The Great Orme PSSA Fly-In – 10th/11th October 2015

A fantastic weekends flying clutched from the jaws of cancellation!

Phil Cooke’s report rounds off the 2015 season – Photos by Phil Cooke & Matt Jones.

This event was very nearly cancelled on the final run up due to the forecast suggesting low strength South Easterly winds.  The day before a ‘go/no go’ decision was needed, the winds swung to the East, a flyable direction at least, but the strength was still only 9mph and there was a lot of ‘toing and froing’ in the minds of the organisation committee.  Thankfully, in hindsight, we made the right call!  The 2-day event was run and in reality, we enjoyed 15-25mph Easterly winds on the slope both days and some superb conditions were enjoyed by all who travelled.  Proof once again that the coastal slopes really can do their own thing, regardless of the forecast.

The wind direction saw us flying at the top of the dry ski slope high out over Llandudno’s famous pier.  This is a superb slope for quality, smooth lift, but not one for the feint hearted with little or no land out area should you have a problem, and a landing zone at the back renowned for its rotor and bumpy arrivals when the wind is blowing.  Nevertheless, everyone had a go and a lot of PSS flying was achieved both days!

After a late start on Saturday I arrived in time for lunch, with the event in full swing.  The slope saw people park either in the Ski Centre or by the ‘half way house’ tram station, both routes requiring a 15 minute walk from the car meaning you can only get to the slope what you can carry.  This limited the number of PSS models on show at any one time, but I think over the 2 days we saw well over 35 models in action.

Andy Meade’s large silver Boeing B-52 was the first model of note I recall flying, the lift was superb, smooth and plentiful despite the average wind speeds and the big bomber enjoyed eating up a lot of sky in characteristic BUFF fashion!  At the end of his flight Andy landed out someway short of our position and we spent some time looking for his engine pods which had knocked off (by design) in the long heather.  Eventually these were all found and the model was returned to the pits in one piece ready for another mission.

There were a number of Jet Provosts on site, as ever, still in effect following our 2014 mass build – and these were flown extensively throughout the weekend.  On Saturday Steve Houghton had joined us from Cheshire, he enjoyed sorties with his attractive Red, White and Blue JP, matched at times by Steve McLaren, Peter Garsden, Matt Jones and Phil Cooke with their renditions of the type.  We continue to have a lot of fun flying these little models – especially when there are a number of them flying at the same time all tailchasing the lead – testament to the Andy Blackburn design!

Phil Cooke and Matt Jones successfully test flew the prototype of a model aimed at the 2016 mass build project, an O/D McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (below). Spanning 36″ this all built up model weighs in at just under 2.5lb giving it a loading of 17oz/sq foot.  Initial test glides performed rear of the slope proved the model to be a little nose heavy, and 2 minor adjustments and repeat glide tests soon had the model ready for the slope.

The test flights went very well, the model handling the average wind speeds admirably and proving to have no real vices, indeed bar a slight adjustment to the incidence of the tailplane the design is effectively ready to go to print.  A number of flights were completed, the Tx was handed around to a few of the flyers and everyone agreed the model felt solid and was easy to fly.  More on this design and our plans for the 2016 mass build in the near future!

There were a number of Vulcans flying, worthy of note as this particular weekend saw the ‘Farewell to Flight’ UK tour sorties being performed by the last flying full-size aircraft XH558.

Peter Garsden, flying his model built from the Ian Benson plans, and Tim Mackey flying his Mark Kettle designed EPP version (top right) both performed some impressive formation flying, too close at times resulting in some gentle mid-airs from which everyone recovered safely and flew on!

Dave Gilder flew his impressive all foam Airbus A380 (below right) on a number of occasions, the model well proven and refined with the engine nacelles now opened up to the airflow.  Dave was seen pushing the model very nicely at this event, his confidence clearly growing, indeed at one point Dave literally ‘flew the engines off’ his model, with a couple of nacelles ‘letting go’ of their magnetic retainers with the high airspeeds being achieved!

Thankfully the nacelles blew safely back onto solid ground allowing Dave perhaps to increase the strength of the retainers should he wish, prior to the next outing.

We had been joined this weekend by Dirk Tinck with is impressive O/D Fouga Magister, (below, left) an EDF model by design, ideally suited to the slope as demonstrated on the Sunday when the model flew superbly on more than one occasion.  Dirk had travelled all the way from Belgium to fly with us on the famous Great Orme, a huge commitment particularly considering the uncertainties with the weather forecast! – Thankfully the conditions allowed us all to fly well both days and Dirk left the slope on Sunday evening well content with a good weekends flying!  It was great that Dirk was able to join us for the meal and a few beers on the Saturday night – as usual the social element to the weekend was a highlight and it was a pleasure to share Dirks company throughout.  We look forward to seeing Dirk return to the UK to fly again with us in 2016, next time perhaps travelling with a few of his fellow Belgian PSS modellers?

Sunday saw a few models on the slope that hadn’t been rigged on Saturday with the walking involved from the cars.  Andy Meade flew his gorgeous Horten Ho229 to good effect, this really is a well refined flying wing.  We also got to see Steve McLaren fly his superb Folland Gnat (above right) in good conditions.  Steve is still refining the models balance point but from the evidence this weekend I would say its just about right as is – the model flying really very well and looking superb against the backdrop of the Llandudno sea front.

Billy Griffiths flew his large EPP NA Mustang to good effect, clearly enjoying himself in the abundant, smooth sea lift, as did Peter Garsden who flew his impressive Tornado in the prototype colours of the original MRCA.  By 5pm on Sunday, with the conditions still ideal for PSS flying, our thoughts began to consider the journeys home that lay ahead – and the event was brought to a close.  I left feeling very fortunate for such a fantastic weekends flying, the forecast on the run up was dire and we did come very close to cancelling the event to avoid unnecessary travel.  In actual fact we were able to bring our 2015 season of events to a most successful close!

Matt Jones and I both took a lot of photos at this event which can be viewed HERE and there is some post event chat and photos on our forum pages HERE.

2016 is an important year for us as an Association, the 30th Anniversary since the formation of the PSSA by Alan Hulme in 1986.  Work is underway with plans to mark this Anniversary with a number of additional events, including another Mass Build project – and potentially some events away from the slope – the dates and details for which will be published as soon as possible.  See you all in 2016!