Page 37 - MFW June 2024

NORTH ISLAND FREE FLIGHT CHAMPS

26th - 28th July 2024

RAYNER’S FARM - CARTERTON
Stew Cox
The NIFFC held at Rayner’s Farm near Carterton in
late April was one of the best NIFFC that we’ve had in
recent years. The event was well organised by Paul
Squires who was ably assisted by Connie Gray and
Yolande Mulholland on the scoring desk. There were
competitors from Auckland, Hamilton, Hawkes Bay,
Feilding, Wellington and Levin.

Des Richardson’s Blackburn Skua looked great against the perfect sky. Graham Lovejoy winding his Coupe model with assisted by Des Richards.

Most free flight classes are about duration with the flight builds leading to strong thermals covering a very large
being timed by a timekeeper from the moment of launch to area and hanging around for a long time resulting in
when the model lands or has achieved the maximum multiple models sharing the same patch of lift very near
possible score for that model class, a ‘max’. The max is the launch area. On occasions, long max flights would
normally 180 seconds for most classes and 120 seconds dethermalize down within metres of where the model had
for the smaller model classes. The skill is to identify been launched.
thermals from the ground and to launch a well trimmed
model into the rising air to assist the duration of the flight An added bonus over the weekend was the regular full
beyond what the model would normally achieve in neutral size activity of the Vintage Aviator WW1 collection, often
air. Models are launched by towline in the case of gliders, flying nearby in formation. The allied biplanes were also
wound rubber for the rubber classes and IC engine or now on occasions subject to mock attacks by a Fokker
electric motors for the power classes. The power classes Eindecker and a Fokker D8, all within easy viewing from
have a limited motor run cut off by an onboard clockwork the free flight field.
or electronic timer after which the models glide. Free flight
is how aeromodelling started and this purist form of model Nearer ground level we were also treated to some
flying still has a good following. spectacular rubber scale warbirds by Mike Mulholland
including a Lysander and a P40. Mike’s building skills are
While the wind precluded competition flying on the Friday, of the highest order. In Combined Mini, Mike flew a Bob
the Saturday and Sunday were stunningly great days for White Beau Coupe. Having spent time with the Master,
free flight flying with clear skies and light variable thermal Bob White, and seen his exceptionally well built models up
driven winds all day all weekend. The flying site was close, I have to say that Mike Mulholland’s Beau Coupe is
perfect with no crops of any significance and most built to at least the standard of Bob White’s, if not better!
retrievals were relatively short due to the lack of wind. This
made for a jamboree type atmosphere with most of the In Vintage Precision, the goal is to make three flights all as
fliers around the launch area all day and able to enjoy each close to the target time of 90 seconds with seconds under
other’s company and flights. A lot of flying was done, or over penalising the score. Any vintage model (designs
particularly on the Saturday which had Friday’s postponed before 1950) is eligible and most fly duration or sport
events added to the day’s programme. Saturday’s thermal power models like the Simplex. Des Richards however
conditions were also a bit special with long slow thermal flew his Blackburn Skua rubber scale model in Precision
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