Given the vagaries of the English climate, planning a fly-in five months in advance seems a little imprudent, but it is the fate of event hosts to come up with dates well ahead to fit into a tight calendar.  So tight in fact that the SSA later moved the Callow Bank date to accommodate another club who had chosen the same weekend to host their event.

The site, on the south-west corner of Sheffield, looking down on beautiful countryside over the Peak District between Higger Tor and Stanage Edge, is close to the road and parking, has a fine landing area and in a good westerly is hard to beat.

Like Rome, Sheffield is built among seven hills (there the similarity ends, incidentally) and the fact that the weather forecast for Sunday 23rd May predicted light westerly winds meant that the slope, at 1500 feet, would probably be good for a 15 mph Westerly.  This was something of a relief because, as the organiser I felt responsible, in some way, for providing good flying weather!  In truth however I had visited two other venues in recent months only to find bright sunshine and flat calm at one and pouring rain at the other but blamed no-one, enjoying the journey and the day out if nothing else.

Conditions at the slope at 9a.m. were far from ideal; the wind coming across the slope from the North-West with an occasional distinct chill in the air didn't give me confidence that PSS models would fly well, despite the fact that I was able to gain good height with a moulded model.

Fortunately modellers will do almost anything to get out of the house and before long visitors began arriving bringing an array of aircraft.  Although conditions improved during the day the weather was far from ideal, and it took brave souls to launch the product of many hours labour into the air at the risk of landing out down the slope.  Having flown a slippery model early in the morning I took a second chance later in the day, only to face a long steep walk to retrieve the plane several hundred feet down in a field.

Andy Blackburn had travelled from Windsor and was not to be beaten by the conditions and there were some anxious moments as his beautifully crafted MiG-19 struggled to gain height.  Generally flights were brief and eventful, testing skill and nerve, fortunately with few mishaps and the atmosphere became more relaxed as the conditions improved during the afternoon.  Mike Stott of the SSA took some fine shots of the flying in the bright conditions, but I was disappointed that the predicted Westerly wind never arrived. 

As usual there was some fine flying of detailed, scratch-built models that made the day worthwhile and a very pleasant change from all the sixty-inch V‑tailed slopers and foamie flying wings that have become so popular on the slopes.  I was the victim of my own enthusiasm later in the day when my Spitfire bought it when an over- exuberant loop too close to the slope resulted in the inevitable, and I still can't decide whether to piece together the wing or give up and bin it!

On behalf of the SSA, thanks to all who attended the event and now that you know the venue well, after two visits, please come and join us again on Sunday 12 September, at this fine location among the rolling hills of Derbyshire.  I can't promise that the wind will be strong and Westerly but there will be a warm welcome to everyone - including Simon Cocker's dog, bless him (the dog, not Simon).

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