Topic: Cotswold Slopers!

My news letter is at http://www.scsa.org.uk/news/news.htm

Pylon race photos http://www.scsa.org.uk/comp2012/pylon2012.htm

Phil

I think we need a monthly pylon race...

Yes, It was great to go something a bit different, I'd love to do it again. I though the flagging at the other end was the weak link, anyone got any F3F timing gear in their garage?

Chris from the Gloucester club has done write up of the Pylon racing

http://www.glos-mfc.co.uk/blog/blog12/jan12/jan12.htm

Yes, it was a grand day out on Sunday at the races !   Please can we have more . It was good to meet so many new people .
We ought to have the odd Club meeting afterwards in a suitable hostelry .

Tim C.

There has been a lot of support for running something monthly like a league so we will see what we can put together.

Right now I think there good reason to keep it to 60" max wingspan and foamys only to keep it competative and so everyone knows what to focus on building.

Thoughts?

There has been a lot of support for running something monthly like a league so we will see what we can put together.

Right now I think there good reason to keep it to 60" max wingspan and foamys only to keep it competative and so everyone knows what to focus on building.

Thoughts?

There's already an 'EPP60' racing league, but that means travelling around the country and I gather has lots of fiddly rules about coverings and measurements.

A more relaxed local competition would appeal (maybe 60" max, some sane maximum weight and foam construction would be all the construction rules you'd need, I think?)

It was my Acacia that went down - I felt a bit bad about bringing it but it was the onIy thing I had with any hope of matching the M60s and Blutos I knew would be around (and I was counting on my dumb-thumbs to avoid an embarassing win ). I knew the risks and I lost. Ho hum. Good repair practice now

A local race season would certainly be enough excuse for me to buy something more suitable...

Yoyo - totally agree - we dont need a ton of rules and regulations or 3 hours in a car every Sunday!

I know you guys would love the epp60 days, they are just as informal as Sunday with the same amount if not more banter, it really is a good day out. I only really do the local ones ie Whitesheet and The Bwlch but hopefully will do more this year just need to juggle Saturdays around at work.

As for the flagging, I wouldn't say it was particularly bad it's just that the turning point could possibly be translated differently by each flagman. I would definitely recommend not having orange and faded red flags together though

I would be interested in more comps at the slope definitely, maybe every couple of months or so. 17 competitors on the day was a fantastic turnout just can't wait for the next one

Yoyo I have a busted M60 that is taking up loft space I may get rid of, do you want me to send you a pic? Basically the same damage as Brians (busted spar) but I have repaired that just haven't finished taping/recovering etc. No fin either but that's easy. I have a set of instructions I can photocopy too. You NEED a racing plank in your arsenal

I may also put in the 'got a couple of £ to burn' thread, a built and unflown Skua S15, just not sure whether to keep it or not. This is the same model as the other one I had on the day but I have built it lightly and with a single fin.

See you all soon,

John

Yoyo I have a busted M60 that is taking up loft space I may get rid of, do you want me to send you a pic? Basically the same damage as Brians (busted spar) but I have repaired that just haven't finished taping/recovering etc. No fin either but that's easy. I have a set of instructions I can photocopy too. You NEED a racing plank in your arsenal

PM Sent

All,

If you are not already members of the SCSA, why not join?  The annual fee is not much more than the BMFA membership, and a proportion goes to the National Trust, which owns three of the sites (at least) which we regularly use.

John

As for the flagging, I wouldn't say it was particularly bad it's just that the turning point could possibly be translated differently by each flagman. I would definitely recommend not having orange and faded red flags together though

I don't think it was that bad, just that in the first couple of rounds I think two flags were going for the same plane - leaving the unflagged plane to fly off into the distance.

It was better than the Boxing Day attempt though - we all shot off along the slope but the flaggers lost sight of the planes so they all flew off into the distance as one...

Orange and faded red flags are indeed a suboptimal solution. Maybe we (SCSA? Or is this an independent thing?) could spring for at least a new red flag. Maybe with a black flag just for me. Or at least a blue one for 'move out of the way'? 

Meltdowns post overlapped mine.. I've always been a BMFA Country Member as I'm not really a 'clubby' person (can't be doing with the politics) but I think I'll join the SCSA as well now. It's only fair...

Hi yoyo,
pinged you back a pm, as for the flag thing I think maybe replace the orange one with maybe blue or green one and maybe a rising sun one for yourself only kidding. It was a great shame losing the Acacia but I know you'll have it back in the air again.
As for membership, I've always been just a country member as I belong to several clubs and just find it easier doing it that way.

Meltdown, John sorry I forgot to say how stunning your Bluto was and how it looked every bit as good as it did in Ade's pic's..And with how it looked to be flying on rails as they do, 3rd place was well deserved. You will only fly it faster and harder from now on.

SO- when's the next one?

John

As I've pointed out before, you've got to be careful how you say "I'm a  country member", or someone will reply "Yes, I remember!".

John

You beauty.
Fell for that one.

John.

I put together a proposal, pretty much as we discussed today, and pinged it to the SCSA. Looking at second Sunday of each month so it does not clash with other comps. Depending on the response it'll hopefully be a club thing but otherwise independent.

Keep 12th Feb pencilled in...

