History of the South African Model Aircraft Association

Early beginnings, to 1960

Early beginnings Through the ages, it was recorded that other pioneers built model aircraft to prove their aerodynamic theories. To understand the current situation of the SAMAA, it is Furthermore, many ancient cultures made objects that flew, necessary to find out when and how aeromodelling started. eg. kites, and boomerangs. Although this is not a definitive history of aeromodelling and the connection to the developments in South Africa, it is an In the early part of the 19th century, William Samuel Henson attempt to describe the major events, activities, and time- (1812 - 1888), an English inventor and aviation engineer lines, and where possible, to show photographs. It is who later worked in collaboration with John Stringfellow intended to be a live document, and it will be reviewed from (1799 - 1883), was experimenting with model gliders and time-to-time, as more information becomes available. light steam engines. Members and interested parties wishing to contribute to this historical account, are requested to communicate with the When Henson and Stringfellow joined forces in 1843, much SAMAA General Manager. progress was made, and from examples of their work, which may be seen in the Science Museum in London, it is A vital part of the functions of the SAMAA, is to preserve the interesting to note that their models show surprisingly history of aeromodelling, and that of the Association. The modern tendencies. In 1848 Stringfellow built a model Alphonse Penaud’s rubber-powered Planophore. SAMAA does not yet have a permanent museum, or a monoplane with a small steam engine as its motive power, was for a distance of 42 metres. He also made model library, where memorabilia, manuscripts, equipment, and flights in excess of 40 metres were attained with it. helicopters, one of which is said to have hovered for 26 historic aircraft, and magazines may be housed for seconds. With his models as basis, he went on to build full members to access and enjoy. In the meantime, it is sized aircraft with many advanced features, but was unable prudent to give credit to those who have donated material to to get any support for his project. the SAMAAs History Preservation Project, through this website. Many of the articles and items are in the SAMAA Modern aeromodelling began more than 100 years ago, as office, and members are free to ask to see any of the pioneers experimented with heavier-than-air designs to donated material. better understand the principles of flight and aeroplane design, so that they could build aeroplanes that could carry Historical documentation proves that aeromodelling people. So, the first models were not controlled in any way activities go back many centuries, with the experiments of after they were launched. These were the first 'free-flight' Italian painter, geologist, engineer Leonardo da Vinci. models.

