Martyn Kinder
I started aeromodelling when I was 13 years old – in 1969, before that I built model boats. I became a SMAE member in 1971 and started flying Free Flight contests as a Junior, mainly A/1 and A/2 (as it was then) classes. My first Model Flying club was Syke Juniors, near Rochdale.

I started flying RC gliders in 1980, as I was (at the time) fortunately living only 4 miles from one of the best slope soaring sites in NW England, Blackstone Edge, off the Rochdale to Halifax road and  started R/C power flying shortly afterwards. However, I continued to fly competitive free flight as a member of Richmond DMAC until 1977 and latterly (following a change in location) Falcons Free Flight Team until 1995.

I had a few years off while my children got bigger but came back to the fold about 11 years ago flying mainly RC sports models.

I am the founder member and administrator of the UK Classic Aerobatic Association (UKCAA) which promotes the building, flying and competing of pre 1996 F3A Aerobatic aircraft and I am also a member of South Cheshire Radio Control Society, BARCS and the LMMGA. I am the club delegate for SCRCS.

My model flying interests are very broad ranging. I fly Classic F3A, R/C gliders, (Electric, Thermal and Slope) and general sports models.  As I am getting older, I am getting more interested in scale modelling and enjoy the additional challenge of building and flying this type of model.

Professionally, I design IT systems for a major UK Government Department. I have worked in IT for over 40 years. Working in the Government sector means that you need to develop a very pragmatic and diplomatic approach to working with people. This is one of my strengths, over the years I have worked very closely with a great many civil servants to develop and deliver successfully, some complex and costly IT projects.

I have also been a committee member on many local and national bodies. In fact, I first started committee work as Junior Captain of a sailing club when I was just 14 years old. I have worked on a number of committees including the British Astronomical Association and the Radio Society of Great Britain plus many club roles over the past 40 years. I enjoy working on committees and feel the time spent is a worthwhile contribution and satisfactory payback for an interest that I enjoy doing,

I was appointed BMFA-NW Area Webmaster at the end of 2017 and subsequently elected (in 2018) as Area Delegate and Chairman of the NW Area of the BMFA following the resignation of David Lloyd Jones due to ill health.

Stuart Willis
Born July 1955 in Carshalton. My father was an aircraft mechanic based at Croydon airport but was relocated to the new Gatwick airport so the family relocated to Crawley when I was just 16 months old.

My first venture into the world of model aircraft was at age 10 when I joined the School Aero Club then later in the Crawley Aero club and the SMAE, as it was then, flying control line combat models and free flight rubber models. My first model was a "Phantom Mite" constructed with the help of my father and the words that have been so true over the years: "If you built it, you can repair it".
I'm a Support Engineer for an international software house and sit behind a computer screen all day so enjoy getting out and flying whenever I can.

I got back into modelling in the late 1990's - first with helicopters and later moved on to fixed-wing models. I joined the Felbridge Flyers of which I'm an active member, being on the club’s committee as the ‘Webmaster’, as well as being one of the club’s fixed-wing instructors which I enjoy very much; seeing others being able to take to the skies on their own and enjoy the sport as much as I do is a very rewarding experience.

I fly mainly radio-controlled models, both IC and electric, and both fixed-wing and rotary. I enjoy building as much as I do flying, spending many hours in my shed tinkering with wood and glue - as my tolerant wife would testify!

Allan Belcher
Born in 1948, I am married with three grown up children and two grand children. I was introduced to aeromodelling at a very early age by my father who was a keen woodworker and ex RAF. I started with Keil Craft rubber power and progressed to Jetex models. After joining Cardiff High school I moved on to control line and self stabilising ( pendulum control ) free flight which was not that effective! This made me look more seriously at Radio Control which was in those days single channel and really only one step beyond a free flight model. I built the Aeromodeller no1 receiver and transmitter and after much experimenting and reading of text books on electronics was finally able to make it work.  I then progressed to constructing 12 channel reed transmitter and receivers which presented new challenges.

Unfortunately this spelt the end of my interest in Aeromodelling as I found solving  the problems and designing and testing electronic systems very absorbing. This new knowledge proved to be of use in the newly formed  South Wales Amateur Rocketry Group (SWARG) which was a consortium of secondary schools in Cardiff. My contribution to SWARG was in designing, constructing and testing the rocket and ground antennas and telemetry systems. SWARG had several successful flights until the government decided to stop allowing MoD facilities to be used for amateur rocket launches.