I've got to say that I think the enthusiasm for this is fantastic and I hope it is given due consideration by the SCSA. I do however think that once a month is too frequent for any event. Not everyone wants to take part in competitions (i.e. they may just want to go to the slopes for a leisurely fly after a week of work) and if at least one Sunday every month the slope is dedicated to a competition it MAY force some to look further afield for their kicks.
 
Perhaps events such as combat, limbo and the like should also be incorporated into a 'calendar'? Personally I believe bi-monthly competitions would be a better alternative and even then it shoud be alternative competitions e.g. Pylon in Jan and May and combat in March and July for example. Otherwise it's likely to be the same faces winning each month which may dampen this rejuvenated enthusiasm very quickly.
Just my two pence.
 

Duly noted Eyeboy. I think the more discussion we can have the better chances we'll find a fit that makes sense.

Perhaps events such as combat, limbo and the like should also be incorporated into a 'calendar'?

How about all 3 at once by using limbo wires as pylons. There might end up being a bit of combat when 4 planes try to squeeze through the first gate. 

The SCSA are to hold 4 summer fun comps, non members are welcome to join in, or you can support the club by joining.

see http://www.scsa.org.uk/comp10.htm

the Malvern club put on 18 competitions, 12 flat field and 6 slope events

see http://www.malvernsoaringassociation.co.uk/cal12.html

On Monday the wind went light and I was able to fly my Experienced Pro, Sqeela took a short video, the noise is coming from a piece of loose tape

Phil's Xperience Pro on Selsley, UK

Phil

Hi, those of you who are members of the SCSA will already have received an email regarding this. We have put together a short survey (10 questions) to get an understanding of the needs and wants of club members and local fliers with respect to competitions.

I'd really appreciate if you guys would each complete the survey which will help figure out a plan and hopefully make our local soaring better for everyone!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8DWZKSM

Thanks for your help,

Ade

Done

John.

Also done! Good idea - will be interested in the results.
 

Thursday at Frocester, a pleasant afternoon except for the hail, sleet, snow and torrential rain.
Phil

Tomorrow is forcast West and dry. I hope it's good for Selsley. I'll be there.
Guy

Tomorrow is forcast West and dry. I hope it's good for Selsley. I'll be there.
Guy

It looks more like Frocester with a chance of rain late afternoon.
I hope to be at Frocester by 2.00PM

Phil

The wind is looking like North for Saturday, then swinging round to East on Sunday. Hmm! What to do?

It looks more like Frocester with a chance of rain late afternoon.
I hope to be at Frocester by 2.00PM

Phil

Me too
Guy

The wind is looking like North for Saturday, then swinging round to East on Sunday. Hmm! What to do?

I would suggest Cam Long down on Saturday and home on Sunday (it's forecast rain or even snow)!
 

I would suggest Cam Long down on Saturday and home on Sunday (it's forecast rain or even snow)!
 

Anyone else for CLD? If I go, it will probably be around lunchtime.

Would like to but realistically I think it's unlikely for me. If I can, I will.

Have a good one if you do go. CLD may be a pain in the behind to get to but it always seems worth the effort.
 

Would like to but realistically I think it's unlikely for me. If I can, I will.

Have a good one if you do go. CLD may be a pain in the behind to get to but it always seems worth the effort.
 

Well I just walked thirty seconds from my front door and spent a very enjoyable 1500mAh flying an electric Passer-X glider from the local playing fields...

I caught one small thermal thanks to a passing seagull, but generally it was cold and flat, most of the seagulls were just sat around!

I did give a few of the local dogs a good run around though 

Well I just walked thirty seconds from my front door and spent a very enjoyable 1500mAh flying an electric Passer-X glider from the local playing fields...

I caught one small thermal thanks to a passing seagull, but generally it was cold and flat, most of the seagulls were just sat around!

I did give a few of the local dogs a good run around though 

I did no better at Minchinhampton, The log shows I found lift but failed to make use of it
Phil

Apologies for not making it up to Minch today Phil. The good news is that I've resolved the problem and so should be on Minch tomorow!

I did no better at Minchinhampton, The log shows I found lift but failed to make use of it
Phil

Whoops. At least with mine there's no evidence (yet).

I actually managed to get out again later on to make the most of the light. It's a red translucent wing so it looked really nice against the clear blue sky. I pootled around up there for ages (with the odd burst to keep it up, obviously ) then when I brought it in to land I realised that at ground level it was almost dark and it was quite tricky lining it up to land when I couldn't see it!

Sunday looks like a Minch day....very little wind....P.M. for me....

Had a nice session with the Alula at Leckhampton today. Plenty of lift and only me and 3 buzzards to enjoy it

I couldn't get away today, never mind tomorrow looks almost possible.
Haresfield might be worth trying, its on the way to Rodborough if there isn't much lift.  And I get the chance to wave at my ferret up a tree.

I couldn't get away today, never mind tomorrow looks almost possible.
Haresfield might be worth trying, its on the way to Rodborough if there isn't much lift.  And I get the chance to wave at my ferret up a tree.

Not the same tree as it set up home in before, is it?

The forecast of 2 mph makes whatever slope somewhat useless....

The forecast of 2 mph makes whatever slope somewhat useless....

A good model sinks at 1 foot per minute, you would only need 1 MPH on a 30 degree slope to stay air borne - but not a good day for bricks.

I am flying at Upton tommorow, it my be a good day for my AVA

Phil