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Dave Wilshere – Chairman
Dave is well known to most on the UK jet scene as a very pro-active jet builder and flier. Always to be found at jet events in the UK flying one of his own fleet (he currently has 15 jets ready to go – all built himself) Dave is also central figure when it comes to helping other jet pilots out. As part of the English Team, Dave will be flying his Saab Gripen at this year’s Jet World Masters in Ireland. An engineer by profession, Dave now plays with models full-time as Managing Director of Motors & Rotors. |
His modelling interest goes way back to the early 70s when he started flying a Graupner Dandy glider - controlled by a Reed set! All sorts of fixed wing and helis followed (he won lots of comps flying helis) and his first taste of jet flying came via electric jets, and later with a gas turbine powered Graupner Hotspot. Dave’s built too many jets to mention, but lists the Airworld L-39, BVM Super Bandit, Bobcat and CARF Lightning amongst his favourites.
Dave is 41 and lives in Watford with his wife Morag and three young children, who keep them on their toes! |
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Roger Kilbey – Secretary
Like many modellers, Roger's career in model flying was sparked way back by his interest in building and flying control-liners, although his interest veered off for 30 years or so into the sphere of motor cycle racing, at which he achieved a fair amount of success!
Being an engineer (he runs his own computer network installation business) the technology associated with jet models and the thought of flying jets prompted Roger's return to modelling back in the late 90s and he started jet flying using his own-built Wren MW-54 and Delta 2000 model. |
and then through the adrenaline rush of a couple of Yellow Aircraft Stingrays before going the scale route and a superb F-18, complete with all the complexity of its landing gear and gear doors!
Supported throughout by wife Sue, Roger is based in Cheltenham and, in common with many jet modellers in the South, spends most of his jet flying time at Wroughton airfield, where he is very active in helping newcomers to, not just the jet scene, but any branch of our hobby. |
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Geoff White – Treasurer
Few people in the jet world, both at home and abroad, haven't heard of Geoff's reputation as an outstanding jet pilot. His demonstrations with his BVM Bandit are legendary, and he's pretty good at scale flying too!
Modelling since 1983 with only a short three year 'beer break' interrupting progress, Geoff's interests have varied from Club 20 pylon, through F3A aerobatics, large scale aerobatics and, since attending the Abingdon Winter Jets Meet in 2000, he's been addicted to jets! Flying's not Geoff's only forte - he assembles a pretty good model too! |
An IT consultant by profession, Geoff conveniently lives about two miles from the birthplace of the world's first ever jet meet at Abingdon and, being a youthful 39 and single to boot, is able to indulge his time as he sees fit! Although new to the JMA Committee, Geoff has done his apprenticeship by being the official auditor of the past two years. |
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Jason Fletcher - Membership Secretary
Jason's probably best known for the displays he puts on with his blisteringly fast BVM Bandit - a far cry from the 2 channel DB Tyro 2 with a Indian diesel engine he started out in the hobby with back in the late 80s! His first jet model was a ducted fan powered Avonds F-15 (a favourite with many as a first time jet) but turbines power all Jason's jets now. Jason is very enthusiastic when it comes to jet modelling and attends the Florida International Jet Rally each year and as many UK jet meets as his wife lets him!
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Jason is 37, married to Laura and they have one son, Ethan. To raise money for his jet models, Jason works as a sales director of a well-known caravan supplier in the Midlands.
Living in Kenilworth, Jason has been a prime mover in the jet scene at nearby Long Marston airfield, and he plays a key part in the jet meets that are regularly held there. |
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Tom Wilkinson - Safety Advisor BMFA/IJMC Representative
Tom Wilkinson's introduction to model jets came via his interest in miniature gas turbine technology, an interest which saw him originate the Gas Turbine Builders Association, which has to be one of the most successful and helpful model engineering organisations there has ever been. Tom, and other key members of the GTBA, has been responsible for assisting model engineers all over the world to achieve success with their miniature gas turbines.
Tom, 64, who retired a few years back as an Offshore Installation Manager, has many strings to his bow, and jet modellers will be aware that he helped revive Traplet's Radio Control Jet International magazine in his time as Editor recently.
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He is internationally renowned amongst jet fliers for his work on the IJMC Board and also his efficient control of the World Jet Master's Competition Flightline, a duty that he shares with his wife of 32 years, Ros
Tom's interests vary across the spectrum; apart from being an aeromodeller for the last 55 years, he has held a private pilot's license, has owned a part-share in a Cessna C120 (Ros was ever supportive there as well - she's also a PPL holder!), and more recently has turned his mind to racing radio controlled yachts - International One Metre and Marblehead Classes - a far cry from blazing around with his favourite CompARF Eurosport! |
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Dick Spreadbury – Media Representative
If you don’t count Jetex types, Dick’s been flying model jets for close to 25 years, and gas turbines for the last 15. His first jet was a Fanjets Hawk, built as a kit review model back in 1983, since when, too many jets to list have come out of his workshop – mainly for himself but he does build for others too. Dick started modelling when he was six, with a Keil-Kraft Soarer Baby glider, followed by a Veron Verosonic 46 and then a Cox PT-19 control-liner which stimulated his interest in designing and building all sorts of control-line models, which persisted until his late teens when a set of Futaba Diximax and Kamco Kadet took him into the world of R/C, |
and so the days of losing balance were gone! Scale aerobatic models was Dick's main interest before attendance at the world’s first ever jet meet at Abingdon back in 1982 saw him bitten by the jet bug, from which he’s never recovered! Dick has long been a prime mover in the UK jet world and Abingdon remains a key feature of Dick’s life as he organises the Classic Jets series of jet events that take place there on a regular basis. Originally an aeronautical engineer, Dick, now 52, spends his days as an aviation related safety consultant, and splits the rest of his time between his family – wife Christine, son and daughter – organising jet events, writing for the aviation press, running his safety training company and, of course, building and flying model jets. Dick's other big interest is in Formula 1 motor racing, which is why it’s not unusual to see him watching the race on a battery powered TV in his car at jet meets! |
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