I then undertook a degree in Electronic Engineering with Physics and obtained my amateur radio transmitting licence. On graduating I joined the BBC Engineering Research Department. I was fortunate that my day to day work was of an advanced nature and over a two year period it facilitated a collaborative or external PhD in Electronic Engineering with Surrey University. At that time I had a young family with strong ties in Wales. We returned to Wales where I become a Medical Physicist at Velindre Hospital Cardiff.  Later, in 1980 I become a Lecturer in Electronic Engineering at Swansea University. I was able to introduce aeromodelling related projects to final year students so this began the return to my hobby. I continued this theme when I later became a Professor in Electronic Engineering at Cardiff University.

In 2016 I left academia to become full time employed in my own research company. Then came Covid 19 which mean that I spent more time at home and I took the opportunity to focus on aeromodelling.  This made me more aware of how relevant it was that Wales was actually a country with its own laws and Parliament.  Laws in England allowed clubs in England to be open for flying but laws in Wales meant clubs there were closed. My academic and professional career had  required me to be involved in many committees and I enjoyed the challenges that they presented.

I joined Swansea Model flying club in the mid 80s and passed my 'A' 1991. In 2021 I become  a committee member of Swansea Model Flying club and in 2022 I became the Mid West Area Delegate. My aim is to improve communication between our clubs and BMFA and to look for grant funding opportunities which may arise. This is proving to be a challenge as the Area is split between two countries and two governments. As a resident of Wales it seems appropriate for me to  use the access this gives me to the Welsh Government to explore how the BMFA can better support our clubs in Wales  I am now practising for my 'B' certificate!

Peter Disney
Peter currently lives in Brixham, Devon and is a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy.  He was educated in Torquay and at Imperial College, London and joined the Service in 1982 as a Seaman Officer, passing out from BRNC in 1983.  After Fleet training and professional courses he moved on to be the Navigating Officer of HMS Kirkliston and then HMS Bereton before commencing flying training as an Observer in 1989.

Initially qualified on the Lynx Mk3 helicopter operating from Frigates and Destroyers, he held several appointments with 829, and 815 Naval Air Squadrons as the Flight Observer and then the Flight Commander including operations in the first Gulf War and the Mediterranean.  In 1994 he became a Qualified Observer Instructor training Lynx Aircrew and as serving as the Operations Officer of 702 NAS based at RNAS Portland.  After a final appointment back with 815NAS as the Type 23 Senior Flight Commander in HMS Somerset deployed to the South Atlantic he joined the Staff of Flag Officer Sea Training at Devonport in late 1997 as a Staff Warfare Officer conducting Aviation training at sea for RN and NATO warships.

In 1999 he returned to flying duties and completed a conversion course to the Merlin (EH101) helicopter at Westlands in Yeovil.  The initial cadre of aircrew were based at RNAS Culdrose and charged with bringing the Merlin into Service and establishing the Merlin Training System which became 824 NAS later in 2000.  As a Merlin instructor with specific responsibility for developing and accepting the simulators into service, he worked very closely with CAE, the contractor, in Canada to validate software and hardware and then oversaw the subsequent installation at Culdrose.

In 2002/2003 he was employed as the Senior Operations Watch-keeper working with the Coalition partners at the UK National HQ in Qatar for the war-fighting phase of Operation Telic in Iraq. On return to Culdrose and the Merlin he became the Senior Observer in 829 NAS, re-commissioning the Squadron in 2004 and using his Lynx sea experience in establishing links between the parenting organisation and the frigates. Since 2009 he has been back with FOST in Devonport training ships at sea.

Having started his modelling career with control line flying as a teenager in the 70s his first model was a Kiel Kraft plastic Hurricane.   He progressed to built-up models and some free flight ducted fans, but drifted away from modelling when he went to college.

Returning to the hobby and R/C power flying in 2000 when he joined the Culdrose Model Flying Group, he became the Chairman of RNMAA and BMFA representative in 2007.  In addition he is now also a member of several clubs in Devon and Cornwall and has been involved with the Devon and Cornwall Sub-Areas since 2009.  He has held fixed wing ‘A’ Certificate since 2002 and was invited to fly before the full size aviation at Culdrose Air Display in 2006, so worked-up and successfully passed the ‘B’ that summer.  He flies mainly larger R/C scale and semi-scale fun fighters at the summer shows, but is also very keen on EDF models, having designed and built several models of British aircraft from the 50s and 60s.  He also dabbles in electric R/C (up to 200W size motors), rocketry (up to E Impulse) and indoor helicopters.

Tony Waters

I have been Aeromodelling since the age of 12, starting with Control Line and moving into “Single Channel” radio at the age of 16, then onto Proportional Radio Control some 4 years later.

