WINDSOCK.

THE NEWSLETTER OF READING & DISTRICT MODEL AIRCRAFT CLUB

August 2005.

At last, thanks to my friends, the computer is pointing in the right direction.  So sit back, whilst I try to bring you up to date with our happenings and intentions. We all know that the weather has been pretty rotten to us, particularly at the weekends and many models have been bent or kept in safety for the great day. It’s got to get better soon, but just in case, we have the dates for Indoor Flying at Wallingford. This is getting very popular. I wonder why?

The “A” Certificate.    Pleased to say that we have had some success, In particular, young Jonathan Davies, aged just ten years old, recently became our youngest “A” Certificate holder. I am sure we all congratulate him, his landings are quite superb and I am sure he will have his “B” before I will!  Incidentally, Jonathon was instructed by our own Dave Grey, who himself passed his “B” cert earlier this year. The expertise is there, so why don’t you try for, or upgrade you certificate a.s.a.p? Yes, I know, about time I had a word with Dave. You never know, with his help, I might even find the strip, and even, eventually, land on it!

Peter Lee.   At the other end of the line, I recently represented and spoke on behalf of the Club, at the Funeral of Peter Lee. Whist Peter was not a current member; he assisted with the revival of the club back in the mid-seventies, but, having little interest in R/C, pursued his interest in free-flight. Latterly, he turned his expertise to indoor flying and produced a range of superb miniatures of rubber powered Wakefield and other famous models of this type. I now possess two of his miniatures of the Kiel Kraft Gipsy and will bring these to the club for you to see at the appropriate meeting. I am sure we all wish to express our condolences to his wife June and family at the passing of this outstanding modeller. His son, Adrian, continues to support the sport, in that he is now a member of the British F.A.I. Free Flight Glider Team.

Committee Meeting 21^st July, 2005.   My brief diary notes say that the meeting was well attended (must be the beer) and the club rules were again much in mind. The revised flying field rules come into immediate effect and should be included with this newsletter and are not only commonsense, but are designed to protect you in the case of any incident. Please note in particular, the rule banning solo powered flying at the field, as this may well apply to shift and retired members who have been so engaged. Please note it has not necessarily got to be a club member or even a modeller. Remember it is very difficult to ring for help with no fingers!

The full revised Club rules will be included with the next “Windsock”, for you to study prior to the AGM, where the decision as to whether or not to accept these, will be made. Looks as if this is going to be a pretty important meeting, so book your seat now!

There was concern about the grass cutting at the strip, which lets face it, has been a bit of a problem weather wise this year, but all seems to be in order now.

An incident form is included with this newsletter, which should now be used as required. On completion it must be passed to our Secretary, Andrew Stretton, who will keep a full record of such events.

Club Events The Club ran the R/C flying side of the Cholsey Model Mania event on the 24^th July. Not much to do this time, as will be explained further here by Martin

The day began with a steady drizzle that threatened to persist and get worse. I arrived at about 9:15 and was the first of the radio flyers to arrive, something of a novelty! This year the organisers had managed to book a control line carrier deck group and they were busy setting up ‘Illustrious’ for operation during the day. Slowly radio flyers began to arrive from Oxford and South East Berks clubs, by now the drizzle had become more organised and with an easterly wind look like it was not going to obey the ‘rain before seven clear before eleven’ adage. The erection of gazebos and other temporary shelters took precedence over preparing models. David Theunissen was the first to brave the conditions with his Bounce EPP shock flyer style model. The Oxford Panic team decided that Zagi’s were the best alternative on this occasion and put on a spirited display. Now the conditions were worsening with the rain becoming quite heavy. This didn’t deter the carrier deck operators whose corriflute disc type model operated continuously giving anyone who cared to have a go the chance to fly a control line model. The model appears to be indestructible if the amount of abuse it suffered during the day was typical of its operation day to day!

Just after lunch the rain lightened enough to give Steve Carr the opportunity to have just one flight with his Edge 540 at I guess 1/3 scale with a wingspan of around 2.5 meters it was an impressive spectacle in the confines of the Cholsey site. His flight earned a well deserved spontaneous round of applause from the other flyers and the sparse crowd of spectators.

