A Little Bit of Self Isolation on Mill Hill

In today's climate of the fear of spreading the dreaded lurgi to each other the 3 of us intrepid flyers decided to undertake some self isolation up on Mill Hill. Unfortunately, for us a number of other model slope soarers had the same idea.

Rob P, John M and I met at Mill Hill around 2pm, we found John already assembling his F3F 2.9mtr wing span Strega V tail and Rob P brought along his F3F Needle and a Mini Graphite 1.9 mtr wing span produced by Valadmir's Models and I as usual, had my SAS Wildthing 46 inch.

Flying was already in progress by the time we had arrived, so we joined in. The weather was good with a strong blow and good visibility despite the low sun. A number of SAS Wildthing flyers were practicing their combat skills on the lower slope to the left of us with one of their models landing in a tree.

Today was a very good day for the F3F class of model glider. Both John M and Rob P made some very impressive landings, very well done to the both of you.

                                                    Rob P expertly landing his model

Then John M had an unstoppable urge to fly his newly acquired scale model Pilatus. He even managed to return back to his car and have a good rummage in the boot, only to return empty handed. With his head bowed he accepted that today was not the day for the Pilatus to have it's first and last flight. Maybe next time John.

                                           A good turn out of some very nice model gliders

I managed to get some more stick time in today but one of the highlights was being witness to a fellow Willow flyer who attempted to catch his glider as it was about to land. Running towards the incoming glider he stumbled in the grass, managed to grab the glider as he fell but sacrificed himself and fell away from the glider rather than on top of it, which would have been rather expensive. Shame the video camera was not running at that time.

Mill Hill Saturday 7th March 2020

The forecast for today was SW between 9 and 20 mph, so we went to Mill Hill to do some gentle flying.
When I arrived there were two other fellows already there doing some combat and I asked them whether they had called Air Traffic Control and they said yes and were given the OK.
Paul then arrived, followed by John M and we all started flying (the other guys stopped the combat and flew more respectfully). I had my Coyote, Paul had his Highside and John flew his Wisel.
After about 10 minutes in the gentle breeze, the wind got up and became quite turbulent. John and I landed our light models, but Paul was able to remain aloft with his heavier Highside.
I had a couple of flights with the Coyote, but then it got too blustery for such a light plane, so I landed.
Paul was doing a brilliant job of landing without flaps (how ?) as usual with his Highside, but one landing skidded all the way along the grass and took off again - was that intentional Paul ?

Robin A joined us and flew his home-made white wing which also had some difficulty penetrating the wind, but Robin did well and managed some brilliant landings.

Meantime John rigged up his newly acquired (from me) Starlight 3000 (which I got off Chris Foss) and I launched it into the wind and it went straight and true except for needing a little down elevator trim.

After some trimming and testing the flaps, John gave an expert landing considering the blustery conditions. He decided that was enough for the day.

Later, Rob P arrived with two models, one I can't remember (sorry) and the other was a new Mini Graphite. After we range tested the Mini G Rob launched it and it flew brilliantly with another great landing so that Rob could make some more adjustments to the mixes. Later he told me that he had 10 more flights with it, so that's well and truly 'maidened'.

By the way we all had our Operator IDs on our planes despite not needing them until end of June and the other two fellows also had done the same.

A great day but very cold and we retired after about an hour and a half.

Rob 

New project on the horizon

Even though I've not quite finished, my phase 6 sport project with flaps, hoping to be finished soon I've eyed up and committed to my next model.
A Blejzyk Mefisto is it name, some my know the range of models, from the designer and builder Artur Bejzyk from Poland. http://www.blejzyk.pl/en/
They are works of art and receive great ratings, there are many builds over the net to read,  Robin A also has one in the club and from speaking to him highly rates it too.

I've chosen this model since I want a range of model for all conditions, even though we've had a hell of a lot of wind this winter, I wanted something for those lighter days.
This model has a 1.9m wing span and only weighs 370gs empty, so hoping to only weigh 750-800grs finished.
The designer produces his range with a chose of different wing sections, I've chosen the S6063 for slope flying, which is slight faster than the other profile on offer HN1033 .

I hope the build goes well and I'll try to report back on it progress when I start.
Please take a look at this YouTube video link, of one in flight and I aspire to be able to fly like this pilot.

https://youtu.be/x_arPaDyD4I