Tonbridge Radio Flyers

Silent Flight Section - Leigh Park Farm

Email Newsletter from Alastair Ramsay

No: 06/08 –26^th June 2008   

Club Website: - Tonbridge-flyers.co.uk

 

Hello fellow flyers,

 

We are now close to the peak season for the summer round of interclub and Open competitions, with two events due to be held at Leigh Park Farm during the next few weeks.  The weather has again impacted the early schedule, with last Sunday’s Gravesend Open abandoned due to the very high wind and this coming Sunday’s Interclub thermal round at Canterbury also called off.

 

Let us hope that the weather is kinder when The Finniss Memorial Team competition is held at Leigh Park Farm on 6^th July followed by our own Tonbridge Open at the same venue on Sunday 20^th July.  Keith Miller, our Interclub Representative, will be contacting the thermal competition members within the next few days to seek team members for the Finniss event and also remind members of our Open competition.

 

Will club members please note that there will be no club flying at Leigh Park Farm on either 6^th or 20^th July whilst these competitions are in progress.  Both events usually attract a large number of entrants with some highly skilled flying on display from some if not all of the competitors.  Club members who do not wish to enter these events would be most welcome as spectators or helpers.  It may be an opportunity for you to see if you would be interested in competing in any future competitions of this type.

 

The fields at the farm have dried out considerably since my last newsletter such that we can now confidently drive through the gates and park at the edge of either the upper or lower field.  The farmer has installed temporary electric fences to partition the pastures.  At present we are able to use the larger, upper field while cows are restricted to the lower field (nearer the road).

 

We are planning to arrange with Steve Fysh, who is a BMFA test examiner, to come to Leigh Park Farm to do some BMFA –‘A’ tests for silent flight members.  If you are interested in taking this test please let me know.  Apart from recognising your competence to fly, the ‘A’ certificate will also ensure you are insured to fly unsupervised on club flying days.  Details of the test can be found in your BMFA handbook but if you are unsure, please let me know and I will try to explain the detail.

 

There have been no improvements in the Summer High–Time competitions since the last Newsletter but new times will be eagerly awaited.  It seems that Bob Hope (thermal) and Alan Twine (electric) have set such challenging times that the rest of us are finding it hard to get near them.  Keep trying!

 

 

And finally!  Reminders for your diary

 

29^th June       KIC Glider Round 3 at Canterbury – CANCELLED!

6^th July           Finniss Memorial Team Trophy at Leigh Park Farm (hosted by Invicta)

13^th July        Kent Interclub Electric at Invicta

20^th July        Tonbridge Open Thermal comp at Leigh Park Farm

27^th July        F3J R4/Interglide at Bicester

 

 

Best wishes,

 

Alastair Ramsay – Club Secretary

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