Christchurch and District Model Flying Club
sloping off

Flying off water

By the editor

You may remember that there was a discussion at the AGM about whether it was possible (safe, advisable, permitted) to fly off Christchurch Harbour with one of our newly built flying boats. Trevor has a Short Sealand and I have a Consolidated Catalina, both built from Ivan Pettigrew plans and described in eye-watering detail on our respective websites.

On 5 May I took the Cat down to Mudeford Sailing Club and borrowed their safety boat to ferry the Cat out to the middle of the Harbour.  This was not only its maiden flight, but also my first ever flight off water, so to say I was slightly nervous is to get one word right out of two.  In fact, the flight was uneventful and certainly the easiest since I threw a Sean Bannister Algebra 100 off Mullion cliffs. The Cat flies exceptionally well and needs only aileron and elevator for graceful and accurate flight.  Take-off needed 3/4 throttle and landing was so rewarding compared with my last efforts (Requiem for a Cub, last issue) that I phoned Trevor and said “You have just got to try this!”

So a few days later, there we were opposite the Lifeboat Station on a patch of sand called “The Flats” which dries out at low water and makes a very convenient place to connect up the battery and take lots of photographs, as you can see.

It’s an easy wade out to the Flats, and the rewards are considerable!

Which only leaves the unresolved question: is it permitted?  Since the Harbour is part of an SSSI, perhaps not.  There is also the problem of possible interference with our own flying at Stanpit. So please, if you want to fly off water, contact the Editor, and only fly at these times: 0600—0800 at Low Springs from the Flats off the Quay (happens once a fortnight; 3 or 4 days available) and between 1800—2100 at high tide, not on a Friday, from the centre of the Harbour, well away from the houses round the edge, and away from the birds on the Marsh and when there are no boats or people to get in the way. And you’ll need a fiver for the boat hire!

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