BRIDGEWATER was buzzing at the weekend as model aircraft took to the skies.
Matt Wernert, who runs his aviation maintenance business at the town’s airstrip, was among more than a dozen enthusiasts flying their radio-controlled models.
He had brought together fellow members of the Bridgewater and District Radiomodellers Club formed 18 months ago.
President Jason Bailey with Matt as secretary established the club after organisations closer to Melbourne stopped accepting new members and some required bookings for flying time.
“It was becoming hard to find a group in Melbourne where you could fly,” said Jason.
He said most members had taken up the hobby as teenagers, putting the model planes into storage in their 20s and re-igniting interest 10 or 15 years later after becoming married and having children.
Jason said model aircraft were priced between $150 and $12,000 with radio transmitters used by members often worth more than the plane.
“Some are made from foam, some moulded fibreglass and some made fromthe more traditional balsa wood,” Jason said.
Model aircraft flown at the weekend reached speeds of up to 400kmh as they competed for airspace with wedge-tail eagles soaring to the clouds.
Jason said the weekend’s weather was ideal for hobbyists with winds of about 9kmh. “We can fly in winds up to about 25kmh,” he said.
Matt said more than 25 members were part of the weekend’s flying.
“We have a lot of members from the La Trobe Valley and Ballarat areas,” he said.
“And while in Bridgewater, we’re supporting the bakery and hotel, too.”