RDMFC AeroTow 2009.

Morning all.

Just to generate a bit of interest, who is planning on attending the Aerotow Event this year? It's on the weekend of 8th/9th August at the field.

I'm going to be there "Fo Sho" as my American Gangsta cousin says! Fingers crossed I'll have my big electric glider (okay, not really in the spirit of aerotowing, but it is a glider when the motor is off!), A little MPX fox RC converted glider, and a handful of rocket powered things (that need towing to height, firing the rocket before landing )

If I get my finger out, I may even sort out a move to the darkside, and build me a Tug

Cheers
Andy (who has just submitted an application form for good weather on both days, with plenty of thermal activity, but none over the road )

See u there all being well, the Pilatus should be well and truly ready for action provided there are no misshaps with it in the meantime. I have posted the event on the RCM&E and a number of other UK forums too.

Good stuff, cheers for the Mel. I'm looking forward to seeing this Pilatus of yours go. Can I bagsie a tow or two please ?

Cheers
Andy

Not sure I like the dig at flying over the road, however I hope to be there Wilga at the ready to "break again"

Leigh has my ASW20 in the repair shop at the moment, that needs a good powerful tug it's knocking on 4.5mtrs with lots of drag.

If it's set up on spectrum then I don't have a problem with programming it into any transmitter, it's getting on a bit now so doesn't owe me & it will let people delve into the realms of aerotowing/soaring, we may have to buddy lead, not sure if the maximum flying surface area rule applies anymore, I'll have to check the BMFA handbook, if it does than a "B" is required to fly solo.

I know the date is 9th August does this clash with anything, if it clashes with any of the big gliding events we won't see anybody

I can't see anything in there about surface areas Rich. The only thing does apply, is the over 7kg rule that the club has. The BMFA recommend a minimum of a B cert for displays and competitions, but it makes no mentions of "fly-ins". I think it would be sensible to have it on a Buddy lead though, you never know when that Animal Barnes might get hold of the sticks....

I think there is an event on at White Sheet on the 9th, but that is a looooong way down south, so those not wanting to travel huge distances should be covered. It's a bit tricky to find a date that is free from all teh major shows, glider events and competitions etc, as I'm sure you are aware.

Cheers
Andy

I'm sure you right about the area rule, it used to be in there but has probably been removed during revisions.

ive a feeling its over 7kg. tis a monster of a thing. will have her up and running as well as my discus.

Oh and the big red tug

In that case the B cert rule is a Club one, not a BMFA one. Although, the BMFA do recommend that the B certificate is used as a measure of a pilots competance for flying at a Show....

I forgot to mention, I'll have an Alula and my Mini Fireworks on the day for some handlaunch action

Cheers
Andy

the "B" rule applies to any model over 7kg it's BMFA as well as the club

Just a question, but does this mean that no other types of aircraft can be flown on the AirTow weekend other than gliders and tugs


DaveS

normally Dave the Sunday is the "closed to others" Day

but you have no excuse as u have gliders (EPP no excuse either as a few years ago we had 3 wildthings behind one of the tugs)

Andy Sayle wrote:In that case the B cert rule is a Club one, not a BMFA one. Although, the BMFA do recommend that the B certificate is used as a measure of a pilots competance for flying at a Show....

I forgot to mention, I'll have an Alula and my Mini Fireworks on the day for some handlaunch action

Cheers
Andy

I think the club rule of B for large models is a sound idea, in fact as an affiliated club it is obligatory.
Why is it less important because it is only a club activity. Doesn't safety matter here ?

Paul Quinn

If I put my "pedants" hat on for a moment or two, it explitly states in the BMFA manual that it is only "recommended" that the pilot of a model weighing over 7kg should have a B cert. Nowhere does it say that it is a requirement, or it is a must have, or that thou shalt not fly anything over 7kg unless you have a B cert. To me a recommendation means it is exactly that. Recommended, but not required. In the exact same way that is recommended to eat five portions of fruit and veg a day, but not required.

As I see it the club (quite correctly IMHO by the way) has interpreted that recommendation, and made it a club rule.