The history of aeromodelling is closely linked with the Henson and Stringfellow’s model aeroplane (ca.1843 - 1848) history of aviation. Early aviation experimenters often tested their ideas with models, rather than risking their lives In 1871, a young Frenchman, Alphonse Penaud, built and and fortunes with full-sized aircraft. At the start of the 20th flew his famous Planophore, the first truly successful century, Sir Alliott Verdon-Roe, founder of the aircraft automatically stable flying model. The Planophore was a company AV Roe & Co Ltd, devoted a lot of time to the rubber-powered pusher model, and his best-recorded flight construction of model aircraft, from which he derived Leonardo da Vinci’s experiments with flying machines is well documented. Early beginnings, to 1960 valuable experience. It is recorded that Mr Roe competed in To enliven his talk, he took four boys with him from the permit comparisons to be made; and to verify evidence and a model aeroplane event at the Crystal Palace in 1906. Chicago Model Club. They flew their rubber-powered thus ensure that record-holders have undisputed claims to model airplanes out over the audience. The last model that their titles.” they demonstrated, was flying boat that took-off from a big meat platter filled with water that had been placed on the They also specified that each national member should speaker's table, and the model flew the length of the room. retain full and autonomous control over its own affairs. www.fai.org/about/ In the short 12-year period after the Wright brothers had their success with powered flight at Kitty Hawk, an The Aero Club of America was formed in the summer of established model aircraft club had entertained the 1905 by a group of automobile enthusiasts interested in prestigious Society of Automotive Engineers. [from Frank mankind’s future in the air. The club was patterned after the Zaic, Model Airplanes and the American Boy Northridge, Aero-Club de France, with the objective of promoting the CA: Model Aeronautic Publications, 1982, 158]. development of aerial navigation. [Tom Crouch, The Bishop’s Boys, WW Norton N.Y 312]. During the 1920s a model design called a Twin Pusher was popular. It had an A-frame fuselage, and rubber bands The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) traces its roots powered its twin propellers. For more on the Twin Pusher back to 1905, when the Aero Club of America was founded. see home.att.net/~dannysoar/home.htm The NAA was incorporated in 1922 and was the first to issue pilot licenses. Original members include famous aviators Wilbur and Orville Wright, Charles Lindbergh, Jimmie Doolittle, and many others of note. www.naa- When Milton Wright (bishop of the United Brethren church) usa.org/website and click welcome. bought his sons Orville and Wilbur a small toy flying machine, the boys were obviously intrigued. However, their Model aircraft building and flying as a sport and pastime attempts to duplicate it with larger models were entirely became increasingly popular preceding the First World unsuccessful. Orville admitted that it was their first thinking War. The models showed little resemblance to full-size about anything to do with flying machines. By the way, the aircraft, since they usually were of the A-frame construction toy was one of Alphonse Penaud's helicopters. for the fuselage, providing a structure to mount the wing and stabiliser. The motive power was usually two skeins of The public perception that all model aircraft are toys, has rubber strip, each driving a propeller when unwinding. always been a problem. The late head of the Smithsonian Institution, Professor Samuel Pierpont Langley's 1901 gas- During the early and formative years of aviation, various South African beginnings powered model weighed a hefty 26 kilograms. He was organisations, and alliances of these organisations with South African aeromodelling goes back to the 19th century, discouraged from flying it because some small-minded industry, served to educate and represent their members. with recorded history mentioning aviation pioneers like men, whose names are fittingly lost to us, chided the head John Goodman Household and Gordon Household, flying a of so illustrious an institution for fussing with toy aircraft. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) was hang glider from a cliff near Karkloof in Natal. The brothers [1982 Model Airplane News Annual, 42] . founded in 1905. Representatives from France, Germany, had built models prior to their manned flights. and Belgium proposed a federation to the Olympic In 1908, an enterprising 15-year-old boy designed a Congress of Brussels. The proposal was well received and In the early part of the 20th century, aviation pioneers like rubber-powered model, patented it, and registered its an international conference was convened in Paris. Cecil Paterson, Alfred Raison, and Cecil Bredell were of the trademark “Ayrel.” It was a huge success, firmly Representatives of Belgium, France, Germany, Great first pilots of powered aircraft, always preceding their efforts establishing him in the design and manufacturing business. Britain, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States with model-building and flying, chiefly to test their theories. His name was Raymond Loewy, the French-born famed agreed to a package of statutes. industrial designer. Dedicated building and flying of model aircraft in South The aims of the FAI were, and are, to "methodically catalog Africa, as a pastime, was first mentioned in 1913, when In 1915, the Detroit Society of Automotive Engineers asked the best performances achieved, so that they be known to aeromodelling enthusiasts in built mainly the A- William B. Stout to speak on aviation at its annual banquet. everybody; to identify their distinguishing features so as to frame pusher-types, and flew them on occasion. Early beginnings, to 1960

As early as 1928, Mr Alan Morris was building model In 1934, a prominent aeromodeller in the Johannesburg In December of 1935, the Rand Daily Mail sponsored the aircraft from split bamboo and cardboard, and flying the area, Mr Alf Yardley, opened the famous Yardley's Hobby first model aeroplane contest in Johannesburg, and there models in the East London area. His first successful Shop in Kerk Street, Johannesburg, and supplied local were 15 entries. The winning flight of a rubber-powered rubber-powered model was a British design, the Warneford enthusiasts with the much-needed equipment and model was 19 seconds. In the early part of 1936, Robert Demon, built from spruce and oiled silk. materials to build their marvellous aircraft. It also had a and Ludwig Koch built and flew several slope soaring sports good section, but this probably had no appeal to the gliders. Ludwig was the first to suggest the formation of a aeromodellers! club in East London. In July, the Natal Model Aeroplane Society was founded, details of the founder members unknown. By December 1936, aeromodelling was widely practiced in the Union, and the Empire Exhibition was a showcase event for many successful flights to the public.

