National Air Races 2026
Location TBA
Sponsored by Futaba Pro Shop with Futaba Australia and JR Australia
Aeromodelling is more than just a fabulous hobby. Members of Victorian Model Aircraft Association affiliated clubs enjoy the thill of flight every day at CASA recognised model aircraft airfields
Interested in radio conrol flying? Check out VMAA for the next Come and Fly day near you
Sporting aspects offer greater challenges. You can even represent your country
The Golden Years of Aviation
After the first world war Governments lost interest in funding aviation development. The two decades between WW1 and WW11 have long been acknowledged as the golden years of aviation and during the 1920s and 30s privateers led the way at air race meetings in USA. Huge crowds found it fascinating that civilian aeroplanes were faster than military. That changed after WW11 when surplus single engine fighters dominated. It became a rich man's game and the general public lost interest
The Goodyear Tyre company sponsored a tiny homebuilt category powered by the affordable 100 HP Continental 0200 four cylinder aircraft engine. This category continues today as Formula 1
(Pic - Front Cover Goodyear and F1 Air Racing Volume 1 )
Seagull Models Trophy - Formula One
Tom Cassutt's famous home built design versus the all conquering Nemesis consortium
250 kph class racing with affordable factory built almost ready to fly balsa and plywood Seagull Nemesis and Cassutt airframes. Fixed pitch propeller, 6 HP 60 cc cc two stroke petrol engines
Entry Fee $50
(Pic - 2016 Sandown F1 Air Race final)
Seagull Models Cup - Formula Two
185 kph class racing factory built Seagull Nemesis ARF airframes. Fixed pitch prop, 4HP 35 cc single cylinder two stroke petrol engines
Entry Fee $50
(Pic - 2016 Sandown F2 Air Race)
Seagull Models Cup - Formula E
Seagull Nemesis ARF airframe - 10S lithium polymer batteries - motor propeller combination is open
Entry Fee $50
(Pic Bill Hamilton Racing's electric power test bed at VARMS - August 2025)
Texan Trophy
This is the plane WW11 American pilots trained in before stepping up to single engine fighters
180 kph class racing with 1/6th scale almost ready to fly models powered by 3.5 horsepower 20cc cc single cylinder methanol two stroke engines
APC 15 x 10 control prop
Entry Fee $65 (includes Glomax 10% nitro two stroke glo fuel)
(Pic - CM Pro Texan by S Green - National Air Races Cootamundra)
Brian Green Trophy
Fastest Ten Lap Time
In 1968 Brian's Digitaire for Speed held the MAAA Australian record for ten laps around the 490 yard Goodyear pylon course. Time was two minutes twenty eight seconds. A modern FAI pylon racer scoots around today's 450 metre course at 350 kph. Ten laps in 55 seconds
(Pic - Retro version using .46 Phoenix Models Barbara Jean racer)
On Time
Flying skills that inspired club members to improve began with simple fun competitions. These were all the go when I started competing in 1971
F3a aerobatics the model was placed on the strip in the take off position. When the Time Keeper started the stopwatch you had on minute to start and tune the engine. Engine idling you walked back to stand in front of the judges, the flight had to be completed within ten minutes. An engine that coughed and spluttered when you opened the throttle was not cause for a downgrade, but it left the impression that you were not an expert. Not moving your body about as the model flew past was also part of that image. Flying the manoeuvre schedule was all about keeping the wings level, coping with wind and countering crosswind drift with rudder
That discipline pays dividends for sport fliers too. My first experience of seeing first hand how competition flying can put back into the hobby was at the Lilydale club in 1975 when our family moved from Geelong to Melbourne. Dad was the current Australian F3a Champion and most of the Lilydale members had to walk out to the other side of the runway in order to land safely from right to left. Club members observing and learning from F3A discipline began to rub off. Two years later that club began to compete and beat the Dandenong club to win the VMAA Interclub Trophy multiple times. The same experience was repeated with the Doncaster club in the 1980s
(Pic - Dragon Fli - Winner of inagural Victorian Pattern Association's Classic Pattern competition
Competition Flying
Stringing a series of precision fixed and rotary wing aerobatic and compulsory positioning manoeuvres in front of judges is immensly satisfying. Gliding is about energy management and judging weather conditions. Racing demands high speed accuracy in close proximity to other aeroplanes
Display Flying is a different skill set
Stephen J Green - Contest / Display Director AUS 5932
Competitor - Futaba Pro Shop Racing
Sponsor - Futaba Pro Shop
Publisher RCM News magazine 2014-2019
(Pic- Digitiare for Speed - Seagull Nemesis promotion plane )