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Pilots
and models group for the photo call on the Saturday.
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This was the
first weekend event of 2 planned for the 2009 PSSA season
upon the Great Orme, Llandudno - a favoured coastal site
with good slopes and landing zones available to us for
nearly all wind directions.
The forecast
was dry and sunny but with a wind speed I fear perhaps put a
few members off travelling? - It was showing 10 to 12 mph
from the SW for Saturday and slightly less for the Sunday.
Nevertheless, I loaded up and made the journey, you really
never can be sure at these coastal sites and anyway, the
forecast was for sea level in Llandudno, not on the edge of
‘The Big Rock’ where surely the wind speed would be higher!?
I arrived in
the car park at 10am and was greeted by a few local flyers
that were up for the day to see our PSS models in action.
The wind was blowing the forecast 12mph already and before
anyone else was on site I tested the slope with a trusty
sports model, it was working very nicely with the smooth sea
wind reacting square onto the SW face.
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Busy slopes governed by the Peg Board! |
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Whilst
rigging my PSS machines other PSSA members started
to arrive and quite quickly we formed a group of
over a dozen pilots, with more than 20 PSS models
between us. Pleasingly there were a number of new
faces and new models in attendance - joining the
usual suspects - which when combined with the superb
conditions made for a very successful first day.
With
the numbers present we flew using the ‘peg on’
system on the Saturday and the skies were kept
nicely active throughout the day. By lunch the
windspeed was averaging an impressive 24mph on the
edge, perfect for any of the PSS models on site, and
the vast majority of the models pictured in the
title group photo were flown successfully on numerous
occasions. |
There were a
number of models worthy of note. Ron Cooper flew
his beautifully crafted O/D DH-108 flying wing to good
effect, all built up to 50" span. David Fettes and
Andy Reid had travelled from Scotland with a mass of small
scale models, including a GWS P-40 Warhawk and ME-109, both
of which looked great and handled the conditions very well.
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Ron Cooper with his O/D DH-108 |
David Fettes launches his GWS P-40 Warhawk |
Kev Davies flew his
72" span Lancaster from the Priory models electric kit,
converted to PSS which really looked the part cruising out over the
coast, and Tim Mackey got in a number of sessions with his BAe Hawk in Red Arrows colours. Alan Hulme enjoyed
flights with his O/D Fairey Fulmar and Ripmax Spitfire,
whilst Simon Cocker and Phil Cooke flew their T-33 duo and
Conway BAe Hawk at length.
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Adding a touch of PSS
nostalgia - there was a pair of Aermacchi MB-339s built
from the vintage Dragon Models kit, brought by Simon Cocker and by
Steve Howarth, who completed our trip down memory lane by
flying his Micromold U-2 model!!
By
6pm most flyers had packed up and departed, some planning to
return the next day. Simon Cocker and I couldn’t leave, the
conditions were just too good up there. We flew on with
our T-33s, Hawk and Aermacchi until gone 8pm, enjoying
exclusive access to this magnificent slope before heading
down into Llandudno for a well earned late supper!
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Simon Cockers' Aermacchi MB-339 caught at sunset! |
Sunday dawned
and as I arrived again on the slope I was met by the sight
of a P-51 duelling over the Irish Sea with a FW-152! This
was Steve Kemp and Steve Howard, both new arrivals and when
asked they told me they had been dog-fighting since 9:15am!
So the wind started out much stronger than forecast, and it
remained like this until about midday, when we were
dominated for a couple of hours by thermal activity and
during this period the slope lift was not sufficient for PSS
flight. Thankfully the winds returned and from 2pm we were
again able to fly the majority of PSS models to the full.
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Steve Howard launches his Focke-Wulf FW-152 |
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Alan Hulme patrols the coast with his Spitfire |
Before lunch we
were joined by Alex Whittaker from RCM&E magazine who set
about capturing all the action with his camera, both on the
ground and in the air! The wide range of PSS models flown
throughout the day will have certainly provided Alex with
plenty of material to write about so keep your eyes peeled
for your picture in the next issues of the magazine!
Many models
were flown on Sunday that were not present on day 1 and this
again made the event a particular success, I’d estimate a
total over 50 models brought to the event over the 2 days.
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Steve Kemp beats up the slope with his A-4! |
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Of particular
note on Sunday were the squadron of models brought down from
Lancashire by Pendle Hill modeller, Steve Kemp.
Steve was
airborne throughout the day with either his AMD A-4 Skyhawk,
his ModelTec P-51 Mustang, his RCM&E plan built P-47
Thunderbolt or his new Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter built
from the South Coast Sailplanes electric kit.
Spanning 47" and weighing in at
just 820g the Zero was maidened at the event and showed
promise despite a rearward CofG causing Steve some problems
on its first mission. |
We flew on in a
relaxed manner off the peg until late afternoon. By 4pm
Alan Hulme had issued and counted the voting slips in the
usual 4 categories and made a short presentation as a formal
round up to a great weekends event. The prizes of fine
wines were taken as follows;
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Best Static Jet |
Phil Cooke |
BAe Hawk T1 |
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Best Static Prop |
Steve Kemp |
Mitsubishi A-6M Zero |
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Best Flown Jet |
Phil Cooke |
Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star |
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Best Flown Prop |
Steve Kemp |
North American P-51D Mustang
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With the highest summed total of votes the 2009 Great Orme
PSSA Trophy went to Steve Kemp.
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Alan Hulmes' WWII collection
(L
to R) - Kittyhawk, Fulmar (O/D) and Spitfire |
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Steve Kemp launches his winning Zero fighter |
This really was
a memorable event, not only were we blessed with superb
flying conditions over the 2 days – but for the first time
in a long time we also attracted a crowd of modellers and
machines from all over the UK that really created a sense of
Association and purpose.
A link to many more photographs taken at
this event can be found
HERE
There is a
second 2-day event planned at this superb coastal site on
26/27th September, fingers crossed we have another weekend
on a par with this one and I hope you can join us there!
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