Hi Guys,
Old Warden, part of the Shuttleworth Trust, allows us aeromodellers to hold three unique meetings a year, where free flight, control line and radio control can take place at the same time.
Historically, the OW meetings majored in free flight scale; these days many more modellers have gone over to the dark side of R/C, and there is a small but keen C/L group.
We all seem to happily coexist, though I have noted some encroachment of R/C into the free flight area.
All sorts of FF are represented - glow and Diesel sport, a goodly scale and sport rubber contingent, and of course us rocketeers!
Ten years ago there were many more of us. Today, the loyal rocketeers are somewhat diminished, but our enthusiasm is undimmed.
Present over the weekend included me (Roger Simmonds), Andy Blackwell, Chris Richards, Howard Metcalfe, John and Mark Digby, David Bott, Tony Brookes and others.
Many smoke trails were made in the splendid sunny and calm conditions and I think we impressed (shock & Awe) the bystanders.
As well as flying old favourites like the Sea Hawk, Wren, Draken and Lansen (these are all very reliable) I was able to trim out my new Alpha Jet MiG-19 and F-106 Delta Dart. Andy also had an example of this latest from the Jetex.org stable, and it was flying at great speed, climbing majestically after low passes. As I said, ‘shock & Awe’.
Chris Richards’ L-3 powered ‘Rocket Boy’ was also in this category, and I was especially pleased that Rog Smith had a fine flight with his Swift, and Dave Causer’s Venom made a couple of good flights. This is a tricky prototype and Dave’s is the best I’ve seen.
The good news is that our motors behaved themselves: the latest L-2s gave many good flights (perhaps they behave better when they are warm?) and failures were few. I hope the interest (and amusement) the jet models provided will lead to more modellers joining in.
EDF is all very well, and I will post about this another time, but a rocket-propelled model, as it accelerates in its flight, leaving a trail of smoke, provides a thrill no other form of propulsion can quite match.
Below are a selection of evocative photos [mainly taken by Ruth Simmonds] of the jet action on Saturday and Sunday.
Above: Rog Smith's Swift
Above: David Bott with well-flown MiG-15
Above: Dave with his (very nice) Jetex.org Wren. it's an excellent performer with L-1. (see the store).
Above: John and Mark Digby are regular rocketeers. John's Junkers 128 for L-1 looks great in the air.
Above: Andy with his F-106 Delta Dart. A spectacular performer!
Above: I do the honors for Andy. Note the use of modified igniter.
Above: having lit up, I wait for the thrust to build up. I finally got my F-106 Dart to fly as well as Andy's! It needs the right motor, though, something with a bit more grunt than a standard L-2.
Above: The F-106 heads for the stratosphere
Above: just a few of my profiles.
Above Chris Richards Yak 15 for L-1.
Above: Howard Metcalfe with just one of his marvelous profiles. I'm holding Chris's Yak 15.
Above: Lansen for L-1. It never missed a flight.
Above: Andy with his Reliable Viggen for L-2
Above: Chris's West Wings F-15 went well with an L-1 HP. Scary!
Above: Dave's MiG 15 in flight.
Above: unknown rocketeer with Jetex Flying Wing. Very nice
Lastly, thanks are due to 'Eagle eyes' Andy for all his model retrieving efforts over the weekend.
Sorry if I've missed anybody. Please post in with your own photos and comments. The next meeting is in July. See you there?