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- Last Updated: 03 April 2020
- Published: 23 December 2011
COVID-19 IMPACT
A number of state associations have suggested suspension of all flying activities. There are numerous events advertised on this website. Check with the event organisers as it is most likely that imminent events will have been cancelled.
Bequest from Paul Gibson
Paul Gibson, known to many of the east coast F5J and Millennium Cup flyers, passed away on the 13th February 2020 following a long struggle with a blood disorder.
He enjoyed aeromodelling for almost all his life and was an accomplished full-size glider flyer as well an enthusiastic competitor with model gliders. He originally came to Australia in the 1970’s to work in the research labs at BHP Newcastle. He returned to the UK in the 1980’s and spent some time working in Austria. He and his family returned to Australia in the early 1990’s and settled (again) in the Newcastle area. He was a member of the Rebel Aeromodellers Club in Newcastle and flew from the Salt Ash field. He was a regular competitor in the Millennium Cup and at Open Thermal competitions, and as these events electrified Paul transitioned to flying predominantly Millennium Cup and F5J competitions. Because of his background in full size gliding he was an extremely competent flyer, and very competitive. Over the past decade Paul overcame several challenges to his health and showed a great ability to just get on with life. His last major competition was the F5J Trophy in Cootamundra held in November 2019. Although unwell, he enjoyed the competition and in his good-humoured way continued to cheer up those around him. Paul will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved him.
It was Pauls wish to support future Aussie F5J teams to world championships and this will be achieved by a modest bequest to the AEFA, from the proceeds of selling Paul’s modelling gear which was undertaken by Paul’s friends.
The AEFA committee have agreed to accept Paul’s bequest. All funds received from the sale of Paul’s modelling gear will be held by the AEFA in a separate bank account and used solely for the purpose Paul intended.
This is a wonderful gesture from Paul and the AEFA will ensure his bequest is honoured.
NEFR 2020 CANCELLED
On Sunday 15th March, the AEFA Committee decided by a 4 to 1 vote to cancel the National Electric Flight Rally 2020 (NEFR 2020) due to the complications of Coronavirus (COVID-19) public gathering restrictions.
The AEFA AGM scheduled for Saturday 11th April at NEFR 2020 will obviously not proceed. The AEFA Committee will make an announcement in the coming weeks as to how the AGM will be handled for 2020, and specifically how the election of a new Committee for 2020/21 will be managed.
Thanks….President Trevor
2019 F5J Trophy #4 - Another Successful F5J Event
The 2019 4th Annual Australian F5J Trophy event has been run and won. A successful event with 34 fliers, it was run in very mixed conditions with fliers having to contend with strong winds, rain and even low levels of dust from a nearby dust storm. Despite several breaks in flying we managed to complete 9 rounds.
Thanks to the Coota club for preparing a section of the field for our event and for the well maintained facilities and excellent meals.
Also thanks to our prize sponsors Modelflight (Mike O’Reilly), Sky Soaring Robots (Les Safarik), Electric Flight in Australia (Peter Pine) and the AEFA.
Congratulations to the winners and placegetters. Full results click here.
Open F5J:
1st Andrew Meyer
2nd Scott Lennon
3rd Dave Millward
Limited F5J:
1st David Moore
2nd Tom Clifford
3rd Ralph Dephoff
The AEFA has achieved MAAA NSIG Status
At the AEFA AGM in April 2019 a motion was passed giving the AEFA committee the go ahead to apply to the MAAA for recognition as the Electric Glider National Special Interest Group (NSIG). The application was submitted to the MAAA and I am pleased to announce that the MAAA approved our application and the AEFA is now the Electric Glider NSIG.
It is a great honour for the AEFA to achieve this recognition and it will enable the AEFA to liaise with the MAAA on the issues of safety, insurance, frequencies, notification of trials, requirements re overseas teams, rules and publication of rules, flying sites, running World Championship events in Australia, National Championships, mediation on disputes and if required, the appointment of appeals boards to resolve disputes.