Paul, I agree with everything you say As the BMFA (and Article 87 of the ANO) says, ‘An aircraft shall not fly unless the person in charge of the said aircraft has reasonably satisfied himself that the flight can safely be made.’

Dave, Anything can be flown on the saturday, and Sunday is for gliding stuff Unless we have a huuuuuge turnout on the sunday, it is usually a pretty relaxed affair Anyway, I reckon we could rig one of your helicopters to give a tow to my little MPX fox

Cheers
Andy

Andy Sayle wrote:If I put my "pedants" hat on for a moment or two, Cheers
Andy

Hi Andy
Appreciate your comment and point made.
But experience of various misadventures and incedents with clubs around the country and the BMFA always point to :-

In the event of a claim they always say :-

"Did you follow the guidelines of the Society ?
Do you know where the guidelines are ?
Why did you disregard them ?
It is written down as guidance for you to use.
Then in that case, you pay for it yourself."

These costs can be Legal, Medical, etc. etc.

Very difficult to bypass this one, particularly if the models are over 7Kg

Regards
PQ

So bmfa recomendation or not is immaterial.

Club rule is, b cert to fly models over 7kg.

so the big glider should go on the buddy box for non b cert pilots. Also il offer go's on the red tug on the same basis might be nice for some of the glider pilots to find out how to tug propperly. (pun fully intended). Hopefully this will encourage more people to have a go on both ends.

No answer required

Rule not made by me .... made by a previous committee and supported by every committee and member ever since.

Field Safety Code article 5. All pilots must observe the established flightline and must stand on the road or pits side of the strip, dependant on wind direction. Under no circumstances must a model be allowed to overfly the main road. The area
between the strip and the road is considered to be “DEAD AIRSPACE”.

Rule not made by me .... made by a previous committee and supported by every committee and member ever since.Field Safety Code article 5. All pilots must observe the established flightline and must stand on the road or pits side of the strip, dependant on wind direction. Under no circumstances must a model be allowed to overfly the main road. The area
between the strip and the road is considered to be “DEAD AIRSPACE”.

whats that got to do with a glider being over 7kg?

Wrong thread methinks

Leigh, can I book a couple of tugs of you? I crack myself up sometimes ha haaaa!

Andy

No probs andy. im going to chuck my crrc 45 in the caras a spare motor for the tug too so nothing will stop me tugging all day this year.

All,

Due to the proximity of the Rhyl full size airshow, and the fact that the Club field could quite possibly be sat under a temporary Air Traffic Control zone, the decision has been taken to restrict model flying fron the club field on Saturday 8th August, between 10am and 5pm.

We cannot take the chance of any problems arising from continuing to fly during the airshow, so unfortunately, this is this only sensible course of action. I would have liked to push for normal flying, but with extra care, but if something were to go wrong, the CAA would throw the proverbial book at us....

After 5pm on the 8th August, off the peg flying can take place as normal for all clubmembers and guests attending the aerotow. If you could let anyone know, that you have invited down for the weekend, it would be appreciated. On the plus side, it gives everyone a good excuse to go an support the club static display at the airshow now

The Sunday Aerotow event is continuing as planned, so spread the word, and get your gliders dusted off!

Cheers
Andy

Hi Guys.

We have a bit more clarity on the flying times at the airshow on Saturday now, and apparently all flying is due to have finished by 2.30pm. For that reason, we should be okay flying at the club field from 3.30pm onwards. As always, please do keep an eye out for any full size aircraft in the area when flying though. If you hear or suspect there maybe something passing nearby, then descend to a lower altitude, and land at the earliest opportunity.

Cheers
Andy

There has been a considerable amount of interest in this years aerotow and a number of visiting flyers will be attending. Is anyone else planning to bring supplies for the barby? If not I'll sort some out.

Further to Andy's comment on flying times :- Signs made showing restrictions on flying times for Saturday 8th (no flying until after 15:30). I'll put them up tomorrow during the day.
(this info also posted in the 'Rhyl Airshow' thread)