By March 1937, the movement was gaining real momentum, and Phil Dalgety of Durban achieved a record flight of 24 minutes. A few months later he won the SA Wakefield Trophy. The Johannesburg Model Aeronautic Club was formed on instigation of AK Garvie, who established a local record with a flight of over two minutes. The establishment of several other clubs followed shortly, among them the Durban Model Aeroplane Club.

The culmination of all the efforts of the previous years, saw four South African entries at the 1937 Wakefield Cup, competing by proxy in England (Fairey's Aerodrome at Hayes, in Middlesex). The USA and GB domination to date, was broken by the Frenchman Emmanuel Fillon, with RN Bullock of the United Kingdom second. South African Howard Endean's th The simple Warneford-range of rubber-powered model aircraft. model achieved a creditable 27 place, with Phil Dalgety in 31st. Unfortunately, the models of Harker In August of 1932, a popular newspaper held the "Argus" and Garvie were destroyed before the competition. model aeroplane competition on the Wingfield Aerodrome, which was the real impetus to the development of structured aeromodelling in Cape Town. The first winner of the Argus Model Aeroplane Competition was Jack Butler, The idea of the South African Model Aeronautic Association awarded the first prize of £10 for the best constructed model was started in 1934 when a few enthusiasts decided it was 1 aircraft, which flew for 8 /2 seconds. The second place went time to establish a more formal relationship of their to a fellow whose model aircraft had a flight of 9 seconds. activities. Mr Viv Gracie, of , and Alf Yardley of Johannesburg, got together in March of 1934 with a view of Jack Butler, J Bother, EW (Ted) Bates, and Vivian Gracie starting a national aeromodelling body, but more activity in kept the model aircraft movement going in 1932-1933, with other parts of the Union were required. weekly meetings in Cape Town. A certain Mr WH Lilly of Worcester flew a 5-ft span balsa and tissue model aircraft, In June 1935, Bob Masters started his aeromodelling the "Albatross" glider, for nearly 5-minutes. The continued activities, and met with Alan Morris at Selborne College in activity in the Cape Town area prompted the establishment East London. Kenny Roberts and Ernie Howson flew of a model aircraft club at the Cape Town Technical College. Quaker Flash gas models with Baby Cyclone engines. Early beginnings, to 1960

SAMAA established competition was contested at the Caudron The positive mood after the Wakefield competition in Aerodrome, Guyancourt in France, with 14 nations England, saw the establishment of the South African present. The American Jim Cahill regained the Model Aeronautic Association, in August of 1937, on coveted trophy for the USA, with his Clodhopper. initiation of Viv Gracie of Cape Town, Phil Dalgety of Bougueret of France had to be satisfied with second, Durban, and Alf Yardley of Johannesburg. and G Magnusson (Sweden) and Chapot of France shared third place.

Top South African Patrick Beatty achieved a remarkable 10th place, Howard Endean 18th and GE Marriot 37th. It is not known what happened to the other three South African entries.

The 4,3m glider that Viv Gracie built, flown here at Hout Bay by Henry Rieder.

Even though great successes were being achieved with rubber-powered models, petrol-engined model aircraft were flown regularly at the Baragwanath Aerodrome and at the Rand Airport in , with best performances by Howard Endean.