Many things have changed over the years, but the love for building and flying model aircraft is as strong as ever. Since I retired 11 years ago I have been able to spend much more time building and flying my models. I am a traditional balsa builder who loves to build from plans including WW2 scale where I post my builds on “ RCScaleBuilder.com” forum as YNOT-57. Over the years I have had all types of models from IC and Turbine but now I just use electric power for both Fixed Wing & Helicopter.

I have been a member of Raydon MAC for 30 years, and have served on the committee in a number of posts during this time, after a short illness which forced me to stand down from the committee, I am back to full health and now in the role of club Secretary once again.

Martin Dilly, FSMAE
Started modelling in 1943 with an Airyda Blackburn Skua after first smelling doped fabric and ply and proper aromatic high octane fuel coming from rows of Whitleys and Hotspur gliders at RAF Hartford Bridge. Joined West Kent MFC and SMAE in 1948; flying in competitions ever since. Joined Croydon & DMAC in 1949, flying C/L aerobatics, speed, combat, a little R/C (bang-bang rudder), flew early R/C slope soaring in 1960s, moved on to concentrate on F/F, mainly international class F1A gliders.

Learned to glide at Detling, 1951 and to fly at Redhill and Croydon on Magisters and Tiger Moths in 1953 via a Flying Scholarship. RAF 1956-58 on ground radar, just missing Suez.

Having several expatriate New Zealanders in the Croydon club led to a long involvement with the NZMAA, first as proxy flyer and team manager at F/F World Champs, starting with Kauhava in 1965 and as NZ delegate to CIAM since about 1970. I was made a life member of NZMAA in 1987. Other CIAM work has included chairing the Information & Education Committee and serving on several International FAI juries at World and European Championships. Managing the UK teams at World and Euro F/F Championships from 1980 to 2003 with a couple of years off makes me probably the next most experienced of the species after Viktor Eskov of the USSR and Russia.

In parallel with this has been a lot of BMFA work, with an emphasis on the public relations side and the removal of inter-disciplinary blinkers, and work since 1970 towards Sports Council recognition of model flying, finally achieved about 25 years later. Despite 35 years as a TV cameraman for the BBC, Dilly Towers has always managed to avoid having a resident TV set, which may account for finding the time for it all. ‘All’ has included writing the Free-Flight and Foreign Flyers columns in Aeromodeller magazine for a period, co-founding Free Flight News, serving as BMFA PRO for two periods, editing and producing the SMAE newsletter, doing part of a TV series on modelling that still gets shown 20 years later, much to peoples’ amusement, representing BMFA on the Royal Aero Club Council, producing, editing and marketing most BMFA Free Flight Forum Reports annually since 1985, organising the Free Flight Forums, writing a couple of books on model flying, serving as London Area PRO since 1965 and as Council delegate since 1970.

I was also heavily involved in the landmark Bromley public enquiry on model flying at a local park in the early 1970s, and in drafting the Home Office Code of Practice on Noise Limitation for Model Aircraft in 1970s. I was elected a Fellow in 1977 and received the Royal Aero Club silver medal in 1992. Current flying activity focuses on F1A, where the building of some carbon bunters and ‘Russian rod’ line has led to far more consistent towing and helped to compensate for the possible lack of launch energy at the bottom end of the towline. Other interests include jazz, baroque music, Eastern Europe and food.

Steve Mason
I started model flying at the age of 8 with a Keil Kraft Cadet that was made for me by my Uncle. My Father, Uncle and I used to fly free flight gliders, control line and radio in a grass field in Spalding, South Lincolnshire.

When I left school in 1971, I went to work for GEC Telecoms in Coventry as a Trainee Installation Engineer, installing and commissioning telephone exchanges all over the country. I eventually moved into System X Development. This led to me leaving the hobby for a period as I used to live away from home. Squash and water-skiing took over as my main interest and I built 2 boats during this period the last one was a 16ft speed boat with a V6 PPJet propulsion unit.  It was in the early eighties that my interest was reignited and I joined the Bournestormers Model Club (in Bourne Lincs). I have fulfilled many roles within the club and am now the Vice Chairman.  My arm was twisted by the late Mike Goldby into becoming a Club Examiner and was then persuaded into becoming an Area Chief Examiner and Area Chief Instructor by the Club Chairman at the time. Since then I have been appointed Midland Area Delegate and agreed to take over from Alan Penn as Achievement Scheme Coordinator for the Midland Area. I have held both positions for several years.

