On the 19th, 20th and 21st July the camping section of the C&DMFC spent a weekend with the Falcons at their site near Templecombe. Their field is approximately eight acres in size and of good proportions. There are no serious hedges or high trees to get in the way of the flying and, since last year, they have obviously put in a lot of work to get a good landing and take-off area. Camping and parking is in the next field, less than 100metres away.
Flying is allowed from Friday to Monday morning but a B certificate is required for the Sunday when members of the paying public are on site. Admission is, I think £2, but camping is free!
Steve and Christopher Morris put in a lot of flying over the weekend, Steve with a fun fly and his red Fokker triplane. This was particularly impressive with some very scale-like flying. Steve also took part in the last event on Sunday, mass balloon bursting. A rather hectic affair, but at least he finished with his model intact.
Christopher was very impressive with his Wot 4 and drew favourable comments for his own design hand launch glider. I have suggested that he might draw up a plan for a future issue of Sloping Off as it would make an ideal one-design for both indoor and outdoor flying.
Steve Holland is a keen supporter of this meeting but although he had brought his massive DH Comet with him it stayed in his van. Instead he demonstrated his skills with a third scale Giles, the sort that makes tortured wrenching noises as it performs its manoeuvres. For me the most interesting flyer is Bob Blackmore. He too had a Giles, but quarter scale. He also had an aerobatic electric glider with a standard 400 motor, a Gunther prop and a recycled Tx battery. To see the way he performed a sequence of axial rolls was unbelievable with just rudder and elevator.
Altogether a very enjoyable weekend just 40miles up the road from Christchurch, so how about a group visiting next year on the Saturday when you don't need a B certificate, or on Sunday if you have one? Plenty of scope for all types of flying and it could not be cheaper.