At around 2:30 we decided that the weather was not going to improve much in the short term so we began to pack up and slowly disperse. Just as the last bit of packing up was complete the clouds broke and we had some sunshine, just enough to encourage a couple of high-speed flights by two Star Jets of the Panic team.

It was a disappointing day for all. The attendance was well down on previous years this affected even those exhibitors who were based inside the school buildings. A pity too, for there were several new exhibitors, the British Tank Club and a good turn out of hovercraft being just two.

I would like to thank all those flyers that turned up and braved the elements. With luck next year the weather will be perfect! Just a reminder, the Oxford club have their show on the 4^th September, you are welcomed to attend ‘B’ cert for flying of course.

                                                                                                                        Martin Dance

The Float Plane event, for “B” Certificate flyers only, was again held at Beale Park on the 6^th and 7^th August. The event was very well attended, with over twenty models performing on and off the lake. For a change, the weather behaved itself, enabling the many pilots, who had made the journey from afar, to really enjoy themselves. A further non-public session for “A” Certificate pilots is intended to be held in October this year, where full training for Tyro float and seaplane types will be available.

Winter Programme – 2005.

2/9/05.             Float Plane Fly In at Black Park, Slough. “B” Certificate flyers only. Details from Andy Stretton at T: 01256 – 352539.

11/9/05.           Flair Picnic at A.T.S. Flying School, Swindon.

11/9/05.           Ron’s “Pilot of the Year” competition at the Flying Field. What will he think of next? Contact Ron on T: 0118-9697488.

10&11/9/05.    Festival of Model Flight, Old Warden.

10&11/9/05.    R.C.M&E Festival, Hastings.

18/9/05.           “Pilot of the Year” competition at the Flying Field. Ron in charge.

20/9/05.           St. Barnabas Hall, Emmer Green. First of the winter meetings in the Hall

and the Annual Sort out of the ‘Bring and Buy’ to raise cash for your Christmas present!

18/9/05            Eastbourne Vintage meeting at Golden Cross.

25/9/05.           Probably the last “Pilot of the Year” competition, unless tie deciders are required by the hard working Ron!

4/10/05.           Radio Review Night. Bring your Transmitters or any other radio gear with you for a thorough check out. Should your crystal be out, now is the time to find out.

18/10/05.         The Model Build Show. Re-live again the thrill of building from Balsa and Plans. Full details of the Dick Tiller “Tomboy” competition. Samples and tips available, with real wooden models on show. Don’t miss this one!

3/10/05.           Indoor Model Flying at the Castle Leisure Centre, Wallingford. 10oohrs till 18oohrs. Flighthook in attendance. Contact for all Wallingford indoor meeting is Dave Dobson on T: 01491-837789.

20/10/05          R.D.M.A.C. Committee meeting at Woodley.

23/10/05          Float plane fly-in at Beale Park. This time, open to ‘A’ certificate members, as no public admission is involved. Note: No pilot is allowed to fly without being fully briefed on the day.

1/11/05.           The ‘Secret’ guest speaker. O.K., simmer down, I don’t know who this will be yet, but Martin is working on it. Bound to be good, so full house turn out please.

15/11/05.         Modelling Nostalgia Night. This was great fun last year when we featured Vintage Engines. More of the same please, plus kits. Planes, vintage plans and equipment.

27/11/05.         Indoor Model Flying at the Castle Leisure Centre, Wallingford.

6/12/05.           Now this one you must attend, as it is the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. Lots to be sorted this year, with a review of Flying Field and Club Rules.

18/12/05.         Indoor Model Flying at the Castle Leisure Centre, Wallingford.

20/12/05.         After the work, it is Fun Time with the CHRISTMAS PARTY. I already know that there are some great prizes for the raffle, so start saving for your tickets now.

Caption competition. Can you think up a witty caption to fit the photo? It seems that models are becoming so small that they are hard to find in the grass, or is it just the new camouflage covering really works!

No prize it’s just for fun or maybe the glory of winning. Answers to Dave Belcher @  dave@de5ktop.fsnet.co.uk