A mild but windy ‘End of Year’ meet at The Orme
Phil Cooke provides a brief report from an ad-hoc meeting in Llandudno – 3oth December 2024
Carefully monitoring the forecast on the run-up to our (now well established) New Years Eve/New Years Day Fly-In it was clear that Monday 30th December provided the best weather window, so plans were pulled forward 24 hours to capitalise on the more favourable conditions – SW winds, sunny spells and uncharacteristically mild! Around 10 pilots made the day trip, and some excellent flying was had – particularly during the morning session – when the sun was low and around to the south side of our active viewpoint. The winds were strong all day, perhaps a little too strong for ideal PSS conditions but with the right models and with launching performed safely from the lower shelf we achieved plenty of flying!
I got to the Great Orme nice and early, in fact it was still dark as I drove to the base of the hill so I parked up for a few minutes by the pier and enjoyed watching the first of the days sunlight rising above the Little Orme. A few moments of calm before the high energy day which lay ahead! Once on top I had a walk out from the car park to the launch point with my meter and measured winds of 50-55mph. Not a day for lightweight models then, but the forecast had suggested this would be the case and I was confident we’d all have the right models in the boot. I finished my coffee and then began to rig my F-86 Sabre (not that I could launch it on my own in those winds – but I knew others wouldn’t be too far away!)
John Hey was first to join me and we quickly got flying underway as others started to arrive and set up. The lift was phenomenal, and very smooth, but you had to make sure your model stayed out beyond the compression zone, there was a bit of dangerous, choppy air close in which needed to be avoided. Circuits could only be performed with height as there was just so little penetration back into the headwind once your model was round the back. In an attempt to minimise the number of landings throughout the day I enjoyed a lengthy first flight with my Sabre, and John flew his A-4 Skyhawk to great affect. Both jets were carrying their drop-tanks and were revelling in the energetic conditions, with massive vertical elements to our aeros, all very enjoyable!
Andy Meade had a lovely flight with his O/D Gloster Meteor. I don’t recall having seen this model flown in such high winds before but it handled the conditions very ably and looked great soaring out against the wintery skies. Chris Barlow flew his Jet Provost 150 very well and John Hey flew his large FW190-D9 which proved ideally suited for the day – in fact I think the ‘controlled landing of the event’ award would go to John for his remarkably well-tailored approach and touch down with this model – putting it down right where you’d want as if the winds were only 30mph not 60!
Smaller models were successfully flown in the high winds too! – Mike Cavey’s amazing little Beech Bonanza, all moulded foam from the Durafly EP ARTF kit, and at just 37″ span flew great, as did the smaller Jet Provost by James Archer and the little Arado 381 Julia built by Gordon Studley and flown by Martin Gay. All of these went well in the conditions again once safely through the compression zone after launch from the lower shelf.
Later in the day Bob Jennings rigged his Nimrod MRA4 and Andy Meade prepared the Boeing C-17 for flight, but as the winds seemed to increase a little stronger both models remained in the car park, it being deemed just too much to get these large models down to the launch point in a safe and controlled manner. Bob did show off his latest creation, a superb Avro Shackleton, built to a drawing he had modified from the G&M models Lancaster plan. Bob’s level of finish really brings this detailed model to life, and we look forward to seeing the ‘Shack’ being test flown in more suitable conditions.
Having previously seen Chris Barlow successfully fly his Jet Provost 150 and knowing mine was a little heavier, I test flew my latest build of the same type which I’m glad to say it flew very well needing only a few notches of down trim to combat the high wind speeds and huge lift on tap.
I actually had 2 flights, with one of my ’round the back for the camera’ circuits resulting in me having to perform a land-out – the Jet Provost just wouldn’t penetrate and I was able to plop it down into the grass – before a relaunch and another go. I was glad to have tested the model after a recent failed outing attempt, but it was so windy I think I will learn more about its true characteristics next time out in less high-octane conditions!
We flew on as a group until mid afternoon, with the windspeed remaining high, and continuing to rise! It was great to get some much needed fresh air and exercise after the spoils of the Christmas period, and meeting up was a lovely way to end 2024 – many thanks to all who could attend!
A few more photos from the day can be viewed in an album HERE.
Below : Fun and games in the 60+mph winds towards the end of the day…
