Ian Farrar scratch building to flying - Ep165

We’ve reached 200 episodes! To celebrate, we’re continuing our annual tradition by welcoming aeromodelling’s most entertaining character, Frazer Briggs, back to the show to review his year. Frazer shares stories from his travels around the world competing in F3A events, along with highlights from his flying closer to home in New Zealand. If you’ve never listened to a Frazer Briggs episode, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Turbine jets are a relatively new addition to RC flying, and many pioneers have driven the growth of the hobby into what it is today. Bob Bennetts is one of those pioneers, playing a key role in advancing RC turbine jet flying in his region. In this piece, Bob reflects on his early aeromodelling days, the journey of building his own turbine engine, and his current involvement in RC aviation. A mentor to many, Bob’s contributions to RC flight is significant.

When it comes to model flying, Royce Bux has tried it all. He joins us to share his story of life in aeromodelling that started with a passion for planes, progressed to control line and has not looked back since. Always up for a good time and a laugh, Royce's passion for model aircraft has no limit. He has dabbled in all aspects of the hobby from gliders to turbine jets and everything in between. It's just about having fun and a good time with friends for Royce.

When it comes to RC jet flying in Australia, few names stand out like Peter Agnew. Beginning with ducted fan models and later becoming one of the early adopters of turbine technology, Peter’s passion and determination led him to establish Intairco, a business dedicated to high-performance turbine models. Widely regarded as a pioneer of the Australian jet scene, Peter’s influence extends beyond retail; he was also a founding member of the Victorian Jet Aerosport Association. Join us as Peter shares his journey, from his early beginnings to where he is today.

Father and son duo Chris and Seth Huntingford join us to share Seth’s incredible journey in F3A aerobatic competition. Fresh from his victory at the F3A World Championships, this talented junior champion talks about his path in model flying, from his early beginnings to the dedication and discipline required to compete at the highest level. We discuss the world championship experience, his training routine, and what’s next for the pair. The Huntingford's are a remarkable team whose passion, skill, and humility make them stand out as true ambassadors of aeromodelling.

Harrison Ritter is a rising star in the Australian competitive scale aerobatics scene and he joins us to give us an update on his flying leading up to the Australian IMAC National Championships. We discuss his rise through the IMAC ranks, his practice process, planes and more.

We chat with turbine expert Shane Bartlett about the world of RC jets. A dedicated aeromodeller with a strong technical background, Shane has years of experience repairing turbine engines. He shares a few tips, along with his journey in RC flying, from his early beginnings to his passion for turbine-powered jets. A true knowledge source with a deep enthusiasm for RC aviation.

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.