Local model aircraft enthusiast flies high
Local East Rand resident, Christopher Harris (29), has qualified to represent South Africa at the 28th Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) World Championship for F3A Aerobatic Aircraft.
Harris has been flying model aircrafts since the age of 14. He currently resides in Benoni, flies his aircrafts in Boksburg and owns a company specialising in importing spare parts for the light aircraft industry, based in Kempton Park.
He says he is looking forward to the World Championship and is hoping to represent South Africa well.
The championship has taken two years to be organised by a group of experienced aeromodellers from the South African Model Aircraft Association (SAMAA) with a budget of R1.5-m.
Precision aerobatics with radio controlled model aircraft is a sport which requires pilots to fly a complicated sequence of manoeuvres in front of a panel of judges, who score each manoeuvre out of a maximum of 10 points.
Eighty-two pilots from 30 countries will compete in flying highly sophisticated model aircrafts, which cost about R50 000 each.
The pilots are then judged by 20 international judges, who observe 328 flights held during the first four days of preliminary rounds.
Once the top 10 are chosen, they have to fly unknown sequences, which they have not been able to practise to determine who is the “best in the world”.
The event will be held at Midvaal Raceway, Meyerton from August 15 to 25.
Harris hopes that the youth will get involved in the sport of flying model aircrafts.
“There has never been a weekend when I have to sit around and wondered what I will do today. Through the sport I have also met and made wonderful friends with people all over the world, and look forward to several of them flying at the World Championship,” he says.
The SA team was selected based on their results in three qualifying rounds, which were held in 2012 and 2013.
The team consists of three seniors and one junior, all of which are multi-national champions in various disciplines of the sport.
Members of the general public are invited to view the competition where the best pilots in the world demonstrate their incredible skills.
Regular daily updates and results will be posted on the official website- www.f3a2013.co.za
