MAAA Wingspan - Quarterly Magazine

24 WING SPAN AUGUST club story: FIFTY YEARS FLYING AT THE TOP END Established in 1970 and originally known as the NT Model Flyers Association, Darwin’s East Point Aeromodellers Club (EPAC) remains a proud haven for aeromodellers of all disciplines in the top end. Before settling at its permanent location at Alec Fong Lim Drive at East Point in NT, EPAC flew from various surrounding locations including a golf course. With safety in mind, due to an increase in popularity of the BBQ areas built across the road from the club, in 1990 it was decided to move from the southern to the northern side. “After a few crashes into and around the area, Mike Vincent took the initiative to mow a grass runway on the northern side,” said John Ellis, the club’s remaining oldest founding member. “I had the good luck to be there teaching Ian Crane. I took off from the southern side strip and walked around the tree line to land on the new strip. The following weekend everybody flew from there. We initially used pits under the tree line, however, a decision was made to raise funds to build a covered concrete floored pit at the western end of the existing pit area.” John says that the eastern pit area was eventually concreted, with the construction of a covered BBQ area. The improvements were made thanks to fundraising, donations and discounts from local companies, while the local council was also supportive. “After a few years, when ducted fan models became more popular, [thanks to] another fund raising event, along with a grant from the NT government, two sealed runways were laid,” continued John. In addition, the club had their predominately bare dirt field fully grassed and had power and water connected to the field via the main road. All of these modifications gradually attracted more members to the club. “Two years ago we obtained a grant from the NT government which enabled us to resurface our runway,” added EPAC’s treasurer and recruitment officer Greg Castles. “In the same year we obtained another grant to replace our aging mower, while Darwin City Council kindly maintain our perimeter fencing.” EPAC has also taken measures to actively promote the sport of aeromodelling. This has included holding public displays and undertaking flying demonstrations at a variety of locations. This has included setting up static displays at schools, the Darwin Aviation Museum for Open Cockpit day (read our story on the next page) and at the Batchelor Airfield for the biennial ‘Exercise Pitch Black’ open day. The club also set up a flight simulator at their local Bunnings store to enable kids to gain a feel for flight during an aeromodelling display on Father’s Day. “It was a great way to enable kids to gain a feel for flight and they reacted very positively to it,” continued Greg. “The club has also done float flying at various water locations, along with New Year’s Eve night flying events and visits to other clubs around the territory.” Historically, EPAC also notably hosted the 50th National Model Aircraft Championships, which was such a roaring success that a few of its members were invited to fly at the RAAF 75th Anniversary at RAAF Tindal in Katherine. Now maintaining two covered pit areas, a shaded public viewing area, a covered BBQ, along with washing facilities for its 30 enthusiastic members, (who range from seven-years-old to 80) EPAC has certainly evolved during its half-century history. “The club has transformed from a paddock with no facilities to the pleasant venue it is today. It took a lot of work from a great bunch of members who volunteered their time and expertise to achieve what we have now,” said John. WE EXPLORE THE PROGRESSIVE HISTORY OF DARWIN’S EAST POINT AEROMODELLERS CLUB