IPC Fall 2007 SAA ( Scottish Aeromodellers Association )

From Andy Lewis:

Phone calls were made between several fliers on a warm morning for this time of year. This was a couple of days after the rescheduled, “Monsooned off” National Championships, from early August. Due to the lack of totally flat flying field the crowd gathered at the field currently being used by the Linlithgow Model Flying Club, not the one was used for the Spring 2007 IPC as the farmer had turned this into arable use. The area in current use is less than satisfactory one from a competition point of view, due to the irregular terrain; the wind direction prevailing necessitated a downhill landing approach plus a large pile of intimidating rocks located on the crosswind approach to deter a landing up the slope. The usual drop of 3C from the valley floor to the flying area was apparent but the 5-10 mph wind did not chill the body too much as the top temperature was around 14C, tropical at this time of year. The only point of note was Tom Preston using a TX with a low battery warning, bleeping for his last two flights and a spare pilot constantly looking over his shoulder giving him readings from the meter and his time keeper shouting in his other ear, with his flight time. Fast charge lead was left at home in his rush to make some scores. There is another score, from Ron Russell, that was not sent to me but forwarded direct to your good selves. Andy Lewis

From Ron Russell:

The Scots lads have completed the tasks and I think Andy Lewis is forwarding them to you. I will double check and see if they have done so. I will send them if they haven't as yet. I have flown as well but not with the other guys, distance and time being the restraints, plus the site I flew is considerably better that the one they used but don't tell them. I had to make use of an afternoon on a local site which I have used before with some local kids.

The site is to the North of Glenrothes, Fife and is now closely surrounded by houses. Over the last few years what was a good open flying site has become a bit of a no go area for more than one or two fliers. I prefer not to encourage its use to too many fliers from other towns because of this. It is a convenient small site that we locals can use and want it to remain so. It does get some helicopter usage as well but not much, I think they break too many blades to be out flying lots.

As I no longer work for a living and have spare time on my hands I had been intending to sort out an electric Tracker I had recently purchased. However the conditions turned too good to waste with an electric model, late afternoon 3 -5 mph warm, dry lifty air. So the winch was run out, the Pike Perfect rigged, (yes I have moved on from the Pike plus models, they are now flying in the hands of a couple of comparative newbies, well newbies to moulded models anyway). As usual some locals had gathered and volunteers requested, then the stop watches were passed to them. A brief reminder of the job in their hands was given and it only then dawned that it was the same lads as last time, gawd they had changed. A test flight ensued, model OK, winch OK. Right go for it, I think I panicked on the last flight, going for a slightly too fast landing and skidding a bit, what a bummer. One of these days I am gonna hit 5 X 100 point landings and 5 X 6.00 but not this time.

Once the flights were in I continued flying for another hour or so, 20 min flights were not difficult, so I risked my precious to the hands of the time keepers, they have flown models before but it was the usual power models, left hand circuits, regimented boredom for kids. Surprisingly they liked the gliding so a weekend is to be arranged where I introduce them to slope soaring on our local hill, East Lomond. It was where last years Viking Race was held, maybe you heard about it? Once I get my web site back on line, yes something else is up with my 'puter, but this time only the web site. I think it has exceeded the space allocation on the server I use, so maybe just buying more space will cure it. it is over 50 meg and covers 45+ pages at present.I can run on a lot when I am in the mood for web work.

Ron Russell