Hall of Fame -> Alan Barnes

Alan Barnes (1929 - )

Alan Barnes was  born in  March 1929 in Wellington. The family moved to New Plymouth area in 1936 and Alan commenced model flying in his teens, joining the New Plymouth Model Flying Club in 1945, when this disbanded he joined New Plymouth Model Aero Club in 1955. 

His early interest in Free-Flight saw him represent New Zealand at World Championships and Trans-Tasman events seven times, with creditable placings on many occasions. 

A growing interest in engines and engineering lead to eleven appearances at World and Trans-Tasman Control-Line contests. 

Alan has held numerous New Zealand records, mainly in Control-Line Speed and Team-Race events, but on two occasions held the NZ, FAI, F1B  Wakefield record. If he attended a National Championships, he always took home a good collection of trophies, usually for first place. 

Alan (more usually know as "Barney") started modifying engines about 1975, improved performance and hand fitted parts lead to the manufacture of his own piston/cylinder parts and ultimately to the production of his own complete engines. Many people who have flown F/F or C/L international events in the last 20 years have had "Barney" work on or check their engines. R/C Pylon contestants have also benefited from his touch and his engine work has been recognised overseas by "Model Engine World" magazine published in the U.K. 

Always generous with his time when working for the club, Alan has been New Plymouth club President and Committee member for many years, has served on the Control-Line Technical Committee and was instrumental in the construction of the New Plymouth concrete Control-Line circle, offering to loan and guarantee the money to build the circle. This, the first, paved circle in N.Z. enabled the C/L Trans-Tasman contests to continue.

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