christchurch and district model flying club

SLICKER 50 recollections, by Ken spokes

Reading Glen's piece about his Slicker 50, brought back memories of a particular incident in the days when almost everyone flew Slickers.

In 1948 I was posted to HQ Royal Signals, Catterick which boasted amongst it's many amenities, a very large and well kept golf course. In the evenings this was usually deserted and was an ideal place to fly model aircraft. Being the keen type that I was, I soon had my latest Slicker airborne powered by a very reliable Frog 100 diesel.

For free flight  - R.C. was still several years away -  the drill was to put enough fuel in the tank for about a 20 seconds motor run and trim for a gentle turn so that after power off the model glided down and if calm, usually landed nearby. On the last flight one evening, either I had put too much fuel in the tank or had upset the trim or probably both, the flight I had expected didn't happen. The model didn't turn and the motor kept on running and the last I saw of it was when it disappeared over some trees heading for Catterick. I searched for it but it was never found. Next day, I heard that the local emergency services had been put on full alert the previous evening following reports of an aircraft coming down. It was probably just coincidence, but as there was no full size plane crash, I sometimes  wondered if my Slicker was the cause

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The little Slicker here is from the Jetex Bill Dean history page at http://jetex.org/history/dean.html well worth a visit—Ed.

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