In February 1938, the SAMAA received financial assistance through the Sir Abe Bailey Aviation Grant. The very first South African Championships, were held over the Easter weekend in Port Elizabeth, The radio bay of the Viv Gracie glider. sponsored by the Ford Motor Company. In June of 1939, Viv Gracie and Henry Rieder flew the On 11th April 1938, an eight-foot span petrol-driven first radio-controlled glider (14' span) in South Africa, model, the Mighty Midget Transport, built by Bob on the beach at Hout Bay. They were also building a Sinnott of (18), performed its maiden radio-controlled powered model aircraft, which flew th flight. On 17 April, the Wakefield contest eliminations, A replica of the Dick Korda Wakefield, popular with South African aeromodellers. successfully some time later (date unknown). at Rand Airport saw Phil Dalgety emerge the winner. Second was A Glyn-Jones, with a proxy-flown model By January 1939, the East London Model Aeroplane In July, the second South African Championships of E Paddon, third. GE Marriot was fourth. Young Club was started by Mr PJ Urquhart, on a field in were held in Port Elizabeth, again sponsored by the Wilfred Johl was the only Cape flier, with Viv Gracie's Cambridge. Bob Masters and Alan Morris built and Ford Motor Company. The petrol-engined class was model being proxy flown. At this event, six models flew Korda Wakefields, as well as a Berkeley won by GC Hart, the rubber-powered senior event by were selected and sent to France to compete in Buccaneer and Megow Cadet on Ohlsson 23 engines. L Spargo, and the junior rubber event by ARD Stewart. Wakefield Cup. Later in April, Capt Roy Makepeace With the activity of model aircraft building and flying Phil Dalgety won the Wakefield Trophy for a third year was elected the first president of the S.A.M.A.A. now firmly established, the Port Elizabeth Model Aero in succession, the event held in Durban for the first Club and the Pietermaritzburg Model Aero Club was time. Again, six model aircraft were selected to On 31st July 1938, the Wakefield Cup international founded in the first six months of 1939. compete in the Wakefield Cup in the U.S.A., this time Early beginnings, to 1960 at the Aviation Golf Course, Bendix, New Jersey, were built and flown, with a flight of 39 minutes by Roy September 16th of 1947 was the first ever official U.S.A. The event was not without controversy, since Bryson being noteworthy. Bob Masters' Thermic 70 meeting of the Aeromodels Commission, in Geneva. the SMAE (British) officials deemed the Bendix Airport was lost out-of-sight and was recovered 14 miles (22 the originally-chosen site, too crowded with trees and kilometres) from the launch point! Late 1947 saw regular activity in Queenswood, hangars. The famous Dick Korda emerged the winner Pretoria, by members of the Pretoria Aeromodelling with a first flight of over 43 minutes, an almost In August 1947, the SA Nationals took place at the Club, with control line, free flight, rubber, and chuck impossibility of his flight time being equalled or Woodmead Airfield, north of Johannesburg. Many gliders. The aeromodelling exploits regularly attracted overhauled by any other competitor, and the coveted classes were contested but the premier event, the SA local residents. PAC later moved to Kilner Park. Wakefield Trophy remaining in the USA. Fred Bowers Wakefield Cup was won by ER Hill. The open-rubber of Canada was second, with M Giovanni of France, event saw A Sutton the winner and the junior rubber In 1948 in Cape Town, Con Wallis and Mr Gemeken third. The well-known Bob Copland of the United event was won by T Skinner. The sailplane class had flew a radio-control model with Lorenz Airtrol and E.D Kingdom was fourth. The South Africans fared pretty CJ Williams the victor, with a famous South African equipment. Chips Wannenburg flew a Good Brothers well, with Phil Dalgety the top placer at 15th, E Becker name the winner in the engine-powered free flight Rudderbug with their (Good Brothers) R/C 19th, L Spargo 22nd, R Leslie 23rd, P Connally 26th, and class, Monte Malherbe. Control line aerobatics took equipment. The second South African Nationals Howard Endean 29th. its rightful place, this first event won by J de Kiewiet. (multi-discipline) was won by another famous South Control line speed saw BK Smith the winner. African, Cliff Culverwell in the control line stunt class. During the Second World War, aeromodelling In August, the Wakefield Cup international event was activities suffered badly, materials were hard to come To illustrate the value of aeromodelling for full-size held in Akron, Ohio, U.S.A. The West Rand by, and the general mood, world-wide, was not aircraft development and engineering, Fritz Johl Aeromodelling Club was established later in 1948. conducive to development. Most competitions were converted his aeromodelling experiences between suspended during the war. 1945 and 1970 by designing the High Performance Variable Geometry BJ-1, 2, 3, and 4. They were built First powered RC flight in South Africa by Pat Beatty and Howard Endean in Johannesburg. After the war, the East London Model Aeroplane Club These aircraft for many years dominated the South was revived by Bob Masters and Vic Andrews. The African and International gliding world, and set up ELMAC membership quickly grew to 58, with most many SA and World records, some of which were flying being done at Leach's Bay. The documentation unbeaten for 13 years. All this work was well is vague, but to the best of knowledge, the first documented in the local and international aviation powered R/C flight in South Africa was made at presses and Pat Beatty and Fritz Johl received much Leach's Bay, with a 9-foot single-channel model (the international recognition for this work. V3), powered by a Forster 99 with a hand-carved 18" propeller. The pilots were probably Bob Masters and The Jack Lemkus Sports trophy for free flight, won by Chips Wannenburg in 1947. Vic Andrews. This was late in 1946. Regular control line flying took place at the East London airport, with Gerry Masters being the first C/L flier with a Jim Walker Fireball.

