BULLETIN 1
8 March 2017
PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY!
This Bulletin is worthless if it is not read, and carefully studied. It contains important information that concerns both competitors and officials. If you have any general questions, please get in touch with the SAMAA GM, Bob Skinner, or the Event Director, Johan Groenewald, or Linda Dold, or Pieter Frylinck. For SIG-specific questions, please contact your SIG chairperson.
History
Before 2003, the Power Nationals used to be combined of several disciplines, but there was no SAMAA prescription as to which events had to be presented together. After the establishment of the SIGs, each discipline decided, rightly or wrongly, to have their own National Championships. Currently, with competitive activities at a lower level than previously, the entry numbers are small, and there was a popular call in 2014, and a decision from the SAMAA management, to return to a combined national championship, where competitors may enter other classes, share information with competitors from other classes, socialise, and economise by being allowed to pool resources.
The main motivation of a combined Nationals, is to create an opportunity where we may grow the competitive aspect of the SIGs, at an affordable level. The 2015 Aerial Concepts Combined Nats was an unqualified success, with six disciplines being contested. The 2016 Nats was even bigger, and the four days proved to be too little for the nine disciplines. This year we hope to an even larger entry, and early indications are that we will need five days.
Invitation
Every paid-up member in good standing with the South African Model Aircraft Association, is invited to participate in the 2017 SAMAA Combined Power Nationals. Specific membership to each of the Special Interest Groups (SIGs) is waived, but only for this event. The spirit of the event is one of inclusivity. However, members competing in the Nats are required to have specific SIG membership for those SIGs that are in a team selection process, to select teams to compete at world championships.
Organisers
The South African Model Aircraft Association, and the nine Special Interest Groups: CLASA (Control Line), MAASA (RC Aerobatics), SAMPRA (Pylon Racing), SAMJA (Jets), NASA (Scale), LSA (Large Scale Aerobatics), NMFFA (Fun Fly), F3C/N-SA (Helicopters), and FLY-FPV-SA (FPV Racing). The organising committee is Johan Groenewald, Bob Skinner, Linda Dold, and Pieter Frylinck, with support from the Klerksdorp Pilot’s Association and Western Transvaal Flying School, and the City of Matlosana. The Klerksdorp Radio Flyers will host the RC Aerobatic portion of the Nats at the KRF club, west of PC Pelser.
Each SIG will provide its own infrastructure (judges, equipment, scoring, etc), and there has been general agreement to share equipment, personnel, flying sites, and airspace where possible and practicable.
Sponsors
We are extremely grateful to Carmica Medical and FQ Manufacturers for sponsorship towards the costs of the Nationals. Dirk Visser from Down and Locked has sponsored retracts for the winners in the Scale and Jet classes, and Pieter Frylinck and daughters Maureen and Lorraine (Rhinobags) have sponsored and manufactured the goody bags and lanyards, and the SAMAA chairman has sponsored the fuel for pylon racing. These sponsorships are welcome relief in these tough economic times, and it has enabled the organisers to keep the increase in entry fee at a reasonable level. Thank you very much!
Venue
The competition will be conducted at the PC Pelser airfield, for eight of the disciplines, and RC Aerobatics will be hosted and flown at the Klerksdorp Radio Flyers club, 2km to the west of PC Pelser.
Both sites are on the southern side of the Stilfontein Road (Buffelsfontein road) from Klerksdorp. GPS Location of PC Pelser is S26 52 04 E026 42 53, and the Klerksdorp Radio Flyers field is located at S26 52 15 E026 41 30.
Dates
The dates of the Nats are Wednesday 26 April 2017 (arrival, and non-competition day), to Monday 1 May 2017. Thursday 27th April is a public holiday (Freedom Day), and Monday 1 May is a public holiday (Worker’s Day).
Programme (tentative, more details to follow when entries have closed).
