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This is a special guest post from RC helicopter pilot, Hamish Scott. If you would like to see Hamish's skills in action, please visit our YouTube playlist "RC Helicopter Action Videos with Hamish."

G'day Blog Readers,

After a year off from flying I am getting back into it and I am more pumped than I have ever been before. With a big thanks to Modelflight, once again I will be returning into flying this year with some great new products.

I will be flying this year with the new JR Propo XG14 DMSS transmitter and TSA Model helicopters more specifically the 700 electric series.

The

Fans of quadcopters, have we got news for you! The amazing AR.Drone 2.0 from Parrot is coming soon to Modelflight. The AR.Drone is one of the leading models in the quadcopter field and with good reason. This drone comes equipped with many exciting features, which we will be looking at in detail in this blog post.

Version 5 of the Phoenix Flight Simulator was one of the most anticipated releases from the Nuremberg Toy Fair 2014. Today, we are pleased to announce that this new RC software has arrived at Modelflight. This simulator comes with many exciting new features, which we wanted to discuss in more detail here. The key drawcard of this new flight sim is that it comes with the Phoenix Builder companion software.

Phoenix Builder allows you to import your own RC plane and helicopter designs from almost any 3D CAD program. After loading this source geometry, you can then use Phoenix to customise your design. Irrespective of whether you want to add control surfaces or modify the finer flight characteristics, you will find that the Builder gives you great control over the creation of your very own RC model. You can even modify the characteristics of the models that come as standard with the Phoenix simulator.

When you have crafted the model of your dreams, you can then take it for a test run in the Phoenix Flight Simulator or share it online with other Phoenix users. Of course, you can also browse online for other unique models that have been created. If any of them take your fancy, you can download them for free! Version 5 of the Phoenix Flight Simulator lets you develop your skills as a pilot and as a creator!

Another great feature in this new RC simulator is the inclusion of all the latest planes and helicopters. In fact, there are over 200 models to choose from in Version 5. What's more, these models come with all the latest RC technology that you would expect to see in the real-life versions, such as AS3X and SAFE Technology. This gives you the most authentic simulation experience available. Phoenix have also included new camera views, including chase camera and cockpit perspectives. This adds a whole new level of excitment to your simulator.

In keeping with the high standards of previous versions, the Phoenix Flight Simulator maintains its InfinityScape landscape

On the surface, the situation looked a little brighter than it has been at ETSA Park over the past two months and I am opening my story this month with a picky of a trio who are usually the life of the party. They are from left to right: Matthew Chapple, Mike Holmes and J.J.

Their antics are usually well worth taking the time out from flying to see them in action. They are all brilliant fliers and no doubt most of you have witnessed their flying at fields throughout the State.  It is not surprising to see David getting all "up close and personal" with the tenth scale Griffon hovercraft for a little later in the evening he took the controls and had no problems with hovering or flying the interesting machine.

View all RC Model Aero Clubs in Victoria in a larger map

Looking for an RC model aircraft club in Victoria? Check out the list of VIC clubs below:

Many years ago, The Late Max Starick designed and built a light, but fairly basic little aircraft. It was, sort of, a balsa stick with an extremely light covered wing and tailplane assembly that only relied on two moving surfaces. A rudder and an elevator and it was powered by a loop of rubber that was connected to the propeller. It could really only be flown indoor, as any breath of wind would fly it off course, often violently  so an area was sort that was normally used as an aircraft hanger. The Starick model was called a "Hangar Rat."

Literally dozens of these little "rats" were built and those who flew them were usually under the guidance and assistance of The Late Leo O'Reilly who organised that, after trying several venues, we settled on the Recreation Hall at Blackwood. In many ways, history repeats itself as many Hanger Rats were quite often assembled on the counter of Leo's model shop, Model Flight in the Southern Suburbs. Few of we fliers these days would not be flying

Whether you are capturing an exciting sports match or photographing a beautiful scene from above, aerial photography and filming is a fantastic hobby. Thankfully, with recent developments in cameras and remote control technology, aerial filming and photography has never been easier. Modelflight is proud to offer a range of products to help our customers get started in this hobby and in this blog post, we would like to talk about various options for getting started in aerial

Today, Modelflight is proud to announce that we are sponsoring the Brad Gallard #454 Race Team for the 2014 Australian Off Road Championship season. Once again, Brad is entering the 2014 season in the Extreme 2WD class and his prospects are most promising. Brad has previously won his maiden Finke Desert Race and the highly competitive ARB Goondiwindi 400. With this track record, we are certain that Brad will continue to excel.

Modelflight is thrilled to rank alongside Toyo Tires and Jetpilot as one of the major sponsors of Brad’s Geiser Brothers Trophy Truck. Jamie Nancarrow from Modelflight said: “This is a great opportunity that presented itself through a mutual passion for off-road motorsport. Brad Gallard and Todd Casey have both been using the the Losi 5IVE-T (1/5th Scale Radio Control RC Race Truck) to bash around the pits during downtime.”

Mike, Greg and Shaun will be travelling to Queensland next week to take part in the Spektrum Gratton Air Spectacular. They will compete in the Golden Era, Reno and T-28 racing events and assist Team Horizon members, Peter Goldsmith and Mike McConville who will do demonstration flights each day.

Here are some of the latest photos from Modelflight's travels:

For more info on the event go to http://crams.com.au/gratton-air-invitational/ and check out our interview with Mike McConville below:

A small but enthusiastic crowd gathered at ETSA Park last night for the monthly Indoor Flying meeting. Thanks to Richard Tapp for these great images. Come and join us for the next flying session on Thursday April 17.