Area 51

Ken, I think that image was captured (sorry poor choice, taken) at the Nationals. I thought it could be the RTP guys get fed up with drones as you can clearly see the tether....

With regard to the Teggs Nose park in Macclesfield, Cheshire. I remember this problem arising due to modellers flying from the same or close to footpaths used by hill walkers, on the park trails (v.popular with dog walkers) etc. This resulted in some walkers being flown over as glider approached landing or used the slope lift.. The council took a view on this activity and it was negative for the flyers; it used to be clearly marked no model flying! The Leek and Moorlands club have areas they fly around East Cheshire and the within the Peak District. However, this is not one of them. Their access to sites is by agreement with landowners and for members only.. I guess it will be down to who your local authority is working with or has expereince of... Always worth a call to check out the councils position.. I'm sure they would rather have some "approved users" looking after the site with a point of contact (say you own club), rather than any Tom, Dick or Harry trying it until there is a problem!.

As often as I can get below the radar! Excellent day yesterday down the strip, just off slope soaring this now as there is a lovely easterly... Dont just sit there, get one (three) up..

Yes, a dozen for me too Dylan... Study ones... The plastic versions would warp sometimes when asking for a bit of extra work from them!

Posted by Percy Verance on 28/09/2015 12:52:35: Which is exactly why we don't have them on our site................. Helicopters are (for us at least) another no no. They're almost always flat out all the time Yes Percy, they are a nuisance the frequency of the noise they make is high and being flat out I suspect more of a problem.. We have had some new members recently at our club, from a defunct local heli club, and its all aggresive aerobatics/3D stuff, the noise is really localised in one spot and high pitch.. a noise, which I suspect, travels more than a selection of airplanes being flown with an operational throttle...! No wonder their last site was lost.... I'm petrol watching the petrol thread with interest as I am going that way, but only when its quiet enough to match the 4 strokes and draw no attention too itself..

Posted by Owdlad on 27/09/2015 17:18:48: Strange title this one. Because in all honesty it's not the silencer that's the problem.........its the end user that's the problem simply because they know the engine is noisy and over the limit but still persist in flying the model at all costs. This is the real problem and not the cheapo silencer.......just my opinion Totally agree.. and the exact reason we lost a field a couple years back.. one flyer and user of petrol flown very very poorly.. their first and only petrol and we lost the site!

Excellent siting and something to behold here at 51N.. So last time was 33yrs ago huh, well if I only knew then........ As above with the lads above, the view of the other stars in the sky was something to behold.. and why cant the place be a little calmer and just get on?? Second full eclipse this year..

Some locals state it may have been a local emergency helicopter in NZ! You would hope the crew of this airliner know the difference at 6000'.. Still I doubt it was anything we would classify as a "drone" in RC activities.. possibly something more commercial? The NZ airliners TCAS systems would have picked up this "object", alerted and recorded the presence of it, additionally ATC would have been able to track it once alerted to its presence.. So where did it go afterwards, over what area was it spotted? Who on the ground saw it too? At best its is probably more poor researched media coverage, more accurately it'll be media coverage without any real detail or research.. as they all seem to avoided the detail to boost the news items sensationalism.. How about... A pigshead was seen flying over Oxfordshire conutryside in an open cockpit spacewalker, controlled by Top Gear presenters in designer wellies.. should sell a few copies.. and on that bombshell.. I'll stop droning on..

Model workshop **LINK** give them a call or email with what you are looking for .. Great service and they will cover the FF8

Posted by iqon on 26/09/2015 19:54:34: I have just tried to quieten the noise of my engine - I have a dle 30 I bought the AGM wrap round silencer to replace the supplied one.......on the 4th flight it broke apart.........anybody thinking of getting that one ..try elsewhere.....wasn't even quieter, just a different tone to it.... Sorry to read that iqon; I'm following the thread with interest and a solution is really needed .. the manufacturers need to step up their game here.. big time.. and not just see it as a niche to provide a costly solution.. I'm not understanding this theory of needing to buy a silencer the same or more than the engine to get it quiet enough!.. Seems a crazy solution.. We could do with hobbyking getting their factories on on this one.. help the sales of petrol motors no end!

