Arthur Harris

Grow up. I originally posted to show how different the CAA and BMFA work, making payments difficult rather than easy as most organisations do. That's what the thread is about.

I didn't know that, that is useful to know. The cost of membership is peanuts compared to the consequences if it lapses, that's what I'll do in future!

I had an interesting conversation recently, after watching someone flying inverted just a few feet (inches, sometimes) above the runway and doing touch and goes with the right and left wheels just above stall speed just for fun. Some people were of the opinion that flying the way you feel comfortable is enough. To me, it seems as if 'comfortable' is a bit boring. On the other hand, pushing yourself is stressful. I find right hand circuits less intuitive than left hand circuits, especially when landing- so when I have the field to myself that is what I do. What is the general opinion?

Thanks, I've just done that; I'm covered till July. Perhaps that is why they didn't send me a reminder. It's a shame it isn't co-ordinated with the BMFA membership. I wonder why BMFA insurance isn't automatically renewed like other insurances; normally you get renewed unless you actively opt out.

My BMFA is up to date, but as for CAA- who knows? Not me, or them, it seems. At least they are not actively chasing up their money, unlike my broadband and energy suppliers, but since it is only a tenner maybe that is why.

Just out of interest Rich, what flying do you do? Sloping, flat field, IC, EP? It seems you are a bit of an enigma!

I was reading about the early days of RC, when someone was quoted asking at a demonstration: "is that plane radio controlled or just inherently unstable?" Made me chuckle.

I am so old that I reckon that old-timer free flight designs can be trainers for solo learners. They were built to fly without RC, so all the learner has to do is nudge them in the right direction.

Fair enough. I didn't realise this, having only skim read. I just thought it might help him get some flying time amongst his other activities.

That's a bit of a shame. If they tried a Gmail or WhatsApp group it might gain traction. Most people (not just flying club members) wait for someone else to take the initiative. Once a group has started it will probably gain traction- weather conditions at flying sites is an obvious go-to.

Apologies, John, I misunderstood.

Yes, but that is not an argument for it to remain a paper magazine. In fact, it suggests the opposite- why waste money posting a paper magazine if it won't be read by some of the recipients? People will read it online if they have a mind to- we are all reading this forum, aren't we?

The Funfighters are a great range of planes. I had a FW190 with an OS25 many years ago. I don't have your build skills, but it was still a great flyer.

The BMFA just needs to move with the times. Members don't like seeing their fees thrown away on paper magazines that even many members say are thrown away unread and unwanted. My club has a Facebook site, a Gmail group, and a WhatsApp group and an online magazine. No one suffers from a lack of information, quite the reverse, and we are not wasting club fees printing and posting unwanted bumf.

I don't think that is true at all. I read stuff on this forum because it is online (so do you, obviously). I also look at RCG and several other forums related to modelling. I also read most of the daily newspapers online, much more than I did with paper copies. An online BMFA magazine would be far more popular than a paper copy- it could be read anywhere, anytime.