Flying high despite the rain more than 50 aircraft designers landed their model entries at the model aircraft competition at Classic Flyers in Mount Maunganui at the weekend.

Classic Flyers chairman David Love says although the weather deterred some, the final day of the model aircraft competition was “a good day out.”

*Bethlehem Primary School student Sophie Leaver with her 3D Kittyhawk colouring entry.*

“Some excellent models came in. The standard was really high.”

Event organiser Diane Jeffery says the crowd enjoyed the radio controlled aircraft demonstrations commentated by Tony Christiansen.

“Spectators seemed to enjoy the flying competitions if the shrieks were anything to go by.”

“We had 100 people at the busiest time.”

Classic Flyers New Zealand class – junior 1/72 scale Kittyhawk first place winner, Keenan Barton-Hutchings design was the most talked about model.

Keenan mounted his Kittyhawk model on top of a diorama, making the aircraft look as if it was in attack mode, with buildings appearing to be on fire underneath.

David says the Kittyhawk segment was significant due to Classic Flyers own rebuild of the model.

Junior winner of the aircraft model entrant’s own choice segment, Joshua Brockett will be sharing a flight in the Ag Cat - Grumman aircraft with Keenan as a reward for their winning models.

Senior winner of the aircraft model entrant’s own choice section - Ramon Hopkins, was awarded a seat in the Boeing Stearman aircraft.

Judges made a special mention to senior open aircraft model entrant’s own choice first place winner, Ramon Hopkins saying it was a “lovely model.”

A junior pilots’ colouring competition was held attracting more than 80 entries from children between the ages of five to 10-years-old.

Sophie Leaver, 7, was the winner of the six to seven year group with her three dimensional drawing.

The Year 7 Bethlehem Primary School student says she made the glider with the help of her father, who himself builds model helicopters.

Photos: Daniel Hines