HENLEY ON KLIP. – The skies were abuzz with excitement and filled with the sounds of low flying model aircraft over Heritage Weekend.
The South African Model Aircraft Association (SAMAA) held its annual Combined Nationals from 24 – 27 September at the Henley Model Airfield and Family Entertainment Venue on Uitlugt Road.
The event attracted model aircraft enthusiasts from all over the country, including Nelspruit, Boksburg, and Klerksdorp.
According to Linda Dolt, SAMAA Secretary and Administrative Officer, this year’s event was essentially limited to four disciplines, including Pylon Racing, Large Scale Aerobatics, Aerobatics, and Jets, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruptions it has brought about.
Although SAMAA received about half of the entries they normally receive for the Combined Nationals, Bob Skinner, General Manager of SAMAA, said that the association was nevertheless pleased with the turnout in a year that has been marred by COVID-19 and the resulting lockdowns.
Being the fastest moving and most action-packed of these disciplines, Pylon Racing – which can perhaps be best described as “fly fast, tight and turn left” – involves racing small radio-controlled aircraft around pylons on a triangular course for ten laps as fast as possible, beginning with a standing start.
The breakneck speeds at which these racing machines move (between 200 – 300 km/h) means that controllers need to have nerves of steel, exceptional hand-eye coordination, and the utmost of concentration.
As Skinner explains: “The fastest of these model aircraft types – the Q40, also known as the Quarter Midget class – weigh between 2 – 2.5kg and are equipped with 6.5cc engines. The wingspan of these aircraft and the size of the fuel tanks are predetermined, and all of the aircraft need to comply with these requirements.” The circuit on which they race is triangular in shape with measurements of between 180 meters (along the sides of the triangle) and 40 meters (along the base), resulting in a circuit that is roughly 400m.
Pilots are required to do 10 laps (or 4 000m) of this circuit in the fastest time possible, with some races lasting slightly more than a minute. Pilots are penalized if they cut corners. The Large-Scale Aerobatics and Aerobatics disciplines involve controllers executing flying maneuvers – including turns, climbs, descents, and rolls – at the instructions of a caller, where they are then evaluated by a panel of judges.
While not as fast as the pylon racers, these breathtaking maneuvers offer jaw-dropping entertainment to onlookers and seasoned radio controllers alike.
These planes are often exact replicas of flying machines and as with any aircraft a “pilot” – in the form of a pilot mannequin – is one of the basic requirements.
A fourth category also included the flying of model jet aircraft which fly at far greater speeds as the large-scale aircraft used in the Large-Scale Aerobatics Discipline. The event also offered a fun and stimulating atmosphere where model aircraft enthusiasts could interact with one another while doing what they love most. The event attracted model aircraft enthusiasts of all ages, including young Jeandré van der Schaar (13), perhaps one of the youngest participants who is a learner at Laerskool Impala in Kempton Park, close to the OR Tambo airport. Van der Schaar is the son of Ivan van der Schaar, a pilot for Comair. The oldest participant at this year’s event was the 79-year-old Ian Edwards, who has been involved in the model aircraft scene for many years.
Complete results for the four separate disciplines will be made available on SAMAA’s website at www.samaa.org.za.

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