The AEFA committee has voted to apply to the MAAA to run the F5J Team Selection Trial for the 2021 F5J World Championships and an application will be submitted to the MAAA soon. We will keep you updated on the outcome of this application.
Looking For Something About Electric Flight In Australia?
You've Found It. AEFA, An Australian Organisation Fostering And Promoting Aeromodelling Using Electric Power.
The AEFA began in the mid ‘90s. In those early days, meetings, rallies and newsletters were the only methods we had to share our knowledge and passion. While times have changed we believe it’s important to continue sharing our experience, problems and solutions to mastering electric flight. This website is one of the main avenues for doing that and here you'll find things to help you enjoy electric powered models.
In our ‘Resources’ section we have compiled information that can be classified as electric flight 'know how'. For many, understanding the technology, or selecting components for an electric model, is a daunting prospect. We want to help. Our focus is on those matters that are pertinent to electric flight and some of the differences from the IC world. We will try to point you in the right direction, present as broad a view as possible, and maintain brand independence.
Getting together as electric modelers is another way we can pass on what we have learned. Our ‘Events, Competitions and Rules’ section provides information about where and when electric events are planned and the competitions that might be run at them. It’s also a section where new ideas about events and rules are published along with those for regularly flown contests.
The section ‘ About the AEFA’ is just that. It explains our origins, recognizes some of the key individuals that have pioneered electric flight in Australia and provides information about how we are organized and operate. Because we want to stay in step with current and emerging practices for connecting and collaborating with each other, we now concentrate on communicating via this website plus a network of ‘focus’ email groups. News and information is circulated for each categories depicted in the graphic at the top of this page, namely:
- electric gliding,
- Electric Old Timers,
- general news and rally information.
Details on becoming an AEFA member (membership is free) are in our 'How to Join' page (here).
Solutions Update
A couple of updates to our Solutions Via Rule of Thumb page have been made, namely Mike O'Reilly's guide to Trimming a model, and Marcus Stent's thermalling notes now live here.
- Details
- Last Updated: 12 February 2020
- Published: 24 April 2014
President’s Message
Hot cross buns (what’s with those fruitless buns) in the shops tells us that Easter is fast approaching which means the National Electric Flight Rally (NEFR) is also rapidly approaching. Once again, this eclectic mix of events will be held over four days, the 10th -13th April, at Cootamundra.
This year, to try and get more flyers into foamy pylon racing, there will be 3 classes: Fast Class for the rev heads, Standard Pusher Class for Bixler & Skysurfer type planes and Glider Class for the Radian & Easyglider type models. Of course, Scramble, LEG, F5J, EOT, Radian and Scale round out the program. So its time to start thinking about sending in your entry form which can be found at http://aefanet.com/ nefr-2020 along with the program, site details and more information on the foamy pylon classes. See the flier on page 18.
The AEFA AGM is also held at NEFR and a key part of the AGM is the election of office bearers for the next year. In accordance with the constitution, all positions are declared vacant at the AGM and new office bearers are selected from the nominations received. If more than one nomination is received for any position a secret ballot will be conducted at the AGM. I will not be nominating for a Committee Position at the AGM however the other current committee members have indicated they will be nominating for positions. With the Vice President position currently vacant, and myself not nominating, the committee will have two vacant positions if no other nominations are received. If you have thought about a role within AEFA then now is the time to step forward. If you want to find out about the responsibilities of the Committee positions, please call me on 0411887350.
I will send out a reminder email closer to NEFR and include a nomination form. If you want to make an early start on completing a nomination form, I will forward one to you on request.
Many of you will be aware that the MAAA Nats, for this year, have been replaced by the First West Wyalong National Championships to be held from the 7th - 15th July. I have been told that thermals are great at West Wyalong in July. NSW Free Flight Society is close to having the program and event organisation finalised and we will let you know as soon as the program is available, and registration open. Once again Electric Old Timer (Phil Stevenson CD This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ), F5B (Brett Solanov CD This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) and F5J (Mel Gillott CD This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) have been included. A great event to witness the roots of our hobby.
Until next time…..Trevor Smith This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.