This is now our third year of the FF Scale Fly-in. There are 3 classes run for scale models: a Flying Only event where models are judged on flying realism CD Bill Dennis, Rubber Scale Duration a duration competition for scale models up to 36″ span with a set max and Scale Hi-Start Glider for models of any size using a Peterborough rules bungee

In addition there was a class for FROG Senior models flown over 3 rounds

Last year we were battling a heatwave with our July date, this year ,well it was almost the same story but we managed to run the event just ahead of the record breaking June heatwave. The day began a bit breezy but it did calm down during the morning to provide us with some nice unforecast flying conditions. The rain held off too, well almost, the prize giving timed very ‘nicely’ with a passing shower

A huge thanks to  Martin Bennett and Leigh Richardson for the wonderful pictures

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There’s a video here of some of the flights

Flying Only – CD Bill Dennis

The Flying Only competition was run by Bill Dennis who judged the models on flying realism. The event had 4 rounds with the highest scoring flight to win, Bill gave us a 1 1/2 hr slot in which to fly our models in pursuit of that perfect flight. Each competitor could enter two models which 4 of us did, giving us 12 models lining up for the Flying Only

 The conditions were quite tricky especially for the smaller models, with blustery wind, particularly early on. Lulls could be found for the patient, though Mike Stuart became an early casualty with his Consolidated Fleetster which struggled in the wind. It was great to see a new face, Peter John Carter with his Corsair which put in a very spirited performance for 10^th place. Ahead was the DC Dart powered Rumpler Taube which provided Charlie Jeffreys with some very long retrieves while Mike Stuart fared better with his 2^nd model ,a rubber powered Auster J4 Ambulance to come home 8^th.

Next up were a trio of rubber models separated by just 25 points. My Miles Falcon finished just 10 points ahead of Tim Horne’s nicely flying Stinsen Voyager in it’s very attractive orange colour scheme. Pete Fardell’s Bleriot XI was doing it’s usual job of defying the conditions despite is fragile looking construction. In fact it’s worst incident of the day was being carried out to the flying site in a plastic box and having it’s exposed tail blown off in the wind. With Pete’s first job of the day being to stick it back on, the plucky Bleriot rode anything the meadow could throw at it even heading off into wind at one point. Well I say headed off, it more hung there for a while slowly climbing before gently decending.

The next three were also very close with just 35 points between them. Mike Smith’s DC Merlin powered Tiger Moth was flying very well with a lovely smooth transition from the power to glide and I’m sure I saw it flare on one landing. Just ahead was my Cessna 170 with it’s Redfin TBR .5cc power to gain 3^rd place. It’s from the KK kit and has become a good all weather flyer. If you fancy having a go at an I/C powered FF Scale model the KK range of kits are a great choice for a first model, both the Cessna and the Piper are great flyers. Ahead of the I/C entries though was Pete Fardell’s other model, his rubber powered Stinsen Sentinel. No doubt picking the air helped but this model also seemed to ride conditions with ease to gain its 2^nd place

Out in front though by some margin was Ivan Taylor’s electric ducted fan TSR2 . This is an impressive model both on the ground and particularly in the air. After one of Ivan’s athletic launches to get it up to speed the TSR2 climbed out over our heads into a beautifully wide circuit of the meadow looking to all intents and purposes like the full size aircraft and as the power reduces, the model settled into a scale like landing approach too, it would be hard to better that and so it proved. A superb flight fully deserving the win and for the third year running now for Ivan, the John Blagg Trophy

Hi-Start Scale Glider

The Scale Glider Hi-start class began with our first Scale Fly-in and has proved to be popular with competitors. 7 modellers tried their gliders on the Peterborough Rules bungee this year. There is no size restriction on the class but you need to use the fairly low power 1/8” rubber bungee. In practice it’s seems good for models up to about 50” span particularly if built lightly.

 Pete Fardell’s DH Sparrow looked great on the line but it was reluctant to come off and it also had the unfortuante habit of re-kitting itself after every flight. Colin Sharman was flying his Slingsby Prefect full of the scars of last years competition but still managed to score 3 flight times with a small model in tricky conditions. Simon Burch too with his Slinsgby Skylark found wind a bit much for his 27” model from FROG kit. Ahead was Andy Crisp with his OD Willow Wren. Andy had not had much of a chance to trim it and these weren’t really trimming conditions but despite that Andy managed 20 sec flight on his first go with his larger sized model to give him 4^th place.

For 2^nd place there was a tie with both my own OD Slingsby Eagle and Simon Milan’s OD Valkyrie on 59 points. With neither of us were hitting the magic Max time set at 60s to help determine 2^nd place a fly-off was arranged to decide the result . This was one of the last flights of the meeting and wind had increased ahead of a shower. In the fly-off niether model wanted to get off the line but the better stability of the Valkyrie on the line meant it weaved around doing and almost circle tow type turn before heading down and releasing just above the ground for a 2s flight. My Eagle didn’t do so so well climbing nicely but then entering a fatal dive releasing only just before impact.

Out in front of second placed Simon by some 30s was Bill Dennis with his Schweizer which had a best flight time of 48s and good consistency too to give him the win

Rubber Scale Duration

Rubber Scale Duration is another new class now also in it’s third year and attracted 7 competitors. It’s a duration event for scale models with a simple set of bonuses restricted to things like low wing and whether it has floats. The max is usually set at 90s but as the conditions were quite breezy it was reduced to 60 secs for this event.

Tim Horne didn’t get the chance to take advantage of his 10 point bonus for low wing with his Vultee V1 and broke the prop on the first flight with my Piper. Mike Smith did a great set of scores if it had been rubber precision, which admittedly the model is set up for but in duration it was only good enough for 6^th. David King did better with his Chambermaid behind the amazing peanut Taylorcraft floatplane of Charlie Jeffreys who managed a max on his second flight. The fight for 2^nd was again down to fly-off, this time a Stinsen fly-off between Pete Fardell and Bill Dennis. Pete’s Sentinel came out on top giving him two second places with the same model. Mike Stuart was the winner with 1 max and over 30s ahead with his Howard DG8

FROG Senior

In the FROG Senior both Simon Milan and David King retired in the windy conditions while Jim Paton fared better to secure 3^rd with his Redwing . Event CD Gary Law found time between running the event, to come 2^nd with his Redwing with one flight just 1 sec away from a max,  while Mike Stuart showed how it should be done with a max and two flights over 45s to take 1^st place

The fun-fly was popular part of the event too, Paul Notley was flying some lovely scale models and Ivan Taylor treated us to flights of his other electric ducted fan models . The sight of an EE lightning over the Meadow was a real treat . It wasn’t all scale models either , Jim Paton flying a variety of small vintage models, Dave Monk with his P20 and Coupe and Simon Rogers all enjoying the relaxed flying and general atmosphere

Finally a huge thanks to the rest of the organising team , CD Gary Law and Alan Trinder as well as Bill Dennis for taking on the CD role in the Flying Only and running in his usual smooth and relaxed way.

 We are already thinking about next year so if you like the sound of it keep an eye on the Aeromodeller calender for the date or checkout the club website https://oxfordmfc.bmfa.club/club-events/