Page 27 -

any child who has done any kind of video gaming
would love it,” says Bradley Davies, who is a
member of the JOMAC Club committee.
THE EVOLUTION OF MODEL AIRCRAFT
There was a time when, to fl y a model airplane,
you had to build it from scratch. But nowadays,
you can get ARF (almost ready to fl y) and RTF
(ready to fl y) kits and there’s been a move away
from fuel-powered planes to battery-powered
planes that are much quieter - and the battery
takes just 20 to 30 minutes to re-charge.
“As a hobby, fl ying model aircraft was always
considered to be a very expensive recreational
activity. But it has become much more
affordable,” comments Howard Callaghan, one
of the club’s longstanding members. “You could
get started with a kit that costs just R1500,
including the transmitter and equipment used
to control the model aircraft, and progress from
there. But we advise anyone wanting to start, to
fi rst come to the club and get advice from the
experienced members in terms of what they
should buy - rather than buying something fi rst
and discovering afterwards that it’s not really
suitable.”
RULES AND REGULATIONS
HOOKED ON FLYING craft or the noisier fuel-powered plane,
Whether you opt for a quieter, battery-operated
fortunately, noise is not a problem at the JOMAC
airfi eld. They’re at the northern extremity of Steyn
SMALL SCALE PLANES City with the Northern Farm Self Help Co-op as
their immediate neighbour.
However, being relatively close to Lanseria
Airport, they have a 122m/400ft height
restriction, which is the international standard
for fl ying model aircraft. “We’re here with the
blessing of the Civil Aviation Authority and
Lanseria Air Traffi c Control,” Howard explains.
“We’re very aware of the need to comply with all

Take your pick – would you like to fly a light
aircraft, soar above the fields with a glider,

test your skills with a helicopter, impress the
spectators with the speed of your jet, perform
aerobatics – or do all of that and more?
25
Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 4 • 2019 25