VMAA Bulletin Dec 22 to Feb 23

Visit our website at www.vmaa.com.au Bulletin No.25, December 2022, January/February 2023
As 2022 draws to a close, I think most of us will be
hoping for both some time and opportunity to get more
flying done. It seems that the weather over the past few
months has only given us fleeting periods of excellent
flying conditions, separated by floods and wind. For
those of you who are having time off work, I trust some
active aeromodelling provides a great way to recharge
the batteries. If you are heading away for holidays, stay
safe and have a relaxing trip.
The photo below was a very lucky
encounter in Spring 2022 captured
from the video camera on board
Kelvin Barraclough’s Bixler 3. In
the background are two ibises that
Kelvin reckoned were marking a
thermal pattern for his foam glider
during one of the club's regular
midweek flying days.
Kelvin is a member of the Model
Aircraft Club of Sunbury (MACS).
The view below shows the club’s
flying field, clubhouse and shelter
at Wildwood with several vehicles
and model aircraft in attendance on
that pleasant day.
The photo below was thought to be
taken around lunchtime, as Kelvin
is the only pilot seen in the shot.
Other members would have been
under the shelter eating, chatting
and offering advice from afar.
I know many clubs worked hard in 2022 to recommence
more normal activities and the VMAA is similarly
looking to support everyone in getting back to regularly
scheduled club events, displays and competitions in the
coming year. Additionally, we will continue to put effort
into promotional activities to help market and grow our
exciting and rewarding pursuit of aeromodelling.
I look forward to seeing more of you face to face out on
the flying fields across the coming months.
Ibises are much more friendly than
the local magpies that regularly
chase the quieter electric gliders
during the Spring breeding season.
Kelvin recalls, “I remember one
member’s model that broke a wing
while pulling a tight loop in an
attempt to escape a fast attacking
magpie. Needless to say, the brief
encounter did not end well and
involved a walk in the paddock to
retrieve the remains - of the glider
that is - not the magpie. Escape is
possible more often than not by
out-climbing the magpies and/or
powering away at speed. Mind
you, they do get quite a surprise if
for instance you loop over the top
of a magpie and come at it from
the rear.” Kelvin concluded with,
“Some added interest to a great
day's flying.”
Kelvin’s Bixler 3 with camera on board.
Kelvin
VMAA Bulletin Dec 2022, Jan/Feb 2023
Click on the VMAA Calendar Of Events
Page 1

Twin Cities Model Aero Club (TCMAC)
February 2023 Festival of Flight
A five-day Festival of Flight will be conducted from
Thursday 23 to Monday 27 February at TCMAC. The
objective is to have a fun-filled few days of flying,
fellowship and friendly greetings with all who attend.
No formal competition or judging will be conducted.
However, on the Saturday, access to Tabletop Reserve
will be available to fly seaplane models.
With great facilities, including a 400ft concrete
runway, two grass runways, two control line circuits, a
glider winch and access to Hume Weir, why not come
and join us? Pilot registration is only $50 for the five
days with early bird registrations of $45 (prior to
Saturday 18 February). Camping with hot showers is
onsite. Camping fees are included in the registration.
Clubhouse Refurbishment
Thanks to the bequest of the late Tony Small and
assistance and contributions from TCMAC members,
a considerable amount of work has been undertaken to
turn the club’s ‘shed’ into a proper clubhouse.
Works included:
Lifting the roof, installing sarking, aka
aluminium foil, and other insulation
Installing plasterboard on the ceiling
and walls
Laying new flooring
Salvation Army Donations
The club members gladly took up a collection of nonperishable
foodstuffs and toys and donated them to the
Salvation Army for distribution to those less fortunate
than ourselves. The presentation was made on Sunday
18 December and the donations were well received.
Article presented by Alwyn Brunton
VMAA Bulletin Dec 2022, Jan/Feb 2023
Click on the VMAA Calendar Of Events
Page 2