Wednesday 26 April 2017 / Arrival. Practice. Pilots briefing / PC Pelser airfield and Klerksdorp Radio FlyersThursday 27th April / Competition flying: 07:00 to 17:00 / PC Pelser and Klerksdorp Radio Flyers
Friday 28th April / Competition flying: 07:00 to 17:00 / PC Pelser and Klerksdorp Radio Flyers
On-field awards ceremony for RC Aerobatics / PC Pelser airfield
Saturday 29th April / Competition flying 07:00 to 17:00. / PC Pelser airfield
Braai at clubhouse / PC Pelser airfield
Sunday 30th April / Competition flying 07:00 to 17:00. / PC Pelser airfield
Monday 1 May 2017 / Competition flying 07:00 to close / PC Pelser airfield
Tuesday 2 May 2017 / Departure
Eight SIGs have committed to participation at PC Pelser, and MAASA will conduct RC Aerobatics at the KRF club. The SIG chairmen have requested a flying programme to suit their projected entry numbers, with mutual consideration for time, flying locations, and personnel use.
If you have any questions regarding the rules, procedures, and requirements of the disciplines that you wish to participate in, either as a competitor or an official, please contact the SIG chairpersons or the contest directors, if they have already been appointed.
There was a request for Free Flight to be included in the Nats. Unfortunately, a formal SIG needs to be established, with rules, regulations, and procedures on the classes that may be contested. However, participants who do own free flight models, are requested to bring them along, and when there are moments of a lull in activity, to fly them to demonstrate their capabilities.
/ Control Line Association of South Africa (CLASA)/ Flying programme still to be determined, pending number of entries in various classes.
Contact Keith Renecle 083-415-1409 or
Henry Kurowski 083-243-0644
/ Model Aerobatic Association of South Africa (MAASA) / Flying all four classes on Thursday and Friday. At Klerksdorp Radio Flyers. Prizegiving on Friday afternoon/early evening.
Contact MAASA chairman Clinton Carter-Brown 083-630-0626
or Contest Director Danie Potgieter on 082-809-4461
/ Helicopters (F3C/N-SA)
/ Flying 4 classes on Saturday 29th April at PC Pelser airport.
Contact F3C/N-SA chairman Johan Sieling 082-898-8810 or
Contest Director Pieter Frylinck 076-480-1901
/ South African Miniature Pylon Racing Association (SAMPRA) / Flying four classes on Friday 28th April, Saturday 29th April, and Sunday 30th April. At PC Pelser airport.
Contact SAMPRA chairman Matthys Botha 073-895-9909 or
vice-chairman Russell van der Westhuizen 083-629-7589
/ National Association of Scale Aeromodellers (NASA) / Static judging at clubhouse on Thursday 27th April 2017. Flying on Friday morning 28th April, Saturday afternoon 29th April, and Sunday morning 30th April. (alternating mornings and afternoons, in conjunction with Jet flying).
Contact NASA chairman Koos Pretorius 082-928-0368
/ South African Model Jet Association (SAMJA)
/ Static judging at clubhouse on Thursday 27th April 2017. Flying on Friday afternoon 28th April, Saturday morning 29th April, and Sunday afternoon 30th April. Alternating mornings and afternoons, in conjunction with Scale flying.
Contact SAMJA Chairman and CD Zane Mannell 082-827-8410
/ Large Scale Aerobatics (LSA)
/ Flying all classes on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday.
Contact Owen Vuyk 083-276-9861 or
Contest director Pieter Frylinck 076-480-1901
/ First Person View Racing (Fly-FPV-SA)
/ Flying both classes on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday (Open class contested at the Rand Show).
Contact Fly-FPV-SA chairman Roland Suhrmüller 082-827-8410 or vice-chairman Alan Ball 082-070-7261 . Anthon Meiring is CD 082-927-5906
/ National Model Fun Fly Association (NMFFA)
/ Flying on Sunday 30th April 2017. Additional round to qualify for Fun Fly Masters at LOMAC.
