jan brilman Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 Hello everybody,   Is there anyone who knows how when where etc. this year?  So far found that Barkston Heath won't have you, but . . .  I've sent a mail to the BMFA: no response whatsoever.  Would love to see the Free Flight Scale Competition again . . . 😃  Thanks!  jan brilman Netherlands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted January 12, 2023 Share Posted January 12, 2023 The BMFA calender is here but so far does not list the Nationals.  Perhaps it would be on the usual last weekend in August - Monday is a public holiday. Whilst checking I found that the Southern Model Show is scheduled for the 2 & 3 Sept at Headcorn airfield Kent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin collins 1 Posted January 12, 2023 Share Posted January 12, 2023 (edited) RAS Scampton is lying empty and unused at the moment, how about holding the NATS there? Edited January 12, 2023 by martin collins 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted January 12, 2023 Share Posted January 12, 2023 (edited) Personally, I wouldn't get your hopes up regarding a return to the Nats of old and how we remember them as a really huge jamboree of model flying over several days. For me, the loss of the hangar at Barkston was a big negative anyway, but that's the way it goes. I'm not sure that such an event would be financially viable now and assuming one could even find a suitable venue that would be prepared to host it. Most of us are fortunate to be able to say that we've seen the very best over the years. The hobby has changed and to an extent, modellers have changed along with the way that the hobby is viewed. Never say never of course. Plenty of smaller meetings and events around the country, maybe that's the way to go now?  Edited January 12, 2023 by Cuban8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zflyer Posted January 12, 2023 Share Posted January 12, 2023 Cosford cancelled for LMA what about some disciplines from the Nats here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted January 12, 2023 Share Posted January 12, 2023 (edited) Cosford was one show that I may well have visited this year as we have family nearby. Odd decision as the site is used to dealing with the public at the RAF Museum over the other side. Operational needs, security, even good old health and safety or "we just can't be asked" might be something to do with it - their call so not much to be done. Edited January 12, 2023 by Cuban8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted January 13, 2023 Share Posted January 13, 2023 Maybe it's just me, but I would have thought that the reason was obvious. I should think that every RAF base in the U.K. (and the same in Europe) has more important things of concern at the moment and don't need people with toy aeroplanes potentially getting in the way for the foreseeable future. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted January 13, 2023 Share Posted January 13, 2023 30 minutes ago, kevin b said: Maybe it's just me, but I would have thought that the reason was obvious. I should think that every RAF base in the U.K. (and the same in Europe) has more important things of concern at the moment and don't need people with toy aeroplanes potentially getting in the way for the foreseeable future. I'm old enough to remember the Cold War when there was a serious worry about the world being turned into a cinder, yet the RAF still managed to run a whole series of huge public 'At Home' airshows right across the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted January 13, 2023 Share Posted January 13, 2023 (edited) I'd be happy to be proved wrong, but I suspect we'll never again see a Nationals like those of yesteryear (i.e. all disciplines on a single RAF site) again. There's lots of resons for this - changing structures and demands on the RAF, reduced number of suitable locations, evolution of the hobby, reducing participation, economic conditions etc. - but probably the biggest barrier is the lack of value to the RAF.  Other than a lot of admin, what's really in it for them? They no longer need to recruit at the same scale in the past, so it wouldn't seem to help there. All they really end up with is a lot of paperwork, hours of meetings with the BMFA and an airfield out of comission for the weekend (potentially longer if there was a fear of FOD after the event). Combine this with the fact we have now been three years without a Nationals held at Barkston; the more time passes the harder it gets for the BMFA negotiators to get a positive result in negotiations with the relevant Station Commander(s). It's sad, but the BMFA are reallyup against it on this one, and if they aren't successful this year I think it will be time acknowledge that it's probably pointless tryign to resurrect an "old-skool" Nats at thsi point. Edited January 13, 2023 by MattyB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Calcutt Posted January 13, 2023 Share Posted January 13, 2023 On 12/01/2023 at 19:39, martin collins 1 said: RAS Scampton is lying empty and unused at the moment, how about holding the NATS there? Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Calcutt Posted January 13, 2023 Share Posted January 13, 2023 Don’t bother suggesting anything,they won’t listen to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted January 13, 2023 Share Posted January 13, 2023 10 minutes ago, Andrew Calcutt said: Don’t bother suggesting anything,they won’t listen to you. The BMFA will be looking at all kinds of options, but remember they have zero power in this process - essentially they are asking for a favour without being able to offer anything back in return. Just because you suggested it and it didn’t come to pass does not mean it was not investigated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jan brilman Posted February 2, 2023 Author Share Posted February 2, 2023 (edited) It's really sad to hear all this. 😔  'Those were the days, my friend. We thought they'd never end . . .'  Etc.etc.   jan. Edited February 2, 2023 by jan brilman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 While we're discussing 'alternatives' I understand that Shuttleworth has altered the camping and caravanning arrangements for Modelair days. They now say that it's self sufficient 'wild camping' from now on with the toilet block that used to be available to us being denied to campers - overnight at least. Inconvenient for tenters to say the least and not a great thing for those that prefer to not use their caravan loos to their full potential - if you see what I mean. Fine for an overnight Jimmy, but a great source of dubious toilet humour for much else.......no thanks. I like to caravan to fairly well serviced sites and Shuttleworth was perfectly adequate before this change - perhaps it doesn't bother many other folks? Just checked on their website before posting this and it looks as though they've gone away from the 'wild camping' idea and now provide portable loos, a chemical disposal point and water tap. That's not so bad and pretty much what we had at Barkston. Good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Cooper Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 We are unlikely to be given a suitably large airfield until Russia stops being naughty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin collins 1 Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 Scampton lies empty and the runways have closed crosses on them, it is not a million miles from Barkston, it would be nice if we knew that that avenue was being enquired about......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Cracknell Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 Should be plenty of airfields lying unused - the RAF hasn't got enough planes to fill the ones that are open! Â By the way, the 2023 Defence review will entrust the nations defence to a line of Territorial Army soldiers on Dover Cliffs (weekends and bank holidays only) armed with catapults. Unfortunately the funding for ball bearings is scheduled for the 2024 review. Without body armour each soldier will be issued with a four leaf clover to ward off incoming enemy fire. Officers will be issued with a lucky rabbits foot to distinguish them. In time honoured tradition by the MOD these will be sourced from China. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Collinson Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 And the Chinoise ball bearings will undoubtedly be made of pure unalloyed Cheesium …. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis Watkins Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 Grantham, this morning RAF Barkston Heath, active pilot training Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 19 hours ago, martin collins 1 said: Scampton lies empty and the runways have closed crosses on them, it is not a million miles from Barkston, it would be nice if we knew that that avenue was being enquired about.........  If you want to know the exact current status I suggest you reach out the the BMFA direct in private, but I doubt they will tell you anything - communicating the target sites and latest status to members every five minutes is unlikely to help what I'm sure are quite delicate negotiations. Just let them get on with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 Why are the Nationals not being held at Buckminster? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 (edited) Not big enough unless separate days for different categories. Edited February 3, 2023 by Ron Gray 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Collinson Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 and parking is tight unless the campsite is sacrificed, which would be counter productive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 1 hour ago, Ron Gray said: Not big enough unless separate days for different categories. You could say it's a case of Buckminster Fuller e'en if spread over several days........  I'll get me coat 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 21 minutes ago, leccyflyer said: You could say it's a case of Buckminster Fuller e'en if spread over several days........  I'll get me coat 😉  You're having a Ball with this one... 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.