Irish team flies high in model aircraft contest

The Irish team is doing well in the world aerobatic radio-controlled championships at the Cork Racecourse in Mallow, where model…

The Irish team is doing well in the world aerobatic radio-controlled championships at the Cork Racecourse in Mallow, where model aircraft enthusiasts from 40 countries are taking part.

The team is considered well placed to be in the final reckoning when the event ends this weekend.

The competition is being run under the aegis of the French controlling body and hosted by the Model Aeronautics Council of Ireland.

According to Mr Finbar Constant, one of the organisers, the Irish team of Noel Barrett, Ray Keane and Barry Smith, all from Cork, are placed above the halfway mark as the event enters the final stages.

READ MORE

The reigning world champion, Christophe Paysant Le Roux, is third from the top of the leaderboard at this stage.

The 103 "flyers" are marked on each day's performance. Competition begins at 7.30 a.m. and goes on until 7.45 p.m.

The winning team will be announced tomorrow night, and the new world champion will be crowned at a special ceremony on Saturday.

Also tomorrow evening, the competitors, back-up teams and friends, many of whom have travelled from afar, will gather in Cork for an Irish banquet hosted by the Irish Council.

The council has spent the past two years preparing for the event and was successful in attracting it to Ireland against opposition from Spain and Portugal.

However, a storm last Monday almost destroyed the council's preparations for the competition, and a huge cleanup operation was called for at the racecourse before the aerial battle could begin.

The event has attracted hundreds of visitors to Mallow since last weekend.