Festival of Aeromodelling 2025 Recap - Ep 190

We chat with Valley Radio Flyers club president Les Sawyer about the upcoming Shepparton Mammoth Scale Fly-In, Australia’s premier event for large-scale model aircraft. Les shares what’s new for this year’s gathering and the latest improvements to the field.

In this episode, we chat with Adrian Fasham, a well-known figure in the Australian aeromodelling community. From RC helicopters to large-scale aircraft, Adrian shares his journey through the hobby and his passion for flying everything from jets to warbirds.

Byron Simpson has been a familiar name in the model flying community for years, but his true passion lies in the high-speed world of large-scale air racing. In this episode, Byron shares his journey through aeromodelling, the experiences that shaped his career, and the excitement of competing in this adrenaline-fueled discipline. Tune in as we get an insider’s look at the thrills of large-scale air racing.

Australia's largest model flying event has been held and from all reports it was a great success. We recap the event with the organisers comprising of Gemma, David and Aaron Garle. We talk about what was new at the event, how it went and tips from anyone looking to attend in the future.

When it comes to commitment to practice, it doesn't come more intense than those aeromodellers that choose to fly 3D. Con Gabriel is one such aeromodeller that has embraced all things 3D flying. Con joins us to share his life in aeromodelling from starting out to be inspired down the 3D aerobatics route.

Rick Gell is one of the driving forces behind the Advanced radio range of RC electronics and the Booma RC retail business. A lifelong aeromodeller, Rick's passion for the hobby combined with his "can do" attitude has lead to the development of world class products such as the Smooth Flite gyro system, digital switches, batteries, servos, power management products and much more. Rick shares his story in aeromodelling as well as the history of the Booma RC and Advanced Radio businesses that he runs with his son. A very interesting story of a man that has driven a new era in radio control systems.

Jason Amos is a lifelong aeromodeller whose passion began in the UK, chasing model planes across open fields. After moving to Australia, his involvement in the hobby deepened. Life brought its challenges, including a battle with depression, but in our conversation, Jason shares how aeromodelling became his lifeline, pulling him through the darkness and into a fulfilling life. He opens up about his journey with mental health, recovery, and his model planes. An inspiring story from a genuine and resilient enthusiast.

Scott Bardney is a rare breed that has been involved in model flying competition for more than a decade. Joining the scale aerobatics IMAC flying scene very early in his model flying career, Scott has become a consistent face at local competitions throughout Victoria and New South Wales. Living in rural New South Wales, Scott is fortunate to be able to fly from his own property and is even scheduled to host the Australian IMAC National competition at his property later in the year. Our chat with Scott uncovers his history in model flying in what is quite a unique story.

David Mifsud has had a love for aviation for a long time and he joins us to share his life in aeromodelling. As president of his local flying association, David is busy leading the ship while also trying to get out for a fly when he can. We discuss the flying scene in South Australia and of course talk model planes.

RC helicopter flying is alive and well thanks to people like our special guest Karl Rickards. A relative newcomer to RC helicopter flying, Karl has become a true fanatic, not only now becoming an accomplished flyer but also a strong advocate for the RC heli flying. Karl joins us to talk about the Boomstrike 2 RC heli event that he is hosting which has attracted many international pilots and a big wad of cash prizes. We also discuss a new website that Karl has built to help anyone wanting to get into RC heli flying. We love talking to passionate aeromodellers and they don't come more hyped than Karl.