Tonbridge Radio Flyers

Silent Flight Section - Leigh Park Farm

Email Newsletter from Alastair Ramsay

No: 05/08 – 7^th May 2008   

Club Website: - Tonbridge-flyers.co.uk

 

Hello fellow flyers,

 

Summer seems to have arrived at last.  It is much warmer, the wind has dropped a bit and there are frequent thermals to catch.  The ground has firmed up to the extent that we can now take cars into the field to park.  But beware of some deep ruts left by the tractor wheels.

 

I spoke to the farmer today and was informed that the cows will be coming out to graze again during the latter part of this week.  They have apparently been delayed by the late arrival of their Blue-Tongue vaccine.  This means a change in our regular use of the field because electric fences are being reinstated to partition the large field so that cows can use part of it.  Please be prepared to shift to the lower field ( i.e. closer to the road) and to be aware that cows will come back into the field after milking.  If in doubt check at the farm as to which field we should use on any given club day.

 

Turning to issues of safety, I am proposing to make a change in the frequency control procedures at Leigh Park Farm on club competition days to bring them into line with normal practice.  Currently, frequency control is in the hands of the competition organiser who ensures channel separation between all competitors and records this on the competition score sheet.  Any non competing flyers have been expected to approach the organiser to be allocated a channel not already in use in the competition.  This has been found not to be without risk so for future competition days I would ask ALL flyers, whether in the competition or not, to use their channel marker and place it in the compound at the field entrance.  It is important to note that this should also apply to 2.4GHz flyers so that an arriving club member can be sure that any flyer already in the middle of the field is not on a frequency likely to clash with him or her.

 

I would also like to make a plea for members to remember only to launch and fly models from the designated launch position within the field.  This area will be determined by the wind direction but should be at least 75 metres away from the parking area.  It may also be determined by the needs of bungee launched gliders which have to launch from a position determined by the stretched length of the bungee.  Please do not launch downwind or upwind from this position or you may  have other flyers in your line of take-off/ landing.

 

Since my last newsletter we have managed to complete the winter league competitions in both thermal and electric forms.  The 5^th round of the Thermal winter league was held on 20^th April.  This was won by Phil Ramsey with Alan Twine in 2^nd place.  The final outcome of this winter league, using the best 4 scores from each entrant, was:

 

Final Result of Thermal Winter League 2007/8

 

1^st        Keith Fisher

2^nd       Alan Twine

3^rd       Phil Ramsey

 

Congratulations to each of the above, especially Keith Fisher, for managing to retain the title he won last year.

 

The 5^th Round of the Electric winter league was held on Sunday 4^th May.  The Brushed motor class was won by David Taylor with Alastair Ramsay in 2^nd place.  In the Open class competition, the winner was Alastair Ramsay with David Taylor in 2^nd place.  The final outcome of the Electric Winter League, again based on the best 4 scores for each entrant, was as follows:

 

Final Result of Electric Winter League 2007/8  – Brushed motor Class

 

1^st        Simon Smith

2^nd       Alastair Ramsay

3^rd       David Taylor

 

Final Result of Electric Winter League 2007/8  - Open Class

 

1^st        Simon Smith

2^nd       Alastair Ramsay

3^rd       Alan Twine

 

Congratulations go to each of the above and indeed to all those who competed through the extremes of weather we experienced during the winter and early spring.

 

As ever, the full results of these competition rounds and league tables have been posted on the club website for the benefit of those interested in the fine detail.

 

The 2008 Summer High Time competitions are now well under way with very respectable times posted for both Electric and Thermal versions.  Bob Hope has achieved a time of 39 min 58sec using his giant Aquila 150  thermal glider while Alan Twine has achieved 48 min  37 sec with his 3.1 metre own design electric glider.

 

The club was asked to provide a static display of models at the Offham village fete on Saturday 3^rd May.  This appears to have been a success, with several members contributing models to show.  I await the photographic evidence which, I am told, exists. One visitor to our stand was asking if any of our modelling fraternity would be interested in a Boxford lathe & mechanical hacksaw which he wishes to dispose of.  If anyone wishes to enquire further about this, I can provide the name and phone number for you to contact.

 

And finally!  Reminders for your diary

 

11^th May         KIC Glider Round 2 at Sutton Vallence-field to be signposted on the day

18^th May         F3J Round 2 at Upton

8^th June         Aldershot Open (thermal)

15^th June       F3J round 3 at Wetlands

22^nd June      Gravesend Open (thermal)

 

Best wishes,

 

Alastair Ramsay – Club Secretary

(Email: AandJRamsay@aol.com – tel: 01892 534532)