The ELMAC members continued with their R/C experiments, but the majority were active with rubber- powered, gas- and glider models. Activity was also evident at Berlin and King William's Town. Several Frank Zaic Thermic 70 and Thermic 72 sailplanes Chips Wannenburg and his first successful RC aircraft, a Walt Good Rudderbug. Early beginnings, to 1960

1949 was heralded in by the roar of a pulse jet, flown During the Nationals, Chips Wannenburg flew perfect Two South African fliers competed in the Wakefield by Bob Masters of East London. demonstration flights, but when it came to the event in Jami Jarvi in Finland, C Morris placing 43, and competition, the escapement or relay played up, S van Rensburg 48th. allowing Cliff first place. Les Morrison finished third. The Nats of 1952 at the Phesantekraal Aerodrome in The 1950 Nationals for the control line and free flight the Cape, saw somewhat of an upset when Beau classes were held in East London and King Williams Pautz won the event, beating favourite Cliff Town. Cliff Culverwell won control line Stunt, Monte Culverwell, flying a 72-inch wing span Good Brothers Malherbe the CL Speed D-class, and Robbie Rowe Rudderbug. Beau was flying a Max Robot with a the Wakefield event. Bantam P30 engine, and a home-made receiver for The third multi-discipline Nats was flown in April, with rudder only control. Cliff Culverwell repeating his win in the control line In May of 1950, Monte Malherbe openix Jix Hobbies in stunt class. In July, the Wakefield Cup international a small building in 252 van der Walt Street, Pretoria. In May of 1952, Alf Yardley became the president of event was held at Cranfield, Great Britain. Six South Jix is still going, and it is South Africa’s oldest existing the SAMAA. 1952 was also the first year of world African entries, of which five were proxy-flown, placed hobby shop. championships in each of the classes of towline glider as follows: Cai von Ahleveldt (31st); J Sala (40th, (A2, now F1A), Wakefield models (rubber, now F1B), proxy); R Munnik (57th, proxy); Leslie Morison (68th, By 1951, radio control was established, and Monte and power (now F1C). proxy); C Liebenberg (70th, proxy); Brian Partridge Malherbe appeared at the Nationals in Pretoria with (83rd, proxy). American-built Babcock equipment, the first time that this brand was seen in South Africa. Chips By 1950, radio control was firmly established on local Wannenburg placed second, with the Good Brothers soil, and was introduced as part of the South African equipment described earlier. Despite the apparent Nationals in Johannesburg. Chips Wannenburg popularity of the RC discipline, there were only a (Cape Town) and Leslie Morrison (Johannesburg) handful of participants at the Nats. were sure starters in this class, and Cliff Culverwell, after battling for a while, got his Good Brothers RC set operating. This consisted of a single tube receiver and rubber-band powered escapement actuator, and was very likely the commercially-built Beacon system.

Rudderbug (Walt Good design) as flown by Cliff Culverwell.

In July 1952, South Africans Pete Visser (placing 51st) and D du Toit (49th) competed in the very first Free Flight World Championships, in the rubber-powered class (Wakefield Cup) in Nörrkoping, Sweden.

