Tamworth Area Radio Model Aircraft Club secretary Richard Exler said the weekend was about flying scale models of real aircraft.

The event attracted 30 pilots from as far away as Sydney and Muswellbrook, as well as a constant flow of spectators at the weekend. Aircraft included Piper Cubs, Decathlons, Extras, Space Walkers, Spitfires, Corsairs, WWI bi-planes and WWII planes.

Mr Exler said the smallest had a one-metre wingspan and the largest was 3.8m and they varied from electric models through to glow-power and new ones with petrol engines.

The qualified pilot said the attraction was that they were “boys’ toys”. “Most of us are older and have just loved aeroplanes since we were kids and the hobby is getting cheaper,” he said.

“We are trying to encourage more youngsters into the hobby.” 

Mr Exler, a pilot working at BAE Systems, was joined by an ADF pilot who was one of the judges of the event.

The competitive section of the event was secondary to the gathering of like-minded people, but the aircraft were judged on their looks and whether they flew like the real aircraft they were modelled on.

“If someone has bought along a jumbo, we don’t expect it to do aerobatics,” he said.

The club meets every Sunday from 9am to 2pm near Somerton and always welcome new members.

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