Warren Leadbeatter - A Life in Aeromodelling

Warren Leadbeatter is a respected and long-standing figure in the Australian Control Line and Free Flight aeromodelling community. His journey through the world of model aviation reflects both personal passion and dedicated contribution to the sport over several decades.

Early Years and Introduction to Aeromodelling - Warren's fascination with aircraft began at a young age in the mid-1970s, growing up in Blacktown under the flight paths of RAAF Richmond and Schofields Aerodromes. He was often inspired by the sight of Caribou, Hercules, Tiger Moths, and Chinook helicopters overhead. Around the age of ten, he began building plastic model kits and soon joined the Australian Air League at the Blacktown Squadron, deepening his interest in aviation. A chance meeting with Andrew Linwood during roll call at Doonside High School would become pivotal. Sharing a mutual interest in aircraft, Andrew invited Warren to the Doonside Aeromodellers Club. There, Warren was introduced to a vibrant community of aeromodellers including Ivor F, Arthur Cooper, Paul Turner, Barry Lee, Roy Summersby, Reg Towell, Terry Bond, Barry Wilkinson, Stan Pilgrim, and Andrew Heath. Under the mentorship of Andrew and Ivor, Warren began building and flying both Control Line and Free Flight models at the age of thirteen.

First Nationals and Early Competitions - In 1976-77, Warren attended his first National Championships at Camperdown, Victoria. Thanks to the support of Arthur Cooper, Ivor F, and Barry Wilkinson--who offered junior flyers free travel in exchange for model recovery duties-Warren, along with Andrew and Garry Rohr, made the journey. They camped in the showground stables alongside young Control Line enthusiasts from across the country. Warren competed in Junior A1 Sailplane, Junior Open Rubber, and Hand Launched Glider events. Despite already flying 2.5cc Rat Racers and Combat models, he did not yet enter any Control Line events at that Nationals.

Control Line Adventures and a Brief Hiatus - Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, Warren regularly competed in Control Line events including State and Hunter Valley Championships. He often assisted Andrew Linwood in Scramble events and piloted Andrew's Rat Racers, while also competing in Combat. However, when the Linwood family relocated to the Central Coast, Warren's interests shifted toward surfing, motorcycles, and computers. He maintained his connection to aeromodelling, occasionally flying with the Doonside Club during the 1990s.

Return to Competition and Innovation - In 2005, as Warren prepared to relocate with his young family to Port Stephens, he reintroduced Control Line and Free Flight modelling to his children. Coincidentally, Andrew Linwood was doing the same with his own son, Tom, who would go on to become an accomplished Combat flyer. Warren, meanwhile, pursued F2B aerobatics-an event he had long admired. He entered his first F2B competition at the 2006-07 Albury Nationals. In 2010, Warren converted his Vector and Pathfinder F2B models to electric power, making him one of the earliest adopters of electric F2B in Australia. His innovation was soon followed by many others in the community. He later returned to Control Line Racing and Vintage Combat, achieving notable success. Warren became Hunter Valley Champion three consecutive years in the 27 Goodyear class with his Rothwell 250-powered Buster. He also earned multiple local and state victories in Vintage Combat. Meanwhile he was still flying free flight for fun and in particular the Night Scramble in which he has won the Nationals Night Scramble 5 times.

Family, Leadership, and Continued Growth - For over a decade, the Leadbeatters and Linwoods were fixtures at Nationals and Control Line events around Australia. Warren took on administrative roles, managing the CLAS website and Facebook pages to support the community. By 2016, with their children now older, Warren and Andrew decided to return to Free Flight and took up F1C as their primary competitive event. Warren began flying with Babenko folders and also competed in Open Power and Vintage Power. His commitment extended beyond competition as he stepped into leadership roles, taking over management of the NSWFFS Facebook page and website following the passing of Barry Lee. Today, Warren serves as the MAAA Registrar and Secretary/Public Officer for the NSW Free Flight Society and President of the Australian Free Flight Society.

Recent Achievements - In 2024, Warren claimed his first F1C victory at the NSW State Championships at West Wyalong, a feat he repeated in 2025. He also secured third place in the prestigious 2025 AFFS Championships World Cup event-cementing his place among the country's top Free Flight competitors.