The final official PSSA meet of the year

Well, just over a week since I got back, so here's some pictures.  Most of these are already out there on the 'net somewhere, but I have included them here for completeness.

I manage to stuff the big Antonov into the trailer and drag the big white heap up to the Orme.  No drama in the launch phase, but I was on full pucker-alert on landing - at the top flatter section of the SW / S bowl was where I donked an A10 landing in the distant past.  Anyway, all went OK and she was a bit of a crowd pleaser even though it's a hateful thing to fly.

A full trailer

I tried to sell the Antonov when I was there for £50, but had no takers - shame!

The Stuka was much more interesting and went well, although the C of G was too far back so was a bit pitchy.  A little damage on landing but all repaired now.

The Spit, Hurri and little Mustang all flew without issues too.  All in all a good end to the season.

Some flying and other projects

I had a great 5 hour session on my club slope at Burton Dassett this past Sunday, with 3 aircraft flown.  Booming lift, but very bumpy close-in (the trees at the base are the cause, I'm sure) and massive thermals once pushed out from the slope.

CeePee and Mini-Blade Carbon

Mini-Blade and Valkyrie

The Mini-Blade performed as well as always, but could have done with some ballast I feel, but I flew so many high powered aeros from altitude, I'll forgive it's lightness. I really don't think I've ever flown so many non-stop aeros with any other airfraft as I did with the MB that day - spectacular.

The Valkyrie went well, but it was trying my patience when rigging.  It's probably 2+ years since I'd flown her last, and I'd forgotten just how fiddly the assembly is - she might visit the workshop soon for some mods!

The new CeePee...well, it was blustery.  I managed to push her away from the slope and enjoyed the responsiveness and speed across slope, as well as a few simple aeros.  Alas, the blustery bumpiness took its toll, and she was rolled over close-in on a pass that I couldn't recover from.  The fuselage took a big crack nearly around it's circumference, ending it's day.  All repaired now, just need to add some black solarfilm over the repair.

Onto new stuff, then.

I've committed to a 150% Jet Provost build, which should be a great size for the slope, and have already modelled some cockpit parts.

I've drawn up a 56" Gloster Meteor (Meatbox) F4 plan that I'll be getting laser cut shortly.

And I've started build on something else - another "century series" fighter, that Matt Jones and I are building one off each.

More to follow!

Spitfire maidened, and other PSS stuff

Nearly two weeks since the amazing PSSA meet on the Lleyn, it's time to get things back to normal with a few running repairs on aircraft, and getting the next airframe through into build.  The Spit went very well, held energy well in the turns, and felt quite locked in - not at all like my previous experience of flying a model Spit I must admit.

The Spit received some damage on the second landing of the day, where the tufty landing area stopped the wings abruptly and the fuselage wanted to keep going!  An hour or two in the workshop and she's all repaired again.

The Tiffie continues to impress, so much so she / I won "Best Flown Piston Model", which I was quite chuffed about.  The conditions were great for her, and proves that lighter winds (30ish vs 55mph+ on the maiden) are in her capability.

All photos courtesy of Phil Cooke.

So what's next? I'm not too sure myself, there are a few build in the queue of course - B24, F20, C17, FW190 etc. but I'm getting back into power planes a bit at the moment having joined the local club earlier in the year. 

It's 4 more weekends until the Orme meet, so there won't be any new PSS aircraft from me for that meet, but I hope to get something else done before the year is out - I've completed and flown 3 brand new PSS models so far this year though.

NYE flying, and happy new year!

Well, 2018 is here, and many lovely flying days await us, I'm sure.

Over the holiday period, I managed to meet up with some PSSA pals, and get a bit of flying done on the Great Orme, in a stunning 45mph SW wind on the best slope.  The F15 and Fouga both flew well, but both were damaged on the ground in separate incidents unfortunately, both easy repairs though.

The PSSA at the Lleyn Peninsula

What an amazing weekend!

We had some fantastic weather with the best views of slope soaring in the UK all around us this last weekend, and I'm very happy with the fleet's performance, too.

The SAAB Viggen was at last airborne in style with plenty of circuits over a 15 minute flight that gave me plenty of time to explore the niggles and nuances of this big twin delta.  It's quite strange using the left stick as a throttle on the slope adding or reducing flap on the canards through a turn, and even reducing reflex by adding flap, but increasing drag at the same time.  A strange but enjoyable experience.

The Fouga Magister has at last come of age now too, with all spar and control issues sorted, I flew her the most, including some tight 3-Fouga formation flying with Matty Jones and Rich Henderson.  This aircraft is so solid in the air, with a fantastic turn of speed and roll rate, she really is just the airplane that I wanted her to be.

The U2 and Vulcan were also campaigned a bit, the former suffering a bit of a crack around the undercarriage doors on the Saturday, I thought she better sit the Sunday out.

Anyway, more photos and videos to come of this epic flying trip.

Bwlchfest Sunday

A good time on Sunday with some great flying on the Bwlch. The Fox maiden went well in the end on her second launch, unfortunately she managed to get away from the launchers first time round before they'd pushed her much, but I landed OK on top of the hill with no damage.

After that it was all gravy!  The skies were a bit grey and with the CofG on the rearward point, I landed her after about 20 minutes.  Happy to say the brakes work well, but I had a CFIT moment and scuffed the fuselage on an access track around the tail wheel mount, and snapped an elevator linkage. 

Quite a strange failure, but at least she flew and I think it's a keeper for now.

Stop taking the piss when I'm flying!

The highlight for me was my F104 flight.  33mph with 50+ gusts, and she handled it very easily.  It was wonderful to see her on only her second flight grooving around with very axial rolls, and quick height gain when required.  As expected though, a tip tank was damaged on landing, so one flight was all she got.  I think I have a solution for the tip tanks to be easily knocked off but sturdy enough to stay on in flight - as the damaged tank is already repaired, I will try and incorporate it before the Lleyn meet.

Leave me alone!

Flying The Cloud, Bosley

We had a great impromptu PSSA meet on The Cloud on Wednesday, with a lovely 37-40mph NE cracking in on the big slope.  The Flanker went very well (donked on landing unfortunately) and the U2, too.

Here are some pics, which I should mention are all courtesy of Phil Cooke.  Please, do not re-use these without his express permission :