Flat Out RC

We have reached the end of the road for the Flat Out RC podcast. To send it off we have the founder of all things Flat Out RC, Andrew Sill, sharing his story in aeromodelling. You'll find out where Andrew started his journey, what got him back into the hobby, his hobby business ventures, through to the Flat Out RC story. We've enjoyed bringing the Flat Out RC podcast to you over the past 5 years. Head over to YouTube to keep up to date with out video content that we will continue to produce. Thanks for listening!!!!

We’ve reached 200 episodes! To celebrate, we’re continuing our annual tradition by welcoming aeromodelling’s most entertaining character, Frazer Briggs, back to the show to review his year. Frazer shares stories from his travels around the world competing in F3A events, along with highlights from his flying closer to home in New Zealand. If you’ve never listened to a Frazer Briggs episode, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Turbine jets are a relatively new addition to RC flying, and many pioneers have driven the growth of the hobby into what it is today. Bob Bennetts is one of those pioneers, playing a key role in advancing RC turbine jet flying in his region. In this piece, Bob reflects on his early aeromodelling days, the journey of building his own turbine engine, and his current involvement in RC aviation. A mentor to many, Bob’s contributions to RC flight is significant.

When it comes to model flying, Royce Bux has tried it all. He joins us to share his story of life in aeromodelling that started with a passion for planes, progressed to control line and has not looked back since. Always up for a good time and a laugh, Royce's passion for model aircraft has no limit. He has dabbled in all aspects of the hobby from gliders to turbine jets and everything in between. It's just about having fun and a good time with friends for Royce.

When it comes to RC jet flying in Australia, few names stand out like Peter Agnew. Beginning with ducted fan models and later becoming one of the early adopters of turbine technology, Peter’s passion and determination led him to establish Intairco, a business dedicated to high-performance turbine models. Widely regarded as a pioneer of the Australian jet scene, Peter’s influence extends beyond retail; he was also a founding member of the Victorian Jet Aerosport Association. Join us as Peter shares his journey, from his early beginnings to where he is today.

Father and son duo Chris and Seth Huntingford join us to share Seth’s incredible journey in F3A aerobatic competition. Fresh from his victory at the F3A World Championships, this talented junior champion talks about his path in model flying, from his early beginnings to the dedication and discipline required to compete at the highest level. We discuss the world championship experience, his training routine, and what’s next for the pair. The Huntingford's are a remarkable team whose passion, skill, and humility make them stand out as true ambassadors of aeromodelling.

Harrison Ritter is a rising star in the Australian competitive scale aerobatics scene and he joins us to give us an update on his flying leading up to the Australian IMAC National Championships. We discuss his rise through the IMAC ranks, his practice process, planes and more.

We chat with turbine expert Shane Bartlett about the world of RC jets. A dedicated aeromodeller with a strong technical background, Shane has years of experience repairing turbine engines. He shares a few tips, along with his journey in RC flying, from his early beginnings to his passion for turbine-powered jets. A true knowledge source with a deep enthusiasm for RC aviation.

We chat with Valley Radio Flyers club president Les Sawyer about the upcoming Shepparton Mammoth Scale Fly-In, Australia’s premier event for large-scale model aircraft. Les shares what’s new for this year’s gathering and the latest improvements to the field.

In this episode, we chat with Adrian Fasham, a well-known figure in the Australian aeromodelling community. From RC helicopters to large-scale aircraft, Adrian shares his journey through the hobby and his passion for flying everything from jets to warbirds.

Byron Simpson has been a familiar name in the model flying community for years, but his true passion lies in the high-speed world of large-scale air racing. In this episode, Byron shares his journey through aeromodelling, the experiences that shaped his career, and the excitement of competing in this adrenaline-fueled discipline. Tune in as we get an insider’s look at the thrills of large-scale air racing.

Australia's largest model flying event has been held and from all reports it was a great success. We recap the event with the organisers comprising of Gemma, David and Aaron Garle. We talk about what was new at the event, how it went and tips from anyone looking to attend in the future.

When it comes to commitment to practice, it doesn't come more intense than those aeromodellers that choose to fly 3D. Con Gabriel is one such aeromodeller that has embraced all things 3D flying. Con joins us to share his life in aeromodelling from starting out to be inspired down the 3D aerobatics route.

