General Information about M.A.N.Z
With so many new members now flying large size model aircraft and joining M.A.N.Z there is sometimes questions asked as to how the club came about.
MANZ is a chapter (or branch) of the International Miniature Aircraft Association which was formed in the USA in 1980 to promote non-competitive flying of large model aircraft. Their objective was to have members more aware of building carefully, flying safely and above all, to have rallies where fun and non competitiveness was the keynote. The IMAA, within a few years, had chapters all over the world (MANZ being formed in 1982, holding it's first Big Fly-In in 1983) and they now number more than 300. Many members of individual chapters are also members of the IMAA and receive their quarterly magazine "High Flight", noted for its interesting and informative articles.
Members of M.A.N.Z. belong to their local clubs and so are covered by the N.Z.M.A.A. insurance policy. Safety inspections of aircraft became a regular thing at the Big Fly-Ins, with some long-time builders at first a little resentful of the procedure, however a loose hinge picked up here and there and other small things that could have meant the loss of the plane, soon convinced modelers that it was a good idea and now safety inspections are an accepted part of rallies all over New Zealand. One famous remark from those early years is still smiled at –“But you inspected it last year!”
Wingspan minimums are set at 2 metres for mono-planes and 1.5 metres for bi-planes or tri-planes. Additionally true quarter scale and models where the sum of the wingspan and length is at least 3.5 metres. Membership of M.A.N.Z. is open to all persons interested in the non-competitive flying of large aircraft models.
While MANZ is a separate organisation, it also represents the NZMAA Large Model Special Interest Group (LMSIG). For models above a specific weight and power, NZ Civil Aviation Authority regulations apply. NZMAA has delegated control of the certification process required by the regulations to MANZ. These arrangements are detailed in the Large Model Certification pages.
