Meetings and Minutes

Please see below, a rule change notified by the Silent FLight Technical Committee:

BMFA CONTEST RULES

SECTION 7

BOOK 1

GLIDERS

PAGE 19
5.3.2.2. LAUNCHING GENERAL.

DELETE PARAGRAPH 3

REPLACE WITH
Launching may be made by winches but only if each winch meets in all respects paragraph 5.3.2.2.in the FAI rule book from (a) through to (s) Take special note of the battery specification.
In addition launches may be made by fitting the model with a suitable electric motor and propeller with appropriate battery and control equipment. The point at which the motor is cut shall be controlled by a height limiting device of the type specified on Page 32 in BMFA CONTEST RULES BOOK 2 ELECTROFLIGHT.
The actual height of the cut-off to be determined before the start of the contest task based on the height expected to be reached during a typical launch by means of a winch.

The Great Britain RC Aerobatic Association is sad to report the sudden death of Alison Harrop on 22nd June 2011.
Alison was introduced to the world of model flying by her husband Bill in the 1960s. For many years she supported Bill and their son John in RC aerobatic (F3A) competitions across the UK. As John progressed in the rankings, Bill became involved in the organisation of aerobatic competitions as GBRCAA competition secretary. At this time Alison became a regular scorer at these events, spending much of the day in the scoring tent but always breaking off from her duties to come out to watch John fly.
Following Bill’s untimely death in 2002, Alison took over as GBRCAA competition secretary and held this role for nine years. When John qualified for the UK F3A team in 2006, Alison was appointed as Team Manager by the BMFA. She managed the team for three European Championships and two World Championships, travelling to Switzerland, Argentina, Italy, Portugal and Austria. In this role Alison made many friends from all over the world and was well respected by the international F3A community.
Alison was regarded as the “mother” of the GBRCAA, always there at centralised F3A competitions, supporting the pilots, working to ensure the competitions were run well. She will be greatly missed by the F3A community in the UK and across the world, but most of all by her son John, daughter-in-law Angie and granddaughters Sophie and Annabelle.

Slotting arrangements are now complete for the Showline and a timetable of the two days activity is published below and will also be featured in the event programme handed to all visitors to the Nationals.
Passes and details of the final arrangements will be sent out to pilots during the week commencing 15th of August.

Showline Time List

Manny Williamson
Development Officer/Showline FDD

Applications for flying slots on the Showline have been coming in very nicely and I would like to say thank you to all those who have shown their support and submitted completed forms.

Successful applicants will now be receiving the aircraft and pilot information forms which will be used to provide a commentary for each display, these are compulsory.
Once these forms are returned to me (completed of course) I will start sending out the necessary entry and camping passes as well as the final details for the event, I am issuing passes directly in order to save pilots the inconvenience of claiming entry fees back once they arrive at the event.

The next stage will be a slotting/planning meeting with Ali and Leon Creese in order to put together the best programme possible over the two days with the aircraft available.
This year there will be a model storage marquee available in close proximity to the Showline; this will be available on a first come first served basis each day and will be at “owner’s risk”.

I have organised toilet facilities in closer proximity to the Showline than previously, however these do still need to be in a position where they can be easily serviced so there will still be a short walk (or run) involved.

There will also be limited catering provided at Showline which will hopefully include a tea/coffee bar and an ice-cream van, in addition to this there will be chilled water available to pilots throughout the event.

I am now out of the office until the 3rd of August.

Below is a list of the pilots already booked in for this year’s Showline (Note: it looks a long list as this includes some significant team entries)

Manny Williamson
Development Officer/Showline FDD

Pilots booked in as of 18th July 2011

Mike Booth
Paul Gray
Stewart Clifford
Jon Horne
Jason Eldridge
Steve Brett
Giuseppe Cannella
Ivan Jordan
Martyn Serginson
Mark Hinton
Simon Wright
Anthony Slater
Lee Marshall
Michael Woods
Mick Butler
Mick Burrell
Mike Williams
Simon Potter
Gregg Veasey
Peter Anderson
James Ladell
Simon Willey
Richard Scarborough
Jez Harris
Luke Metcalf
Paul Metcalf
Paul Williams
Jason Fletcher
Mike Pattison
Mark Latter
Danny Adams
Nigel I’Anson
John Mason
Mike Donnelly
Keith Whiddett
Ian Redshaw
Chris Poyser
Adam Reid
Chris Willis
Stuart Chitty
Steven Bishop
Matt Bishop
Martin Briggs
Matthew Harrowven
Ken Bones
Wayne Cox
Sam Cox
Dominic Mitchell

It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Roger Pilon who died peacefully after a short illness on the 22nd May 2011.
Roger was passionate about aeroplanes, an avid modeller and persued his hobby alongside his military serivce in the Royal Air Force. He had quite a remarkable career working on Victors, Lightnings (56 Squadron). Wesses (Queens Flisg SAR 202/22 Squadron) and Hawks all in an engineering environment. He conculded his service career as Warrant Officer Engineering on 100 Squadron (Hawks) and continued in the same role as a civilian Engineering Manager for a number of years.
He will be missed for his encouragement, enthusiasm and guidance in the club and on the flying field. A true gentleman in every sense of the word.
Roger is survived by his wife Pam, son Ian, daughter Louise and five grandchildren to whom we extend our sincere condolences.