Echuca Moama Model Aero Club
‘Come and Try Day’
We have a Come and Try Day organised for Saturday 18
March 2023. This was originally planned for Saturday 26
November 2022 but the day had to be postponed due to the
issues with major flooding around this region. The VMAA
had agreed to help us out with a financial contribution for
advertising and expenses to assist in staging this event.
We also have our Annual Fun Fly organised for the weekend
of Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 April 2023.
On the subject of much flooding around the area, it may be of
interest to the readers that the Echuca field, whilst not directly
flooded as a result of the rivers being flooded, was affected by
the large amount of rain that fell. Over 220mm was received
in the month of October alone, so we did have to close the
field for about four weeks. One of the issues was draining the
water away from our paddocks, so a makeshift drain was dug
across the entrance to help with this, which meant that we did
not have access for quite some time.
I am pleased to report that the deluge of water has all dried up
and operations are back to normal, albeit with a lot of mowing
that needed doing to get the field shipshape again.
Onsite camping with hot showers and fire pit
Come and join us and enjoy
our great facilities
It is sure to be a great fun weekend
Refreshments available, as well as
breakfast, lunch and a
Roast Dinner on Saturday night
Entry fee $10 per pilot
Contact: Fred West - 0418 362 100
fwest@bigpond.net.au
emmac.com.au
As far as the Echuca/Moama region is concerned, the rivers have continued to recede and most activities in the
area are getting back to normal, albeit with a lot of repairs and recovery work still to be done.
Article presented by Fred West
VMAA Bulletin Dec 2022, Jan/Feb 2023
Click on the VMAA Calendar Of Events
Page 3

Something to BRAG about
Now then, where does this story
start? I had to look back over
the club’s newsletters, photos,
our website, the Facebook page
and notes just to get my
bearings. It’s been a crazy few
years and everything we have
achieved is due to an active and
engaged membership core.
The Bawbaw Radiomodellers
Association Gippsland Inc.
(BRAG) was incor porated on
27 May 2020 in anticipation of
the current club at the time
voting to end the lease at the
site of the Blue Rock Lake.
Maintaining two sites was also
considered problematic; the site
was relinquished and the BRAG
club took the opportunity to
approach Southern Rural Water.
At about the same time the club submitted a new club application to the VMAA. The application was formally
recognised and put on the MAAA database. On 1 July 2020 the club’s bank account was activated, founding
member fees were paid and our club was now open for business and accepting new members.
A lease for the original site area was formally sent to the new BRAG club. After some discussion it was put to
Southern Rural Water that we would be interested in leasing the whole peninsula area. The formal proposal
was accepted by Southern Rural Water and a new lease was drafted, accepted and signed on 10 September
2020. The new lease increased our area from around 4 acres to 18 acres, allowing the club to harvest the area
for hay and provide a small income for the club. The larger lease area and extended flight area over the lake
has allowed for a larger main runway, float flying out the front of this area, float flying on the sheltered side of
the peninsula and a designated area for helicopters.
Setting up a club from scratch was new to us, so we relied on the support of the VMAA. Joe Finocchiaro was
very supportive from the start of the process. Joe was across all the issues we faced and provided valuable
guidance where required. It was important for our new club to be set up correctly from a governance
standpoint in relation to the model rules. We also developed as required, safety rules, risk assessment, code of
conduct and additional club rules and bylaws. We wanted to make sure the club had a structure that could
stand the test of time. Not too many rules but just enough simple ones that offer clarity to managing the club
and its various activities.
Once that was all behind us the real fun started. To help promote the club, the next step was to get the website,
Facebook page and newsletter set up. The club was lucky to receive some donations from members. David
Nichols donated the materials for the pits/spectator fence, again a big thank you. Steve, Mick and Phil
purchased the container that was already on the site. It came with a punt and non-working motor, a small rideon
mower that didn’t work and a few other bits and pieces. Scott fixed the boat motor, so we now had a way to
fetch the occasional stray plane.
Steve fixed the mower in an attempt to cover some of the costs of the container. The mower was put on
Gumtree and sold within one hour. A member, 9 years of age at the time, stated matter-of-factly, “Well you
sold that too cheap didn’t you Steve.” Steve had obviously done a great job of the rebuild and it sold quick.
Anyway the end result was that the club now had a container and punt boat with a working motor.
Godwin built a flagpole and donated it to the club, again a big thank you. Steve, Mick and Phil donated the
materials for the pilots’ fence and the club came together in several working bees to install the fences and the
flagpole. The club is grateful to all the members who have donated time, money and items to the club. Also,
thank you to our sponsors and suppliers who have assisted the club. They can be viewed by clicking HERE.
VMAA Bulletin Dec 2022, Jan/Feb 2023
Click on the VMAA Calendar Of Events
Article presented by Phil, Secretary of BRAG.
The big opening day is Sunday 19 March 2023. Details on the next page.
Page 4

