|
This event was held on
Sunday 13th October 2002 at The Hole of Horcum on
the North Yorkshire Moors, and was sadly effected
by poor weather. Attendance was limited due to the
dismal forecast, however a dedicated Alan Hulme made
his way over
from Cheshire and brings us this report.
|
A view of Alans'
squadron of models at the Hole of Horcum event 2002 |
There is little to say
about the meeting itself since rain from lunchtime onwards
drove most of us homewards, bedraggled.
I arrived with
Margaret at the roadside car park around 11:30 am. After
co opting 3 willing helpers in the car park I managed to have
all 5 of my models plus food and r/c gear bags conveyed down
the road and around the rim of the bowl to the far side which
was into wind on the day. As sod’s law frequently dictates
the flying site on the day was the farthest possible from the
car park.
The weather did not
look particularly hopeful and the 3 day “Weathercall“
forecast was not too good. However since we were here and PSSA
members from Belgium, Scotland, Banbury and the North East of
England were already on site I lost no time in obtaining an
appropriate flying peg and launching off my Kawasaki
Tony. The wind strength was a variable 8 – 10 mph but the Tony managed
a good 8 – 10 minute flight without me taking any liberties.
| Paul Janssens was airborne at the same time with his
NA P-51D Mustang. Paul had come to the meeting with other friends from Belgium
together with a vanload of models.
A selection of
Pauls' models can be seen here in the background on the right, including
the Mustang (G4-U) and the mighty SR-71
Blackbird. In the foreground are two models
by Dean Smith, a razorback P-51B and a rare 2-seat
Spitfire trainer in Russian colours!
I later flew the Dewoitine
D520, which was originally built by Paul and
subsequently offered through Traplet Press as a plan. This
model still flies as well as ever and is quite striking in its
own distinctive colour scheme.
|
|
The wind speed was now
becoming very patchy and fine models such as the Boulton Paul
P.111A of Andy Conway and the Armstrong Whitworth
AW52 flying wing
jet of Peter Walkinshaw were having a struggle to remain
airborne.
|
Andy Conway and
his BP P.111A |
|
Peter
Walkinshaw's Sea Vixen, Cutlass and AW52 flying wing |
By around 1pm the rain
had set in so the event organizer Phil Dean decided to call it
a day. Trophies were presented by unanimous approval to Paul
Janssens and friends for the long distance attendance and
support for this event. By the time I returned to the car with
models and carriers we were all soaked to the underpants.
Fortunately I had brought along a complete change of clothing!
The flying site at the
Hole of Horcum is superb but with the weather conditions as
they were on the day it proved to be a long journey in vain.
Let's hope that 2003 brings us more luck with the weather and
that we can get the most from the planned events at this
popular site.
My thanks go to Phil
Dean & Co. for their organizational efforts. I understand they
are taking onto the committee a clairvoyant for future event
date selection.
|
2
x Me109, Hawker Typhoon and Aermacchi MB339 |
Larger
scale Cutlass and Sabre by Gareth Logan |
<Back>
|