I left GPT (formally GEC Telecoms) in 1996 to start a new career by taking over an electrical, lighting and model supply shop in Spalding. Over the years, the store gradually become more of a ‘model shop’ and we are now in the process of manufacturing our own range of RC aircraft model kits.

John McNamara
Age: 68, Married with two children and 4 grandchildren, Lives in West Yorkshire.

Occupation: Semi Retired, Owner of JettstreamUK
Previous occupation prior to retirement: UK Sales Director, Meiller GHP, Paragon Group.u
Career synopsis: 39 years as a print sales professional. Prior to this a Service Engineer for 3M Business Equipment Division.

Further Education: Electronic and Mechanical Engineering.

Modeller since the age of 7, building plastic models and free flight gliders and rubber powered models. Later at secondary school built free flight A1 and A2 gliders with a school friend. Dabbled in Electronics & photography too. At 13, I joined the ATC where my modelling education proper began. I was soon building control line stunt and combat models. Our squadron had a C/L Stunt demonstration team which displayed at local air shows and country fairs. I was taught to fly radio control at the age of 14.

I had learned to fly full size gliders in the ATC and continued whilst in full time further education. Modelling took something of a back seat during this time, but once I was at work, I began to build several slope soarers and a couple of power models. I joined the West Yorkshire Model Flying Club at this time. In the late 70’s I began to be interested the possibilities of electric flight. After a great deal of failure, I put my education to work to build better performing equipment Such as inverter battery chargers and Electronic Speed Controllers, as well as rewinding motors to serve as prime movers.

By the early 1980’s I had several successful electric powered gliders and powered aerobatic models. All these items are taken for granted these days and are readily available. I was always interested in scale models and started building scale gliders and powered scale models. Several where own designs, with mixed success. In the late 1990’s I became interested in Ducted Fans and built several models of this type. I made a lot of new friends at this time, most of which are still close fiends now, but some are passed, but not forgotten. After finally finding my stride in ducted fan, turbo jet engines appeared on the scene. For the last 20 + years I have spent most of my spare time pursuing jet flying. In 2003, with a close friend we founded the Elvington Model Flyers, a specialist club for Jet flyers. I am honoured to be the chairman of this club.

I have also severed several periods on the committee of the West Yorkshire club and that is my current position.

In 2019 I was asked if I would help the Northern Area which was very short of members. I then took on the role of Delegate for the Northern area. Subsequently I volunteered to work with a group of members from different areas to examine the purpose and direction of the BMFA areas. We have worked on a revised, updated and more relevant constitution for the BMFA areas as well as a revised guide to the constitution.

I continue to be a life-long modeller, flying jets, gliders, scale and electric. I plan to dabble in multi-cylinder petrol-powered scale shortly too. There is always something new to learn and new challenges to overcome

Gary Armstrong
I was born in Northumberland in November 1963 and grew up and still live in Newcastle upon Tyne. Aeromodelling in one form or another has been a part of my life since the age of 8 or 9 when my grandfather presented me with a beautifully built KeilKraft Gypsy rubber model. This led to frequent trips to Newcastle Town Moor on a Sunday afternoon to fly it and to watch the antics of the local R/C fliers. I became hooked and spent the next few years building Airfix models and as my skills improved progressed to KeilKraft flying scale rubber models, free flight gliders and eventually control line. Christmas 1976 brought my first two channel 27mHz radio and after a couple of false starts when the local “expert” crashed my trainer, I taught myself to fly on a 100” thermal soarer. More power models followed, all two channel which if nothing else was great practice for landing from unusual situations as I was never quite sure when they would run out of fuel.  I joined the newly formed Newcastle Model Flying Association in the spring of 1980 and have been a member ever since, it was soon after joining that I was introduced to precision aerobatics (F3A) and with a new six channel radio I set about learning as many of the manoeuvres as possible, before starting to fly competitively with the GBRCAA. I passed my BMFA “B” in the mid 1980’s and became a club instructor and examiner soon after, and in 1991 I was invited to become an Area Chief Examiner, a post I still hold today. I have been involved with the North East Area since 1986 when I was appointed club delegate for the Newcastle MFA, and initially served on the Area committee as the R/C discipline secretary. Subsequently I served as Area Vice-Chairman and currently I’m the Area Secretary, Delegate, and Achievement Scheme Coordinator. Although I no longer fly competitively, I still do some occasional judging at aerobatic competitions, and now fly large scale aerobatics, large warbirds and a variety of scale and non-scale slope soarers.