(Continued from the previous page.) The club was gaining momentum and with this enthusiasm we put our
energies into applying for a VMAA grant to support the purchase of the toilets. We were successful in our
application and we thank the VMAA for supporting our club in its early days.
The next step was to secure a mower. The club put its case to the MAAA via the yearly grants scheme and was
able to purchase a second-hand mower with a wide cut. Again, we would like to thank the MAAA for its
ongoing support.
So the club was now up and running with some installations and facilities and we were enjoying some good
flying time. The club was looking forward to having a big opening day, then all the restrictions and lockdowns
started. The membership was growing steadily but this really took the wind out of our sails to say the least.
Everyone was impacted in one way or another, some worse than others, a very sad time. The VMAA had been
invited to visit the club and this was cancelled. Then an open day was planned for May 2021 and this was also
cancelled. Same story everywhere. Then around mid 2021 the committee heard about the local Shire offering
community grants, so we now had something positive to focus on.
We submitted an expression of interest (8 documents) and were successful in receiving an invitation to apply
for a community grant. We then submitted the application (20 documents), then waited. The club was notified
that it was successful for the grant. We then made the mistake of not contacting the planning department
straight away as it was close to Christmas. Long story short, the team at SD Planning was kind enough to
navigate the planning requirements on our behalf in support of the club and 7 months later we had our permit.
By this time prices had gone up and we had to change from an RHS construction to a pressed frame that most
likely added four full working-bee days and a crane lift to do the job. So read into that what you like but the
perseverance of the club members at the working-bees was second to none. A special thank you goes out to
Jeff and Scott for their efforts and especially Graeme J, who travelled from the suburbs each time to help out.
The shelter is now finished and the club membership as a whole is very proud of what it has achieved.
So as a club, we feel ready to finally host our official open day. It will be a Float Fly Day, so I anticipate, say
for every two sessions of float flying, there will be one session off from the strip. There will be a BBQ on the
day and let’s hope for great weather. The big day is Sunday 19 March 2023.
We hope you can make it. Please consider letting us know if you are coming by sending us an email to
events@bawbawrc.com.au If you are interested in joining the club, reach out to one of the committee
members or email Mick at registrar@bawbawrc.com.au Membership is only $55 per year with no joining fee.
Junior membership is $30.
Our President manicuring the runway.
VMAA Bulletin Dec 2022, Jan/Feb 2023
Click on the VMAA Calendar Of Events
Page 5

Warbirds Over Bairnsdale
Article presented by Tony Wilson
Carl Bizon’s BEA Hawk.
The Bairnsdale and District Model Aero Club
(BADMAC) hosted its inaugural Warbirds Over
Bairnsdale event on 12 and 13 November 2022. It
was initially scheduled for two weeks prior but due to
the incredible amount of rain, it had to be postponed.
There had been a lot of excitement amongst the keen
modellers with the Facebook advertisement getting
multiple hits right up until the event. Please check out
our Facebook page and follow it for all current club
activities. I can highly recommend creating a club
Facebook page, if you haven’t already done so.
The weather was touch and go but pilots started
arriving on the Wednesday and set up camp for the
duration. Flying conditions on Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday before the event were great. The Saturday
of the event greeted us with mostly light winds and an
overcast sky. A total of 22 pilots registered to fly and
brought along not only their warbirds but many other
styles of aircraft. Unfortunately, the weather forecast
for Sunday was bleak, so it was decided to open up
flying to all aircraft types with the warbirds having
precedence. The public was well-represented and the
canteen ran hot all day, even selling out of our famous
‘BADMAC Burgers’. Andrew Sill, from Flat Out RC,
attended and filmed the event for a YouTube video.
Click HERE to view the video.
On Saturday evening the campfire was roaring and
many laughs were had. Then we had torrential rain
from 10pm through to 8am. This created a river that
ran across the strip in several places and down both
sides of the pit’s shelter matting. Although the Sun
came out and presented us with a beautiful day, the
strip in its present state was unflyable. Presentations
were brought forward so that everyone could pack up
and head home early.
Our event was generously sponsored by Modelflight,
AR Advanced Radio, Austars Model Pty Ltd and The
Backwater Creative Company.
One little champion, Maddy Rickard, sold 200 raffle
tickets for our event raffle; an outstanding effort for
one day. The raffle winner, who was Daniel Mendoza,
generously donated his prize to one of our juniors,
Will Mackenzie. Second prize went to Paul Davidson,
who handed it over to his mate, Dave Lewis, from
LVMAC. Click HERE for the full story, including the
awards and plenty of photos.
VMAA Bulletin Dec 2022, Jan/Feb 2023
Click on the VMAA Calendar Of Events
Page 6

