FunnyFlyer
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Posted by Steve Hargreaves on 14/12/2011 14:35:27: Slopey pilots probably don't suffer from this "turning one way" affliction as they always have to "turn away from the slope........" Agreed! My power flights resemble a slope pattern that is flown without a slope. Lots of side to side passes, stall turn or reversal at each end to turn around. No circuit needed!
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My background in slope soaring and extended down wind thermal soaring PLUS the nature of my flying sites demand I always stand at the same point regardless of wind direction. This often leads to occasions where the entire flight is flown upwind or downwind of me - and I never fly a conventional circuit. My small park sites also dictate that a continuous "turn-around" schedule style keeps the plane within the boundaries.
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Re the slope rant. Anyone else spot the delicious irony of Slopetrash jr about to engage in a bit of foamie combat?
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Let's face it - we all secretly like our geeky image - and I accept that. As a youngster I would routinely get beaten up and have my Keil Kraft rubber powered models stamped on by the local park Skinheads. Character building, my father used to say. I even had the tips of my fingers covered in balsa cement when on my very first date watching Jaws at the local Odeon. She was not amused - you know what I'm saying..... I find that most guys are drawn in to it when they see them fly. The consumerisation of helicopters and games console helps - our stuff builds on those things. What I really do not like is trying to make flying planes cool and trendy. It isn't so stop trying, Alex Whittaker . Model flying has the highest proportion of moaning minnies and cantakerous old gits of any hobby I can think of - long may it continue.Edited By FunnyFlyer on 08/12/2011 13:44:26
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Clubs within 40 miles of Northampton
FunnyFlyer replied to David Hodgson's topic in Flying Sites and Clubs
Northampton Model Aero Club - but they fly near Kettering Nene Valley Modellers Ogees Model Flying Club (Wellingorough) Market Harborough Model Aero Club These are just from memory and are within 15 miles or so. -
In the words of French writer Voltaire - leading wit of the 18th Century Enlightenment: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"? But I don't think we need apply his sentimet to fellow Forum members?
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Interesting points. Here's my 2p worth. It is the best overall, general interest RC Aircraft Mag out there, by some distance. But... (there's always a but) I do tend to agree that some of the regular contributors do suffer from over inflated egos at times. This is a very difficult area to define - but let me give you an example. Simon Cocker is clearly a man who has expensive tastes when it comes to his models and flying suits; and clearly has loads of experience and considerable skills. Yet when I read his stuff, I never get the feeling he's showboating, grandstanding or showing off. His passion and enthusiam is infectious - and I feel I want to be part of what he is writing about. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for some other regulars. On a secondary note - my experience is that the magazine and forum welcomes feedback - as long as the Editors and Moderators agree with it. Over and out.
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One of the best issues this year. Simon Cocker's stuff was excellent.
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See what I mean?
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I lied... I couldn't let this one go. "In it's present state some would argue that it increases the chance of conflict. In several areas of this country 'Balkanisation' is slowly happening, the same thing is happening in France, Germany and several other EU countries. It wouldn't take much for things to kick off. To think that being a member of the EU "ensures that these horrors are consigned to history" is naive in the extreme." In my opinion - this is right wing hyberbole. Where in the UK or France has there been genocide? I don't recall reading about any Blitzkreigs in the last 60 years or so.
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So which Commonwealth partners are doing better than us? Zimbabwe? Ghana? New Zealand? Our economy is still bigger than any of our Commonwealth partners. The rise of the BRIC economies would have happened anyway - with or without our EU membership. I'll sign off this thread now or I'll say something I'll regret and have the full wrath of the moderators unleashed against me. Just make sure your copy of The Daily Mail or The Telegraph doesn't get soaked in this wet spell we are having. Adios - Au Revoir - Auf Weidersein
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Hold your horses folks. We are in the EU. Fact. We will remain part of the EU forever. My opinion. Let's not forget how Europe was ravaged by two world wars and conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. The EU ensures that these horrors are consigned to history. I'm sure many of us in the forum are thinking about retiring to the Med or may have a holiday home there already. Slightly hipocritical that we talk about "getting out" and stopping cross border residency rights when many Brits take advantage of them.
