AEFA Presidents Report for the 2019 AGM

 I know when I accepted the position of AEFA President in 2017 I said there would be changes but I have failed, I still haven't managed to introduce Bixler pylon racing or tag team Radian contests as regular events. However, my failures aside, there has been some success in the past year including the MAAA recognition of the AEFA, kicking off a junior program and supporting the MAAA Nats. More details below.

The AEFA now recognised by the MAAA

As mentioned in EGFA-17, during AEFA's preparations for the 2018 F5J Trophy/F5J Team Selection Trial we were advised by the MAAA that the AEFA were not recognised by the MAAA and as such the AEFA could not run a Team Selection Trial event. This also had insurance implications for AEFA events. Before I go any further, thanks to the LSF for coming to our rescue and taking over the running of the 2018 F5J Trophy.

The issues raised by the MAAA were worked through with the MAAA Secretary Tyson Dodd and between us we managed to satisfactorily resolve all issues. The outcome is that the AEFA is now recognised by the MAAA. MAAA recognition is very important as it means we can now run events in our own name, safe in the knowledge that all participants are fully covered by their MAAA insurance. It also means the AEFA can now also run future team selection trials.

The next step, to apply to the MAAA to become the Electric Glider NSIG. As most of you will be aware the first steps in this process will be the special resolution at the 2019 AGM to change the constitution to require the AEFA executive to be MAAA members and the motion to seek approval to submit an application to the MAAA to be the Electric Glider NSIG. Here's hoping we will soon be completing the NSIG application form.

Junior Program

We kept this pretty quiet from its inception in March 2018 as we knew it would take a while to get established, and it certainly has had a long gestation period with the first junior signed up in March 2019. To introduce new people to the joys of model flying the junior must not be a current MAAA member.

The concept is that a mentor is assigned to a junior to guide them through all aspects of learning to fly. The program is based on the Radian and Spectrum transmitter. The 'junior kit' also includes batteries, charger, Lipo bag, Altis logger, club fees and MAAA fees. Everything you need to get started.

The junior (probably mum or dad) has to make a $100 contribution with the remaining kit cost covered 50/50 by Aeromodellers NSW and the AEFA. This program is also made possible through the very generous support of Modelflight and Peter Pine who have heavily discounted their products.

The junior doesn't take ownership from day one as we don't want unsupervised attempts to try and fly with a resultant destroyed Radian and despondent junior. The mentor will keep the equipment until such times that the junior is competent. There is also a requirement to join the Radian postal comp, get the MAAA glider bronze and enter an F5J contest. You can see this is not about blindly handing over a $1000 worth of equipment, but a genuine attempt to get young people into electric guiding in a club environment with the assistance of a dedicated one-on-one mentor.

The program was funded to cater for up to 10 juniors, so 9 more to go. For me the next stop is the local Air League where I hope to recruit a couple of candidates for the program. This program is currently for NSW only. If you live in NSW and know of a potential candidate, and want to be a mentor, then get in contact with Peter Pine, our Junior Program Coordinator.

MAAA Nationals

In 2018 the AEFA provided the CD and equipment to ensure F5J was included in the 70th MAAA Nats. Twelve flyers participated with the placings being Scott Lennon 1st, Phil Stevenson 2nd and Bob Wilson 3rd.

In 2019, for the 71st MAAA Nats, we have gone one better with the AEFA once again providing the CD (Terry Scolari) and equipment for F5J but also getting EOT onto the program with Phil Stevenson as the CD. Also, F5J has 20 entrants making it one of the biggest events.

AEFA Supporting Aussie F5J Teams

The 2017/2018 raffle provided $2,700 to the Aussie F5J team of Hutton Oddy, Bob Wilson and Don Farrar. They did us proud in Slovakia and provided great feedback on their experiences at the 2018 F5J Trophy.

As in 2017 and 2018 a raffle has been run to support the 2019 World Championship F5J Team of Andrew Meyer, Jim Houdalakis and Marcus Stent. Unfortunately, this latest raffle has not gone as well as the previous two years. Perhaps it has run its course as a fund-raising activity. Having said that, the AEFA would like to thank all those who supported the raffle. The AEFA will supplement the funds raised and will be presenting our offering to the Aussie F5J Team Captain, Les Safarik, at the AGM on the 20th April.

The AEFA committee has made the decision to give you all a rest from requests to buy raffle tickets and we will not be running another raffle in the 2019/20 period. Perhaps we will try again when the world championships roll around again.

Electric & Glider Fight Association e-magazine

I said this last year and I will say it again, the EGFA e-magazine goes from strength to strength and just amongst our members it is read by MAAA and AMAS members, flyers not affiliated with any association, international members and publication editors. Who knows who reads it once posted to our website?

The success of the e-magazine is dependent on your contributions and no contribution is too small, so keep them coming in. But of course, its success is also very much due to the tireless effort put in by the editor, Peter Pine.

Breaking news.... Peter Pine has left the building

Yes, you heard it here first.... well not exactly left the building but for the 2019/20 period, and perhaps beyond, Peter will not be on the AEFA committee.

Peter will continue to edit his baby, the EGFA e-magazine, and will remain as the Junior Program Coordinator. Peter is also a driving force behind the Queensland 2019 F5J Challenge and will continue to promote this 6-event contest.

Peter has had decades of involvement in the AEFA dating back to the inception of the AEFA in circa 1988. A detailed history of AEFA can be found under the History tab on the AEFA website.

Love him or hate him, Peter's contribution to electric flight in Australia is immeasurable and I'm certain you will agree it is better for his contribution.

Thanks Pete and I'm sure you will still provide guidance whenever you feel it necessary.

And of course, thankyou to our Prize Sponsors

Once again, we have enjoyed the generous support of our hobby retailers and we would like to thank the following people/businesses for their support:

• Dave Pratley – Dave’s Toys for Big Boys
• Mike O'Reilly - Modelflight Peter Pine - Electric Flight in Australia
• Ladislav Safarik - Sky Soaring Robots

Please support our sponsors.

Well, I think I have covered the important bits, see you in the air.

Trevor Smith

AEFA President

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