Goldfields Aero-Modellers have enjoyed an active festive season with some reasonable flying weather, although hot at times.

Cliff Altus is still trying to come to grips with his chopper again after having a terrible year last year with a couple of mechanical failures, resulting in disastrous crashes. One thing you can say about chopper pilots, they may be weird, but at least the are persistent.

Mike Proud seems to have gone into semi retirement. Occasionally flying his impressive electric glider or putting in a flight or two with his fun fly Sig plane. This is capable of almost hovering in an inverted spin or looping at ground level. To be fair however, Mike has recently started a new job and is also concentrating on finishing a number of other projects.

John Bates continues to fly his Dragon Lady powered by a 120 OS FS. In his in-imitable fashion. John only knows two speeds; stopped or flat chat (you mean there are other speeds? Ed.)

John, Cliff and Mike have continued to do a great job of training our beginner flyers of whom Peter Degroot is one of the most consistent attendee.

Peter Oxenham another of our trainees with great potential recently launched his first scratch built model into our blue skies. The model being an OS 32 powered low wing trainer that flew straight off the board as they say. Proves that attention to detail will produce a good aircraft.

Trevor parnell continues to rack up flying time with his Duraflyte plane when his work roster permits. Trevor also has some very interesting projects in the wind.

Ray Harding has enjoyed an eventful learning curve with his Cox assisted two metre glider and improves every flight, proving wrong the theory about old dogs. Ray is also the only person in Kalgoorlie who still flies control line models regularly.

On the personal front I am nearing completion of a Britten Norman Tri-Lander, an interesting tri-engined aircraft of which only 50 of the full size examples exist in the world. One of which is based in Kalgoorlie. As you can imagine plans for such a model do not exist so this is my first attempt at a total build up working from a 3 view diagram supplied by the company from the Isle of Wight. I hope to build two models of this plane, the first being a 1300mm test for a 2000mm final version.

The full size aircraft is a very appealing subject to model being multi engined with the third engine mounted up on the tail, and having a constant chord wing and fixed tricycle undercarriage. Time will tell if my accrued skills are up to a reasonably successful reproduction.

On the field my S.C. 40 powered Sig Fazer continues to delight and challenge after three years as does a .15 Enya powered P-47 Thunderbolt.

I recently visited the workshop of our local large scale aficionado, Mike White, from whence emerged a beautiful 45cc powered Mk 5 Spitfire, built to Mikes usual very high standard. It was apparently a treat to see in the air on its maiden flight. Mike also has a very large (in the region of 3 metres) B-17 bomber on the boil. This is one plane I can't wait to see in the air.

The club suffered a real loss in January as one of our members, Brenwyn Mills, transferred from his teaching position at Kalgoorlie Senior High to Esperance. His intelligence and humour will be sorely missed. We know he will enjoy his time in Esperance, perhaps he will be able to promote more slope soaring down there. I fly there on my holidays every summer and am always amazed that I have all that superb air space to myself having never seen another slope soarer flying over what is probably some of the best flying territory in Australia. Best wishes Brenwyn.

And that’s about all for now from the land of gold nuggets and native titles, with a final reminder from Cliff: Always check the aileron direction before take off.