Jerilderie is a small town in southwestern New South Wales and has been the mecca of RC Gliding in Australia since a large RC Thermal Soaring event was held on the local racecourse in 1978.
 Andrew Battersby’s Hangar 9 FX-3 Carbon Cub |
 Phoenix Models 4.5 metre Ka8B glider on tow |
The first scale glider event was held there over Easter 2005, and every year since, modellers have come with their gliders, tow planes, caravans and tents. The great facilities at the racecourse and mild weather conditions (mid to high 20°c during the day) make it an ideal camping venue. Flying of small electric models starts at sunrise, and the camaraderie, the BBQs, beers and tall stories continue into the night.
2025 was the 20th Anniversary event, and we saw 45 pilots from all over Australia, as well as Ueli Nyfennegger from Switzerland, attend over the Easter long weekend. Conditions were ideal on Friday, Saturday and until mid-afternoon Sunday when a few light showers appeared.
 Mike O’Reilly with his Phoenix Model
4.5m Ka8B glider, controlled with Jeti DS12
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 Jim Houdalakis with his Jeti DS16 II
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 Theo Arvanitakis with his 40% scale ASW15
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 Theo Arvanitakis with his Jeti DC24 II
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 Theo Arvanitakis uses a Jeti DC24 II
to control his large ASW15
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 Mark Doyle enjoying the great conditions,
flying his Baudis Antares controlled
by Jeti DS16
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Models ranged from 2-metre vintage gliders to the large 8-metre H-Model Arcus of Jim Houdalakis and the Baudis ASW 22 of John Copeland. Flights of over one hour duration and at heights in excess of 800 metres were not uncommon. The event is quite low-key, but every year, pilots get to choose the Best Vintage and the Best Modern gliders present. This year, the very deserving winners were:
Best Vintage Glider
Brendan Marshall with his scratch-built Super Albatross
Best Modern Glider
Evan Bengtson with his scratch-built, full composite Nimbus 4
 A group photo of attendees with the Pilot’s Choice winners in the foreground |
 The new Model Flight tow plane. Bidule 170 powered by a DA150 engine, controlled with Spektrum iX20SE |
The hardest-working tow plane was the new Model Flight Bidule 170, powered by a DA150 engine and flown by Greg Leigh for over 9 hours of towing time across 2 days.
Model Flight was proud to support the 20th Anniversary hats that were provided to pilots and to assist in the funding, with the MAAA, of the Saturday evening meal held at the Racecourse clubhouse.
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 3 generations of the Malcman family
flew at Jerilderie
Left-Right: Stevie, Levi and Daniel
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 A tow pilot in the making, Ryley Bishop
with his Hangar 9 Carbon Cub controlled
with a Spektrum iX14 SE radio
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 Keith Quigg with his Multiplex Lentus
controlled with Jeti DS24 II
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 Jim Houdalakis with his 8 metre span
H-Model Arcus controlled with a Jeti DS16 II
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