Sloping Off - September 2006
Woodspring Wings
by Mike Roach
This was my first visit to a model air show. What was it like?
The show was well signed off the M5 and the parking generous and well marshalled. A short walk (with tantalising glimpses of a large Bristol monoplane in the sky), the obligatory showing of bus passes and our small group was at one end of the runway with a good view despite being in the third or fourth row of deckchairs. The glossy programme was well-produced and promised an interesting and rewarding day.
The immediate impression was of the noisy, jovial, 1980s-style commentary team, which although occasionally very funny was also very wearing and did nothing for my enjoyment of the day. A bit more technical detail would have been welcome, but too often we were told a few half facts about what we had just seen, rather than some key information about what we were going to see. Unfortunately this applied to the full-size as well as the model displays.
We arrived at 1030, near the beginning of the first display sequence, which lasted for about 3 hours and was then repeated with variations until the show closed just after 5pm. If you missed part of the show the first time round you could catch it again later.
Not all the flying displays were professionally presented, but they were all interesting and the pilots showed off the models vigorously and with flair. Not one of the models looked underpowered or staggered round the sky aimlessly. If I have a minor criticism, it is that too many of the displays spent time in seeing how low and fast they could fly, rather than showing off the model where all the crowd could see it. Scraping the grass is impressive once, but not twice.
I had been warned to look out for 3 or 4 of the top pilots, in particular Al Machinchy. As it turned out, his displays were indeed the highlight of the show. His 1/3rd scale “Grace” Spitfire looked extraordinarily real and was perfectly displayed. In my photos is really not possible to tell the difference between the full-size and the model. He also flew a Grumman Panther, a 1/3rd scale DH Comet racer and his twin-jet Concorde, but for me the best display was the most unexpected. He and a colleague had mounted a gas turbine on top ASK21 gliders these were huge models at 1/3rd scale and yet they were horsed around the sky as if they were out on a slope somewhere doing aerobatics. The manoeuvres they performed were very large but at all times you were aware of the sheer power of the turbines and the strength of the models as the wings flexed and shook with the stresses of flying. Perhaps the most impressive manoeuvres were the huge loops, carried out smoothly and accurately and ending skimming the grass, with no snatching or over control. Wonderful!
The full-size displays meant a change of pace even at full throttle a real Spitfire looks slow compared with a model but the noise and presence of the Dakota, Spitfire and Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Flight were most impressive and the flying of the fighters a joy to see.
Looking round the stands was a bit of a game we all knew we would buy something, but kept putting off the wallet moment. I had no fixed ideas, unlike Trevor who bought a 60” span ARTF Mig 3, but who was trumped in the box stakes by Clive, whose Streaker hotliner came with a one-piece wing and a box as long as most cars! My modest Depron fighter won no points in the big box competition.
It was amazing value for £5 (bus passes have their uses). We were blessed with excellent weather and I left in awe of the Woodsprings Club members who had organised a wonderful day out. Thank you.
