Power Aircraft
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By far the most popular area of D.M.A.C.'s activities, there is a tremendous range of powered models flown in the club. The engine sizes range from around 3.5c right up to 100cc, wingspans from 0.8m to 2.5m and weights from 2kg. to 10 kg.
The most common models are Trainers and advanced trainers. This category has seen major developments over the last few years with low cost almost ready to fly (ARTF) kits becoming the norm. In a way, this has allowed many more people to take up the hobby with relative ease. Standard model, radio and engine - perfect!
The Sports model is so popular because they are generally easy to fly and give an obvious route to improving your flying from the standard trainer types since they are capable of basic aerobatics. Again, ARTF models are available but many kits require a bit more building effort. Most modellers have a sports model - they're great for sticking in the back of the car and just chucking around the sky.
Most modellers have an urge to make a Scale model at some time or another. Again, this can be catered for with ARTF models but more commonly scale models tend to be full-blown kits or scratch built from plans. There is generally a lot more building work in a scale model project and they always look impressive. The drawback though is that the more scale a model is, the less forgiving it is to fly. That's why you don't want to learn to fly model aircraft with a Spitfire! The amount of effort varies greatly from the likes of a CAP 232 to that required for a Tiger Moth. You can go much further with the likes of a Spitfire with retracts, flaps etc.
The final category flown by D.M.A.C. is the aerobatic type of model. This covers a wide variation of model design from the standard "pattern" Aerobatic type through the larger Petrol engine scale types to the 3D and freestyle models. Pattern models are designed purely for flying aerobatics with no concessions in the design being made to make the model look like a real aircraft. Long sleek fuselages, powerful engines and a large wing area characterise these models. The petrol engined models are generally of full size aerobatic aircraft - Extras and CAPs being the current favourites. A few years back a couple of our then members (Doug's still with us), Doug Thornton and Ian Beveridge, achieved outstanding successes with such models in national competition. 3D and freestyle models use enormous control surfaces and powerful engines to allow them to perform some really wild manoeuvres at very low airspeeds and high angles of attack. These are the ones you'll see prop hanging and torque rolling (when things are going well!).
