ISLAMABAD: Most weekends, 70-year-old Idrees Ahmad, a model aircraft pilot, can be found at F-9 Park flying his family of remote controlled planes.

But on Sunday evening, Mr Ahmad and several other pilots shared their passion for soaring through the sky with an audience at a model aircraft exhibition, held as part of Air University’s four-day Technology Olympiad.

The exhibition featured several battery powered model aircraft such as the Extra 300 3D airplane, Tiger Moth, Space Walker and Piper, as well as World War II and modern aircraft.

Flying model aircraft is not a hobby and is more than a sport, said 68-year-old Mohammad Saeed.

“You can do five different PhDs, in electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, avionics, aerodynamics and airframe engineering design, all in one, once you get into model aircraft flying,” Mr Saeed, who has been flying model aircraft for 40 years, explained.

He believed that miniature flying was the first step in aviation for professionals, including businessmen. “Model aircraft flying has produced flyers and engineers, especially in drone projects, from our group. It can do even better if this sport had government patronage,” he said.

The pilots pulled off several impressive manoeuvres, including summersaults, rolls and loops, stall urns and something called a ‘harrier’, a trick in which the pilots made their planes hover.

Ibrahim Malik, 10, has taken after his father Ejaz Malik, and is also interested in aeromodeling.

His father has described the sport as a serious business, saying: “It sharpens reflexes and hand-eye coordination [to hold] the plane with responsibility. It’s not easy and you can feel your heart beating in the neck for the five to six minutes the plane is in the air.”

Air University Vice Chancellor retired Air Vice Marshal Faiz Amir said the idea behind the event was to entertain as well as educate participants.

“Coming together encourages networking between professionals and students and builds grounds for common research. The event also helps spread awareness about advances made in technology, especially in the field of aviation,” he said.

For those interested in flying model aircraft, the sport is also affordable. “RC flying is not really expensive, and depends a lot on an individual’s interest. There are far more expensive sports, such as hunting, where you have to buy a rifle for hundreds of thousands and a four-by-four,” said Capt Usman Malik, who also comes from a family of enthusiasts.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2017