As mentioned earlier aeromodelling has been a large part of my life and most of my working life has been in the model trade, starting with a Saturday job in “The Model Shop” on Blenheim Street in Newcastle, and then over 30 years with “Phills Models”, first in Heaton and then in North Shields, with a couple of years at Glens Models in Renfrew in between. I now work a couple of days a week with the team at FighterAces.

Martyn Kinder
I started aeromodelling when I was 13 years old – in 1969, before that I built model boats. I became a SMAE member in 1971 and started flying Free Flight contests as a Junior, mainly A/1 and A/2 (as it was then) classes. My first Model Flying club was Syke Juniors, near Rochdale.

I started flying RC gliders in 1980, as I was (at the time) fortunately living only 4 miles from one of the best slope soaring sites in NW England, Blackstone Edge, off the Rochdale to Halifax road and  started R/C power flying shortly afterwards. However, I continued to fly competitive free flight as a member of Richmond DMAC until 1977 and latterly (following a change in location) Falcons Free Flight Team until 1995.

I had a few years off while my children got bigger but came back to the fold about 11 years ago flying mainly RC sports models.

I am the founder member and administrator of the UK Classic Aerobatic Association (UKCAA) which promotes the building, flying and competing of pre 1996 F3A Aerobatic aircraft and I am also a member of South Cheshire Radio Control Society, BARCS and the LMMGA. I am the club delegate for SCRCS.

My model flying interests are very broad ranging. I fly Classic F3A, R/C gliders, (Electric, Thermal and Slope) and general sports models.  As I am getting older, I am getting more interested in scale modelling and enjoy the additional challenge of building and flying this type of model.

Professionally, I design IT systems for a major UK Government Department. I have worked in IT for over 40 years. Working in the Government sector means that you need to develop a very pragmatic and diplomatic approach to working with people. This is one of my strengths, over the years I have worked very closely with a great many civil servants to develop and deliver successfully, some complex and costly IT projects.

I have also been a committee member on many local and national bodies. In fact, I first started committee work as Junior Captain of a sailing club when I was just 14 years old. I have worked on a number of committees including the British Astronomical Association and the Radio Society of Great Britain plus many club roles over the past 40 years. I enjoy working on committees and feel the time spent is a worthwhile contribution and satisfactory payback for an interest that I enjoy doing,

I was appointed BMFA-NW Area Webmaster at the end of 2017 and subsequently elected (in 2018) as Area Delegate and Chairman of the NW Area of the BMFA following the resignation of David Lloyd Jones due to ill health.

Duncan McClure
I have been an active modeller for over 40 years and I enjoy participation in many aspects of the hobby. I started off flying control line and free flight and then moved to RC, starting with a home built single channel radio. I now fly power sport, scale and aerobatics, glider (both slope and thermal), helicopters and more recently gas turbines and electric. My entire fleet is now exclusively electric or turbine.

For the last 36 years I have been a member of the White horse Model Club. I have served on the committee of this club for most of this period and have held most of the senior posts. I have been responsible for the development of training materials and have trained many members, both young and old, in power, glider and helicopter disciplines.

I have held power B and Club Examiner ratings since 1982 and I became an Area Chief Examiner in 2000. I have also been an Approved Instructor since the inception of the ‘up and away ‘scheme and a silent flight examiner since 1993. I am now also an Area Chief Instructor.

I also fly full size and hold a Private Pilots Licence (PPL A) with IMC and night ratings. I fly on a regular basis and have a share in Piper Cherokee based at a local airfield. I find full-size experience invaluable for model flying, particularly in relation to safety and training.
I worked for several years as a part time fixed wing flying instructor for ATS and the RC Hotel in Corfu, so I have gained valuable experience of training pilots of all ages and with a wide range of abilities, in both club and commercial environments.

For my day job I work as a radiation physicist for the government, and have been involved in notable incidents such as Chernobyl and the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive Polonium in 2006.

Stuart Willis
Born July 1955 in Carshalton. My father was an aircraft mechanic based at Croydon airport but was relocated to the new Gatwick airport so the family relocated to Crawley when I was just 16 months old.

My first venture into the world of model aircraft was at age 10 when I joined the School Aero Club then later in the Crawley Aero club and the SMAE, as it was then, flying control line combat models and free flight rubber models. My first model was a "Phantom Mite" constructed with the help of my father and the words that have been so true over the years: "If you built it, you can repair it".
I'm a Support Engineer for an international software house and sit behind a computer screen all day so enjoy getting out and flying whenever I can.