Q. What do Santa’s elves learn in school?
A. The Elfabet.
“I’m running behind.
Can you take half the list
And deliver the toys?”
Dear Santa, if you leave
a new bike under the
tree, I will give you the
antidote to the poison
that I put in the milk.
VMAA Bulletin Dec 2022, Jan/Feb 2023
Click on the VMAA Calendar Of Events
Page 7

Bairnsdale And District Model Aero Club
Instructors Course
Conducted on
Saturday 26 November
2022
In August this year, I received a request from the Bairnsdale club to conduct an Instructors Course for 5 of its
members. The club put forward the names of 3 senior members and 2 junior members, all qualifying with their
Gold Wings and all being supported by the club’s committee as possessing the skills needed to become an
MAAA Instructor. All the participants were sent their pre-course reading exercises to complete, then asked to
practise the Gold Wings manoeuvres, as an open-air flying test would form part of the course.
The successful participants were Ken Nichols, Tony Wilson, Andy Coleman, Darcy Wilson (aged 15) and
John Junge (aged 16). This has given the club a healthy number of instructors, whereby the teaching load can
now be spread evenly.
Following the classroom component of the course, each participant was asked to do a presentation of one Gold
Wings manoeuvre, explaining the teaching points and then demonstrating the manoeuvre in the open air,
flying their own models.
It was great to see the two Bairnsdale junior members prepared to take on a leadership role by qualifying as
MAAA Instructors. Congratulations to all involved.
Article by Les Marriner, VMAA State Flying Instructor
sfi@vmaa.com.au 0401 622 613
VMAA Bulletin Dec 2022, Jan/Feb 2023
Click on the VMAA Calendar Of Events
Page 8

Surname
1st
Name
AUS
Club
Number
- Wings processed in December 2022 -
Come & Try Gliding
Flat field gliding and slope soaring will be held all throughout
the Xmas holidays at Bass and Kilcunda, respectively. Don’t
worry if you haven’t got a glider. We have electric gliders at the
ready. The ‘buddy box’ tuition system will be in operation
should you need assistance. Sessions will usually be from 3pm
onward until you’re tuckered out. This great hobby is a popular
aeromodelling pastime for those wishing to venture into new
territory and try something completely different.
Ideal slope conditions for Kilcunda are for light to moderate
winds coming mainly from the south with a bit of leeway either
side. My passion is slope aerobatics as it encompasses almost
every facet of slope flying. If this interests you or your group,
why not give me a call? I have all the equipment needed to run
an aerobatics event anywhere in Victoria. Ian - 0427 553 755.
Rating
CUDMORE David 89093 GMAC Greensborough Model Aircraft Club Bronze Power
DERLEY Stanley 85953 SADAC Sale And District Aeromodellers Club Silver Power
MURRELL Bodi 84459 SADAC Sale And District Aeromodellers Club Silver Power
SORICH Bob 45991 GMAC Greensborough Model Aircraft Club Silver Power
- Wings processed in November 2022 -
SANFILIPPO Jarrod 89011 WMAA Werribee Model Aircraft Association Silver Power
- Flight Instructors Course processed in November 2022 -
NICHOLS Ken 6695 BADMAC Bairnsdale and District Model Aero Club MAAA Instructor
WILSON Tony 38699 BADMAC Bairnsdale and District Model Aero Club MAAA Instructor
COLEMAN Andy 66152 BADMAC Bairnsdale and District Model Aero Club MAAA Instructor
WILSON Darcy 85672 BADMAC Bairnsdale and District Model Aero Club MAAA Instructor
JUNGE John 85993 BADMAC Bairnsdale and District Model Aero Club MAAA Instructor
- Wings processed in October 2022 -
GIORDANA Richard 72642 KADMAC Keilor and Districts Model Aircraft Society Silver Power
LAIKIS Victor 65120 KADMAC Keilor and Districts Model Aircraft Society Silver Power
BARBER Mark 20750 CHAMPS Central Highlands Area Model Plane Society Silver Power
URAND Wayne 77085 NFG Northern Flying Group Silver Power
SANDERS Julian 43511 DAC Doncaster Aeromodellers Club Bronze Power
JUNGE John 85993 BADMAC Bairnsdale and District Model Aero Club Gold Power
DOES YOUR CLUB NEED MORE
MAAA QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS?
If the answer is yes to the above question, then the
following procedures set out how to go about it.
Your club committee needs to identify the need
for more Instructors.
Identify members who are regular flyers who
hold their Gold Wings and can demonstrate that
they are currently flying at Gold Wings standard.
Identify members who have shown an interest in
instructing at club level.
Identify members who have the communication
skills required to successfully complete the
MAAA Instructors Course.
If the above criteria, as set out in MAAA MoP 027 is
met, please feel welcome to give me a call or email
me to discuss the matter further.
I am prepared to conduct courses in any geographical
area of the state. I have provision for 5 members
minimum and 10 members maximum ‘from multiple
clubs’ who might be interested in participating.
Regards, Les Marriner
VMAA State Flying Instructor
0401 622 613 sfi@vmaa.com.au
Fees for Financial Year 2022/2023 as from 01 August 2022
Full Year Membership for Seniors and Juniors are:
MAAA VMAA Total
Seniors $90 $54 = $144
Juniors $45 $27 = $ 72
For half year membership details starting 01 January click here to go to the VMAA website.
VMAA Bulletin Dec 2022, Jan/Feb 2023
Click on the VMAA Calendar Of Events
Page 9

