glider, Thermal Soaring and R/C Pattern and has represented NZ 35 times in these events.
Paul and family shifted to the RAAF in Australia from 1980 until 1986 with no letup in his model activities. Indeed, so successful was he during these years in Australian National and International competition, that in 1989 Paul was inducted into the Australian MAAA Hall of Fame.
For his contest achievements, Paul was awarded the 1993 Alphonse P’naud Diploma by the FAI. Only one such diploma is awarded each year by the FAI and is a high honour for Paul and for New Zealand.
As an administrator, it would be difficult to find a position or role that Paul has not filled. Never one to seek the limelight, he sees the real issues and just gets on with it. By his own admission he is the gnome that gets the work done, whether at club or international level. He has built up a formidable range of contacts locally and worldwide. Paul Lagan has been through the ranks at club level, and helped to establish two clubs as well as the FFONZ association of Free Flighters. He served on the South Island M.A.A twice as President, and served as NZMAA Secretary for two separate terms. He has organised several New Zealand Nationals and Trans Tasman Championships. In 1982, he also ventured into the commercial world as a NZ agent for two Radio Control systems.
Paul produced Club and SIMAA Newsletters for many years, the South Island News (SIN) becoming a widely read and respected technical journal. He developed and published many designs for Free Flight, RC Aerobatics and Soaring, many were published internationally as full-size plans and some of which were kitted. The most notable include 18 Tons, FAI Power in 1963; Papanui Tavern HLG in 1968; Inglefinger, RC Soarer in 1972; Kiwi-2 A2 in 1966.
Paul has promoted and fostered participation in many Aeromodelling codes and has twice completed extensive revisions of the NZMAA Flying Rules, the most recent in 1999. He is a Life Member of both the Christchurch M.A.C. and the NZMAA, and has been a recipient of the Macdonald Memorial Award for outstanding service to Aeromodelling.
2000 Inductee
Les Wright
Les Wright (1903-1993)
Les Wright was a New Zealand pioneer in the development of reliable and affordable radio control equipment in the 1950’s and 1960s. The reliability, ruggedness and availability of his equipment introduced many to the wonders of radio control and played a large part in achieving the world record successes for Frank Bethwaite and Ian Barber in the 1950s.
Leslie Henry Wright was born in England in 1903 and emigrated to New Zealand via Australia. He became the Technical Manager of H.M.V. and, in 1940, was the first to Radio Control models successfully in New Zealand. During the war he developed a full-sized Radio Control launch to tow gunnery targets.
After the war he developed components and plans for his own Radio Control equipment which was initially produced and supplied on an informal basis but in 1953 his system was marketed under the HMV label and became an immediate success both in New Zealand and overseas.
The reliability, ruggedness and availability of this equipment introduced many to the wonders of Radio Control and played a large part in achieving Word Record successes for Frank Bethwaite and Ian Barber in the 1950s. In 1957, the equipment was marketed under the Wright label by Wright Radio Control, Ltd. and the initial all-valve design was followed in 1959 with valve/transistor hybrid receiver then in 1960-62 with all transistor miniature equipment.
Les did not often fly competitively but in 1951 he won the Nationals Radio Control event at Masterton. He served as Secretary, President and Patron of the Wellington Model Aero Club.
In 1951/2 he successful lobbied for allocation of the first frequencies for radio control in New Zealand, and for no examination for amateur radio applicants for licences to use these frequencies for model flying.
In 1955 he received the Macdonald Memorial Award for outstanding achievements in the sphere of radio controlled model flying and in 1962 was awarded Life Membership of the NZMAA.
2000 Inductee
Frank Bethwaite
Frank Bethwaite (1920- )
Frank Bethwaite set many world records over the 1950-56 period using “Wright” radio control equipment. In 1958 he moved to Sydney, where the lack of suitable flying spaces led him to the field of sailboats, where he has made many significant contributions. In 2000, he was awarded the Award of Australia for Experiment and Design.Francis Dewar Bethwaite, DFC, OAM
Born 26th May 1920, Wanganui, NZ.
1931 – ’36 Wanganui Collegiate School
1936 – ’39 Read aeronautical engineering.
