Christchurch and District Model Flying Club
Sloping Off - our newsletter

Chairman’s chatter

Once in a while you may have the chance to visit another club by invitation. August the 8th was one such day for me. Wimborne Club sent me an invite (as C&DMFC Chairman) to attend a Fun Day at their Cashmoor flying site.

A superbly maintained grass strip. A club House, toilets and adequate car parking are a welcome site following an hours drive from Barton.

The Fun Day was attended by at least 100 people from various counties (well over a 100 mile drive each way for many.)

The Club had a full time flight marshal who only allowed 4 aircraft to be in the sky at any one occasion. A few helicopters gave a display. These were invited pilots as the club doesn’t normally allow helicopters. Besides the usual skilled aerobatics, one flew a really scale chopper realistically.

One full jet model and a number of Ducted Fan models also kept the audience entertained. One scale ducted fan model sounded just like a jet turbine but with a little less noise. And no, it didn’t have a sound module on board!

Plenty of Wimborne club members have large models with 65 to 100cc engines up front. All could fly as good as those at Blackbushe Model Air Show.

Many models were electric powered, large scale twins included running on 12 cell Lipos. Quite amazing.

John Tappin (who has become the club member who will fly any model, if requested) flew a variety of models, some were his own, too!

Mike Seale mainly flew R/E Old Timer electric powered models. Quite a change for him as he was always known for his Thermal Glider & Elec Glider skills both here & on the continent.

We were quietly sitting enjoying lunch when a sudden sharp noise made all jump. It was Mike Seale flying his 2 meter glider. This model climbs to around 800/900 feet in 2/1/2 seconds. The fast fly-bys were extremely speedy without the motor running. Then he would start the motor, making us all jump once again and it would instantly zoom away back to a great height in the few seconds. Oh yes, he did thermal the model around just to prove he still had the skill.

The model has an in runner motor operated from a switch. The torque on the folding propeller must be colossal when starting and instantly stopping, let alone on the fuselage structure.

The Wimborne club decided a couple of years ago to purchase 10 kits from Germany. They all had to be built, then covered. All were/are flying wings with just elevons (two high quality servos) and an in runner motor. Difficult to launch if not using a ramp and rubber bungee. Once away they were very fast and not overly quiet but spectacular all the same. Kits were £70, plus gear & radio equipment.  Most have succumbed to mother earth over the last 2 years. May be not very sociable for Strawberry Field!

The food was most enjoyable with a choice of burgers or sausages, plus mixed salad and EIGHT different sauces, etc. This was followed by cream cakes & the like. Around 2.30pm a local ice cream van arrived to sell his wheres.

To add to the excitement a small twister or dust devil or tornado, what ever you wish to call it decided to make non flying items fly. From the edge of the strip it travelled diagonally across the spectator area causing havoc. Light tables and attached sun shades took off as did a large helicopter, a few models, including my Riot (which landed inverted unscathed).

Alex Bush was surprised ( he was flying his Apollo III at the time) when his elec bird of prey gave its own display and landed unharmed.  The vacuum from the twister sucked two bags out the rear of my car. Both belonged to Alex. They were eventually located and retrieved. One of the black dustbins that was used to collect rubbish was in the path of the instant storm and its contents were distributed far & wide.  All the above was over within 5 seconds. A little scary but amazing all the same   I think the high temperature of 26c in the shade and strong thermal activity was the cause.

Jon Couldridge & Jon Macklin assist Alex Bush & me with the day, representing Christchurch Club. Alex flew 2 elec glider models & I flew my Riot power model (both guys were successful.)

We’ve had a varied summer this year. Generally windy! Mike Roach managed to hold one Club Fun Day in June. The July event was cancelled owing to windy conditions (again).

Club meetings have been well attended and we have had many varied talks (with film & slides) to educate & entertain members.

If ANY of you wish to have a subject presented at a club meeting, just tell me. I’ll always try & find someone to cover the subject.

Like you, I need more happy landings,

I should not have written that in jest! My Silent Dream elec thermal glider fell in love with Clive’s tree (now also known as Alex’s tree, Jon Couldridge’s & Terry’s tree). I missed judged it’s position when turning onto finals for landing on Friday 21st August. I managed to locate an Aeroloop unit from a member. With the 6 metre Aeroloop, another old fishing caster of 6 metres AND a long tube of carbon. Alex & I managed to lift the contraption vertical the 70 feet or so. After an hour we still couldn’t get the Silent Dream elec glider down. Alex then climbed the tree to about 30 feet and pushed the model at an angle and it slipped down the outside of the tree, stopping at 15 feet high. After Alex climbed down we got the Aeroloop unit around the tail and lifted it free where Alex grabbed it stopping it BEFORE hitting the ground. Not a mark on the model. I was, & still am AMAZED. The 3 cell Lipo 2200mah almost new batt was flat. Just 2 volts per cell. It had started to puff a little, too. I now have bullet connectors with leads attached and a set of balance leads with plug!

Indoor Flying starts on Friday 11th September at Durslton Court School, 7.30 to 10pm.

Happy safe flying, Terry

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