Contact interim chairman Johan Sieling 082-898-8810 or
Allen Fraser 082-950-2724
Entry details
Please complete the fillable PDF entry form (use Adobe Acrobat Reader, or download a free copy at https://get.adobe.com/reader/ ) or request a live MS Word entry form from the SAMAA office, or fill in by hand and transmit to the SAMAA office, on e-mail , fax-to-email on 086-607-8733, or by fax on 011-973-3679. Closing date for entries to be received is close of business on Monday 3rd April 2017. Entry fees of R450 must accompany your entry, and may be done by electronic fund transfer. Please, please, please; identify your payment of entry with your Name, Nats entry.
Officials
Most of the judges and officials for the Nats for the various disciplines have already been appointed; they are:
RC Aerobatics / Bruce Clark. Kas Hamman. Martin Knoetzen. Sherryl Clark is scorekeeper.
Helicopter aerobatics / Judges to be appointed after 5 March 2017.
Pylon Racing / Negotiations with Klerksdorp Radio Flyers for timekeepers and flagmen.
Scale / Andrew Hirst. Kenny Morey. Zane Mannell (all for static and for flying).
Jets / Andrew Hirst. Kenny Morey. Koos Pretorius.
Large Scale Aerobatics / Bruce Clark. Errol Bakker. Gavin Walton. Neil Twomey. Sherryl Clark is scorekeeper.
Fun Fly / Judges to be appointed in next few weeks.
FPV Racing / Carl de Leeuw. Chris Bryan Broekman. Gerrit-Jan Cronselaar. James Gregory. Louis Pires. Luke Winterton. Michael Downey. Robin Harvey. Shana da Silva. Timothy Downey. Yolandri Harmse.
Accommodation has been arranged for most of the judges/officials at affordable B+B establishments. It must be stressed that cost-saving is an absolute necessity, and judges will be asked to share rooms, with separate beds of course. Reasonable reimbursement for transportation is possible, but we ask that judges from the same location endeavour to travel together.
Accommodation
There are many, many establishments in and around Klerksdorp, Stilfontein, Orkney, and Potchefstroom. Here follows a list of some. The organisers cannot vouch for the quality or standard of the establishments, but all of them are registered with the Tourism Board. We have not sourced any costs, and participants are advised to surf the Web or communicate with the proprietors to find rates that are best suited to their budget. Some of these establishments are self-catering. Naturally, you must make your own bookings.
See also the website http://www.lekkeslaap.co.za for more establishments.
Guest house name / Telephone / GPS Coordinates / E-mail address / Street address/location/townAcacia Guest House / 018468 7871 / S26 50 05
E026 40 12 / / 30 Austin Street, Wilkoppies
Aroma Guest House / 072896 0551 / S26 51 22
E026 30 43 / / 11 Friedman Street, Irene Park, Klerksdorp
Andante Guest House / 084 569 5693 / S26 52 02
E026 38 09 / i / 65 Joe Slovo Road, Freemanville, Klerksdorp
Beryl 1 Guest House / 018 468 8804 / S26 50 26
E026 41 17 / / 1 Beryl Avenue, Flamwood
Budget Guest Rooms / 083 232 5838 / S26 50 43
E026 39 27 / / 17a Dawill Street, Wilkoppies,Klerksdorp
Classic Stays / 018 462 9298 / S26 51 26
E026 40 22 / / 2 Moolman Street, Irene Park
Fair Haven Guest House / 083266 3419 / S26 50 40
E026 40 21 / / Corner of N12 and Kowie Street, Stilfontein
Gamalatjie / 018 469 2041 / S26 51 54
E026 37 06 / / 1 Verda Street, Meirings Park, Klerksdorp
