TOPIC: Peterboro Flying Aces 2023

We had a good turn out on the day and it was both calm and sunny – the best weather we’ve had for some years. What zephyr-like breezes there were - ‘thermally induced and of variable strength and direction - could catch out the unwary.

Poor Daniel Rackstraw lost his favourite T-38 Talon which, in a magnificent flight headed off over the lakes, never to be seen again.
Fortunately this was after an equally splendid sortie which landed in the field (good landing points) which won him the 2023 PFA ‘Profile Scale’ gold award. Andy Sephton’s colourful OD Sea Vixen also flew well, but lost points with an undulating cruise and, alas ‘nil points’ for landing when it hit a tent post. Another case of ‘sailor Vee’ (say it out loud!).
Luke Goymour (who now organises this prestigious event), having had little success trimming his just finished Canberra, reached for his little L-1 powered Red Arrows Hawk and made a creditable flight: good steady launch and climb out, a steady cruise in wide circles and straitening up for landing approach. This was good enough for ‘Bronze’ (as the Hawk had won in 2022). Andy Blackwell, whom it was great to see back in full ‘rocket flying mode’ took a lot of time trimming a Delta Dart, after which flew spectacularly (the pilot must have engaged reheat after the climb out) but, as its glide is no better than a bunch of car keys and the motor burned through, the score for landing approach was low and the afore mentioned pilot would have needed an ambulance. Fortunately Andy also flew an Aeromodeller T-38 Talon. This, built from the plan with none of the refinements of Daniel’s Talon (rounded fuselage, sanded aerofoil etc) nevertheless flew just as well. Andy was well pleased with his ‘Silver Award’.
There were fewer entries in ‘Authentic Jet Scale’. Daniel’s Sky rocket was going well until it was done over by some irate passer-by (Ferry Meadows is after all a public space and horrid persons cannot be excluded on the day). Ian Lever’s MiG 15 EDF made a lovely (if, in ‘Jetex terms, sedate) sortie which put him well in the lead until Daniel launched his Skystreak. Having scored well in ‘static’ and leaving an authentic trail of ‘J-47 turbojet’ smoke, it made a well-nigh perfect 9-9- 9-9 score (helped, it must be said, by some good air) which just pushed Ian’s MiG 15 into second place. Derek Knight’s Mile Student (also EDF) made a good flight late in the day and was let down only by a skewed lading. I hadn’t realised before how affected by torque EDF models can be. However, Derek achieved a very creditable ‘Bronze ‘Award’
There were more entries in L-1 Duration than last year. Luke was unable to trim out his promising high aspect ratio model, which left Andy Sephton first with his ‘Fizzlebug’, a classic all-sheet Ian Dowsett design. Bert Whitehead came second with a Snowflake and an indomitable Gary Law third flying a Pelican.
All in all, it was a great PFA. I was kept busy ‘judging’ all day and had, alas, no time to take any photos. This is a pity and I hope I’ll be able to garner some images that capture the essence of day from other sources.

One ‘take home’ message’ of the day was the reliability of the TSP motors. Yes, Andy did suffer a burn through with his Delta Dart (thus the poor landing score, see above!) with an old ‘pre-CE motor) but the L-1 motors for the duration competition were both powerful (100mN) and consistent. Daniel, having had a chaotic flight with his T-38 and a 320mN motor, swapped it for a ‘170 mN’ motor which proved just right for the conditions (again, see above).


Above, 1, Bert's Snowflake; 2, Fizzlebug; 3, Gary's Pelican; 4, Andy Sepgton's Sea Vixen (photo from 2019).



Above, 1, Andy Blackwell looking well pleased with my latest F-15. He fmade a lovely flight with my early prototype; 2, Daniels T-38 in flight earlier this year; 3, Luke's L-1 powered Hawk; 4, another shot of Andy Sephton's unique Sea Vixen. Andy S was flying with old Rapiers and boy, could they be smoky!

What great photographs and, of course, a great report from Roger.
Another memorable flying session that I missed!

I was in Helsinki while all this was going on but I did have a memorable and unexpected Jetex encounter there which I shall shortly write about in the Jetex.org blog.

Hi Guys,
I've just put together a couple of photo compilations gathered from Dave Clark and other of kind folk who took pictures on the field. .



Above a record of Daniel's winning flight in 'Jet Profile scale'. These are nice action shots from Dave Clark.



Above; 1, Andy Sephton's Fizzlebug accelerates away on a TSP L-1; 2, Andy (on the right receives the reward for his endevours from PMFC President Brian Waterland. 3, a nice shot of Andy Blackwell's Delta Dart. 4, Luke Goymour (who organised the whole event) with his bronze winning Hawk.

Great post, I love the Fizzlebug, glad some of your models got an airing too Roger.

Great shots and a good write-up of an excellent day. Thanks, Roger and Thank you for judging and supervision skills

Two more photos, taken by NZ visitor Richard Fallas. It really was a very good day



Above: Daniel's Skystreak high above Ferry Meadows and a Pensive Derek Knight waiting to launch his EDF Tutor.