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Guys - there's some good stuff coming out here. I think the "local buying club / hub" idea for independents to leverage their buying power might have legs. How would Ripmax and Perkins respond to this? If I get the time I'll draw up a Strategy Canvass (see Blue Ocean Strategy) that will show the different approaches that are available. The idea is that you do not compete in the bloody red oceans - but create an uncontested space - a blue ocean - that renders competition irelevant. In this thread there are some ideas coming through that are really do offer some value that an online provider cannot.
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Posted by Devon Flyer on 24/10/2011 17:03:25: I wish someone would come up with a way of running a sustainable LMS around here. Large rural area and small population means that it's about a 200 mile round trip to get to a decent MS. Thank heavens for the internet. So what are your ideas, DF?
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@BEB Good points. The Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is something that is sadly lacking in many UK (shop and online) operations. Look how Hobby King do it. I think at can done at a simple level without the going over the top with technology. How many shops ask for your email when you buy in person. I also like the idea of order online - collect in store. Many DIY retailers and Argos do this. But as you say - this will require good stock management systems and confidence in your ability to supply to order.
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@PatMc You could be correct. But what should the LMS of the future look like? How do we avoid the withering? How do we embed those good practices? What are those practices?
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Erflog - everything you say is true to some extent. But the exam question is how do you work within this to create value for your customers and yourself - the shop owner. Apart from price - where else can value be added for the customer?
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Ben - yes it's coming through loud and clear from this and other threads that getting the right staff is an issue. This should be a hygene factor - something that is taken for granted - but this is often seldom the case.
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@Tony B Love the idea of having small scale "How to do it" sessions - or at least some sort of area where you can see "under the bonnet". Hobby Craft does this very well and to good effect. @Plummet Yes - a simulator version of some of the major brands you stock is a great idea - a virtual try before you fly. Wouldn't take much investment or wit to set this up. Keep the ideas coming!
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Hi folks, Can't help thinking that something game changing needs to be done to prevent the demise of this institution. eBay and on-line only shops seem to be fuelling the race to the bottom - competing only on price. Is there an opportunity to create new value? How can the bricks and mortar outlets offer something new and different? Will they dissapear from the High Street and be consigned to the industrial estates and show lines? Are there lessons to be learned from others? Look how bookshops responded to the Amazon-isation of their patch. You now have cafes and easy chairs where you can browse your prospective purchases in un-hurried comfort. This forum is full of people with ideas and opinions. Let's see if we can crowd source and create a collaborative blueprint and business plan for the future!
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Posted by Richard Harris on 20/10/2011 22:51:02: FF, Way before my time, looks like the wing is inflatable? It would have had to go pretty quick through the air for the canard to work ! Interesting though, bet not many were sold? Yes, the wing was a cell construction with a mesh at the LE that inflated as the airspeed built up. It was actually a kite that was simply used to provide the wing. It required a 40 - 46 engine - but was a doddle to fly. The large pendulum effect gave hands off stability in huge amounts and the elevator response was equally docile. Great fun to fly and I used it as a camera platform way back in 1986.
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Fascinating! I built one of these Windbags in the mid 80s. It cheated by having a canard elevator, but used weight shift for directional control, via a winch servo. This is not me in the pic - just some random dude from an internet search.
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I agree with Lee and Andy - you know what you what you are getting into before you go on these shows. I do not agree with the general derision aimed at the show - it is a great piece of TV of that genre and the guy who does the VO, the excellent Dave Lamb, is a legend in the industry. Nigel just ticked all the boxes. Model aircraft enthusiast, lives in a shambolic house, didn't wash his hands after clearing up dog mess and served up very poor food. The producer must have been delighted with his choice! I'm also surprised at the number of people who claim that they do not watch television - but then go on to say they caught it on iPlayer or 4OD. Join the 21st century guys. Even the BBC now refer to "Visual and Audio" rather than "TV and Radio", reflecting the different ways people consume content. And BEB, you would have missed out on the recent Spitfire programme with John Sergeant and the Cambridge professor re-building Barnes Wallace's bouncing bomb.
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Fascinating - yet at the same time a little disturbing.
