AERO modeller Craig Ferguson is keen to get a control line enthusiast group airborne, particularly among retirees.
Mr Ferguson, 73, of Russell Island, said he would like to hear from people who may be interested in flying their own models and who may need help, including taking them to a dedicated zone at Loganholme. He is also keen to hear from returning fliers and ex-fliers.
“To the average person walking past, it looks like you are turning around something on a string. You are not going in circles. You are going in a hemisphere. You can do all sorts of manoeuvres, figure eights and clover leaves,” he said.
“You can have four free visits and it is good to know that there is help along the way. I have plenty of experience and equipment that I could teach a few things to anyone who is interested.”.
The first is the ability for the controller to spin in a circle, something Mr Ferguson said took a while to become accustomed to.
“You can practise that in your kitchen. You turn around in a circle until you stop getting giddy. It takes about half a dozen five-minute sessions,” he said.
Mr Ferguson said the hobby was incredibly rewarding and suitable for children under supervision, and retirees.
He said the craft embraced a range of radio-controlled craft, including drones, with the use of certain devices regulated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
“There is so much that can be done with these craft,” he said.
“And drone enthusiasts can compete in racing and manoeuvres just for a start.
“There is also free flight where you just let the craft go, and the winner is the craft that stays up the longest. Some craft can stay up for 10 minutes and some can fly away completely and never come back.”
Mr Ferguson said drones could be used for recreation and for research.
“You wouldn’t go into this without being insured to the hilt,” he said.
“This could be in case the craft flies away, hits something, starts a fire or a range of other possibilities. You can be insured for millions for $58.”
Mr Ferguson said he believed there were enough people on the island alone who might be interested in taking part.
He said it was his hope to fly in a designated area on the island to use for flight, one day.
In the meantime, Mr Ferguson said there were a range of flying fields on offer, including Brisbane Park Flyers at Chandler and Control Line Aeromodellers of Brisbane at Willawong.
Interested people should phone 0448 872 599.
