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Murray Johnson 687 Nelson RoadCampbell River, BC. V9H 1T7Canada
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| I started my modelling career at the ripe old age of 12 in 1967. I had a couple of u control 1/2A planes but I wanted a new fangled "radio controlled" model. That Christmas I received it.......a Ken Willard Schoolmaster and a Fox .07 with a throttle!! I also received a new single channel radio but it had a brick servo consisting of rudder and throttle. 1 blip for right rudder, two blips for left rudder and three blips for a three position throttle control! Many fond hours were spent chasing the airplane when the radio failed!! My father was especially adept at finding it. Must of been his added height. A Rand Galloping Ghost system followed in a Falcon 56 with a McCoy .25. I remember my father laughing his head off at the handlaunch of the Falcon as when it was slow, it flopped all over the sky! At the age of 16 I took a sabbatical to pursue other things, some which I can't mention here. At the age of 25 my wife at the time bought me a Wanderer 100 glider and a basic four channel radio for Christmas that year. Being hooked once again I progressed into the power models and then into pattern flying. My proudest moment was at the Canadian Nationals held in Vancouver, BC coinciding with Expo '86 by winning second place in Intermediate. I went on to fly the Expert category and CD'd a couple of contests in Calgary, Alberta where I was living at the time. Once again kids were coming at a regular rate so I left the hobby but only temporarily. After a few years I again got involved with the hobby as a teenager next door to where I was living was trying to get his Gentle Lady glider to fly properly. Back into the hobby full force but this time I went in another direction with gliders and was reasonably successful in many thermal duration contests campaigning a Bob Dodgson 3m Lovesong. In 1996 I again left the hobby to pursue full scale flying. This went on until three years ago when I developed a non life threatening medical condition that excluded me from holding a medical certificate. Replacing the full scale flying with models once again, I now find myself even more engrossed than I have ever been. My true passion has been pattern and I am thoroughly enjoying both the contests and the social interaction with all involved. I have been recently competing in District 8 and Canada in the Advanced category with a Sebart Wind S110. I have just taken delivery of a Sebart Wind Pro and have a Plettenberg Advance motor for it. I will more than likely start practising the Masters sequence in the very near future and am really looking forward to the next contest season. | |
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