I got back into modelling in the late 1990's - first with helicopters and later moved on to fixed-wing models. I joined the Felbridge Flyers of which I'm an active member, being on the club’s committee as the ‘Webmaster’, as well as being one of the club’s fixed-wing instructors which I enjoy very much; seeing others being able to take to the skies on their own and enjoy the sport as much as I do is a very rewarding experience.

I fly mainly radio-controlled models, both IC and electric, and both fixed-wing and rotary. I enjoy building as much as I do flying, spending many hours in my shed tinkering with wood and glue - as my tolerant wife would testify!

John Harris
At Club level I have been a member of the Bristol Radio Controlled Model Aircraft Club Committee since 1997. I have represented the BRCMAC at BMFA Western Area committee from 2002 to now. I have held the position of Western Area Treasurer from 2006 until last year, as well as being the Western Area Secretary from June 2008 till 2011. I am also the Area Vice Chairman. I have also represent the Western Area as Area delegate to Full and Areas Council. I am a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

I have flown a wide variety of aircraft. I currently own a fleet of more than 20 aircraft, most of which I have built. These aircraft range from (Fixed wing) small electrics to a large IC/Petrol powered aircraft; (Helicopters) from a few indoor electric to several IC powered 30 models the largest being a Raptor 60. I have owned a few (flown many) jet powered fixed wing aircraft starting off with the faithful Boomerang to, whilst in the US, F16 Hornets. My current hack is a Chris Foss AcroWot XL, and for Multi Rotor FPV DJI Mavic.

I became a Club Fixed wing instructor in 2002 and a BMFA Fixed Wing Examiner during 2003. I passed the BMFA Fixed Wing Approved Instructor qualification in Apr 2004 (Became QI in 2007). I have been head of my Club Flight training since 2005. I became a registered BMFA Registered Club Helicopter Instructor in March 2007. In June 2010 I became an Area Chief Examiner/Instructor for the Western Area. Following attendance at a Jet C Examiners workshops now examine Jet candidates (one of which was the current world champion!) I have held and continue to support the Western Area Examiner/Instructor workshop, and intend to put on/support many more. I have supported the ASRC Conferences, and recently the Roadshows, The summer online variants presenting the “Running an Examiner/Instructor Workshop” material.

In the past I supported several helicopter Examiner workshops run by the then RC Power Achievement Scheme Controller. In the Western Area I have organised 15 Fixed Wing/Helicopter Chief Examiner/Instructor and Club Examiner/Instructor workshops aimed at ensuring ACE/Is and Examiners/Instructors in the Area are made aware of changes to the Achievement Scheme as well as bring Examiners to the same level of understanding of pass/fail criteria when conducting AS tests. The Examiner workshops are also very useful in providing practical feedback to the ASRC. I have been an active member of the ASRC since 2005. I am also actively involved with multi-rotor and FPV training.

Allan Belcher
Born in 1948, I am married with three grown up children and two grand children. I was introduced to aeromodelling at a very early age by my father who was a keen woodworker and ex RAF. I started with Keil Craft rubber power and progressed to Jetex models. After joining Cardiff High school I moved on to control line and self stabilising ( pendulum control ) free flight which was not that effective! This made me look more seriously at Radio Control which was in those days single channel and really only one step beyond a free flight model. I built the Aeromodeller no1 receiver and transmitter and after much experimenting and reading of text books on electronics was finally able to make it work.  I then progressed to constructing 12 channel reed transmitter and receivers which presented new challenges.

Unfortunately this spelt the end of my interest in Aeromodelling as I found solving  the problems and designing and testing electronic systems very absorbing. This new knowledge proved to be of use in the newly formed  South Wales Amateur Rocketry Group (SWARG) which was a consortium of secondary schools in Cardiff. My contribution to SWARG was in designing, constructing and testing the rocket and ground antennas and telemetry systems. SWARG had several successful flights until the government decided to stop allowing MoD facilities to be used for amateur rocket launches.

I then undertook a degree in Electronic Engineering with Physics and obtained my amateur radio transmitting licence. On graduating I joined the BBC Engineering Research Department. I was fortunate that my day to day work was of an advanced nature and over a two year period it facilitated a collaborative or external PhD in Electronic Engineering with Surrey University. At that time I had a young family with strong ties in Wales. We returned to Wales where I become a Medical Physicist at Velindre Hospital Cardiff.  Later, in 1980 I become a Lecturer in Electronic Engineering at Swansea University. I was able to introduce aeromodelling related projects to final year students so this began the return to my hobby. I continued this theme when I later became a Professor in Electronic Engineering at Cardiff University.

