propwash

The News Letter Of
The Bury Metro Model Flying Club

Edited by Warren Sherman & William McElroy
Photos by Rob Tomlin & Eb Swarbr

December 2008

Intro

Welcome to the last Propwash of the year! OK so the weather wasn’t great this summer but we still managed to get out there and commit aviation on an irregular basis. New models appeared in abundance and better still more new members than we have seen in a long time swelled our ranks. Novices passed their “A” certs (see below) and are looking to improve.

I don’t think anyone bothered to apply for their “B” certs but what the heck, we just enjoyed ourselves!

Let’s hope next year is as productive but with better weather.

The AGM

It was touch and go but we were delighted to hear Sid Matthews has agreed to continue as Chairman for another year and was awarded a well deserved Honorary Life Membership for services rendered. Ian Watts will take over as treasurer when Ian Harvey moves down South around May of next year.

All the remaining committee members agreed to carry on and after the debacle of the previous year we are all mighty relieved and a vote of thanks went out to all of the management team for there efforts over the last twelve months.

The Chairman’s report made mention of the major events that have taken place during the last twelve months and included the demonstration fly-in at the Bury Drill Hall for the ATC, the two successful club auctions and the welcome influx of new members.

The Treasurer explained why despite making a small profit this year, we must increase the fees to avoid eating into our capital reserved and the increase of £3 for Full Membership £2 for Concessions and £1for Juniors was agreed by a large majority.

The Hoolihan gate was unveiled recently in honour of the sadly missed Bernard Hoolihan, and Annie his wife has been down to the field to make sure the plaque hasn’t fallen off!

Click Photo To Enlarge

The awards ceremony took place with the following results:

Clubman of the Year – Rob Tomlin

Instructor of the Year (Rotary Wing) Dave Prescott

Instructor of the Year (Fixed Wing) Andy Monks

Most improved Flyer (Rotary Wing) Malcolm Cooper

Most improved Flyer (Fixed Wing) Fred Schofield-Graham

See all issues of Propwash in full colour on our website www.bmmfc.com

AGM continued…

The issue of falling safety standards on the field was raised and members were reminded that any breach of rules must be acted upon. Initially a friendly reminder to anyone failing to observe common-sense rules is to be followed by reporting to the committee of any persistent offenders.

Only by pointing out errors to fellow members, however distasteful it may be, can we raise standards back to an acceptable level. See the article below on “A” certs. for more information.

The timing of our monthly meetings once again came under discussion and your help in this regard is needed. In due course a questionnaire will be sent out asking your preferences as to the number and timing of future meetings. Please take a little time to study the proposals and make the effort to respond.

Please note that this is purely to assess opinion, final decision will be made after due consideration of your response.

Re-vamped website

After a number of years Mike Brady our erstwhile webmaster is handing the running of the site over to new member Dave Wilson who is undertaking a re-design and being retired has more time to devote to updating the site than Mike.

It should be said that Mike’s work has put our club on the map and we do get many outsiders viewing the site and this I can vouch for as many visitors to my own site www.rcsupplies.co.uk have come through BMMFC visits.

The new site will become operational in the very near future and certainly before the New Year and can be found at the new address of www.bmmfc.com. Please note this is a new .com address and a dedicated server.

The old site has been taken down and is no longer available.
(Note From Admin BMMFC.COM: The New Site Is Now Fully Functioning and many members have already registered)

Autumn Auction Action

Yet again we attracted a great crowd to our autumn auction. As you can see we had a very large selection of goodies going under the hammer and in fact around £2800 worth of goods were sold on the night! The club benefitted to the tune of nearly £250 if we include the raffle takings of £90.

The only problem high-lighted was the very large number of low value items entered which slows proceedings down and makes for a very long night. Alan got home after mid-night and had to start work the following day at 6.30am!

The committee are looking at ways to avoid this in the future and are hoping to have found a solution to this before the spring autumn.

Our thanks must go to Alan for his fantastic work as auctioneer backed up by Gerry Black, Jock Lindsey, Ken Bamford, Peter Futers, and Andy Monks for their hard work on front of house and of course Sid Matthews for running the accounting system so efficiently under very trying circumstances.

Click On Photo's To Enlarge

Visit our website at www.bmmfc.com

Who the **** is Rula Lenska
Those of you with more hair up your nose and in your ears than on your head may remember a TV advertising campaign starring actress and hot tottie Rula Lenska.

