MAAA Wingspan

23 MAY WING SPAN MAAALogo. policy, where public are free to visit and ‘have a go’ or ask questions. “They come down for a look and think, ‘well, this is quite fun – I’d like to join!’ or they come as an acquaintance of one of the members and see what we do,” says Greg. Over the last decade the club’s membership has steadily grown with the core active members continuing to soar. “We have almost become the recognised centre for RC gliding in Australia. The other states are struggling with numbers, with the access to flying fields and so forth, so when we put on a major event, people come from all over,” says Greg. “It all adds to the motivation and interest from other members. People drive past and see activity and then you often see them stop by the fence and watch for half- an-hour, then wander over and have a chat.” It’s this friendly and inviting culture and club spirit that has no doubt been another key aspect to the club’s success. However, SSL doesn’t let their safety standards slip either. “We’re mindful of and abide by the safety rules and requirements. Everybody treats those things with common sense. We are aware of the risks of what we’re doing but we have enough room for two or three groups of flyers to operate at the same time in the field. “We do fly petrol-powered models, every couple of months, we have an aerotow with scale gliders and tug planes too. However, somebody takes control of what’s happening, ensuring people don’t go in the wrong place,” says Greg. The club also publishes an annual calendar of events to ensure members are fully informed about flying events at the club. Also, regular club meetings have turned into social gatherings that include guest speakers discussing topics of interest and important matters concerning the club. SSL is also a great club for beginners too. “We do encourage people to come along, no matter what their level of skill. New people always get help and instruction to get started,” continues Greg. “We have several qualified instructors and, depending on what aspect they’re interested in, we’ll match them up with a mentor or trainer. It doesn’t matter if you’ve flown a glider or not, we’ll get you up to speed as quick as we can!” For more information about the club follow this link. FEBRUARY WING SPAN