Piers Bowlan

Perhaps the CAA should exempt all model gliders (unpowered models to be clear) from the requirements of RID? E-gliders would still be affected but they can be flown from club sites. You could lob your glider off a slope or cliff without RID provided you were not flying in controlled or restricted airspace. But what if you were, I hear the nay sayers bleat? Well PC plot or whoever could just walk up to the offending twit and apprehend them. From a practical viewpoint I would have thought that this would be satisfactory. As RID will be very short range (somebody is bound to disagree!) I am not sure what the powers that be, think RID will achieve in the real world. Model gliders are a microcosm of an already very small special interest group, what difference would it make. What do you think? (I have retired to the bunker!)

If they can only print A3 I suggest you find a professional printers. Just email the file and they will post you the plans. I pay £5 a sheet and of course postage will be on top of that but not a lot if loosely folded (rolled plans will probably cost more to post). I use Minuteman press in Poole who are helpful and will enlarge when required, or do mirror images when you only have the plan for one wing.

Martin, I should have added after ‘sites’, that is, those that don’t already have dispensations to operate within controlled airspace. The CAA often make rules and then grant alleviations with certain restrictions. They can be quite pragmatic sometimes.

I can’t see the CAA buying that Ron. They want to be able to put points on a map showing model flying sites, so that commercial drones (Amazon?!) can avoid them. They also want to know that all registered model flying sites are outside of controlled airspace. This is all fine and dandy except it doesn’t cater for the chap who just wants to chuck his RC glider off a local slope or cliff (like me). My practical question is, how small and light can a RID transponder be made and at what cost? Where is Peter Christie when you need him? If they could be made small enough you would only need to buy one and then swap it between models. Perhaps the BMFA could help fund the development of such a device, it might even be a commercial opportunity! Clearly the ‘thinking’ behind RID is nuts. Criminals are not going to bother about RID or geo fencing for that matter. Also the probability of a collision between a commercial drone and model aircraft is infinitely small. Full sized aviation is based on probabilities, not absolutes. Contrary to what the CAA say this is not going to contribute to safety or security, however we are where we are.

I learn to sail Enterprises with my dad when I was young. As an adult I bought a Laser Pico and a couple of Optomists for my kids to sail. When I retired to Dorset I got a trailer sailer, a Swallow Yachts Bay Cruiser 23 which I keep on a mooring on the river Frome. The boat, which has a retracting keel, is ideal for Poole harbour which is very shallow. I took her to Falmouth last year and off to the west coast of Scotland next week. I like exploring new sailing grounds without having to spend weeks sailing there. My other ‘hobby’ is renovating my house. The only trouble is it eats too much into my model building time. 😢

The principal reason for using contra rotating props on a twin is for the one engine inop case as there won’t be a critical engine (usually the left in the case of 2 clockwise turning propellers). Not normally an issue on an electric model aircraft and for an IC one, either engine failing will be pretty critical in my case!

It looks well and truely sorted Matty. 👍 How long is it, trying to get an idea of size. I wouldn’t mind trying to build one in wood if there were a plan, I am not 3D printing capable. Only trouble is I have a long list of unbuilt models already! Good luck with the project and let us see more pictures as it progresses.

I have always used cellophane. Nothing sticks to it and it is what professionals use to protect worktops when working with epoxy or polyester resins.

Good luck and speedy recovery with the hip replacement PatMc.

It is reassuring to know that having multiple projects on the go seems to be par for the course. My attitude (excuse) is that it is a hobby so why struggle on with a project if you are not really enjoying it - and then another beckons? The other problem is that repairs or even home DIY take president, prompting ‘lack of progress’ malaise. I have two built ready for covering projects (Peter Miller’s Alley Cat and Derek Woodwards Holly. Then there is my O/D PSS Blackburn Firebrand half painted. They have been in this state for years, so near and yet so far!

Several posters have asked whether it is always the same wing that drops? It would be useful to know the answer as it might be an indication of what is going on. Looking at the spec sheet for the model I note, like Nigel, it has very large ailerons,; full span and broad. Although no big deal I did wonder if one of the servos was getting blown back if it was faulty? I have many Hitec servos but I have had two faulty ones over a period of many years. Not likely perhaps but possible. My other question is, have the ailerons been set up with differential?

If you really want to prevent sticking use cellophane (as used in florists shops) available on eBay.

Lovely day and beautiful flying site, what part of the country?

Agree entirely. My other car is a Volvo XC60 hybrid. The level of electronic complication is unbelievable. Just hope there is someone around who understands it if/when it goes wrong! All a bit different to my first car- Austin Mini 850 ❤️/ 😢

Yikes 😟. All because of one little wire! With some full sized aircraft systems, for instance, inertial reference systems are triplicated so if one is giving duff position information the other two ignore it. Expensive though. Pity Boeing didn’t think of doing that with the MCAS system on the B737 Max.