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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2015-08-05, Page 7Valerie Gillies/Lucknow Sentine Not all of the models are scale or replicas. These models are called sport planes. Peter Ayachee of Missisauga (right) helps troubleshoot the Super Scorpion 220 turbine sport plane owned by Jack Marcott of Hamilton (left) at the Wingham Jets rally. Wingham Jets 2015 hosts the biggest RC jets yet CONTINUED FROM > PAGE 6 In real life, Novelli is a test pilot at Bombardier Aerospace. He believes that as the model jets get bigger, they are proba- bly the most complicated to fly. Doug Boyle is a Canadian dealer of various turbine jets and equipment in Peterbor- ough and has sales world- wide. His website is www.jet- northjets.com. Boyle advises that Canada is a tough mar- ket as the kits for the planes come from either Europe or China and are sold in US dollars. Speaking for pilots at the show, Boyle states that every pilot is thankful to be able to come to the LeVan Airport. Usually pilots fly in grass fields which, although may cause less damage to the planes in crashes, are dif- ficult to find with a long enough runway, preferably 2000 feet, to accommodate the drag of the planes for takeoff and for landing. It is rare to be able to use actual airport runways. Boyle states, "the town has been spectacular to us" in sup- porting the Wingham Jet Club year round. Ali Machinchy has been described by RC pilots as "almost like a god with his fingers": He says he is very lucky in that he is the only one at the show that gets to do this as his job. Machinchy is a world-class RC pilot and travels the world helping pilots at expos and demos. He spends his entire time at the shows assisting pilots to find the best settings and techniques to fly their planes. He helps trouble- shoot problems with the planes, as well. Machinchy is often asked why he would attend such a small show as the Wingham Jets rally since it is certainly not one of the biggest in the world. He tells people, "I like the location and they are friendly peo- ple." He adds that the Wing - ham show is becoming big- ger each year. Mark Urban of Belwood often builds planes with Howkins. He explains that all of the pilots enjoy building the planes from kits as they do flying them. Typically they will spend an entire winter building a plane. The larger ones are often built by a team. Howkins estimates the jet model kits to begin at $5000 and climb to the high end replicas at $30000. Urban admitted that most pilots get a little skittish when caught by their wives walking into the house with a large box. Gary Arthur of Hamilton builds and flies scale military productions. The three jets he brought to the Wingham Jets 2015 rally were: (front) Russian Sukoi SU27, (centre) British built BAE Hawk, (back) L39 Czech Air Force. He says when asked how much it cost, the wives will all agree the pat answer from the pilots is, "I bought it for $50',' "I found it" or "I won it at a raffle." Howkins adds another favourite, "it was won as a door prize." TIMES* At The Bruce County Heritage Farm Show August 14,15,16 Paisley 'Tx.fi 16111L KIZ11tsi:tsiW1 A Family Fun Event! Demonstrations, Exhibits, Good Food, Entertainment www.bruceheritage.com Wednesday, August 5, 2015 • Lucknow Sentinel 7 Once repairs are completed, Brian Williams (left) of London helps Jeff Decaluwe, a member of Wingham Jets, turn his Skymaster Viper jet upright ready to fly again. Sandro Novelli has been flying model airplanes since he was 8 years old. He flies mainly twin engine jets, including this F-14 Tomcat, the same fighter used in the movie "Topgun". Ali Machinchy is a special guest at the show. He travels the world to attend RC jet expos and demos as his job. When asked which plane he would like to pose with, Machinchy chose an F-86 Sabre owned by Blair Howkins, president of the Wingham Jets. Taking a break under the tent are members of the Wingham Jets. From left: Don Britton, Guelph; Eric Wenger, Guelph; Brian Nadalin, Guelph; Alex Larionoe, Guelph; Mark Urban, Belwood. Please join us for an Open House « 4 Sunday, August 9th, 2015 from 2 - 4 p.m. Sepoy Manor Retirement Home 543 Gough Street Lucknow, On Best Wishes Only!