The 1953 RC Nationals were held in East London, and because of the distances, not many of the Johannesburg and Cape Town fliers participated. Gerry Masters won the RC class. This was also the Cliff Culverwell, and a picture of the Beacon/Good Brothers transmitter. Photo of the collection of Babcock equipment courtesy of RC Hall of Fame. year that the very first true international championship Early beginnings, to 1960 for radio control aerobatics took place at the Evere Mulheim, in Germany. Jean Pierre Gobeaux from Belgian Henry Heydenrych the Class B event, and Brian Aerodrome, near Brussels in Belgium. The King of flew his familiar Radio Queen to regain the trophy. Neuman the Class A power event. Belgium (King Baudouin) donated a perpetual trophy to the Royal Belgian Aero Club, and this trophy is still In July of 1956, Monte Malherbe visited the USA. being contested today, for individual honours. Howard Bonner had just won the US Nats with his multi-channel reed equipment. Monte was so Four South Africans participated in the rubber class at impressed by what he saw, that he invited Bonner to the second world championships at Cranfield, visit South Africa after the US winter. England. Robbie Rowe was placed 22nd, Pete Visser 48th, D du Toit 50th, and P Martins 55th. There was a In August 1956 there were three world championship A2 glider world championships staged at Lesce Bled events, and the Wakefield Cup. None of these events in Yugoslavia, but there was no South African had South African participation. To make up for the participation. lack of international participation, a South African control line endurance record was established in Activity in Klerksdorp was maintained by Martin December, when Cliff Roberts, Bennie Els, and Keith Bower, with a 60"-span Keilkraft Southerner free flight Kayton, flew continuously for 13 hours and 21 minutes, in a model. hangar at Collondale, East London.

Jean-Pierre Gobeaux of Belgium, with his trusty Radio Queen. 1954 activity saw a Free Flight Nationals won by Pete Visser in Rubber Class A. The Wakefield Cup The first noteworth activity of 1956 was the combined international contest took place at Suffolk County Air Force Nationals, which took place at the old Palmietfontein Base, Long Island, U.S.A., but no South Africans took Aerodrome, the present site of Kathlehong, part. And at Odensee in Denmark the A2 Glider free Germiston. Fred Raubenheimer won the radio control flight world championships took place, with Rudolf event with an R6-B high-wing model, second place Lindner (Germany) emerging the victor. There was no going to Monte Malherbe. Cliff Culverwell placed South African participation. third, with a DeBolt Live Wire Cruiser.

1955 started off with the establishment of the Skyraiders club in Durban. The SA Nationals for Free Flight and Control Line took place in Cape Town over 1957, and Easter saw the combined Nationals being Easter, and Jeff Bindon won in almost all the classes contested at the Pretoria Aeromodelling Club (PAC) at that he entered. Pete Visser won the Wakefield rubber Koedoespoort, east of the Pretoria city centre. The class, and Henry Heydenrych the Open Speed radio-control event was won by Hal Snow and his Control Line class. Equaliser. Second was Leslie Morrison, from RMAC. The RC Nationals of 1955 had Monte Malherbe, Hal The free flight A2 Towline glider event was won by one Snow, Fred Raubenheimer, Jim Connacher and a few Hutchinson, with Pete Visser second. Pete also won others participating, but not much more is known of Fred Raubenheimer won the 1956 RC Nats with an R6-B. the Class A Rubber event, took third place in the Class this event. Gerald Matchett won the Control Line Team Racing B event, and second in the Wakefield Class, won by class, followed by Reg Lee and Brian Partridge. Brian Robbie Rowe. It is not known whether there was any Towards the end of May, the third King of the Belgians also won the towline A2 class glider event, while Jim control line flying at this event. Cup International for Radio Control, took place at Essen- Connacher won the Free Flight Class C power event, Early beginnings, to 1960

Doc Allen was elected as the SAMAA chairman at the hands. Fred Raubenheimer and his Orbit-equipped 1957 AGM. In April, Howard Bonner and Bob Palmer Smog Hog (Howard Bonner) placed second, with toured South Africa, sponsored by Monte Malherbe. Gordon Hamilton placing third. Gordon's Hami-Hog Bonner's Orbit equipment proved that reliable radio was a low-wing version of the popular Smog Hog. control was possible, even if it was not affordable by Monte Malherbe placed fourth, also using Orbit the average aeromodeller. This tour was countrywide, equipment. and many South Africans were able to see the marvel of successful radio control by the Rudderbug, and The Free Flight classes proved very popular since control line flying by the maestro Bob Palmer and his there was a strong following in the Western Cape. Thunderbird. In July, the US Nationals was won by Open Rubber was won by Robbie Rowe, with Pete Bob Dunham, flying a Fred Dunn-designed Astro Hog. Visser second and D Schonegevel third. Robbie also This low-winger proved to be a great design, and won the Open Glider class, and came second in the dominated the American RC aerobatic scene for the A2 Nordic Towline Glider Class, won by Brian SOUTHERN TERRITORIES next four years, and also had an influence on South Partridge. The Class A Power event was won by AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY

