MAAA Wingspan - Quarterly Magazine

11 / 19

David Axon’s love of aeromodelling
began back in the UK in 1953 with
control line and free flight. After
immigrating to Melbourne to work for
TAA (now part of Qantas) he started
flying radio control in the 1970s.
Around 1980 David started pylon racing
and when the first international event
was held in the USA in 1985 he travelled
as the teammanager, a position he
held until 1999, sowing the seeds of his
two great passions.
Toni Axon started control line scale
modelling in Queensland back in 1967.
A one-time winner of the National
Championships, she also spent
11 years administering control line
competitions in the Brisbane area.
Toni and David’s shared love of pylon
racing and travelling has taken them
to the World Championships in Austria
and the USA three times, the Czech
Republic three times, Sweden, France,
Germany, and the Netherlands. With no
plans to stop soon, Sweden in 2017 is
next on the list.
For David and Toni travelling overseas
is about more than just flying in exotic
locations, though David admits the
thrill from flying over the Pyrenees in
France one year was immense.
Seeing the world and being welcomed
as part of the aeromodelling fraternity
is what makes their travels special.
“In 1999, in Germany, we became
friendly with the owner of the hotel
and his fiancée. They invited us to
their wedding in 2014... a great event,”
recalls David.
They are both actively involved in the
Melton Model Aircraft Association,
where David is president and Toni is
on the committee. As well as raising
funds, they promote this great club
with an annual open day that includes
lolly drops for the kids, as well as a
chance for David to fly a few unusual
aircraft including an iron and a
Michelinman on wheels.
FLYING IN FAR FLUNG DESTINATIONS
Member survey
Proposing a new aero-
modelling museum in
Australia.
At the 2016 annual MAAA conference,
a proposal for creating a new aero-
modelling museum in Australia was
discussed. The MAAA would appreciate
hearing your thoughts on the possible
benefits of creating a museum, where
it could be located, and what it could
include.
About the survey
This short survey will take less than
5 minutes to complete. Members
can begin the survey by visiting the
following web address:
For your views to be included in the
survey, you will need to complete the
survey by Friday 16 September 2016.
The MAAA thanks you for taking time
out of your busy day to give us your
feedback.
11
By David and Toni Axon