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

70
2002 - 03
President/Sites Liaison Max Haysom Secretary Sam Panettieri
Treasurer Ian Pearson Editor Colin Smith
Contest Director Mark Withers Ordinary Member Martin Hopper
*Co-opted Member Ordinary Member Jim Robertson
Registrar
Ian Slack*
July Aspectivity 346 reports final membership figures 2001-02 as at 265, an all time record.
At the July AGM 2002, Geoff Moore was awarded Life Membership.
This magazine also contained the results of the 'new' VARMS Trophy with an overall total of 29
contestants segregated into two grades :-
'A' Grade 1. David Pratley 2. Gerry Carter 3. Ian Slack (11 contestants)
'B' Grade 1. Simon Messer 2. Noel Young 3. Gary McDougal (18 contestants)
July 1st 2002 saw the introduction of a rule to standardise winches used in competition, being, that
the L + W + D of the battery must NOT exceed 635mm in total, the battery being of the
conventional lead acid type.
August 2002 Aspectivity (347) reveals Colin Collyer commencing yet another scale 'club project' to
follow the Woodstock and Schweitzer. Nineteen members have signed on to create their very own
1:5 scale MÜ-13 E (Bergfalke I) which should have a 3 metre wingspan.
Sept. 2002 - VARMS to consider permitting use of 27Mhz frequencies at Brigg's field. This is to
cater for the increased sale and use of "Park Flyers". (Better to have them flown in a controlled
environment than in local parks). The keyboard would need to be upgraded to accommodate this
activity.
September G.M. also included a Special General Meeting to change the Statement of Rules to
include a Membership Registrar as an Officer of the Association, prior to this time this person was
co-opted to Committee.
Aspectivity 349, Oct. 2002, report of the activity at the "Scale Aerotow & Fabric Model Rally" held
at Brigg's field. (Report by Colin Collyer).
I must say I was pleasantly pleased with the way the first Fabric Day turned out. I'm new at
this organising thing, but with a little help, WE got the job done. Firstly the field..... it looked
great..... Martin (Hopper) and his mowers had it at its usual state, mown. clean and green and he had
then pulled some strings with Mark Withers and magically white painted lines appeared simulating
a full size runway. The centre-line was particularly hard to 'hit'. Then to top things off, the weather
co-operated.
From early on models started to appear, gliders that I hadn't seen for yonks. Andrew
Crowe's K-13 and Doug Anderson's T46, both lovely big models. (I was parked next to Andrew
when he got the K-13 out of his car... it was covered in quite thick dust ...Ed). Lots of Woodstock's
and 1-26's which meant that tugmeister John Gottschalk was kept very busy. More fabric aircraft,
like 4 Piper Cubs, both big and small. A modern Aerobat and yes it did qualify because the tail is
fabric covered same as the metalled winged, fabric tailed, 1-26's. Angelo Favaloro brought his big
Tiger Moth plus his Fairchild but the star of the show was the Kinner with its 5 cylinder radial
engine. Apparently it hasn't flown for some time and was a bit 'gummed up', and took a
considerable time before it was fired up. Being able to borrow 5 glow-drivers at a glider field is
pretty impressive. The sound was superb... a real show-stopper.
Unfortunately I have mislaid the piece of paper I meticulously wrote all the models and their
owners on, so must apologise for that. I can only say that there were lots and lots of models both
with and with-out engines, flying or static, it all made for a very enjoyable day, and I thank them all
for turning up and that was what really made it such a great success.
Also in the October Aspectivity was the publication of some equalising with the 'Power' fraternity,
in that, procedures were at last recognised so that Glider Guiders could now achieve Bronze and
Gold Wings standards: