It all began back in 1995. Before that time the only practical way to fly a model jet had been to fit a piston engine and a propeller in the nose, but now, for the first time in the history of model flying, model jets could dispense with the propeller in favour of the new impeller units. These had been developed in the USA, where they were known as ducted fans. A typical airborne power system consisted of a very high-revving fan which sucked air in, accelerated it and forced it out of the tail, generating a thrust in the range 4 to 5 kp. These fans were driven by special, very high-revving motors spinning at more than 25,000 rpm.

Even in those early days, the technology of the models and the sophisticated piloting skills of their operators fascinated the thousands of spectators who came to see them; spectators who had previously viewed model flying just as the toy department of the world of full-size aviation. So what could be more natural than to exploit this new development and gather together the world’s best pilots and models at one location, so that the best of the best could pit their abilities against each other in a sporting competition. The result was the founding of the International Jet Model Committee (IJMC), which continues to co-ordinate these activities world-wide, and the establishment of the World Masters event for Model Jets.

However, this first World Masters in 1995 was sensational in more ways than one: this was where the first practical model turbines saw the light of day. These engines generated significantly more thrust than the ducted fan systems, with the result that their owners were able to build larger, more highly detailed models; this was important because the World Masters competition not only judges the entrants’ piloting skills, but also assesses the scale fidelity of the models, i.e. how closely and to what level of detail they correspond to the full-size prototype.

Just two years later, at the second World Masters held at Wroughton in England, gas turbines had virtually taken over, and the overwhelming majority of the models were so powered. Since then the ducted fan has been entirely superseded by the turbine at World Masters level. These small miracles of technology generate up to 20 kp of thrust, and today are capable of propelling models with wingspans of more than two metres, and take-off weights of more than 20 kg.

Modern model jets are packed full of technology, and often cost considerably more than 10,000 Euro to produce, although the actual value of these works of art is really impossible to assess. Over the years the constructional standards of the contestants have risen to breathtaking levels, and many of them represent the fruit of far more than 1000 hours of work. All of them feature fully-equipped cockpits, thousands of simulated rivets and panel lines, and many exhibit even the smallest of placards to be found on the full-size aircraft. These models are really far too beautiful to fly.

Of course, the spectators have the opportunity to talk to the pilots and examine these masterpieces at close range, and for them a World Masters is a unique experience, not least because it is the only way of seeing the world’s best models and pilots “in the flesh”.

The first task of the entrants is to present their models to the static judges for their evaluation: the “static judging” phase. The task of the judges is to assess the extent to which the model emulates the original machine, using the documentation supplied by the competitor as a reference. They even go so far as to compare the marks of soiling on the fueltank cap!! Afterwards the pilots are required to produce a flight schedule from a catalogue of manoeuvres, and demonstrate the models in the air in front of the flying judges. Three rounds of flying are held, of which two count: the lowest-scoring flight is discarded.

The World Champion is the pilot who achieves the highest total of static and flying points. There is also a team event contested by each nation’s best three pilots.

Every World Masters competition is also a major cultural event. This starts with the official opening ceremony, which is the host country’s opportunity to welcome the teams from all over the world. The contest lasts seven days, and each evening is taken up with a variety of communal events; over the years these enjoyable evenings have helped to forge solid friendships between the participants, forming a world-wide family. We all meet old friends and make new ones, and the spectators are drawn into this as they are so close to the action. This superb biennial event draws to a close with the final celebration and official award ceremony. We part as friends, and not without promising to “see you again in two years’ time”.
 

And so we arrive at the answer to the original question:
The World Masters for Model Jets is:

• A meeting of the world’s best jet pilots, who provide outstanding performances in terms of building and flying skills

• An experience for the spectators, because they are in the middle of the action;

• A place to find new friends, and discover how people from all over the world can pursue their chosen sport together in peace;

• A shared cultural event where every individual is a welcome guest;

• The proof that model jets are the Formula 1 of model flying;

• An event which no modeller should ever miss.

This year we are all the guests of Israel, and we can be confident that a high-class, perfectly organised World Masters awaits us there. This time a major Airshow is to be held the day after the closing ceremony, and we all eagerly look forward to that. Relieved of the stress of the competition, the pilots will once again have a chance to demonstrate that they really are the best in the world.

I wish to extend a warm invitation to all of you to attend this World Masters as spectator, and I promise that you will be talking about the event for months to come.


Winfried Ohlgart
IJMC Chairman

 

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