Hi guys I shall start by welcoming along two new chaps to the club, Nick Smith and Mark Woodland, the club now has 42 members which is a rather healthy figure! I’d like to say a big thank you to those who came along to the Sutton Benger Craft and Produce show. The organisers were extremely pleased with our display and Dave Ruskin’s Gas turbine engine run (complete with smoke!) certainly livened up the marrow and carrot displays! Truth be told I’m staggered the fire brigade didn’t rock up when Dave turned the smoke on because it looked like the blumin hedge was on fire, what a giggle :-).
Safety Notice The committee would like all members to ensure that rounded spinners or safety propeller nuts of the domed type are fitted to internal combustion and electric powered models and that gliders and pusher powered noses should also be rounded (no needle noses) This paragraph has been extracted from the BMFA handbook (General model safety, page 35, paragraph c) and now forms part of our club rules.
Hullavington Rule additions Following on from our last rule change requiring all of us to cease flying 30 minutes before a full size (typically an Apache but Pumas are now frequenting the airfield too) is due to arrive, when we know about it, additional activity requires us to further update the rules.
Both Apache and Pumas have frequented the airfield without prior notification to the Buckley SSO office or indeed us. The possible sudden appearance of these machines requires us to be very much on the lookout at all times. To this end to ensure any full size is spotted in due time to enable either a fast landing or evasive action anyone flying ANY model type MUST have a caller/watcher ON THE FLIGHTLINE. It is no longer acceptable for the watcher to be sitting, talking, or working on another model.
In addition the Olympics seem to have created a raft of Bradley Wiggins look a likes, and they are using Hullavington to practice fast cycling. These guys are moving up and down the runways, quietly and at some speed, and have approached our Flightline from all directions. To ensure we do not conflict with these individuals (mostly Army) it is imperative we keep at a safe height in case one decides to shoot past us from behind, when if anyone was flying low we could have a very unpleasant incident. So unless the Flightline caller/watcher, explicitly after checking the whole horizon, gives permission no one can fly lower than approximately 10 feet. This 10ft becomes our 'Hard Deck' below which; for take offs, normal circuit flying, aerobatics and landings no one can fly below unless their flightline caller has given the explicit OK to a pilots request to have a 'Clear Deck'.
In the event of either full size or fast cyclist incidents the caller must allow the pilot to focus on his model while the caller can focus on telling the pilot how to avoid the incident.
The objective of both these rule changes is to ensure we keep a real look out for the increasing number of full size using the airfield and that we have the discipline to fly high enough to avoid a cyclist, car or standing individual.
These are committee decisions and they come into effect immediately. If anyone needs further information about the caller/watcher role, do give me a call, we could always set up a session on pilot/caller and how it works if thats needed.
Queens Field Just a reminder to everyone to ensure that after opening the gate you lock the combination padlock shut so that it does not go walkies! PLEASE! Also if you are the last one to leave the field please shut the gate and lock the padlock we don’t want to be responsible for a load of ‘new age travellers’ moving in, it could make landing slightly more awkward. . . Please ensure that the shed is opened before flying commences so that access to the fire extinguisher (s) and First Aid kit is as easy as possible. The club will be purchasing a powder fire extinguisher to join the water one that is currently located in the shed. The noise meter and instructions are also located in the shed. As with the gate, please lock the shed at the end of your flying session!
Photos from the ‘Sutton Benger Craft and Produce Show’below:
For Sale
Nintendo Wii Sports £100
Portable 240/12 volt DVD Player £60
IBM Thinkpad Lap Top Win XP £50
13 Foot above ground swimming pool C/W filter pump chemicals & test kit £40
10 Foot trampoline with spring protection £50
Girls Raleigh Mountain BMX bike 10 Speed £50 suit 5 Year plus also have manual
Girls bike needs new brake pads suit 7year plus £20 3 speed
Small scooter £10
Large Scooter £20
3 foot square trampoline By ELC £20 with hand rail
Fish Tank 18x12 with new pump &filter £40
As above but plastic £10
Compaq computer Intel Atom 1.6 gig proc 1 gig ram 150 gig hard drive DVD RE wrIter xp with keyboard mouse & speakers sd ms pro card reader 15 " flat screen monitor ideal to run flight sim £75.00
Makita electric hedge trimmer 31" cutting blade new £35.00
The above items are being offered for sale by Dave Harradine, Telephone: 07974234785 Email: [email protected]
If anybody has anything for sale they would like popped in the newsletter please do let me know, plus Steve Purkiss has added a new ‘for sale, exchange and wanted’ section to the website which is available to use.