Page 24 - MFW June 2025

Mike Pillette

After an inclement weather cancelation of the event in
2024, it was great to be able to host this year’s event in
very pleasant Taranaki sunshine on both days. The
number of attendees was down a little this year, but it
meant more fly time for each of us and those who did
attend indicated they will return in 2026 saying it was a
fun event.

Saturday dawned fine, but a little breezy, with a swinging
westerly/nor-westerly cross-wind over the Ferndene
strip. The club saying “if you can’t fly in a cross-wind, then
you can’t fly at Ferndene” was very fitting as the site has
been plagued with constant westerly and easterly winds
all summer. However, with appropriate use of the rudder
there was plenty of flying to be had all day with no major
incidents. After a pilot briefing at !0.00am it was all on and
the flight line was busy with a variety of sport aircraft from
foamies to large built up models. Peter Brown flew his
Saito radial powered Gee Bee which was the largest
model to take to the sky and the smallest was a little
Hobbyzone Apprentice flown by 8-year-old Sam
Craddock, who happily took to the air with “the big boys”.
Steve Blackman had his Lancaster, but decided to leave
it in the trailer because of the breeze, but it was great to
see it repaired since the mishap at Awatoto.

A well-earned lunch break around 12.15pm of
hamburgers and coffee, prepared on the spot by our
efficient catering team, allowed for plenty of banter before
flying continued well into the afternoon. Around 3.00pm
we held a small prize giving for the day and the winner
was Gordon Meads from Hamilton who made the most of
the day flying his Ultra Hots and his FW190 Dora
whenever there was a spot. Incidentally, Gordon and
Allen Rowson from Hamilton have attended every Fly-In
since NPMAC have run them and we appreciate that.
Frazer Briggs wasn’t there this time to do his usual lunch
time demo, he was turning 50 or something, (happy Top to bottom:
birthday Bogan) but Jessie Malcom flew his Pilot Extra Hansa Brandenburg.
very well, much to our delight, without really realising he Happy floatplaners at Lake Ratapiko.
Sunny but slightly breezy.
was the lunchtime demo. Steve Blackman's EAA bipe.
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