Locally built model aircraft to be flown to Malta from Gozo
Maiden flight took it to altitude of 70 metres
A one to three scale model of a Piper Cub J3 aircraft, built by members of the Hal Far Model Flying Aircraft Association, made its successful maiden flight yesterday.
The model, which has a wing span of 427 cms, took off at Hal Far punctually at 9 a.m. and flew for two hours. It is the largest model aircraft built in Malta to date.
The model took almost two years to complete at a cost of just under Lm1,000. This excludes remote control gadgets and hundreds of hours of labour by a team that includes Jesmond Bugeja, Jesmond Cutajar, Joseph Saliba, George Bonnici and Alfred Pace.
For safety reasons, the aircraft was yesterday flown to an altitude of 70 metres. The model satisfied tests for a maximum speed of 30 knots. It also made its first tight turns, steep dives, and engine flame out. The plane is powered by a 40cc engine which is powerful enough to propel a small motor cycle.
The association was founded 13 years ago and to date has some 130 paid-up members. Hundreds of fans of all ages turn up at Hal Far whenever members gather to fly any of their estimated 700 planes and helicopters of all shapes and sizes.
The latest vogue is to fly model jets. Club president Philip Muscat, who has 15 models, said yesterday that the association planned shortly to enter international competitions.
The plane which made its maiden flight yesterday is sponsored by Golden Harvest. Come June 9, the model will be flown from Gozo to Malta. This involves elaborate organisation since the plane would have to be piloted by remote control by a number of pilots along the route and rely on an extensive net of communications.
The event, the first of its kind, is being held to raise money for Dar tal-Providenza.