I'd be worried about the french a/c; they never completed the full AD requirements before or after their Paris crash..! None of the BA a/c would not have suffered the same as the a/c involved in Paris.. or been lost. So even if it is a "running" example it'll take even more cash to bring it up to the last UK CofA on this type.. I remember reading the decommision of the fleet ensured no airline could buy them and return them to service.. BA being keen to preserve their status as the only SST operator.. ever.. I also read Virgin were keen to have two or three, and run them at a loss just to gain the PR and qudos over BA.. I tend to believe that as VS do seem to like taking a shot at their biggest rival.. It does pain me to say, but it really does seem like pie in the sky... I do hope the prove me of so wrong and get at least a couple Flt Engrs hats back

Looking grand Reg, I do like a good canal barge.. need more a box of swann morton and some epoxy there!! Let me know if you make up to Cheshire.. some good mooring with ale houses near by.. Have you a model onboard, just in case?

A couple have been kept indoors and in very good nick.. These would be the airframes to be used, ones stored outside will be more costly to return to service... The Flt Engineers may yet get their hats back! However, I'm sure they wouldn't want them Lets hope we see an SST in the sky again, if it were the states.. they would never have lost the last one from airworthy status.. Their pride in their aviation heritage is lesson to all...

For Mike Ridley, extremely good chap... Edited By Area 51 on 19/09/2015 09:15:33

Francois, lovely model and choice! IT really does suit the colour scheme chosen.. I have a liking for the De Jager too; I also like the SIG Liberty.. All nice bipes are on my build list, which it too long!.. We can be spoilt for choice..

Lovely job there torb, you will not be disppointed in the Acro, with a lovely Saito GK too.. You will remember this model for a long time, probably buy another one to "have in stock" - well done and enjoy!

Reminds me of my Micromold Avenger, that was 3ch and massive step up from the 2 ch slope soarer I learned to fly on in the late 70's!.. Happy days and the Phase 2 build is looking good... Nowt wrong with a bit of nostalgia!

Hey Rich, always students improving their skills (experienced).. so ask the local Uni's to help.. or how about semi retired types not wanting a full blown day job!... Keep them busy and get them out the house for a few days.. might provide some flexiblity for you too!   Good luck, all the same. Edited By Area 51 on 14/09/2015 17:03:56

Seems to be getting tougher to please us show goers! I didnt attend but have thought the same of some shows in the last 3-4 years.. I have cut down the amount I go too; the smaller club run events seem more popular - only one problem with some of these.. no bargain tents to fill your bag in !! We cant have it both ways - can we? Certainly dont just want two main shows a year etc.. Long live our model events / shows

I see Rich, How about the local colleges/Uni teaching this subject? My Bro is head of faculty in Manchester; businesses can and do contact him directly to fill spots and grab talent!; for some of the classes he invites local business and multi nationals along to speak and tutor new and mature students! Wouldn't bother with agencies - in my view to them is all about billing for jobs filled.. so if you dont have one that will do this quick, the last thing they do is want to spend any time earning that commission they charge! Good luck.. but check out and ask at your local Uni's.. may grab someone coming back to school, or a mature, who wants a few shekels for Xmas.. future company star and all that

rupture of some fuel lines

Rich; is this office based or remote? Perhaps you would have more success with a remote based person these days if the workload permits it! Much of the stuff I read suggest some people, if they can get it would take on such a role. Is there an industry forum where such employees, aspiring/experienced etc, may visit?

Good man, staggering distance!

Hi Cymaz, thats a fair drive for you! I hope to come along too if the weekend is free. There is a decent pub next door to this hotel;The Steppings Stones.. I can recommend a meal here if you have nothing else planned and are not full of burgers from the airfield

That'll be leaking fuel burning on the apron from a ruptured fuel line; seems to be following the repairs to the apron cracks and this only looks like tarmac; softened in the Vegas heat... Would probably burn too adding to the black smoke!