The beginnings of RAMS

The Grant family based in Cleveland started flying regularly at Henry Ziegenfusz Park (HZ) with bungee launched gliders in April 1992.  Later that year we joined the Brisbane Model Flying Club (BMSC) which flew at Redbank Plains where we started flying winch launched sailplanes. We lived in Cleveland and used HZ casually.

Over time we invited two other members of BMSC, Wally Reed and John Hunt, who lived close by, to join us occasionally. They appreciated the location and the company and asked the executive of BMSC to apply to Redland City Council (RCC) for permission for BMSC to use the field. This was approved by the council so they issued approval for non-powered model aircraft to use the field on Sundays as a group of any size.

Several organized meets were organized where we flew a number of competitions and did some advanced competition practice. However, the BMSC members didn’t like the fact that their club was being split and pulled out of any further involvement. John and Wally called a meeting of the local members where it was decided to form our own club. This was done and incorporated as Redland Aero Model Soarers (RAMS). We applied for and received approval from our council to fly at HZ with our own key to the field and ability to make a permanent booking for our flying days and access to the Cricket Clubhouse.

Most of the original group stayed as associate members of BMSC and went to many of the away competitions. We also had our own fun competitions and enjoyed many years of fun, flying pure sailplanes in the interesting air over our HZ fields.  It quickly became evident we would need to start serious training and Jim Grant, who had full size gliding instructing experience, was asked to get qualified as a Model Aeronautical Association of Australia (MAAA) instructor. This was done with his son Andrew also getting his Instructor rating.

RAMS continued to thrive and, under the guidance of Wally Reed as President, spread the word throughout the local area and attracted some of the glider pilots from larger clubs in the wider field. We eventually had to look at ways to limit numbers due in part to the pressure on training ability. The club acquired launching and competition equipment, some of which was housed in the Cricket Clubhouse where they allocated us some space. Jim Grant lived almost on the park and became the custodian of the club equipment that needed looking after; planes and winches etc. This was the start of decades of commitment transporting everything to the field and setting up for a day’s flying.

In 2012 the RAMS Committee, under the leadership of Bo Ericson, worked with the Redlands City Council to create the RAMS Hangar, a well equipped club house to enable RAMS to provide a greater service to their members.

Living in a high socio-economic area and flying at a public field came with the big advantage of attracting new members into the sport. We were constantly challenged by the need for training and then keeping experienced members.

We are proud to take to credit for introducing many young people to the challenge and discipline of aviation. Some of these young ones went on to having a career in some aspect of the wider aviation field.

We hope you enjoy your time with our members at our club and welcome you and your family to the sport of model flight.

Life Members

At RAMS we have a plaque on the wall of the Hangar honouring club members who have gone above and beyond with their service to our club.  Our club would not be what it is today without the selfless dedication from these people.

In honour of their service to our club, and as a mark of respect, RAMS have awarded them a lifetime membership of the club.

While some of these members are no longer with us, many of them are still active members, flyers and friends.