Rick Gell is one of the driving forces behind the Advanced radio range of RC electronics and the Booma RC retail business. A lifelong aeromodeller, Rick's passion for the hobby combined with his "can do" attitude has lead to the development of world class products such as the Smooth Flite gyro system, digital switches, batteries, servos, power management products and much more. Rick shares his story in aeromodelling as well as the history of the Booma RC and Advanced Radio businesses that he runs with his son. A very interesting story of a man that has driven a new era in radio control systems.

Jason Amos is a lifelong aeromodeller whose passion began in the UK, chasing model planes across open fields. After moving to Australia, his involvement in the hobby deepened. Life brought its challenges, including a battle with depression, but in our conversation, Jason shares how aeromodelling became his lifeline, pulling him through the darkness and into a fulfilling life. He opens up about his journey with mental health, recovery, and his model planes. An inspiring story from a genuine and resilient enthusiast.

Scott Bardney is a rare breed that has been involved in model flying competition for more than a decade. Joining the scale aerobatics IMAC flying scene very early in his model flying career, Scott has become a consistent face at local competitions throughout Victoria and New South Wales. Living in rural New South Wales, Scott is fortunate to be able to fly from his own property and is even scheduled to host the Australian IMAC National competition at his property later in the year. Our chat with Scott uncovers his history in model flying in what is quite a unique story.

David Mifsud has had a love for aviation for a long time and he joins us to share his life in aeromodelling. As president of his local flying association, David is busy leading the ship while also trying to get out for a fly when he can. We discuss the flying scene in South Australia and of course talk model planes.

RC helicopter flying is alive and well thanks to people like our special guest Karl Rickards. A relative newcomer to RC helicopter flying, Karl has become a true fanatic, not only now becoming an accomplished flyer but also a strong advocate for the RC heli flying. Karl joins us to talk about the Boomstrike 2 RC heli event that he is hosting which has attracted many international pilots and a big wad of cash prizes. We also discuss a new website that Karl has built to help anyone wanting to get into RC heli flying. We love talking to passionate aeromodellers and they don't come more hyped than Karl.

Jared Goudge was born into aeromodelling, but now is forging his own path in RC flying. With a passion of "getting involved", Jared join us to share his life in aeromodelling and also tell us about a new STOL event that he is organising at his home club. If organising an event was not enough, Jared is also the President of the BawBaw Radiomodellers Association. A good young gentlemen that is set to be a force within the local flying scene.

Corey Kelmel is a dedicated aeromodeller keeping the art of model building alive. Based in the Seattle region, he joins us to share his journey in aeromodelling, from his early days of model flying to his deep passion for scratch-building. He talks about his love for the Multiplex FunCub, the challenges of constructing a large model, its unfortunate crash, and the rewarding process of rebuilding it. With a strong commitment to the hobby, Corey has equipped himself with a laser cutter, opening the door to countless new projects. A passionate RC flyer, he shows no signs of slowing down in this exciting pursuit.

Some of us fly our RC models occasionally, but for Ricardo Bertuna, it's a passion he pursues every chance he gets. Ricardo joins us to share his journey in aeromodelling—from the moment he first saw a model plane fly with his dad to his current role in the IMAC aerobatics scene. We’ll dive into his rise in the hobby, his leadership as president of the Australian Scale Aerobatics Association, and his involvement with his local state flying association, the VMAA.

Flying RC jets has become a passion for Anton Koller. Starting his aeromodlling journey from a young age, Anton has definitely lived up to our saying that all roads lead to RC jets. Anton joins us to share his story in RC flight, discusses the upcoming WangJets event and more.

We have a good friend in the Flat Out RC house with Mario Schembri joining us. Mario is a an avid aeromodeller that enjoys all facets of the hobby from building models to flying them. He joins us to discuss what he is up to including a chat about his choice of fashion when at the flying field. Warning you may laugh a lot in this episode.

2025 has arrived so we are kicking off the year with our friend Tony Wilson. Tony is a key figure in the local model flying scene in Victoria, Australia. In 2024 he became the president of the Victorian Model Aeronautical Association as well as continuing to drive events at his local club in Bairnsdale. Tony brings us up to speed as to what his vision is for the VMAA and also what is happening at his local club.

