Meetings and Minutes

The new 2013 BMFA Free-Flight Forum Report has just been published. It’s the 29th year that these Reports have been produced and this one is packed with useful information on new developments in a wide range of free-flight activities, as the following contents list shows.

John O’Donnell, an Appreciation, by Andy Crisp;
A Knotty Problem (Rubber Winding), by Peter Hall;
Stability of Scale Indoor Free Flight Models, by Andy Sephton;
The Role of Radio Transmissions in Free Flight, by Stuart Darmon;
A Propeller Copying Mill, by Peter Brown;
Model Aircraft Technology with an Emphasis on F1B, by Neil Cliff;
Catapult Launched Glider Technology, by Phil Ball;
Electric Bikes for Free Flight Model Retrieval, by Brian Baines;
Wrestling with a Slippery One (LDA Airfoils), by Chris Edge;
Free Flight in Britain – What’s the Future? by Phil Ball;
F1A Development and Contest Success, by Stuart Darmon;
Indoor Model Steering for Dummies, by Mark Benns;
Around (Model Aircraft) Construction in 80 Seconds, by Neil Cliff.

In addition there are plans and articles on six of the most successful free-flight models of 2012.

The UK price is £12.00 including postage; to Europe it’s £14 and everywhere else £16. Sales of the Forum Reports help to defray the heavy expenses of those representing Great Britain at World and European Free-Flight Championships.

Cheques should be payable to ‘BMFA F/F Team Support Fund’ in pounds sterling, drawn on a bank with a UK branch; you may also order by credit card, which is a lot easier (and cheaper).

Copies are available from : Martin Dilly
20, Links Road,
West Wickham,
Kent,
BR4 OQW

or by fax to: (44) + (0)20-8777-5533, or by e-mail to martindilly@compuserve.com

Five BMFA members were honoured by the Royal Aero Club at its annual awards ceremony on April 23rd. Held in the historic and atmospheric surroundings of the Royal Air Force Club in London, Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Alcock presented the prestigious RAeC Diploma to our 2012 F1C team. Ken Faux, Alan Jack and Neil Allen had won the team gold medal for Great Britain at last year’s European Free-Flight Championships in Italy, and the presentation was doubtless specially pleasing for Sir Michael, who is also president of the BMFA.

Chris Tomkins, awarded a Certificate of Merit for services to the South Midland Area and to RC soaring was unable to be present, as was Phil Ball whose Bronze Medal citation noted his work on the Midland Area and FF technical committees, his nineteen years as National Free-Flight Champion and the fact that he is one of only three people to have flown on British teams in all three outdoor FF classes.

We are pleased to report that Jo Halman FSMAE (BMFA Competition Secretary and CIAM Technical Secretary) has received international recognition for her outstanding contribution to the sport of model flying over many years. Jo was awarded the FAI Aeromodelling Gold Medal at the CIAM plenary meeting held last weekend in Lausanne. Congratulations Jo!

Following the initial work with the CAA and the subsequent granting of the exemption to the ANO (Article 166(3)) to permit First Person View activity using a “competent observer”, there has now been a renewal and also an update to assist FPV operation in a club or group environment.

The exemption has been renewed on a twelve month basis and the update relates to provision (4) h, which had previously stated that FPV flight must not be within 30 metres of any person, other than the competent observer, during take-off or landing. This requirement made operation of an FPV aircraft in a club environment difficult in terms of practical operation, and also in compliance with the terms of the exemption.

The issue was highlighted by two BMFA clubs with active FPV members, followed by a request to the CAA for a rewording of the relevant section of the exemption, the CAA consulted with a number of interested parties, receiving a positive response from all, leading to the renewal of the exemption incorporating the relevant wording changes, the provision now reads “h) within 30 metres of any other person, apart from the competent observer, other adjacent model operators, or any model flying club members, during take-off or landing” clearly this makes operation in a club or group environment far more practical in term of compliance with the exemption. The exemption can be viewed here: www.caa.co.uk/ors4no956

A good example of collaborative working and also evidence that an issue raised at flying field level, can be addressed at national level, through the appropriate channels to the CAA, for the benefit of all model flyers.

Manny Williamson
Development Officer

The twenty-ninth BMFA Free-Flight Forum will be on Sunday, Dec. 1st, the day after the BMFA AGM; please note that this year’s AGM date has been changed from that announced late last year, though the venue remains the Puma Island Hotel, Hinckley LE10 3JA. Please up-date your diaries, book that weekend and contact Martin Dilly at martindilly@compuserve.com or on 020 87775533 with your offers of papers to present on any free-flight topic from FAI to Vintage, Indoor to Scale.