MAAA Latest
Newsletters
The MAAA Newsletter brings you information
on a number of areas at the National Level. This
includes reports from the Committee and contact
details, Manual of Procedures (MOPs), National
and International event/competition dates and
reports on the said events.
Click here for further information.
From the VMAA
Contest Director
To all club secretaries and special interest groups
(SIGs). If you wish to have your event advertised,
send an email with your associated flyer to the
address below.
contestdirector@vmaa.com.au
The Calendar of Events is updated regularly and
provides a heads-up on the goings-on throughout
our great association.
When possible, your flyer will be placed in the
VMAA bulletin to get the word out. The members
who can get their dates organised and uploaded
quickly are likely to get the best response.
VMAA Trophy 2023
With the 2022 event cancelled, you now have a
few months to prepare for the 2023 event. So why
not start early and get a group together from your
club? One flier from a VMAA affiliated club,
other than your own, can join your group. Each
flier can enter two events. Flown over two full
days, the VMAA Trophy includes combat,
helicopter, scale aerobatics, drone limbo, fun
scale, fun fly, bomb drop, electric glider, sports
limbo, limbo obstacle and musical landings.
VMAA Committee
Reeve Marsh
Jon Goudge
Joe Finocchiaro
Arthur Bablis
Geoff Herbert
Keith Quigg
President
0405 001 008
president@vmaa.com.au
Vice President
vicepresident@vmaa.com.au
Secretary & Public Officer
PO Box 854
Bacchus Marsh 3340
0418 878 168
secretary@vmaa.com.au
Treasurer
treasurer@vmaa.com.au
VMAA Registrar
PO Box 354
Kilsyth 3137
0473 544 048
registrar@vmaa.com.au
VMAA Contest Director
0448 749 865
contestdirector@vmaa.com.au
Contact the CD to submit Calendar of Events dates.
Ian Cole
Les Marriner
Phil Mohr
Mark Sills
Vacant
VMAA Bulletin Editor
0427 553 755
iancole1950@dodo.com.au
State Flying Instructor
0401 622 613
sfi@vmaa.com.au
Committee Member
cm1@vmaa.com.au
Committee Member
cm2@vmaa.com.au
Education Officer
education@vmaa.com.au
Contact the Secretary to organise a presentation by the
VMAA on aeromodelling. We welcome inquiries from
groups the like of scouts, cadets, schools or any group
with a general interest in aviation.
Ivan Chiselett
DVD Librarian
9898 4379
videolibrarian@vmaa.com.au
The VMAA DVD Library has one of the best collections of
aircraft stories, model building and modelling techniques.
Meetings are held via Zoom Video Conferencing on the
second Thursday of each month, except for January.
VMAA Bulletin Dec 2022, Jan/Feb 2023
Click on the VMAA Calendar Of Events
Page 10