Meetings and Minutes

We are pleased to confirm that RAF Cottesmore has been secured as the venue for the 2011 BMFA Silent Flight National Championships on the 27th, 28th and 29th August.

RAF Cottesmore remains a secure site and as such we are required to provide notification to the RAF of all people attending and their vehicle details prior to the event.

If you would like to attend the Silent Flight Nationals either as a competitor, supporter or spectator, please complete the attached form and return it to the BMFA at Chacksfield House.

SF Nats Entry Form 2011 b[1]

Laurie Barr (FSMAE) 30th May 1927 – 12th April 2011

When Laurie Barr (FSMAE) passed away on 12th April 2011 at the age of 83, model flying lost a major contributor to the sport and very few aeromodellers have achieved his success and worldwide fame.

Laurie’s aeromodelling career began as a teenager flying outdoor during WWII, and he was National Champion in 1948 at the age of 22. Over many years he continued to win national and international competitions. Many of his designs for indoor and outdoor models have become standards in their class.
Tripstick, Scram and Pinocchio – open rubber models and Fly Rod, Big Bertha and his F1L (EZB) indoor models have won international events in his hands and in those of many other flyers.

He served as Chairman of the S.M.A.E. in 1968-69 and was elected to its Fellowship in 1976 thus making Laurie one of the Society’s longest serving Fellows. He was totally committed to the Indoor movement, serving for years on the Technical Committee, many of them as Chairman, and his continued enthusiasm kept the airship hangers at Cardington available for many years. His dedication to maintaining and ensuring indoor flyers use of Cardington, arguably the finest venue in the world, cannot be emphasised enough. In recent years every repair and cleaning operation was instigated and sponsored by Laurie. His commitment was overwhelming.

In 2005 Laurie was awarded the FAI Aeromodelling Gold Medal for ‘outstanding merit in organizational activities in free flight duration aeromodelling in recognition of organizing the Indoor World Championships in 1972, 76, 78 and 1986.

He was also the prime mover in getting the use of the Millennium Dome, and organising the European Indoor Championships in 2003 when the original facility in Germany was withdrawn at very short notice.

He represented Great Britain at free-flight Wakefield (F1B) twice in 1969 and again in 1971 and in indoor World Championships team at the bi-annual event from 1972 to 1992 and beyond. His many contest successes worldwide have been well documented and include Gold, Silver and Bronze team medals.
Tributes to Laurie, including his autobiography will continue to be published.

Below are listed just some of the wonderful achievements of Laurie Barr FSMAE in the world of Indoor Duration Flying.
• World Indoor F1D Team Champion, in 1978. & World USA-EZB Champion, Kibbe Dome-USA.
• World record F1L flight of 28:16 and a world record USA rules EZB at 33:04.
• U.K F1D record holder twice, with my F1D “Big Bertha”, during a series of flights of 44:03, 44:39, 44.30, 43:54, 45:39, in 1994 culminating in 2 official BMFA U.K records of 46:08. Finally the still standing 65 cm F1D record of *49:29. (* Possibly the longest flight ever, for a fixed pitch prop, on a 65 cm F1D model).
• Six times U.K National Indoor champion.
• Thirteen times winner of the Humbrol Plate (Longest flight of the year)
• Seven times winner of the Aeromodeller Trophy (Team Trials)
• Three times winner of the Alex Houlberg trophy, for F1L at Nationals.
• 1991 USA EZB champion and record in Johnson City
• National Indoor Champion in Britain/Germany/Denmark/Switzerland/Belgium.
• ‘Hall records’ at Cardington Airship Hangers UK, Kibbe Dome USA, Millennium Dome UK, Cargo Lifter Hanger Germany, Switzerland, Bro, Czech Republic and Johnson City USA.

Plus an array of outdoor free flight competition wins spanning over 60 years.
Laurie was still flying outdoor free flight models at SAM (Society of Antique Modellers) events and had planned to attend the Middle Wallop event over the Easter holiday weekend shortly after his death.

Many may not know that in business, Laurie established a professional model making and moulding company that produced models for TV and major feature films not to mention the early Thunderbirds models for the children’s TV program. To relax he enjoyed fly-fishing, golf and gardening with a back lawn at bowling green standards.

His wife Betty, his constant companion at almost every event he attended, and his three children, Duncan, Debbie and Andrew, survive him. All who were privileged to have known him will long remember Laurie.

It is with sadness and regret that we have to announce the passing of our Club Secretary, Tony Salisbury MiFireE MIIRSM.

Tony’s first job was as a policeman. This did not represent the challenge that Tony required and he migrated to the Fire Service. He must have been inspired by this, because after a long career in the Fire Service he became Deputy Commander of the Fire Service College under Commandment George Clarke. Tony travlled all over the world helping set up Fire Service colleges in other countries.

