Bath Model Helicopter Club  ~ Newsletter June 2008

Well here we are almost halfway through the year, summer must be due to start any day now or have we all blinked and missed it.

Seems that every weekend I charge up my batteries, make sure I have plenty of fuel, quick check round my machines to make sure that no bits are about drop off, come Saturday morning and surprise surprise its either raining or blowing an absolute gale of wind !!, still I have earned loads of brownie points so far with those jobs around the house.

However on the days that have been good it is very encouraging to see that we are very well supported as a club, a very warm welcome to our new members who I am sure will prove to be a great asset to the club.

Our joint heli fly in last year with Woodsprings MAC was a great success, the day was a bit windy but this did not deter the pilots, Woodspring MAC were very impressed with the way we ran and organised the event, so impressed in fact that they have given us another day this year free of charge.

Our only cost is the supply of portable toilets, hence the fee for TX control which is very modest £3.00.

This year’s event is Sunday 31^st August 2008, so make a note in your diary as this a day not to be missed.

Would you believe that Bath MHC held a fly in during 1990 and then complained that there were too many pilots, yes over 120 transmitters booked into TX control. (See attached)

For directions to site please see http://www.woodspringwings.co.uk/contactus.html, more details of the event can be found on our website www.bathmhc.co.uk, as always these events do not run themselves, we will be looking for volunteers who can spare a couple of hours either late Saturday afternoon for setting up, or Sunday afternoon for the clearing up, we will also need bodies for TX control & car park duties.

Another hint that summer is on the way, we have set a date for our annual BMHC BBQ, we have booked the bouncy castle & weather for Saturday 13^th September 2008.

Again it’s a free one, superb food cooked by our very own f-word Jeremy Moore, this year competitions for pilots will be organised & judged by Mark Pile & Lee Grubb, can we all make sure that Ray keeps off the bouncy castle this year and gives the kids a chance, we don’t mind Ray having a bounce but he was trying to fly his T-Rex at the same time…

Talking off T-Rex’s, have you noticed how many of these new machines we have in the club, just a couple of years ago the Thunder Tiger Raptors were the rage & king of the skies, just thumbing through the magazines shows an absolute plethora of new machines some from manufacturers never heard of before, just makes you wonder if the credit squeeze is all one big spin, well someone must be buying them..

Last of all safety, can we please make sure that when flying from the main heli pad in the middle of site that we do actually fly from this area, I know that some times it is a way to walk especially if your engine dies just as you put it on the floor,  but we all must ensure that a safe distance between helicopters & the pit area is maintained.

Please also be aware that it is a club rule not to over-fly the hovering area when other members are using this area.

That’s all for, lets hope the good weather continues and safe enjoyable flying for all.

Peter Whitlow