Newsletter
July '08 Newsletter go here

State Scale Fly-in April 2008
Phoenix Flyers of Launceston hosted the State Scale Fly-In at their field at Panshangar, Perth, Tasmania. Go to the gallery for pics from the event.

To see where we fly from and if you have Google Earth installed, grab the .kmz file here ( just click the link) . Or see the pics below

Our Scale Days are now becoming as smoothly run as the working bees. The canteen made a useful profit from its extensive services, Trevor W sold raffle tickets far and wide, the red-bibbed officials did their jobs unobtrusively, the judges for the awards even more unobtrusively and the weather, apart from a stiffish breeze that arrived mid afternoon, was spectacularly good.

Not often, if ever, have we seen combat at a Scale Day, but three large Tasmanian Wedge-Tail Eagles at low altitude provided it as they squabbled and circled in a boomer thermal over the Clubhouse. Said thermal also sucked up a willy-willy that up-ended a few of the 31 models present on the day...no damage thankfully.

Club members had anxiously watched the slow moving high pressure bubble on the weather maps, willing it to stick around for the day, and for once, it did. The models, as ever, were at their best in the sunshine.

New to PFL were Andrew Hutchinson's BIG Stearman bipe, with D.A. 150cc twin, interstate visitors Alan Turner from S.A. with a B.N. Islander twin and Trevor Pugh with his Fly Baby.

Also new, but unflown, was a little jewel of a Turbulent by Chris Rowe of Hobart. The merry contingent from N.W.A. arrived to swell the ranks (and to enjoy our flying strip, superby prepared for the day by Clive B and Murray G) and added a few more interesting models. Phil Rayner's Chipmunk we'd seen before but a bright yellow Tiger Moth (one of three there ) was new.

Editor's Note:
The overall standard of flying & presentation of the assembled models was first-class. The conditions of gentle 5-10kt northerly winds provided a terrific platform for several outstanding displays of ability. Notable were both Ian Campbell and Daniel finessing their aircraft in a most-scale manner. Kudos to Clive Butler for persisting with his Gladiator's engine, his effort paid-off as he picked-up the "best take-off" gong. Debbie again flew smoothly and Graeme showed us the essence of the P-47 Thunderbolt; go fast and carve up the sky!

Awards:
Best Take Off: Clive Butler's Gladiator
Best landing: Steve Reece's Fokker Dr 1
Most realistic: Jim Donnelly's Stinson
Ladies' Choice: Andrew Hutchinson's Stearman

We thank the sponsors who helped out with raffle prizes:

I.C. Electronics for a Swallow charger.
Walters family for a 42" fun fly kit.
Orr and Adams families for champagne,
Donnelly family for Car Care kits.
Trevlyn for a $25 voucher on Tiger Hobbies and Tiger Hobbies themselves for a similar voucher.