It opened with the luscious lady announcing “Hi I’m Rula Lenska”. In the UK that was fine but in the USA when this advert appeared poor old Rula was a virtual unknown prompting a famous chat show host to comment
“Who the **** is Rula Lenska!”

Where am I going with this? You may well ask. Well in the last issue I attributed ownership of the unusual looking Shark EP model to Dean Walmersley. The real owner I have to admit is Steve Ward and ever since publication so many people asked Steve who the **** is Dean Walmersly, that he can now be seen wearing a T-Shirt which has, emblazoned across the front “I am NOT Dean Walmersley!!”
Dean of course like Steve is one of several new members and in the near future no doubt we will see both of them at the field at the same time and be able to distinguish one from the other with ease and confidence.

OK, so the last issue carried one or two other minor errors; the first picture showing Peter Futers’ latest build, was not the Astro Hog as described in the text but his second Sonerai with the Astro Hog appearing in the second photo, sorry Pete.

Yet further blunders appear with reference to Andy Watson (not Watts) and his big Fokker! Apparently it’s all Andy’s own work and not a school project and more importantly the lozenge design fabric covering is really very reasonable to purchase! Honest it is Mrs Watson! (Don’t you wish your partner took an interest and read Propwash?!)

New Stuff

Last month we ran out of space and so here are a couple of new models seen down at the field.

Click PhotoTo Enlarge

This lovely E-Flight Pitts Model 12 recently changed hands for an undisclosed sum and new owner Austen Ogden has been flinging it around the skies in the fabulous winter sunshine. It runs on electricity of course with a Turnigy motor knocking out around 450 watts is more than enough to allow it to perform with power and grace.

Austen’s second new model shown right, is a Lil Banshee. This Cermark model is now discontinued but can be found on E-bay at just £29.99+£8.00 p&p and is a small 3D model which is capable of all the moves in the book.

Click On Photo To Enlarge

Next up is Dave Wilson’s Cessna Skymaster, a semi-scale foamy which utilises two electric motors in "Push-me Pull-U" fashion. It comes complete from Als’ Hobbies with power train, servos and radio!

It’s got plenty of power and is great fun to fly. Perhaps in due course Dave will get his hands on the tranny, but until then Andy Monks and myself (WS) have been enjoying ourselves no end with this little model!

For lots more photos visit the website gallery.

"A" Certificate passes
Click On Photo To Enlarge	On Sunday 8th December we had two members pass their “A” certificate tests and both have managed to achieve this after just one seasons flying, a testament both to their abilities and the excellent help they receive from our club instructors!	Click On Photo To Enlarge

In the morning Eb Swarbrick (above left) flying a 40” electric trainer flew a near perfect test and as the sun went down Andy Watson flying a IC Jumper 25 proved that he also had reached the required standard. I think this illustrates the true grit and determination of our newbies; or perhaps Andy thought that by doing it in the dark examiner Dave Prescott’s eyesight might be hampered and not spot the occasional error!

Just as an aside, during Ebs’ test our eagle eyed Chief Examiner Richard Budd spotted a couple of safety issues around the pits which once again proves the need for vigilance against slipping standards. The committee members will be on the prowl so beware, you have been warned!

A last thought on tests with regard to changes that the BMFA are bringing in regarding electric flight. Richard has more detail but the basic change is that drive batteries MUST NOT be connect in the pit area. They may only be connected at the flight line. The theory is that once connected the drive system is live and could be activated accidentally at any time. Whatever you may think of this change, I would love to hear your comments via our new chat room at BMMFC Chatrooms

Boxing Day Barbie

Don’t forget the annual Boxing Day Barbie will take place on Friday 26th December with food available courtesy of the committee from around 12.00 noon. All (even Heli Flyers) are welcome so bring the kids and grand kids for a good day out. Should the weather prove un-suitable then the Barbie will take place on either the Saturday 27th or Sunday 28th at the same time.

The ‘Ole Heave Ho!!

The photo left shows the BMFA recommended attire for use when hand launching models on behalf of Mr Gerald Black. This is no reflection piloting skills but would give his volunteers the necessary protection against his landings and would also give them the opportunity to despatch him in a humane manner should he once again complain about the parking!!

Click On Photo To Enlarge