Gemstone Guest House / 018468 7613 / S26 50 44
E026 41 05 / / 15 Redelinghuys Street, Flamwood
Harmony Place / 018 468 3282 / S26 50 29
E026 40 06 / / 22 Harley Street, Wilkoppies
Housemartin Guest House / 018468 6314 / S26 49 51
E026 40 46 / / 39 Ametis Street, Wilkoppies
KoSH B&B Guesthouse / 081 219 2732 / S26 53 03
E026 39 50 / / 15 Jonker Street, Klerksdorp
La Bonheur Guest House / 082495 2223 / S26 51 27
E026 40 18 / / 4 Latham Road, Irene Park, Klerksdorp
La Vichelle Guest House / 018468 5474
084529 3543 / S26 50 02
E026 40 44 / / 55 Ametis Street, Wilkoppies
Maryland Guest Farm / 018462 0107 / S26 55 55
E026 40 05 / / Plot 28, Nooitgedact, OR Tambo Rd Ext. (12km from PC Pelser)
MGH Guest House (Halaal) / 018 462 5419
/ S26 51 58
E026 35 33 / / 5 Jeeva Street, Manzil Park
Mon Aé Guest House / 018468 5161 / S26 50 33
E26 41 01 / / 55 Monica Avenue, Flamwood
Peacock House / 018 4841600 / S26 50 51
E026 45 27 / / 2 Limpopo Street, Stilfontein
Peermont Metcourt Hotel Rio Casino / 018469 9100 / S26 52 09
E026 37 10 / / Rio Boulevard, Meirings Park, Klerksdorp
Protea Hotel Klerksdorp / 018464 2180
/ S26 51 38
E026 40 12 / / Between Barend & Magarietha Prinsloo Streets, Klerksdorp
Radloff 11 Guest House / 018468 5831 / S26 50 18
E026 40 22 / / 11 Radloff Street, Wilkoppies
Radloff Nine Lodge / 018 468 7830
/ S26 50 18
E026 40 23 / / 9 Radloff Street, Wilkoppies
Readman Guest Lodge / 082458 0677 / S26 50 40
E026 40 03 / / 83 Readman Street, Wilkoppies
Residensie Guest House / 018 484 5613 / S26 50 37
E026 44 36 / / 1 Pienaar Street, Stilfontein
St Andrews Guest House / 018468 7272 / S26 50 13
E026 40 53 / / 75 Platan Avenue, Flamwood
St Joseph’s Guest House / 018 462 3597
083 421 2293 / S26 51 02
E026 40 09 / / 6 Joseph Avenue, Klerksdorp
Strydom Stop & Stay / 018468 7108
083560 8540 / S26 50 19
E026 40 42 / / 92 Buffelsdoorn Road, Flamwood
Summer Place Guest House / 018464 2660 / S26 50 56
E026 39 50 / / 36 Chris Hani Road, Klerksdorp (36 Canal Street)
Tarragon Guest House / 018 473-5523 / S26 59 17
E026 40 18 / / 19 Addison Street, Reef Park, Orkney
The Palms Guest House / 083 656 5652 / S26 50 41
E026 40 00 / / 21 Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street, Wilkoppies
The Twins Guest House / 018 468 2406 / S26 50 00
E026 40 43 / / 2 Phillip Gerber Avenue, Wilkoppies
The Urban Lodge / 018469-4340 x3 / S26 52 02
E026 37 45 / / Joe Slove Drive (next to Shell Ultra City)
The White House / 018468 5817 / SS26 49 05
E026 39 57 / / Cnr Dr Yusuf Dadoo and Micro Str
Twilight Guest House / 083306 0160 / S267 49 47
E026 40 27 / / 3 Anton Street, Wilkoppies
Ukarimu Guest House / 078 253 0454 / S26 49 38
E026 40 37 / / 32 Marmer Street, Wilkoppies
Villa Med Guest House / 018 468 1510 / S26 50 35
E026 40 12 / / 4 Rothman Street, Wilkoppies
Food and beverage
The organisers are in contact with Cliff Lotter and his crew, who did the daily catering in 2015 and 2016. The food was superb, and the pub provided welcome relief for those who were thirsty or hungry. The steaks at the clubhouse are legendary! There was a comment from the post-Nats survey, that people did not know where to find food outlets. There are obviously numerous options for food in Klerksdorp, including food sections of major supermarkets, restaurants, fast-food outlets, franchises, and other establishments. Here is a basic list.