African RC aerobatic activity. Benny Boxall, followed by D Coetzee, and Roy The STARS was formed to cater for the needs of the radio control fliers when they Heydenrych. The small 1/2A Power class saw Peter required a vehicle for their competition activities. It is assumed that at first the group had no emblem or logo, since the version depicted above, shows an Ed Kazmirski Visser winning the event from H Altmann. F1C (the Orion, which only became popularly known after the World Championships in July new designation for the FAI Power class) was won by in Switzerland. The STARS was inclusive of Souther Rhodesia, and of course the Union of South Africa. Brian Partridge, with Peter Visser in second, and H Altman third. not until October of 1962 that this affiliation was The Control Line classes at the 1958 Nationals granted. This eventually enabled a full three-man consisted of a Team Racing event, won by Reg Lee of South African team to participate at the 1963 radio Bloemfontein. One must assume that there were control world championship in Genk, Belgium. other entries too, but no results are available at the time of writing. The Control Line Scale event was won The 1958 Wakefield Cup (the new FAI F1B world The Astro Hog was the first low-wing aerobatic aircraft that dominated the aerobatic by Benny Boxall, flying a Corsair. There is a championship class for rubber-powerered models) scene all over the world. Bob Dunham made the design famous with his excellent reasonable certainty that Control Line Stunt must saw a single South African entrant at the Cranfield flying skills. have been part of the Nationals, but no information is Aerodrome, north of London. Pete Visser's proxy- In September, the King of the Belgians Cup available. flown model was flown by Englishman Ray Monks to International event for Radio Control, was staged at 41st place. The Glider and Power classes saw no the Deurne Aerodrome, Antwerp, Belgium. The flying 1958 was also the year that the radio-control fliers South African participation. skills have steadily been improving, and German ace, effectively broke away from the SAMAA, and Karl-Heinz Stegmaier won the event. established their own association, the STARS 1959 RC Nationals was held at the Waterkloof Air (Southern Territories Amateur Radio Society). Force Base near Pretoria, but little is known about the Early in 1958, the Western Province Aeromodelling Unpleasantness surrounded this separation, since event and the winners, and why it would have been Club announced the award of the Howard T Bonner the free flight and control line aeromodellers, at the conducted at a military facility, rather than at a trophy for radio control. The success of Bonner's tour time, felt the radio control fliers were snobbish. dedicated model aircraft club. in 1957, saw many Orbit RC sets at the Nats in Cape Realising that they needed affiliation to the FAI to Town (Phesantekraal), won by Cliff Culverwell and his enable the leading RC fliers to compete at world There were National Championships for Free Flight Fred Dunn-designed Astro Hog, a low wing beauty championships, the management of STARS and Control Line in 1959, but not much is known about capable of all the required manoeuvres, in skilled approached the South African Aero Club, but it was the classes contested, and where the Nats took place. Various photos: Early beginnings, to 1960

Four “Wakefield” fliers launch their model aircraft. Photo courtesy of Alf Yardley.

Two enthusiasts admiring the free flight “gas job”, at Murray Louw’s farm. Photo supplied by Jimmy Louw - Betty Wannenburg.

“Smallest petrol engine in the Union”. Viv Gracie making adjustments to the small petrol engine, ready to be installed in his “gas job”. Photo by Mary Jean Martin and Mrs Gracie.. Cliff Culverwell launces his free flight model at the 1949 Duration event at Phesantekraal (photo supplied by Betty Wannenburg & Jimmy Louw). Peter Roux, Sonny Hart, and Jimmy Louw, at a Western Province event, ca. 1949. Various photos: Early beginnings, to 1960