THE HISTORY OF V.A.R.M.S The Annual Diary 1990 - 2009

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Response from the Committee
Members should note that your committee strongly believes that VARMS continues to support
Radio-control Model Soaring. VARMS is still the only club providing formal Glider training and
providing Glider only facilities. We have a very active glider training program, ably managed by
experienced members. It is without a doubt our main source of new members. Sadly many of these
new members drift off to other clubs because we cannot retain their interest once past the initial
glider training phase, or we don’t offer a structured training program for i/c power. We are actively
involved in Glider competitions and provide aero-tow facilities for Scale glider flyers.
Members should be aware that power operations were approved by membership vote some 10 years
ago and that the current split hour arrangements were only implemented last December, following
considerable member consultation and with member approval. These changes were necessary as a
consequence of East-Link construction and associated safety concerns.
There is no proposal before the membership to cease or reduce glider operations. The only proposal
is to swap hours on 2 weekdays at the request of both power and glider pilots.
As always your committee will only implement changes affecting critical operational issues
following member approval.
A 2 nd World Championship for Australia & VARMS
August 2006 – David Hobby successfully defended his World F3J title at Martin, Slovak
Republic. David was 9 th of 12 in the qualifying 10 rounds and was placed 1 st after the 4
rounds of the Final. Carl Strautins (NSW) qualified 11 th and earned a final place of 10 th .
Other participating Team members were Matthew Partlett 48 th and Mike O’Reilly 49 th with
the Australian team finishing 13 th . Matt Wood was Team Manager with Theo Arvanitakis,
Thomas Cooke & Ziggy Kusiak as towers.
(Note: David Hobby chose not to be a member of the Australian team which is restricted to 3
members, as this enabled another flyer from Australia to compete. If David’s score was included as
part of the Australian team, they would have taken 6 th place.)
Club Member Demographics as at June 2006 from a total membership of 183.
Unknown Glider Power Power/Glider Sub total
VARMS (Full) 16 76 8 48 148
VARMS (Assoc.) 2 11 7 15 35
Overall Total 18 87 15 63 183
August Aspectivity contained the following schedule of flying times as Brigg’s Field as a
result of an overwhelming vote for them to be changed, 53 to 15.