|
Tipperary Model Flying Club
History
The Tipperary Model Flying Club was formed in October 1975 at a meeting in the Pathe Hotel, Roscrea. The club is still active today, twenty-seven years later, in the design, building and flying of model aircraft.
The club has a current membership of eighteen, spread throughout the county and is affiliated to MACI (Model Aeronautics Council of Ireland) www.maci.ie
MACI The Model Aeronautics Council of Ireland was founded in 1939 and is the governing body for all model aeronautic activity in Ireland. They also organise insurance cover, competitions and produce a bi-monthly magazine, which is distributed to all members. The council meet approximately six times a year in Portlaoise with the AGM taking place in November each year. Current membership of the MACI is circa 800.
After many years' negotiations and representations, MACI has finally succeeded in establishing Aero modelling as a recognised sport in Ireland. August 2001 saw the World Aerobatic Championships come to Ireland for the very first time. This weeklong event took place at Mallow racecourse in which 38 countries took part. Unfortunately, Tipperary Model Flying Club were not part of the Irish entry but we were in attendance to assist in scorekeeping and crowd control. The Irish team consisted of a manager and three pilots who were mainly Cork based. Although no prizes were won, the team did us and our country proud.
TMFC The Tipperary Model Flying Club has two official registered flying sites, one in Littleton, Thurles, courtesy of the Quirke family and the other in Killavilla, Roscrea, courtesy of the Roe family.
In the earlier years of the Club, the Killavilla site was used extensively, as Roscrea members were stronger in number. However, with additional interest taking hold in the southern part of the county, a bog site was developed in Littleton and a steel clad container for use as a clubhouse. |