TO the uninitiated, model airplanes are just toys for big kids, but for Seaford man Murray Wilson tackling hectic manoeuvres when attached to a plane that’s flying at around 220kph is definitely not for the faint hearted.
Wilson recently returned from the “Olympics” of model aircraft, the international control-line model aircraft competitions in Perth, where he and his South Australian-based race partner came second in their category against 35 teams from around the world.
It was the first time since the start of the event – organised by the model aeronautical association – that it has been held in the Southern Hemisphere.
And if you still think it’s just a bit of nonsense, a visit to any race will quickly change your mind.
There are pit stops and mechanics, and the race atmosphere is abuzz with tension and excitement.
The aircraft are loud and fast and competitors have to keep their wits about them as aircraft duck and weave in a tight circle with little room for error. The vehicles are attached to the controller via a wire, and precision judgement is crucial to keep the vehicle in flight and out of the way of other aircraft. Positioning and strategy are crucial.
“If you do crash into someone, there’s usually not much left of the plane, so we have to know what we’re doing up there,” Wilson said.
Wilson, 28, has been involved in the sport since a young child, and admits it’s probably “in the blood”.
His late father Graeme, who was a racer and involved with both the Victorian and Australian model aeronautical associations, met his wife Fiona on the race field.
“So I was pretty sure I’d be involved in the sport.”
While there are only about 20,000 followers of the sport in Australia, it is huge in Eastern Europe, where Wilson and his teammate competed in 2012 and came third in a field that included some of the best in the sport. It’s an expensive passion, but one that is worth it for the 28-year-old.
“I tend to do lot of travelling for competitions, but hopefully one day the sport’s popularity will grow here and there will be prize money to help cover the costs,” he said.