14
WING
SPAN
FEBRUARY
Soaring around the
world
in free flight
Taking his aeromodelling wings around the world
has allowed Australian free flight pilot Tahn Stowe
to experience different cultures, meet diverse and
fascinating people and see incredible sights froma
bird’s-eye view.
Having spent many years flying in free flight
competitions around the globe fromArgentina, the
Ukraine, Italy and the Czech Republic, Tahn said it was
always in his blood to be involved in aeromodelling-
having been born the only son of a fanatical
areomodeller (Ivor F Stowe) who ran the Doonside Model
Aero Club froma hut in their suburban backyard.
From those humble beginnings as a seven-year-
old flyingmodel planes with his father, Tahn says
aeromodelling continues to excite him, stating that it
is one of themost engaging hobby /sports that involves
conception, planning, design, engineering, tactile skills,
practice and in the case of free flight competitions,
physical endurance.
“The sensation of setting free a heavier than air craft to
soar in an invisible thermal and to compete with similar
modellers fromaround the country or the world is both
humbling and inspiring,” said Tahn.
“Travelling around Australia or internationally to various
competitions has broadenedmy understanding of the
world and the way people live, as well as forging life-
long friendships.”
A FIRST-HAND GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE OF LIVING A LIFE OF FLYING