The Spring Duration competitions held on 16th May are the first of 4 events this year on Port Meadow which are open to all BMFA members. As well as flying in the competitions, fun flying is very much encouraged and several members and guests took advantage of this flying a variety of sports and scale models. The sight of Ivan Taylor’s ducted fan FF TSR2 cruising over the meadow was one of the highlights for me
The weather was very kind to us as well with winds of 5-7mph remaining through out the morning despite a forecast increase around lunchtime, there were even the odd calm patches for those patient or lucky enough. Around 25 people enjoyed the relaxed nature of the competitions and fun-fly many travelling some distance to attend. It was great to see Robert Hawk who happened to be over from the US and came along to fly with us
Many of the competitions proved very tight with just a few seconds between podium places in more than one event.
P30
P30 was one such event with just 25s separating the first 6 places after 3 rounds. Andrew Longhurst had to leave early so only managed 2 rounds but along with Dave King, Jim Paton and Richard Fryer scored a single max. Next came three flyers all with 2 maxes. Peter Brown managed 4th with his Majestyk while ahead was Bill Dennis with his Teachers Pet. The final two were separated by just one second with Chris Redrup coming out in front of Simon Richardson both with OD models. Simon’s achievement was all the more impressive as his models had been lost by Heathrow’s baggage handling, luckily help was on hand and with Richard, Jim and Andrew lending Simon some help and components so he could fly the one model he had in the country
| Name | Club | Model | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total | Pos |
| Chris Redrup | Crookham | O/D | max | max | max | 270 | 1 |
| Simon Richardson | OMFC | O/D | max | max | 89 | 269 | 2 |
| Bill Dennis | OMFC | Teacher’s Pet | 84 | max | max | 264 | 3 |
| Peter Brown | OMFC | Majestyk | 55 | max | max | 256 | 4 |
| Richard Fryer | OMFC | O/D | 83 | max | 76 | 249 | 5 |
| Jim Paton | OMFC | O/D | 73 | max | 76 | 245 | 6 |
| Dave King | OMFC | Majestyk | 39 | max | 55 | 184 | 7 |
| Andrew Longhurst | OMFC | O/D | max | 84 | – | 174 | 8 |
Max = 90s
Attempts 10s unlimited
E20 – CD Colin Sharman
The E20 event was CD’d by Colin Sharman and run to NFFS rules with a 10s motor run. The top three all managed a single max to give another close competition with Peter Brown’s consistency seeing him take second from Simon Milan. Just 1 sec infront was Chris Redrup with is own design E20
| Name | Club | Model | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total | Pos |
| Chris Redrup | Crookham | O/D | 56 | 39 | max | 155 | 1 |
| Peter Brown | OMFC | Idiom | 44 | 50 | max | 154 | 2 |
| Simon Milan | OMFC | O/D | max | 29 | 50 | 139 | 3 |
| Dave King | OMFC | Idiom | 17 | 51 | 30 | 98 | 4 |
| Paul Thomas | OMFC | SAMS 20 | 35 | – | – | 35 | 5 |
Max = 60s with 10 sec motor run
Attempts 10s unlimited
Under 25″ Vintage Cabin
The Under 25” Vintage Cabin was another very close run contest . Four flyers made the fly-off with Robert missing out on making it five by just a single second. Three flew in the fly-off due to Andrew having to leave. For the fly-off there was a 3 minute launch window after all had wound their models and an no max set which seemed to work well for the competitors. A DT error saw Richard Fryer drop out at 58 secs but the two FA Moth’s of Bill Dennis and Paul McMahon battled it out , Bill coming out on top by just 2 secs.
| Name | club | Model | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total | Fly-off | Pos |
| Bill Dennis | OMFC | FA Moth | max | max | max | 180 | 97 | 1 |
| Paul McMahon | PMFC | FA Moth | max | max | max | 180 | 95 | 2 |
| Richard Fryer | OMFC | Rascal | max | max | max | 180 | 58 | 3 |
| Andrew Longhurst | OMFC | Flying Cloud Jr | max | max | mx | 180 | – | 4 |
| Robert Hawk | WMC (USA) | KK Achilles | max | max | 79 | 179 | 5 | |
| Simon Milan | OMFC | Black Bullet | 41 | 47 | 49 | 137 | 6 | |
| Chris Brainwood | OMFC | Skokie | 38 | 36 | 44 | 118 | 7 |
Max = 90s
Attempts 10s unlimited
36″ Hi-Start Glider
In the 36” Hi-Start Glider competition there were 6 flyers and it was great to see Martin Bennett in his first event, hopefully he has now got the bug. Martin’s Gnome is still being trimmed but the comp gave him some great pointers from all the friendly advice and help that was on hand form fellow competitors. Simon Milan’sowd design glider was going well and rewarded him with 3rd place. Ahead were Paul McMahon and event CD Gary Law. Gary had the more consistent score to give him first place with his Gnome
| Name | club | Model | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total | Pos |
| Gary Law | OMFC | Gnome | max | max | 54 | 174 | 1 |
| Paul McMahon | PMFC | Lepretan | max | max | 31 | 151 | 2 |
| Simon Milan | OMFC | O/D | 57 | 36 | 32 | 125 | 3 |
| Robert Hawk | WNC (USA) | Gege | 59 | 29 | 31 | 119 | 4 |
| Bill Dennis | OMFC | Dolphin | 22 | 39 | 13 | 74 | 5 |
| Martin Bennett | OMFC | Gnome | 15 | 39 | 13 | 63 | 6 |
Max = 60s
Attempts 10s unlimited
Catapult Glider
In the Catapult Glider competition 5 flyers flew over 7 rounds with the best 5 to count. Alan Trinder managed a very creditable 3rd with his Oxcat, a design by 2nd place man Andy Crisp. Andy was flying his 17D but in the end couldn’t match Bill Colledge who was out in front with two maxes for 1st with his Sort of OO
| Name | Club | Model | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Total | Pos |
| Bill Colledge | OMFC | Sort of OO | 45 | max | 54 | 57 | max | 276 | 1 | ||
| Andy Crisp | OMFC + Biggles | 17D | 36 | 24 | 48 | 44 | 26 | 24 | 30 | 184 | 2 |
| Alan Trinder | OMFC | Oxcat | 16 | 25 | 20 | 30 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 131 | 3 |
| Colin Sharman | OMFC | Oxcat 12” | 19 | 10 | 22 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 21 | 93 | 4 |
| Simon Milan | OMFC | Sting 15 Mk2 | 14 | 27 | 15 | 12 | 21 | 89 | 5 |
Best Five flights of 7 – Dropped scores in RED
Max = 60s
Attempt 10s unlimited
Many thanks to Charlie Jeffreys and Martin Bennett for the extra photos