SIMON CRAGG

Well, good news on both the HFT and eye fronts! Left eye op yesterday, and although the pupil is still dilated, its MUCH better already.......so happy about this, the surgeon was an absolute miracle worker to whom I will be forever be grateful. Got to be VERY careful for the next few weeks, and precise routine of drops etc, Common sense really. Just so glad our insurance covered it at circa £3500 (Private). The Field Target club I have joined is fantastic to say the least!. 8 minutes away, VERY helpful group, lots of useful advice etc. Having purchased a known decent rifle and scope, I am now in the process of pellet testing, and am like a huge sponge, absorbing as much info as I can. The club shoot to SWEFTA rules which are different to HFT, but still brilliant fun. In the process of selling a few "Hanger Queens" to fund the new interest!.

Ok, when trying to access my dashboard it ends up going to an Ionis hosting site. Hopefully part of the work being done to the server.

Looks like the BMFA Website is down or been hacked.

Printed off a load on the pc. Stuck on with Prit stick, can be peeled off easily when the number changes or gets even longer. No damage to paint on a foamy....so win win!.

Well said, I agree 100%. Keyboard warriors, who have not got a real life. Spend their tedious lives making obtuse, uninformed and generally irritating posts just to stir up trouble and controversy. Just ban them.................no loss.

All my small EDF Jets have clear reinforced tape on the belly, and cut down white plastic spoons to protect the servo arms. Screwfix Polyurethane clear satin Varnish (3 coats lightly rubbed down). Coped with wet grass, bit of mud etc. Never had any damage......so must work!

To a certain extent HFT clubs are in the same boat as us. Very keen to get hold of new members and youngsters at a premium. To keep the less able on board, they have introduced the "Sticks" class for anybody who is less able to get up and down to the prone or kneeling position. A major bonus is that they have a "Veterans" class.....that will be me then. There seems to be the usual harmless banter etc. and a LOT of help available. I am hoping to join with a mate, who is very competitive and a good sub 12 shot, so a bit of competition on the cards. Just needs to stop raining!

Probably going to be sticks veteran PCP class for me. Sub 12 ft lbs, no hearing protection required. A bit like modelling when you first start........the range of kit options is incredible.

Many thx for all your helpful comments. I have a doctors appointment in a few days,(lucky me eh?) for ongoing motion sickness (FFS what else will go wrong), and will ask about my cataracts (Thx ED). At 74 its suddenly all starting to go a bit pear shaped. Just about to join a local gun club to give HFT shooting a go....so need to get sorted asap!.

Slightly off topic, but my eyesight is failing, so over the last 6 months virtually no flying. Back in the summer, I was hurtling my electric Havok around the sky when I suddenly realised I could see two models........basically a shadow flying just under the model!. Very disturbing. Tried various sunglasses, no good, Painted the model bright yellow, no good, Went to Specsavers, specs returned for refund as no good, Went to local opticians who discovered cataracts in both eyes, left worse than right, but neither bad enough to operate on! So that's me stuck really, until they get bad enough for op or I give up altogether. Bit fed up about it really.

The MATS models were a really heavy beast, with a Fibreglass fuzz, foam wings and all the wood, bordering on hardwood. No wonder the poor old Merco (run on straight fuel with a dash of petrol, struggled to keep it in the air, They also incorporated a type of ballistic parachute under the canopy. The idea being that in the unlikely event it as hit, a servo would operate a canopy jettison set up. Never....ever, saw it work!.

Whilst in BAOR, I used to book the MATS team when we took the tanks to Hohne ranges. More of a novelty / fun end of shoot event really. Thousands of 7.62 / .30 rounds were wasted trying to hit them.......without success. At least half a dozen piled into the surrounding fir trees. However, there was an upside!. I had to sign to say the MATS team had searched diligently for any downed / crashed models, so they could be written off. From the control tower, I had carefully marked where they all crashed, mostly dead stick. (Merco.61, no exhaust,11x73/4 Kavan blue prop, nice Skyleader push / pull servos etc). I rounded up a few "helpers", and when everyone had legged it, went down range to recover the airframes on many occasions. Say no more!

I was stationed there for three years, many moons ago. Used to work in one of the original hangers. Lots of adventures exploring the derelict control tower, various huts and accommodation. On a recent visit I was gutted to see that the old officers mess adjacent to the parade square, had replaced by a Bookers!. So many memories of the whole airfield. Stunning place back then.

Well done Bonzo, brightened up my day!

Our club comps have gradually tailed off no matter how the Committee tried. We deleted the word "Comp" and replaced it with "fun" to no avail really. Somebody had a great idea for 2025 which seems to have caught on: Members can enter any Chris Foss model and take part in 8 different fun events throughout the year (two attempts, one am. one pm).: Lots of banter and general "fun". Spot landing, Timed flight. Loops. Ground handling round cones. Fastest and slowest Using the Sky Rc gizmo: Flying to a max height Flying to a max speed Flying to a set distance So far a lot of CF models have been rejuvenated, and I managed to find two CF Acro Wots for £45, and sold one for £20. Who said the hobby was ded / expensive /etc.?