John's History

THE SAGA OF JOHN HUGHAN

I first started just like everyone does - flying trainers and then onto sports and Aerobatic Models. Played around in Aerobatics and entered a few comps - eventually winning some places. I do not know how this page got on the search engines - please click above to get to the Pylon Web Site.

My interest in pylon was stimulated when I saw an expert glider pilot Peter Puplett flying a little 15 size pylon model -low to the ground around a simulated pylon course - so I gave up Aerobatics and decided to give Pylon a try - as it looked exciting..

I have been flying pylon racing for many years - started back in 1969. That was when anyone was lucky to get better than a 2 minutes time over any course. I am still flying now, and I can assure you I have not lost the thrill of controlling these fast models. Just flying them down at the local field is a BUZZ - racing them is even a bigger high.

I originally built a Quarter Midget - to the old American rules - it was a Spirit of St Louis - got the plan from a modelling Mag. This was a little box fuselage model - roughly along the lines of the Scale counterpart.

In 1998 I visited the Smithsonian Institute in Washington USA, and saw the original - in all its glory - hanging up from the ceiling. Little did anyone know that day that they were standing next to a person who has actually flown a Spirit of St Louis to success in a number of races. Naturally I did not inform them that my aircraft was powered by a 2.5cc Super Tigre G15.

I was present at the formation of The Australian Miniature Pylon Racing Association when I was elected to the position of President. A position I held for some 23 years. I also am Chairman of the MAAA Pylon Technical Sub Committee of which I have been a member since its inception. I have also been a contributing editor to the Australian Airborne Model Magazine for 15 years - writing up Pylon articles.

I am currently the editor of my state newsletter for the Victorian Miniature Pylon Racing Association (VMPRA). I like writing very much and am looking forward to creating this page on the web.

I have been very active in the Administration of Pylon matters ever since I started in the sport. My main claims to fame is helping to set up the rules that we currently fly in F3D . The major one was the rule to add 10% to the gross score when a cut is recorded. I pioneered this rule change many years ago in the late 70's. I had to go from club to club to have it accepted. Eventually it became International. This gave me a lot of satisfaction. In the early days everyone was against it - they still wanted to fly an extra round for a cut. Anyhow I talked them around. Now days no one in Australia would ever think of going back to the old method. I have also been very involved in setting up the rules for every class we fly in Australia. This is another thing that makes me rather proud.

When I started flying Radio Controlled Models I went through the usual problems that we all experience - crashing and more crashing - and this does not seem to change. The unfortunate part is you may improve your flying but you still suffer mid air collisions and radio failure. You can live with mid airs - but Radio Failures really hurt. To prepare myself mentally - I usually tell myself that this current masterpiece that I have constructed - will eventually crash. We all must be realistic!.

This philosophy usually takes the edge off my disappointment at the demise - but does not totally remove it!

During my career I have been National Champion in every Class of Pylon. I have been AMPRA overall Champion twice and have represented Australia three times - all in Trans Tasman events. Once, believe it or not, in Scale twice in pylon. This of course was before we had a world championship scene. Now days I am off the pace, and would have no hope of qualifying to represent Australia.

In fact I no longer fly F3D, and concentrate my efforts in our HalfA - Quarter Midget and F400 events. In all these events I am improving my times however I cannot just find enough to catch up with the opposition. My best time is a 68 second race in QM which I recorded in March 1998. I usually finish somewhere in the middle of the field - and on occasions fall into a place. However I still like kicking ASS.

I design my own models using Turbo CAD, and aided by that great bit of software WINFOIL (Aerodynamics package locally produced in Australia by Malcolm Hardy). I make my own moulds and cut my own wings, even mould my own props. So modeling is quite cheap for me. It is surprising how little it costs if you have all the equipment, and can afford the time to make the models. I do all my own engine tuning (This is great fun) - have a lathe with milling attachments. All the fancy turning jobs I send to Robin Heirn.

Pylon Racing has been the best thing that I have ever done. I am a keen Golfer (Handicap 14) and play B1 grade Table Tennis) but modeling is what I love the most.

Most of all I enjoy immensely the Week ends away with my mates Gary Davidson and my Caller Jim Orenshaw. Australia I suppose is very much like the rest of the world, where pylon must be conducted well away from the "Madding crowd". It is not unusual for me to spend four hours travelling to a location to fly in an event. We leave on the Friday Night and come back on Sunday Night. Most of us stay at the same motel and socialise throughout the weekend. Swapping Ideas and taking the stuffing out each other - as a matter of fact, this is often more enjoyable than the racing. Some of the pylon guys from WA and Queensland often travel days to get to important events - frankly I do not know how they do it - they are certainly very keen.

Of course I come from the home State of Pylon in Australia (Victoria). I belong to the Lilydale Club which is situated right next to the Melbourne Gun Club (Very Noise Insensitive Area). Incidently the Lilydale club in Victoria Australia would possibly be the most competition oriented club in Australia - we have 4 Master Aerobatic Pilots - and a large number of Pylon competitors. We all mix in well, and there is very little friction between each other. The Club has 185 members - which is one of the largest in Australia. It is situated at the base of some hills- it is a very attractive site. Have a look (Click Here) for our web site that constructed by Don Incol it is well worth while.

I MENTIONED NOISE IN THE PARAGRAPH ABOVE: - I will state the Pylon does not have a NOISE problem. BECAUSE:-

PYLON MEETING MUST BE SCHEDULED in a REMOTE LOCATION for safety reasons - and because we are out in the sticks - how can we have a noise problem? I just love the sound of four pylon models on the starting line on full song - that's why people go to the drag meetings - not for the racing - just for the sound.

What really concerns me is that some models that are so quiet that we can fly them anywhere. Even residential areas would not be a problem - because no one would complain about the noise.

However what happens if one of those (Noise Acceptable) models has radio failure - where does it hit ground - at least where we fly -we cannot hit residential homes.