Why I . . . make free flight aircraft

In calm weather, Martin Pike can often be found at a stretch of open land near his north Wales home flying small model aeroplanes. Fringed by hills and mountains, it’s a stunning spot for the Bangor consultant radiologist to enjoy his hobby.“I often fly in the early evenings, as the sun sets behind the mountains,” he says. “The aircraft are quiet, so it’s a peaceful, heartwarming activity. Part of the enjoyment is finding the planes after they’ve landed, which can mean walking several kilometres looking for them.”These small, light planes are free flight models, which means they fly without external control. Carefully handmade, mainly from balsa wood, tissue paper, and wire, they may be flown indoors or outside.Some just glide, while others are powered by propellers that are spun by a twisted rubber band before they take off, and others have small motors.For Pike, the hobby started with building Airfix…
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