MAAA Wingspan

30 WING SPAN AUGUST service award South australia Peter Colin Leaney Member 32266 Joined 10/08/87 Willunga Vintage Model Aircraft Club Citation: Mr. Peter Leaney is currently a member of the Willunga Vintage Model Aircraft Club and assists in organising many Old Timer Events. Prior to moving to South Australia Mr. Leaney was an active aero modeler in New South Wales. Although Mr. Leaney is a member of the Willunga Club, he has over many years assisted other clubs in running major events. One of the noticeable events being the Constellation Golden Era and regular de Havilland Fly Ins and sidewalk sales. Mr. Leaney has for many years been an active member of the MASA committee and has volunteered for numerous tasks to assist in the promotion of MASA and aeromodelling. He has for many years sourced promotional merchandise such as trophies, sails and other items on behalf of all clubs.Mr. Leaney is a worthy recipient of this award. The following has been provided by Peter as an insight into his life as an aeromodeller. At the age of 12 or 13 years old, I was introduced to aeromodelling by my uncle, an ex RAAF radio operator. To keep my cousin and me busy over school holidays at Burra, my uncle encouraged us to try building some small gliders. We met with some success and moved on to rubber power where a 10 second flight was greeted as a major victory. The Keil Kraft “Chief” tow line glider was the highlight of that era. The aeromodelling hook was set for life. When visiting a school friend, I saw he had a little narrow cardboard box full of magic things like a plan, bundles of balsa wood and a shiny tin plate tank. It was a C/L kit and I had to have one. Although money was short, my mother bought me a kit and a Taipan 2.5 cc diesel engine for a birthday present, Joy. My cousin also scored so the next Christmas holiday was learning to fly on the salt flats at Fisherman Bay. These little models accompanied us on many holidays. MASA members Peter Leaney, Bob McEwin and Lindsay Petersen were recently awarded the MAAA Service Award. In short, the service award is given to members who over a long period of time has worked behind the scenes to promote aeromodelling in their respective states. On behalf of MASA I extend my congratulations to Peter, Bob and Lindsay and thank them for their services to aeromodelling and Model Aerosport S.A. Below is a little bit of a background of each of the aeromodellers;