MAAA Wingspan

07 MAAALogo. AUGUST WING SPAN When his children started to grow up he found time to re-engage with his passion, albeit on a tight family budget. His first foray back into the sky was courtesy of a RCM Trainer. “Lack of funds meant I had to borrow a Johnson 35 C/L motor and two channel Futaba dry cell radio just to fly it,” he said. John continued to construct various planes from plans from The American Magazine RCM. These included two Rumplestadt’s – the second with balsa covered foam wings and OS 25 R/C motor purchased fromHong Kong for $19, Gus Glider – under cambered wings, New Era 3 OS 25 FSR, 2 x 25 power Ugly Sticks, Ridge Rat 2 channel aileron/ elevator, OS 40 powered RCM patten ship, Condor Slope Glider, 25 power RCM Old Timer, Pilot Aquila kit thermal soarer and RCM Guppy – with flaps. Turning a passion into a business he decided to open a hobby shop in partnership with fellow aeromodeller Rob Mollenhauer, before opting out in 1979 and moving his family to Hervey Bay for work. Just eight years later he again packed the moving boxes and this time landed with his family in Kingaroy. He dabbled in his hobby buying an electric 450 helicopter kit with Spektrum DX6i. Frustratingly he didn’t quite master his latest acquisition and it mostly sat gathering dust in his shed. Finding himself with more time on his hands in 2012 he decided to join the Kingaroy Aero Modellers Society and was delighted when he was elected as President/Secretary in 2013. Since then, he has built and purchased a range of models including a second-hand Stearman PT17 biplane, HK Sonic Extra, 25 size electric Extreme Flight Laser, Stick built Rumplestadt #3 ‘Miss Congeniality’, HK Pitts Special, Sebart Shark, and HK Night Walrus. Currently John is working on projects including a Pilot Nutmeg Sailplane, HK Tiger Moth and refurbishing a second-hand electric scale Spitfire with retracts and a variety of planes using a Spectrum DX9. He recently updated his fleet with a Sebart Katana 50e, Extreme Flight MSX 25, HK Excalibur Glider, HK Fiesler Storch, HK Pietenpol Air Camper, HK Hyper-Bipe, Condor 3m Sailplane and a Precision Aerobatics 260. When re-registering as a KAMS member for 2021/22, John mentioned to the MAAQ Treasurer/Registrar, Randall Mowlam, he had an old membership number of 2032. Randall was pleased to offer John his original number including his gold wings ratings attained. For now it’s on to the next project for member number 2032 with the hope that what is perfected in his Kingaroy workshop will also be perfect in the air.