Website www.scalebmfa.co.uk Tel 01529 302236 Email ianpallister@waitrose.com

26 St John's Close Leasingham Sleaford Lincs NG34 8LU 17th September 2008

 

 

BMFA SCALE INDOOR – 2008/9 PROGRAMME

With the nights fast drawing in its time to think about the indoor season again. I am planning a few more events this year to try and keep the momentum going throughout the winter. The first will be at RAF Digby over the weekend 18/19 October. This is only a month away and I am sorry for the relatively late confirmation but the date has been talked about and on the BMFA Website for some time. The original plan was to share this weekend with an Indoor duration competition but they have now booked the Velodrome, We should therefore have the hangar virtually to ourselves. Saturday will be available for free flying and trimming all day with the opportunity to log Peanut & Pistachio times if you wish. Competition flying and static judging will be held on Sunday along similar lines to the last Digby event with Kit Scale, Open Scale (flying only), Peanut and Pistachio (if there are enough entries). Doors will open at 0900 both days with competition flying from 1030 hrs on Sunday. The cost will be just £10 for a full weekend’s flying plus £3 for each competition class entered. BMFA Certificates and picture prizes will be awarded, along with the old ‘Peanut’ trophy, which is traditionally competed for at the autumn scale meeting.

An entry form and timetable for the event is enclosed along with a list of accommodation in case you want to make a weekend of it. You can locate the camp by putting the post code LN4 3LH into Multimap or Google Maps. I f you plan to come, please return your entry form to me (email will do) no later than 12 th October. If you’re not sure if you can make it, I will be happy to take entry fees at the door – but I will still need your entry form in advance to ensure that you are on the list for access to Digby camp. Don’t forget to include your car number and the names of any helpers you will be bringing with you as all will need security passes. Please also allow a little time for booking in at the Guard post. Could I also please ask you to wear trainers or soft-soled shoes to avoid damage to the wooden floor, and to bring your own table and chair just in case.

The second event at Digby on Sunday 30 th November will be an experimental Scale R/C event. This will be R/C only with the only limitation being that models must conform to Indoor F/F criteria of <150gms and <15 gms/dm 2 . It will be an informal event to develop feasible flight schedules and judging criteria with prizes for the best 3 performances. The aim will be to achieve a realistic flight profile consistent with the prototype but also requiring a modicum of piloting skill. This will require at least a straight takeoff, appropriate climb out, cruising circuits, a figure 8, touch & go and final straight landing. This should be achievable even with an X Twin-based model. The BOM rule will not apply for this first event so ARTFs will be allowed but I hope we will see a little more variety than just a flock of Kyosho Miniums! We’ll see what else develops on the day! Again, we have the hangar for the whole weekend and will probably share the Saturday with Indoor duration, so there should be an opportunity for some F/F Scale/fun flying on that day. If you are interested in this event, please drop me a line.

I have a licence for a 4 th event at Digby (the first booking has been given over for the Indoor Nats this coming weekend) and this is likely to be available for pre-Nats trimming in the Spring, but I would still like to find a more central venue that is suitable and affordable. We have the potential to make sufficient profit from the Digby events to enable us to cover costs elsewhere. If you have any suggestions for suitable venues, please let me know.

Finally, could I make a plea. Running an indoor scale competition is quite labour intensive as it requires at least 2 static and 2 flight judges – ideally more so they are not committed all day. If you would like to volunteer to judge at any of the events it would make my life a lot easier! You can still compete in other classes if the timing fits.

And finally finally – an important date for your diaries: the next Scale Indoor Nationals at Nottingham University - Sunday 26 th April 2009.

Best wishes,

Ian Pallister

Chairman Scale Technical Committee

PS. If you are now on email and received this by post, please send me a message so I can pick up your address and minimise postal charges. Similarly, if you would like to be taken off the Scale Indoor distribution list, please let me know.