Cuban8

A friend of mine is also currently building the Seagull Zero and is very happy with the way the kit is going together. I think Seagull have done a good job in offering these kits - not expensive and with the benefits of modern tech to produce a nice product. I guess even far eastern companies are having to cope with rising labour costs so producing what is quite a labour intensive item i.e a ready assembled model, is becoming no longer viable.

My new smart charger from Aliexpress was in UK customs for two days and is now with the courier for delivery at the end of this week.

I had a recent Aliexpress order languishing in our customs for a week or so a while back. At least they've got it in their system and I reckon it'll be on its way soon.

As has been said it's a confidence thing - in that for larger clubs it gives all members the knowledge that the chap you don't know very well and happens to have come flying that day, has reached a basic level of ability and is unlikely to cause havoc through inexperience. Both of my clubs with around eighty or so members each, do require an 'A' for solo flight. No big song and dance made of it -(although a number of old timers made a fuss about it at the time when the 'A' rule came about for both clubs well over thirty years ago) easy to do, so once done and dusted that'll be that. Go onto a 'B' if the need or challenge is felt by the individual, but most people choose to just do the 'A' in order to satisfy club rules and stick to that. The achievement scheme has ballooned so much now from the simple and straightforward days of the BMFA's 'Up and Away' booklet produced by John Long. Times change I suppose. Still have my 'Up and Away' copy, and most of it is still relevant today after many decades since it first appeared and I got my F/W examiner ticket.

You've just reminded me of the RX that was originally included with my DX8G2 that I bought in 2012. The RX did have a similar issue and after no help at all from the well known model shop that sold me the outfit, I liased with Spektrum in Germany who took the old RX back and sent me a brand new unit which works fine and is still in use. Unless it was a safety critical update or a change in function that I would find particularly useful, I would avoid updates if at all possible myself. Shouldn't be that way but while my gear is working well as it is, I'm happy with that.

"The CAA are aware of loss-of-control events in which improper handling of software and/or firmware updates may have been a contributing factor to the event. 2.2 This Safety Notice recommends to UAS operators and remote pilots to flight test the unmanned aircraft after any update or modification." Seems to me to be a perfectly reasonable and sensible request. More in the realm of the multirotors with their very complex control systems totally reliant on software, rather than most model aircraft that the majority of us fly.

If that was the case, was a warning notice put out by the manufacturer to the effect that their equipment was liable to failure if the update wasn't carried out (like a car recall). If the crash was the result of bad firmware I've never heard anything about it in an email or general notification from Spektrum and I've never come across it in conversation at my club. Was the incident a long time ago? It would be interesting to know a little more about the matter TBH.

I'd be inclined to keep it simple at this stage and go with the trannie that comes with your choice of foamie. It'll be all set up and ready to go and matched to the model. All you need to get to grips with flying at this point with little faff. You can look at investing in a more sophisticated transmitter later when you begin to look at models that you've built yourself. Spektrum or Futaba or one of the challenger brands that offer good value in terms of initial cost and price of extra receivers. A case of researching what's on offer to match your needs and budget.

Work was the problem in the 60s.You either went to Norwich, worked for the council or got a job at Crane Fruhauf on Cromer road or wound up in agriculture. I guess there's more opportunity now.

Spent a day in North Walsham a few years ago when we were on holiday up that way. Surprisingly unchanged in fifty years - found my way around no problem as though it was yesterday. A Lidl supermarket on the site of the old Black Cat garage was the main eye opener. The old firepump that stood in the town centre was also gone. I hope the town isn't ruined by overdevelopment and over population.

Hi Bob, I spent my early childhood during the 60s in North Walsham with its single tiny proper model shop that I probably kept going by my less than successful attemps at flying the KK kits I'd squander my pocket money on. No help available at the time so I struggled along as best as I could. What's your aim? Helis? 'planes? Go it alone or maybe get involved with a club?

This has been going on for decades and has caused unwanted attention from the public and the complaints received, along with tension and rows within clubs. The magazines when they were numerous and had a large circulation, never hardly said a word about the useless silencers other than to tiptoe around the issue, hence we are still cursed with noisy engines. I believe my friend bought an MTW cannister and manifold etc from Aerobatix.co.uk Nicely made but hardly rocket science to get a muffler that actually works.

This has been going on for decades and has caused unwanted attention from the public and the complaints received, along with tension and rows within clubs. The magazines when they were numerous and had a large circulation, never hardly said a word about the useless silencers other than to tiptoe around the issue, hence we are still cursed with noisy engines.

Biggest con is the appalling (field losing) racket made by 2st petrol engines with their standard noise distributing so called silencers/mufflers. Pepper pots and sundry other cheap fixes are next to useless in my experience. Doesn't have to be that way.........my friend has a large petrol 2st in his huge WOT 4 style model and it sounds very nice indeed. The silencer can he bought from a German manufacturer, (can't remember the name off the top of my head) and at a couple of hundred quid it wasn't cheap but boy does it work well. Only way to go unless you fly miles from civilisation. We've had to take the regrettable step on a few occasions of having to ground some models using petrol 2 strokes with nothing but the stock silencer. The noise is unpleasant for other flyers and being fairly close to other sporting facilities, farms and some housing, it would be just a matter of time before we'd upset someone, and who knows where that might lead to?

Superb day yesterday. Very clear and sunny conditions on the journey to the field with zero wind, but as I got further out into the countryside I noticed a very interesting phenomenon. Viewing the lower lying fields from the higher approach roads, it was fascinating to see darker ploughed fields blanketed with a layer of fog within their perimeters up to maybe a hundred feet, whereas the adjacent fields that were green with new crop or grass were completely clear. A really odd but attractive 3D patchwork effect. Our field, being all grass wasn't too bad but was getting a fair amount of 'spill over mist' from nearby dark, newly planted areas of crop being heated by the weak sun. By 1030 the sun had burned everything off and a very slight breath of breeze had cleared it all away. A full day from 1000 until 1700 all my batteries used up. A good turn out of around fifteen throughout the day - A Super 60 to several turbines and all other types in between. No incidents - all counted out and all counted back as was once said. Hope it was an indicator of a decent spring and summer to come. Ground was still a little wet but no problem at all given how well the land is drained - a week or ten days of dry weather will do it the world of good. Great medicine for the soul....if they could bottle it and sell it they'd make a mint.