In 2016 I left academia to become full time employed in my own research company. Then came Covid 19 which mean that I spent more time at home and I took the opportunity to focus on aeromodelling.  This made me more aware of how relevant it was that Wales was actually a country with its own laws and Parliament.  Laws in England allowed clubs in England to be open for flying but laws in Wales meant clubs there were closed. My academic and professional career had  required me to be involved in many committees and I enjoyed the challenges that they presented.

I joined Swansea Model flying club in the mid 80s and passed my 'A' 1991. In 2021 I become  a committee member of Swansea Model Flying club and in 2022 I became the Mid West Area Delegate. My aim is to improve communication between our clubs and BMFA and to look for grant funding opportunities which may arise. This is proving to be a challenge as the Area is split between two countries and two governments. As a resident of Wales it seems appropriate for me to  use the access this gives me to the Welsh Government to explore how the BMFA can better support our clubs in Wales  I am now practising for my 'B' certificate!

Peter Disney
Peter currently lives in Brixham, Devon and is a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy.  He was educated in Torquay and at Imperial College, London and joined the Service in 1982 as a Seaman Officer, passing out from BRNC in 1983.  After Fleet training and professional courses he moved on to be the Navigating Officer of HMS Kirkliston and then HMS Bereton before commencing flying training as an Observer in 1989.

Initially qualified on the Lynx Mk3 helicopter operating from Frigates and Destroyers, he held several appointments with 829, and 815 Naval Air Squadrons as the Flight Observer and then the Flight Commander including operations in the first Gulf War and the Mediterranean.  In 1994 he became a Qualified Observer Instructor training Lynx Aircrew and as serving as the Operations Officer of 702 NAS based at RNAS Portland.  After a final appointment back with 815NAS as the Type 23 Senior Flight Commander in HMS Somerset deployed to the South Atlantic he joined the Staff of Flag Officer Sea Training at Devonport in late 1997 as a Staff Warfare Officer conducting Aviation training at sea for RN and NATO warships.

In 1999 he returned to flying duties and completed a conversion course to the Merlin (EH101) helicopter at Westlands in Yeovil.  The initial cadre of aircrew were based at RNAS Culdrose and charged with bringing the Merlin into Service and establishing the Merlin Training System which became 824 NAS later in 2000.  As a Merlin instructor with specific responsibility for developing and accepting the simulators into service, he worked very closely with CAE, the contractor, in Canada to validate software and hardware and then oversaw the subsequent installation at Culdrose.

In 2002/2003 he was employed as the Senior Operations Watch-keeper working with the Coalition partners at the UK National HQ in Qatar for the war-fighting phase of Operation Telic in Iraq. On return to Culdrose and the Merlin he became the Senior Observer in 829 NAS, re-commissioning the Squadron in 2004 and using his Lynx sea experience in establishing links between the parenting organisation and the frigates. Since 2009 he has been back with FOST in Devonport training ships at sea.

Having started his modelling career with control line flying as a teenager in the 70s his first model was a Kiel Kraft plastic Hurricane.   He progressed to built-up models and some free flight ducted fans, but drifted away from modelling when he went to college.

Returning to the hobby and R/C power flying in 2000 when he joined the Culdrose Model Flying Group, he became the Chairman of RNMAA and BMFA representative in 2007.  In addition he is now also a member of several clubs in Devon and Cornwall and has been involved with the Devon and Cornwall Sub-Areas since 2009.  He has held fixed wing ‘A’ Certificate since 2002 and was invited to fly before the full size aviation at Culdrose Air Display in 2006, so worked-up and successfully passed the ‘B’ that summer.  He flies mainly larger R/C scale and semi-scale fun fighters at the summer shows, but is also very keen on EDF models, having designed and built several models of British aircraft from the 50s and 60s.  He also dabbles in electric R/C (up to 200W size motors), rocketry (up to E Impulse) and indoor helicopters.

Peter Edmondson
I’ve held an interest in aeromodelling from a very early age while growing up in the countryside of Northern Ireland.  Helped by Dad, my elder brother used to build free flight, doped gliders. We were fortunate that we could launch them from the house and then run across the fields to get them back.  These days, I occasionally fly electric gliders from the same place.

I was able to get involved in R/C when I was gifted a 3ch Yamamoto and SC46 at Christmas, aged 11 years old.  We built it in the roof space and come Spring-time 1993, Dad took me to join the Ulster Model Aircraft Club (UMAC)

There was a long period when I stopped flying between 2000 and 2014 but when I eventually returned, I quickly rekindled a dormant passion for aeromodelling.  Flying fixed-wing, I mostly enjoy models in the 20cc petrol or 6s electric range.  Along the way, I’ve had my fair share of mixed fortune..