One of Tony’s main interests was sailing his catamaran named ‘Catmando’ He entered the annual ‘Round the Island Yacht Race’ every year since 2006 and won his class in 2009.

Although born at the height of the Battle of Britain, Tony only took up aeromodelling in 2008 but threw himself into it with his usual enthusiasm that drove him in everything else that he did. Exclusively an electric flier, Tony did not let that prevent him from exploring the full range of model aeronautics. His models went from small ‘Extra 300′ aerobat to a 1/4 scale Piper Cub, and taking in twins and Telemasters on the way. His ‘own design’ models usually featured a ‘pop bottle base’ used as a cowl; this became his trademark at the field.

When he became Club Secretary at the AGM in 2009 for the 2010 season he attacked that duty in his usual organised and thoughtful manner. In the short time that we knew Tony, he never had a harsh word to say of anyone. Despite the usual hectic club atmosphere, his manner was always calm, measured and, dare i say, professional.

Not to say that Tony lacked humour, he had a sharp wit that was not always appreciated at the time of saying, but crept up on you when you weren’t thinking about it. His job as a fireman came in useful because Tony’s models had an unusual attraction to the trees on the south side of the club field; he frequently had to take to ladders to rescue them. We have photographs!

Our heartfelt condolences to Tony’s wife Sheila, their children and grandchildren.

Tony, the club will miss you, I will miss you. It is so rare this day and age to meet a true Gentle Man. Rest in Peace.

Ioan Wittmann
Shropshire Model Flying Club

We are so very sorry to announce that Ernie Hills passed away in The Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, on the 8th January. Ernie had been unwell for some time and in a lot of discomfort due to Arthritis and other complication, but thankfully died peacefully. He was 85.

Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies go out to his wife Jean and son Tony.

Ernie served in WW2 with the RAF 6th Airborne and then in 1943 with The Army 512 Squadron Middle East Aerial Reconnaissance. Before he retired some 10 years ago, Ernie ran a very successful graphics, publishing and printing business. Even with his troublesome leg. Probably due to a wound received whilst serving with the 6th Airborne, Ernie enjoyed a game of Golf and in particular, Petanque.

He started to fly model aeroplanes in the early 50’s, as many of us did in Essex, at Fairlop Aerodrome in the days of balsa, tissue, dope, rubber and the Mills 1.3. Ernie was a very good model pilot, an excellent model engineer and thought nothing of constructing working replicas of a Mills or the odd diesel engine. His modelling skills were outstanding paying the utmost attention to the detail in rigging, finish, authentic artwork and cockpit detail. He built some beautiful models which attracted a lot of attention at public static displays on the Airfield and was awarded Gold for his Ryan STA Special 200 at the 1999 International Model Fair, Olympia. He also won the RCME Cup with this model. And yes, the model flew superbly; it was not just a work of art.

Ernie was a Founder Member of Chingford Club and was associated with West Essex, flying float planes but his real love was flying his models at North Weald Airfield, due partly to the associated WW2 history. He had been a member of the club for some 30 years and enjoyed flying his mini helicopters in the Squadron Mess during Sunday lunch time refreshments.

He was a member of our committee, a Static Display judge at many of our Scale Day events, a Member of the Airfield User Committee and was always prepared to help out and support the Club whenever he could. His contribution was considerable. He laid the Wreath for us, every year, on the Airfield FAR War memorial. He was committed to the club.

I would like to quote one of our members. George Ford, which sums up how we all feel: ‘What a sad loss he will be to his family. The Flying Club and as a good helpful friend. I was always impressed by his determined and cheerful demeanour despite the physical health problems he must have endured for as long as I can remember. I never heard him complain.’

Above all, Ernie was a gentleman, through and through. We will miss him.

David Windrow, Epping & North Weald Model Flying Club

Introduced to aeromodelling early in life Stan carried on with his hobby even after joining the army as a boy soldier and whilst stationed abroad, back in this country and in Civvie street in the early 1960′s he became involved with the Huddersfield Association of aeromodellers. Around 1970 he was flying on Tinshill Rec. Leeds and then joined the Morley Club in the early 1980′s. He was Chairman of the Morley Club for over 25 years up to his death in February 2011. For many years he ran the Bowden Trophy events at many venues including the Nationals. His efforts were so appreciated by the Bowden Flyers that they subscribed to buy him a memento. Well known to model flyers all over the country for his free flight and vintage flying and as a long standing member of SAM 35 he will be sadly missed by his many friends and fellow club members. Our thoughts go out to his wife Mary and his family.

Colin Foster (secretary MADMAN)