TOPIC: Old Warden Sept 2015

Hi Guys,

we had a couple of wonderful days this weekend. Saturday was busier with an extended and diverse flightline of modellers enjoying the sunshine and very light winds. Sunday was a bit breezier, but again there was a good turnout with many smoke trails in the sky.

I will report more fully when I have recovered from an exhausting two days, but here are some photos taken by Colin Hutchinson and Ruth Simmonds to whet your appetite:



Above: Chris Richards launches his Skyjet.




Above: Chris runs to relaunched Skyjet. It actually made some splendid flights ...



Above: Andy Sephton with his Avro 707Delta. Looks like some nose weight is required (the model, not Andy) The L-2X has sufficient power to hover the model, impyying a thrust of over 200mN. Most of our models fly better and more pedictably on 140-150 mn which is what Dr Z's 'L-2X's' were meant to be.




Above: Colin Hutchinson launches his Slinky powered by a Rapier L-1. Flew well.



Above: My latest Hawk launched on its maiden flight. Despite being overpowered with an L-2X it made a couple of great sorties.



Above: Jetex 50 powered Wren being fired up. Note Andy Blackwell with traditional Jetex igniter!



Above: Wren gets away for a good flight.



Above: Veron Panther also flew well with a Jetex 50. Flights with genuine Jetex were nicely smooth with little smoke and a gentle hiss. And of course that wonderful GN smell.



Above: Wren in flight. Perfect conditions - It's a real treat to see concentric smoke rings in the sky!



Above: the Mirage also made some nice flights.




Above: Nick Aiken brought his new Lightning along. Very nicely finished.



Above: Nick launches the Lightning.



Above: the Lightning in flight. It needs a little more trimming and the right motor, but this is an encouraging start!

And now for something completely different. Model Cutlasses have a reputation as diffucult subjects. Here is my 'semi profile' version:



Above: The Cutlass is now fully trimmed out and made some splendid annd steady flights early on the Sunday before the wind got up. Surprisingly, it flew well with an L-2LT. Anyone like a copy of the templates?

Finally:



Above: Is this the future? Derek Knight with his EDF DH 108 Swallow.

One unusual, nay unique model at Old Warden was Andy's genuine Jetex Interceptor. This RTF model, designed by Peter Cock of Wilmot Mansour is of paper over balsa construction and is powered by a Jetex 50 firing into an augmenter tube.

They are rare today and fetch around 250 GBP on eBay. So it's brave of Andy to fly his and give all us old guys a treat!




Above: This rather nice one appeared on eBay some time ago. Probably went to a collector, not a flyer. Pity .



Above: A 'nose pressed against the window' model if ever there was one. It was way beyond my means way back when. But I now have one in the loft.














On Saturday the Interceptor wanted to fly to the left; on Sunday, to the right! Andy made quite a few attempts, the Jetex 50 motors with 'Red Spot' pellets generally igniting and behaving well, but despite his Valiant efforts, he never achieved a complete flight.

My own 'take' is that it needs a bit more power to come through the initial stall - a Jetex 50C might give more oomph ... or even (heresy!) a Rapier L-2X. I have an Interceptor languishing in its box in the loft. I'll try it out next year!

Howard Metcalfe comments:

" I wonder what was going on with the left/right business, tailless aircraft do tend to wander and go left or right at will if the fin area is insufficient, maybe that’s the problem? If it is stalling after the launch I suggest it is probably over elevated, a few catapult launches would prove that either way. Looks great though".

Here's to next year!