In late 2017 I started flying Helicopters and have worked progressively on learning 3D. I’ve participated in the 2021 & 2022 UK 3D Masters at Buckminster but I still love flying powered fixed-wing and the occasional big slow glider too.

In 2018, the Northern Ireland Association of Aeromodellers  (NIAA) appointed me as area Treasurer and in 2021 I was appointed as Area Delegate.

This year, I am delighted to see the return of events back to the Northern Ireland calendar.  I felt the absence of these events over 2020-21 left a huge void for many of us who enjoyed traveling to local events.  This year, we have been able to resume a normal calendar and get events up and running again.

I look forward to being able to represent and support the membership clubs here in Northern Ireland.

Ian Nelson
A retired RAF Warrant Officer, Ian spent 37 years as an Aircraft Propulsion Technician which encompasses, aircraft engines, aircraft fuel systems, fuel pressurisation and fire protection. He has worked primarily on Vulcan B2, C-130 Hercules, Jaguar GR1A, Puma HC1 helicopter, Tornado GR4A and handled a multitude of aircraft including Nimrod MR1, Buccaneer, Canberra, Shackleton MR2, Starfighter and Boeing 737 to name a few. During his service he has visited many extreme environments from the Arctic of Northern Norway to heat of the Arabian Peninsular and Afghanistan. He was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in 1986, for service to the RAF community in Gibraltar and restoring the Gate Guardian, a Vulcan B2 from his first operational squadron, 35 Squadron.

Ian started his modelling career when he was 10 years old (1966) with Keil Kraft rubber-powered scale series aircraft. When he was 11 he flew a friend's plastic Keil Kraft Hurricane. He only lasted a couple of laps before he got dizzy and crashed it breaking the nylon engine mount. That cost him 7s 6d (37 1/2 p), three weeks pocket money in those days! Needing something more robust he built a Slick Schick combat wing from the Model and Allied Publications (MAP) plans service and powered it with a second-hand DC Sabre 1.5 cc diesel. At last, an aircraft that would bounce! He continued with Control Line for many years concentrating on Combat, Stunt and Scale. Indeed, at the tender age of 15, he built a MAP F4U-4 Corsair and entered it at the North West Area Rally at Woodford in Cheshire; he came 6th out of 20 contestants. He joined the RAF in 1973 and enrolled in RAFMAA in 1978 whilst at RAF Scampton, here he continued to fly Control Line with a Mercury Crusader and a plan built DH Mosquito.

In 1980 he bought his first RC set, a Fleet Custom III and a three channel trainer (Sancho). He taught himself to fly at RAF Halton, many front firewalls, undercarriages and a few pounds of epoxy later he eventually got the hang of it all. He took a three year break whilst at RAF Gibraltar due to extreme RADHAZ problems for RC gear and other diversions (see above). Returning to UK he dusted down his kit and started flying again at the RAF St Athan Club.

Immersing himself back into the hobby he started to fly aerobatics whilst at RAF Coltishall and passed his 'A' certificate (1992). He gained his ‘B’ certificate in 1997 becoming an Examiner in 2000. He has been Officer In Charge (OIC) RAFColtishall, RAF Benson and RAF Marham Model Aircraft Clubs. Additionally in RAF Model Aircraft association (RAFMAA), he has held the positions of; Secretary, Competition Secretary, Indoor Secretary, RC Power Secretary; again, sometimes all at the same time. He is currently one of RAFMAA's Chief Examiners and the Area Coordinator and an Honorary Member since retiring from his ‘day job’ in 2011. He became BMFA Representative for RAFMAA in 2016. Within RAFMAA he has been successful in winning a number of competitions in a number of disciplines and has held the Honorary Members Trophy for two years.

His civilian club for the past 30 years has been the North Norfolk Aeromodellers (NNA) where he has held the positions of Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary, sometimes all at the same time! He is currently Vice Chairman of the NNA. Over the years he has taught many people to fly RC and Control Line and examined candidates within the NNA and RAFMAA; one ‘A’ certificate being conducted on Ascension Island!

Ian still occasionally flies Control Line models; Stunt, Combat wings and Mini-Goodyear racers but, channels most of his time into RC Aerobatics and Scale. He has flown in displays with the RAFMAA team, namely Wings and Wheels, Old Warden and Ascension Island he can often be found flying in Warbird events. Additionally, Ian also enjoys Slope and Thermal soaring.