Been Flying

Flat calm and almost sunny, but no flying for me.
The damn Creamfields pop-noise concert have taken over our field a day early, again, and there are crash barriers all over the place, and about 8 caravans on the field.
So I'm stuck now for the next two or maybe three weeks!

The 'Reds' were still stuck in Canada - grounded by the poor weather, the last I heard of them.
The Hawks are reaching the end of their useful life, which is why they are only flying a seven-ship, not the usual nine - in an attempt to extend the useful life, as - as yet - there is no replacement fast jet trainer to replace them.
Of course, I didn't have any flight tracker turned on, so I can't say what those jets that S saw - were. (possibly the 'B' team in regular Hawks?)
I could clearly hear the mud-fields bass lines and percussion from here, on the Sunday, so either the wind had changed, or they'd turned the amps up for the final day.
I'll go and find out what kind of mess we have been left with - on our field -  in a few days.
I read on the local facebook chat page that one of the regulars thought it was quieter this year, so I suggested that perhaps they were going deaf! I won't repeat the response!

Flying for me, today.
Yes, we've got our field back for another year. The track leading to it has been well-hacked up, though, with pot-holes ruts, and ridges all over.
Still - this year they had taken ALL their debris, not left it scattered all over the 'rough'.

I got there for 9.00, first there of course, and got the cabin open and the kettle on.
Then I spent half an hour searching for the wind-sock pole!
It turns out that possibly Graham had put it into the mower shed.
With the sock up, it began drizzling! So I sat in the cabin for a while, and watched the world going round.
At about 11, Lee arrived with his big gliders and his 3D electric helicopter. I think he scared the drizzle away - because the forecast South wind was a flat calm for now.
I flew my Decathlon a couple of times, then after Lee had finished thrashing his heli about, I tried the new mini-glider, the SG133.
It took a bit of pratting about to get the trims right, and then the 1S 180 battery decided that was enough, and the motor cut out. The model floated down into the long grass off to the side of the pits, and a short walk rescued it.
That's when I discovered that the battery hadn't run down, when I was fiddling with the elevator trim, I'd successfully turned the transmitter off! Now I know the fail-safe works, and I need to make a little guard to go at the side of the switch, like I did with the ducted fan Hawk, a couple of months ago.

At about 12, Stew turned up, but not to fly, he was just passing, and called in to see if the field was accessible.
Then Ed arrived, with a couple of models, one of which he'd forgotten the wing for!
Lee left.
I can't recall if it was Mike or John R that arrived next - pretty much at the same time.
Still later, Alan called in just checking that everything was ok. He didn't stop long.

The sun came out to play, and everyone that remained was peeling layers off.
BUT - the wind picked up  from the South, so the air got rather bumpy.
That left John, Mike, and self chatting about this n that - ranging from what the new PM - Burnthem - was messing up, to car electronic gadgets that keep going wrong. That topic was triggered by Chris, of the FPV's, who had succeeded in locking himself out of his electric car at home!
By 5, there was just me left, watching the world still going around.
I locked up at 6.
Four Decathlon flights, and one SG 133, Nobody crashed, although the grass needed cutting, but was too wet, so that as models landed they tripped up.





 

Something a bit different - Bert Rutan strikes again! - 

Minimum r/c SG 133
They DO fly! 

Flying for me, as well
An almost flat calm, initially with lowish cloud, so the jets going into Speke were ducking in and out.
As usual, I was first, at 0930, and got everywhere open and up and running.
Lee turned up a bit later, with his huge glassfibre glider, and his aerobatic helicopter.
Then Graham and Alan, followed by Pete.
That was it for a while,then Mike, Ed, Jeff, Malc, Martyn, and John R arrived. No new models on show, though. Mike had an AcroWot, Ed a home-brew glidery thingy, Jeff had his Mustang and Tundra, both of which went home in bin-bags. Malc had his old pushy glider, Martyn brought his duck and a boxy trainer made up to look like a WW1 fighter, and John R had his Gladiator.

We all flew, in fits and starts, as we also got the grass cut. As it had got quite long, and after having been rained on last night, it was rather wet. When you consider that three weeks ago it looked like straw, it is all nice and green again now. We had to mow a bit, then stop to unclog the wet green gloop from the mower blades, (when everyone grabbed a fly) then mow a bit more. It got done eventually. It needs another cut, yet, as it is still too long. - but 'nuff's enuff!'
I flew the micro SG 133 a couple of times, then sat and watched everyone else for a while, while the tiny batteries charged up again off the 12v I'd put on the bench. Later I flew it twice more, then wondered why it seemed to be taking longer and longer to charge. When I put a voltmeter onto the 12v it was showing 10.5! Somehow all the volts had got used up!
So when everyone but Pete had left, I flew the Decathlon four times, but didn't fly the little Blade heli or the big Kobuz fast glider.
Then Pete and I chatted about the club, how nobody ever volunteers for any tasks, then the forthcoming AGM, when Pete is considering chucking in his dual hats job of Treasurer and Chair, and that Graham wouldn't mind not being Secretary for next year - and who might possibly take on those roles. Under the existing club rules, only members with three or more years continuous can take a post on the committee, which crosses out a lot of recent members!
Then Pete said "Hey  it's nearly 6.30". So we got on with packing up and locking up. 
I left just after 7.