It's our final episode for 2024 so Frazer Briggs is back to review the year and share some entertaining stories from his aeromodelling activities in 2024. We discuss some of the events that were held in New Zealand and take a deep dive into Frazer's trip to China to an F3A competition. Of course there are many laughs along the way in true Frazer Briggs style.

Phil Mohr joins us to share his story in aeromodelling. From early beginnings throwing gliders around and control line flying with a Cox PT19, Phil has advanced through the world of aeromodelling, transitioning to radio-controlled aircraft and beyond. That "beyond" includes his significant contributions to the administrative side of the hobby. In this discussion, we delve into his experiences, exploring where his journey has taken him and what lies ahead including plenty of exciting build projects waiting in the wings.

Summer is almost here in Australia and that means RC soaring season. RC gliding guru Tim Morland is our special guest. An avid aero towing aficionado, Tim shares his story in aeromodelling and also gives us a few pointers on this exciting aspect of the hobby.

Power RC couple, David and Melissa Law join us to tell us all about their roads to success at the 2024 FAI F4 World Championships for Scale Model Aircraft. Their are always the usual trials and tribulations that pave the road to success and David Law has managed to cover almost every one of those in his 10 world championship attempts, but with a strong will to perform well for his country, David has brought home the silverware while Melissa improved her previous performance in her second world championship effort. A great discussion that uncovers all the happens of this world class event.

Renowned scale RC plane builder, P.J. Ash joins us to talk about his life in aeromodelling and plenty more. A well known figure in the US modelling scene, P.J. is known as a master scale model builder and flyer. Whether it is visiting his local flying field or competing at the prestigious Top Gun event, P.J. brings enthusiasm and a few laughs with him. We delve deeper into his passion for warbirds and here a few building tips along the way. A very entertaining chat with the great man P.J. Ash.

We are joined by local aeromodelling royalty in Murray Ellis. Murray is a well known face in the aeromodelling scene in his home state of Victoria. Claiming to own more than 6 model planes, Murray has dabbled in many facets of the hobby from pattern flying, scale models and jets. A devoted builder, Murray joins us to share his life in aeromodelling. We cover it all from his early days to his work in establishing a new model flying field for his home club.

The Tuscon Aerobatic Shootout is one of the premier aerobatic competition events on the global calendar and leading Aussie IMAC pilot Cameron Sexton is heading to it. Cameron joins us to tell us about the event and how he has been preparing for it.

A long time aeromodeller and aviator, David Wearing-Smith joins us to share his story in model flight and beyond. From surviving a lightening strike while flying a control line plane, to his passion for modifying foamy EDF jets to turbine application, David's enthusiasm for aviation is not slowing down. Despite flying many different styles of models, David does have a passion for turbine jets which he shares with us.

Marcus Stent is a renowned competition RC glider pilot, but also a guru on model plane setups. Marcus joins us to educate us on electric motor setups for RC planes. Whether you are into gliding, aerobatic or scale models, Marcus's way of explaining how to get the right setup is like no other. Grab a pen and paper and come along from the ride.

When you like to fly your model plane fast then all roads lead to pylon racing. A passionate figure in the local Victorian pylon racing scene, John Shmidli joins us to talk about the local scene and of course shares his story on his life in aeromodelling.

Australia's largest aeromodelling event was just run and we have the organisers joining us to tell us all about it. Aaron and David Garle join us once again to not only tell us all about the Festival of Aeromodelling, but also what they have been up to and future plans for the year.

Sometimes you come across an RC plane enthusiasts that brings something a little different to the table and David Lewis is one such person. David is renowned in his local area as thew go to person if you want a custom paint scheme on your model Furthermore, David is also a great pilot that turns out has been flying since the age of 5. With a penchant for flying models that are fast and loud, David is often seen at local flying events putting on a show with his great flying and paint schemes. David shares some of his knowledge about painting models as well as sharing his story in model flight.

We RC pilots are an enthusiastic bunch and Ian Farrar is no exception. A slow start in the hobby with a constant acceleration throughout his life, Ian is a dedicated aeromodeller that enjoys creating his own models from scratch and taking them to the air. Ian has also committed significant time to the administration side of the hobby and is the current president of the Nepean Miniature Aerosport Association. We enjoy a discussion exploring Ian's life in aeromodelling.

