MAAA Wingspan

12 13 WING SPAN NOVEMBER NOVEMBER WING SPAN MAAALogo. There’s nothing kids love more than spending time with their grandparents, and for the three Pardey siblings, being MAAA members gives them the ideal chance to do just that. Tom Panagiotopoulos from the Richmond Club in NSW and grandfather of Dallan (16), Shaylee (15), and Alex (12), says the trio all have a love of flying. They have learned the sport quickly, with Dallan and Alex receiving their Bronze and Silver Wings consecutively in recent months. It took the boys just two months to achieve their wings from MAAA, flying the Sig Kadet which they recovered by themselves after receiving it as a gift. Tom said that they have picked up the art of flying very quickly and look forward to heading to the field every weekend to test out their skills and socialise with other young members at the Club. After receiving their wings, they now have their sights set on learning hovering manoeuvres and aerobatic skills. Dallan has competed in several events including pylon racing and scale aircraft, with Alex soon to follow in his footsteps. However, they are not the only members of the family who have found a passion for aeromodelling and flying, with their sister Shaylee also finding a love for the sport and joining the family on the field every weekend. While aeromodelling has predominantly been a men’s sport over the years, there are more females getting involved. “Shaylee has been flying for about three months and has been training next to me and her brothers with a cordless buddy box system. The new technology makes it much easier to teach the kids how to fly,” Tom said. “There are five kids that come to the club around the same age and they love the social aspect of it.” “Shaylee and another young girl Megan Shultz, who is also learning to fly, have joined forces and thrown the gauntlet down at the brothers informing them they are out to surpass and embarrass them in their own game, which has made things very interesting. The boys say that they’re now putting aside their own rivalry to keep ahead of the girls.” The benefits of flying for young people are numerous, giving them valuable skills that it takes to build the aircraft including cutting, gluing, measuring and making sure everything fits together before taking it on a test-fly. “It’s fantastic for the kids because it keeps them busy. They fly on the weekends but then they spend time during the week putting the aircraft together which teaches them so many new skills,” Tom said. We are doing what we can to help secure our hobby’s future and I certainly hope other clubs are opening up to the young.” PICTURED: Brothers Alex (12) and Dallan (16) at the Richmond Model Flying Club Did you know that every affiliated MAAA club automatically receives $10,000 property insurance? This specific insurance policy arranged by the MAAA via specialist sports and leisure insurance broker, V-Insurance includes the following benefits: Cover for all property including buildings, contents, glass and money . Cover for property in open air . Cover for burglary, bushfires, fire, storms, accidental damage, malicious damage, vandalism and many other events. If your club has more than $10,000 worth of property/equipment you can arrange additional cover by contacting V-Insurance. CALL: 1300 945 547 EMAIL: sports@vinsurancegroup.com V-Insurance Group Pty Ltd ABN 67 160 126 509, Authorised Representative No. 432898, is an authorised representative of Willis Towers Watson ABN 90 000 321 237, AFSL No: 240600 Specialist Property Insurance for MAAA Clubs Sibling Rivalry Creates Excitement for Young Club Members