MAAA Wingspan

MAAALogo. AUGUST WING SPAN 19 When the 2020 MAAA Field Improvement Grant scheme was announced they decided to apply for a grant of $4,000 to have three junction pits secured with lids to cover the junctions and eliminate the hazard. The application was submitted and shortly after the Club was informed of its success. This was great news but then the complications set in, with the arrival of Covid 19. As everyone in Australia would be aware Victoria had a horrid period. We were locked down for a considerable time with movement restricted and maintenance work very restricted. With our field in a relatively remote location, it was virtually impossible to get trades people out to quote and do the work. It became apparent we would not get the work done in the time frame indicated by the grant. We applied to the MAAA for an extension due to the Covid 19 situation. Fortunately, the MAAA granted this in time to do the work which was greatly appreciated. Due to the lockdowns, tradesmen were in high demand. In March this year, we were able to get the work done. It has certainly removed the safety hazards and we are in the process of completion of the surfaces around the grates and to beautify the surrounding areas. The P&DARCS Club is greatly appreciative of the MAAA for the grant which has enabled the works to be completed sooner than we thought possible. It frees up money to be used to continually develop our facility, owned by aeromodellers, for aeromodellers. The surface of the site is most important, and we continually endeavour to improve this. Hopefully, we will be able to upgrade our runway watering system in the near future. Time will tell. So, what is the future for the Club? It is about continual improvement. The continual urban development in and around Melbourne means some clubs on leased land are under pressure and may be forced to close. However, our field is owned by modellers and means we cannot be moved off the site by a landlord. We are the landlord. This justifies the forward thinking of the Club to buy the land, some 43 years ago! Why not come and attend one of our Fly-Ins or Special Interest Competitions. Upcoming events include the Monty Tyrrell Memorial Scale Rally in March, open to any scale aircraft and the unique Scratch Built and Kit Scale Rally on Sunday after Melbourne Cup Day. This is open to only scale hand-built models, not ARFs. This event will demonstrate the unique and unusual hand-built models. See our website at www.pdarcs.com.au