You won't meet a nicer person than Steve Wilcox at a model flying field, but in this episode we explore the slighlty dodgy side of his aeromodelling history in between many laughs. Steve shares his story in aeromodelling from inception to current day. We go through some of his exceptional giant scale aircraft and much more. A true gentlemen of the aeromodelling scene, Steve has done it all and is not slowing down anytime soon.

There are a lot of local aeromodelling hero's that fly under the radar and Rob Popelier is one such RC fanatic. A lifelong aeromodeller, Rob is at home both building and flying RC aircraft of all varieties. Having a penchant for scale warbirds, Rob join us to talk about his life in aeromodelling, models he has built and even his adventures in IMAC flying. A great guy to have a chat and laugh with.

If you have never flown an RC plane off water then you are missing out on a great part of the aeromodelling hobby. Tim Nolan is a guru in all things RC float flying and the perfect person to take a deep dive into this enjoyable part of RC flying. Having started float flying in the 80's, Tim has down it all when it comes to flying off water including building many float plane models as well as producing kits of his now world famous Kingfisher. We discuss everything from tips to getting started in float flying, lots of talk about models and of course an in depth look at the Kingfisher models.

When asked how many model planes you own, Jon Gouge's answer covered multiple sheds. This is a sign of a very passionate aeromodeller. Jon joins us to share his extensive story in aeromodelling from building models with his dad to now flying with his sons. Jon has also been heavily involved in the administration side of the hobby as a club President and Vice President of the VMAA. Always good to catch up with passionate aeromodellers.

Peter Goff is back to give us an update as to what he has been up to in his life of scale aeromodelling. An accomplished scale model builder, Peter is renowned for his very detailed RC plane builds. He joins us to give us an update on some projects he is working on and a general life update in aeromodelling. Always good to talk to Peter and discuss his amazing models.

Levi Wagner is a major player in the Australian model jet scene. Not only does he coordinate jet gatherings in his home state, but is an avid builder and flyer of turbine jets. Levi joins us once again to give us an update on his RC activity, discuss the recent WangJets event as well as discuss some of his more recent model jet builds. A great guy to have a chat with, you will enjoy hearing and learning from levi.

On this episode we have a very special guest, a man that can be considered the other half of Flat Out RC, Cosmo Mourtzios. A long time aeromodeller with a strong passion for building model aircraft, Cosmo has built more planes than most of us would in 3 lifetimes. Cosmo shares his love story with aeromodelling and also his involvement as the designer of the Flat Out RC magazine. Cosmo is a gentlemen and a great friend that has been an integral part of the Flat Out RC story. Take a listen and find out more.

From humble beginnings to giant scale wonders, Clive Hodder's life in aeromodelling has been grand. Clive joins us to share his passion for model aircraft from aerobats, scale models to turbine jets. We recount his long history in the hobby to present day and explore some of his amazing models.

Tony Wilson is renowned as a proactive club secretary that works hard to progress his local model flying club. He joins us to share some of his views on how to build a great flying club. We discuss everything from recruiting members to raising funds to invest in infrastructure upgrades. Always a good chat with Tony so take a listen.

Another years of the Flat Out RC podcast comes to a close but not before we review the year with Fraser Briggs. It;s now becoming a tradition that we have Fraser Briggs on to recap the year in aeromodelling and hear some more tails from a great RC flying story teller. Fraser had a big year of model flying with his main focus being the F3A World Championships he attended. We hear all about his participation in this event with the usual fun that Fraser brings to the podcast. We hope your year has been a good one and thank you for listening to the Flat Out RC podcast. We'll be back next year with more.

It always amazes us as to the effort people make to build amazing model aircraft. Rowan Howarth is one such gentlemen who has embarked on a major scratch build of an amazing model. He joins us to shares his story in aeromodelling from the beginnings to current day where he tells us about his latest build. A passionate aeromodeller that has a driving passion for seeing unusual model aircraft take flight. If you enjoy hearing about model builds then this episode will have you sitting on the edge of your seat.

We finally did it! We have our first special guest from Western Australia. Rob Vonk is the man in question and he is an avid aeromodeller that has a penchant for turbine jets. Rob shares his aeromodelling story and brings us up to speed with a massive F16 scratch build that he has underway.

The passion for RC gliding runs deep in Jim Houdalakis. From recreational gliding to competing on the world stage, Jim has done it all. Jim joins us to share his life in aeromodelling from dizzy control line flights, the trials and tribulations of teaching himself how to fly to world championship competitions.