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Michael McEvoy of the Tipperary Model Flying Club will be running a display with some of his colleagues on behalf of the Model Aeronautics Council of Ireland (M.A.C.I.).
The Tipperary Model Flying Club is a well-established sporting club in the midlands. Unlike many other sports, Aero modelling is an all year round sport, with the main flying activity taking place between March and September. During the winter months, weather permitting, club members will head for the bog, equipped with the woolies and gloves to keep their hand in at these difficult manoeuvres or to test fly that model which has taken several months to build.
M.A.C.I. was founded in 1939 by a group of young Aeromodellers whose aim was to promote model flying in Ireland. Today this voluntary body promotes Aeromodelling in all of its different disciplines up to all levels including international competitions, and is also a corporate member of the IAA (Irish Aviation Authority).
There are a number of types of model to fly, using either Radio Control, Control Line or Free Flight. In Free Flight, the plane is launched, and the flight path is determined by the skill of the builder. In Control Line, the pilot controls the model by means of two steel cables connecting him to the plane.
Radio Control is by far the most popular method of flying used by M.A.C.I. members. This involves the use of a hand held transmitter, with a receiver in the model. This method gives the pilot full control over the flight path of the aircraft.
There are a variety of disciplines including Scale, Aerobatics and Sports Flying. Types of model range from Trainers to Jets and Multi Rotors to Gliders. Powered models use internal combustion engines or electric power. Most newcomers to the sport will start with a ‘Trainer’ type model and progress to other more demanding types as their piloting skill level increases.
Check out www.tippmfc.ie and www.maci.ie for more information on the models on show.