Built and sailed racing dinghies
Designed, built and flew model aircraft. Member IGMAA
Learned to fly
1940 Joined RNZAF
1940 – 42 Flying training
1942 – 43 Test pilot
1943 – 45 Three tours operations. Squadron Leader, DFC
1946 – 1959 TEAL (Air New Zealand), Captain.
1959 – 1968 Director, Flight Operations, CSIRO’s Cloud Seeding Experiments.
1968 – Founded Starboard Products P/L, Sydney (now called Bethwaite Design).
Recreational and Personal.
1946 app Established the North Shore Model Aeroplane Club. Key members-Don Wilson, Kevin Williams, Brian Foster.
1946 – 1958 Council member NZMAA, various positions. Key people – Walter Read, President; Les Mayn, Sec; Freddie Macdonald, Patron and general encourager.
1948 Represented New Zealand in person, at the 1948 Wakefield competition at Cranfield, UK.
1951 – 1953 Models proxied at World Championships for Nordic A2 (1951,53) and Wakefield (1952,53)
1950 – 1956 “Long Project”. Using radical own-design models and techniques and Les Wright designed Radio equipment, culminating in World Endurance Records:
07 Jan 53 R/C Glider 1 hr 09 min
10 May 54 R/C Glider 2 hr 00 min
30 Jan 55 R/C Power 3 hr 02 min 06 sec
17 Apr 55 R/C Glider 3 hr 28 min
02 Apr 56 R/C Glider 7 hr 37 min
1956 – 58 Developed reliable radio control model flying boats.
End ’58 Moved to Sydney. No room for free-flight or R/C models, so reverted to high performance sailboats, which are simply model aircraft that float.
2000 Awarded Order of Australia for experiment and design.
Frank enjoyed the technical challenges of model aircraft and appreciates the very close association between model aircraft and sailboats. All that happened because space constraints in Sydney precluded further work with model aircraft, so he turned back to sailboats, and studied their properties with the same care. Many of the key elements – detail drag reduction, achieving laminar flow in critical areas, the small-scale structure of wind, the different wind patterns – all had their origins in his model work. For this reason he regards his work with model aircraft and his work with light sailboats as a continuum of the same area of study, primarily low speed aerodynamic properties of thin flexible aerofoils in unsteady flow. In both areas diligent research yields significant results. His younger son, who now runs his company, “Bethwaite Design”, has inherited this conviction from him.
2000 Inductee
John Malkin
John Malkin (1931- )
John Malkin has been an active modeller and competitor for over 50 years in nearly all classes of aeromodelling. He painstaking develops his own model designs, has always sought to improve his own and his models performance and is often the first to try new methods and techniques. He published “Airfoil Sections” in 1971, which quickly became an international reference work. This was reprinted in 1981 due to strong demand. Not only a dedicated modeller and competitor, he has also served in key administrative roles in the NZMAA on several occasions.
John Malkin was born in Waipukurau, Hawkes Bay in 1931 and has been an active competitor for over 50 years in a wide range of disciplines including Free Flight, Control Line, R/C Thermal Soaring, Vintage, and Indoor. He has represented NZ at Trans-Tasman and World Championships on 22 occasions, 18 of these being in his preferred class of Wakefield. He has been Champion of Champions at the Nationals and has held many NZ records.
John’s “Miser” Wakefield design has become a classic NZ model and it gave satisfaction and success to many other aeromodellers. He painstakingly develops his own model designs, has always sought to improve his own and his models performance and is often the first to try new techniques. In recent years, he has become a well-known and respected competitor at International contests, particularly in USA. In 1971, John published a book “Airfoil Sections” on wing sections for models that became an essential reference work internationally. It was reprinted in 1981 due to strong demand.
John joined the Wellington Model Aero Club in the early 60s after being a key member of the contest-oriented Upper Hutt Aeromodellers. John has held most positions on the WMAC committee since then including President and Recording Officer, and is now Club Patron. He has been a key member and a loyal servent of the NZMAA serving as an official on several occasions: President (1965-67, 1978-80, 1986) and Secretary (1972-73). John’s presidency in 1986 was during a period of restructuring of the NZMAA. He is an NZMAA Life Member.