Welcome to the fascinating world of Aeromodelling!
A Sport ! ............ A Hobby !
The information given on these pages is especially oriented towards newcomers to the hobby.
E-mail enquiries are welcome (see address at end of this page).
About the Club
The Palmerston North Aeroneers is a Club which fosters and encourages the building and flying of model aircraft. The Club began in September 1946 as the "Manawatu Model Aeroplane Club", and its original Secretary, Mr Russ Johnson, is still active in the Club.The Club is affiliated to the New Zealand Model Aeronautical Association (NZMAA), the governing body for all model flying in New Zealand, which in turn is affiliated to the F.A.I. through the Royal New Zealand Aero Club.
Office-holders
A Committee is elected each year at the Annual General Meeting of members held in February. The main office-holders are President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Officer, and Bulletin Editor.
Membership
The Club enjoys a strong following of around 60 members flying mostly radio-controlled aircraft. Competitions in various classes such as aerobatics, scale, 2-metre glider, and vintage are held throughout the year. There is currently a strong interest in both aerobatics and gliding, with regular contests being held. A number of members are slope soaring enthusiasts who seek out their favourite hilltop sites around the Manawatu on Sunday afternoons.Click here to view forthcoming events at the Club's flying site
Flying Site
The Club's flying site is located at Spur Road West, near Colyton, about 20 minutes drive from the Palmerston North city boundary. The site has both the approval of Civil Aviation, and a Resource Consent from the local authority. It is a listed model aircraft danger zone (D324) which allows flights up to a ceiling of 1500ft A.M.S.L. or nearly 1100ft A.G.L.Flying activity takes place every Sunday morning, and visitors are invited to view this activity. Flight training is offered to new members free of charge, using dual control radio transmitters. A glider and a powered aircraft are available for training purposes. After going solo, trainees are encouraged to attain a certain standard of proficiency which entitles the trainee to receive the Wings Proficiency Badge.
Click here to learn more about the Club's Training Facilities
Large Events
A public "Open Day" is held once a year. This replaces the former "Scale Classic" which attracted scale model enthusiasts from other Clubs in the lower North Island. Past events have seen some quite spectacular models, with multi-engined and turbine-powered models creating great interest among the spectators.
Club Meetings
Monthly club meetings are held on the 4th Thursday evening, usually with a guest speaker, and members are encouraged to bring along their latest building project for a "Show and Tell" session. Social events include the occasional barbecue and an annual dinner and prizegiving.
How Do I Join?
If you are interested in joining the Club you may contact the Secretary, Fred Harris, phone (06) 355 0982, or come along to our flying site at Spur Road any Sunday morning. Alternatively, you may print the membership application forms here, or e-mail your request to the Secretary: edwards.harris@xtra.co.nz. Please include your postal address in your message.Click here to see recent photos of club activity!