MAAA Wingspan - Quarterly Magazine

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12
WING SPAN AUGUST
Lorne flies his scale model
Nieuport 28 C.1, a French bi-plane
fighter aircraft flown during World
War 1, at the Tingalpa Model Aero
Club in Queensland where he’s
been a member on and off since
1998.
The Nieuport 28 is Lorne’s biggest
project to date. Having spent the
last few years building and flying
smaller model aircraft, he was
persuaded by his brother to scale
up. It was worth making the leap
as he recently took home 3rd
place in the Pilot’s Choice at the
Tingalpa Budget Hobbies Scale Day.
It’s not the first trophy he’s won
at the club, or his first for building
models.
Lorne’s achievements are
impressive for any pilot, but
especially for Lorne as he has
Asperger’s Syndrome and despite,
or maybe because of his disability,
building and flying scale aircraft is
just one of Lorne’s many passions.
He also cuts gem stones, and has
been a member of his gem club for
over 20 years, regularly going on
field trips. Lorne also breeds small
birds, makes fishing lines, rods
and lures, he has a boat, and he
belongs to an archery club.
When Lorne’s not pursuing one
of his many hobbies, he works
part-time from home splicing rope
and making ladders for a company
that makes childrens’ playground
accessories.
Lorne didn’t grow up wanting to
be a pilot, he was more interested
in dinosaurs as a kid, but he
loves working with his hands
and is artistic. Combined with a
perfectionist streak he has the
patience and temperament to
build scale aircraft and it quickly
grew to be something he loves.
Flying was the next logical step
and something Lorne thought
would be fun, and something he
finds relaxing, though taking his
new plane out for the first time a
couple of months ago was a nerve-
wracking affair.
Known for his skill and patience
Lorne has even helped out and
completed a few partially-built
aircraft for others who haven’t
quite managed to get them
finished.
Familiarity and routine are
important for someone with
Asperger’s and thanks to the
support of his family and the
Tingalpa Club Lorne is able to fly
his model aircraft every week,
something his dad Des is grateful
for.
“They’ve done a lot for him. When
they come up and talk to him about
planes I feel a bit proud.”
White Horse Inn
Tel: 08 8250 4144
887-889 Port Wakefield Road,
a sport for every ability
AEROMODELLING IS A SPORT THAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY, JUST ASK LORNE AUSTIN.