‘Big Air’ PSS conditions enjoyed at the Lleyn Peninsula!

Al Gorham reports from our second trip to the Lleyn this season – 29th/30th July.

Because of the rural nature of the Lleyn Peninsula, this event always has a relaxed, holiday feel to it which makes it a highlight of the PSSA calendar.  A small party of us camped up on the Cilan headland which is adjacent to most of the slopes and along with other members who were local or staying nearby elsewhere, an enjoyable meal was had in Pwllheli on Friday evening in anticipation of some strong lift over the weekend.

Saturday morning brought a 30mph SW wind and blue skies and meant a keen group of flyers soon assembled on the slope further south from Anne’s farm ready to get cracking in the perfect conditions.

Andy Meade advanced the cause of the Messerschmitt Me262 as a PSS subject no end by flying two examples of this futuristic for the time jet fighter.

Firstly his 45” span model built from the Neil McHardy plan was given an airing and flew in sparkling fashion.  Thumbs suitably warmed-up, Andy then prepared his 2m span version put together and painted in record time before this event from the Airworld Modellbau 1/6^th scale fully composite kit.  Finished to represent aircraft white 17 of KG 51, the model looked excellent in its camouflage scheme of RLM74/75/76.  I believe the paints are from the Lifecolor acrylic range and Andy’s spray work had produced a nicely modulated mottled effect over the base colours.

The big 262 soared away effortlessly from a smooth launch by Bob Jennings and began a long and successful maiden flight, where it was soon joined in formation by the Focke-Wulf FW190D9 of John Hey.  I feel certain that John’s FW is built from the old Mick Reeves kit and thus is also 1/6^th scale.

The two high performance Luftwaffe aircraft of similar scale looked very good keeping station with each other and were able to shoulder their way through any bumps in the air with ease.

A model that has been a regular at PSSA events for a while now is Pete Garsden’s Spitfire Vb built from the Cambrian funfighter kit.  Pete looked to be having fun grooving the model around as it was really revelling in the strong lift.

The Spitfire is finished in a scheme that represents it’s time at 57 Operational Training Unit where it was apparently the personal mount of the Battle of Britain ace James “Ginger” Lacey.  57 OTU holds some special interest for me as the unit was based at RAF Eshott near Morpeth in Northumberland in 1942/43 and I have recently done some full-size flying from this very airfield.  It’s a small world!

Another model that has been seen before but put up a sparkling performance this time out was Harry Twist’s Hawker Hurricane from the Matt Jones mass-build plan.  The aircraft represents the last production Hurricane built by Hawker, serial PZ865, but from a time when the aircraft wore a civilian registration being used for post-war air racing, often flown by Group Captain Peter Townsend.  The rich dark blue scheme with gold trim showed up beautifully against the light blue sky as Harry put her through some lovely aerobatics.

Jez Billington flew a gaggle of impressive PSS models during the day, but perhaps the crowning glory was his successful maiden flight with his Avro Vulcan B.2.  The large and imposing delta was built originally from the South Herts Models plan by Andy Meade and incorporates a Blue Steel nuclear missile.  Jez has carried out a refurb and repaint and was well-rewarded with a solid first flight in his hands.

Bob Jennings got his first sortie in the bag with his DH Vampire.  This model, from the DB Sport & Scale kit was previously flown at a PSSA event last year by Andy Meade, but Bob has since acquired her and repainted the model in a stunning Swiss scheme with dramatic diagonal striping – looked ace!

Flying went on until 6.30pm in the evening, when most decided it was time to retire for the day.  We enjoyed some banter, beverages and a BBQ at the campsite and looked forward to cramming as much flying as possible into a shorter than desired window the following day….

I think that everyone was aware that heavy, persistent rain was coming on Sunday afternoon, but the morning was fine and a 25mph WSW wind found us on the slope behind Anne’s farm ready to commit aviation.

Although only around ten or so flyers turned up (no doubt others were put off by the coming rain!) what happened next will stand out for me as a great PSS memory:

Models were readied and launched, and it quickly became clear that we had a gaggle of 6 jet aircraft of close performance in the sky together.  It seemed natural that we would form up on one another and it was great fun to have five other models screeching across the slope behind my Hawker Hunter.  As we continued to formate, all the pilots seemed to get more comfortable with the formation and edged closer together.  It was a fine sight to be able to watch your own model carefully and still enjoy the sight of the other 5 models airborne in the same view.  Great flying by all concerned and great fun!

That man Jez Billington was able to complete another first flight with a rare type.   He had brought his recently acquired Dassault Ouragan, Jez told me that the model is 57” span and weighs 3.5lbs which seems very light and will have accounted for the excellent soaring performance we witnessed!  The model is all built-up balsa construction with a planked fuselage.  Originally designed and built by a French PSS enthusiast (naturally for a classic French aircraft!) Jez has become her third owner and almost immediately following launch, he joined in with the 6 aircraft formation: testament to the model’s stability and good handling.  Nice to see something different – I wonder if we’ll ever get an Etendard?

Sadly, around lunchtime the predicted rain set in, but those of us staying on until Monday made the best of the afternoon with a PSSA group visit to the small but very nicely formed aircraft museum and café at Caernarvon Airworld – highly recommended if you are the area!

Some hardy souls did manage a couple of hours more flying on Monday morning before the rain returned and it was all too soon time to make tracks and reflect on some fine flying.

Further photos from the Saturday and Sunday can be viewed HERE.

We must thank the Lleyn MAC as always for the generous use of their fantastic slopes….