20 / 25
20
WING
SPAN
FEBRUARY
The skies were the limit, when it came
to a dream that the NSW Free flight
Society had of owning and running
Australia’s first and only free flight
field.
Two years on and a once rundown
farm in West Wyalong has been
transformed into a functional, fit-
for-purpose place for our passionate
modellers to stretch their wings and
soar.
Due to the persistence and passion
of our team including, Tahn Stowe,
Roy Summersby and Terry Bond to
find a piece of land free flyers could
call home, as well as the generosity of
Adrian and Jo Bryant who originally saw
the potential in this site and thankfully
bought it- the NSW Free flight Society
continues to grow its community of
dedicated and loyal flyers who love
coming together regularly.
This field is centrally located for
most of the free flight members in
eastern Australia. It provides sufficient
space- stretching over 700 acres, and
is a place wheremembers can fly in
preparation for special contests and
world championships. Previously there
has never been a place that the free
flight members could call home-this
field does that.
Over the two years we have
undertaken various improvements
to the site including new shower
and toilet blocks, a small club room
adjacent to the radio field, along with a
small shade area just behind the strip.
The once derelict farmhouse has been
transformed with new ceilings in the
dining roomand lounge room, new
vinyl laid over Masonite tomost of
the house, extra roof covering to the
side veranda, new external doors and
electrical work to both the house and
camping area.
We have recently acquired artificial
grass, as well as paper mill conveyer
belt so that we can build a proper RC
strip and control line circles.
The ultimate aim for our field is to have
national and state championships
held here. We are in the preparation
stages with works including,
completing an all weather road to the
RC field, preparing the RC field with a
special take off and landing surface,
purchase of a suitablemower and
increasing the size of the caravan and
camping area, to name a few.
There is still plenty of work to be done.
We now have something which is
unique in Australia. A free flight field
that is solely owned by itsmembers,
supported by the local council and the
friendship of the town. That’s definitely
a rewarding feeling.
The use of the field in preparation
for the next world championship
in Hungary this year will be a huge
asset to the team. Plans are also
being prepared for the 70th ‘Reunion’
Nationals to be held in May 2018. An
information pack has been prepared
and is available through the MAAA.
From the MAAA
Thank you to the Executive of the
NSWFFS for sharing this fantastic story.
Milestone for Australian
free flight community
THE NSW FREE FLIGHT SOCIETY