Christchurch and District Model Flying Club
Sloping Off - our newsletter

A week’s model flying in South Devon, by the Chairman

On Saturday 1st October 2016 six club members drove to Chillington for a week of slope soaring, staying in a house with adequate car parking and most facilities. Okay, the hot water system could be a little healthier. I.E. If using a shower (there are two) ask others NOT to use any cold tap or flush a loo!! (My 30th year of using the place & area). We first ventured to a slope on Sunday 2nd Oct. The wind forecast was E/NE. Actually it was a VERY light SW/W coming straight from the sea onto a 400 foot cliff. All six managed to get an elec glider up at the same time. The public, who had walked around 1/2 mile to get to us, really enjoyed the flying and landings. All were amazed and delighted.

Our friendly local farmer allowed us to park in a field he rents from the National Trust and light winds made it feel like a beautiful summer’s day as the sun shone & shone.

After lunch A few of us had ago with an actual slope model, mine being the 48” Vulcan. I just managed to get it back over the slope edge — a really lucky boy. The wind continued to increase to around 12 mph and many models had successful outings, including the Vulcan.

From Monday to Friday all flying was from Start Point. Again 400 feet above the sea. It is possible to fly SE, NE, NNE & ENE. Of course we had Easterly much of the time. Easterly is possible to fly but very challenging. Landings were marvellous on the NE side of the slope. However, the SE slope really needed some nerve to land in a 40ft X 25ft space.

Thursday was a wonderful day for sloping. 42 - 45mph NE wind gusting to 54mph!

Friday was the most difficult as the wind was E and VERY light, great for electric models though.

On the Wednesday four of us took one car and visited Totem Hobbies, Plymouth. This is a marvellous model shop. Plenty of space between the metal racks that were loaded with model boxes. Their prices were equivalent to internet prices, as well. Yes, they managed to lever a few pounds from us, too.

Food was taken at the pub opposite the house we were staying on the Saturday evening. Sunday was at the Church House Inn, just one mile away. The Globe Inn was about 1 1/2 miles and we spent two wonderful evenings there. An 18 piece folk band entertained us for one of these evenings and they were fantastic, as was the food.

Jon Couldridge cooked us a stupendous meal one evening. He also presented a cooked breakfast each morning for those who could face it (yes, me of course).

Unfortunately this will be the last opportunity for use the preferred S, SW & W slope at Bolbery Down as the farm is likely to change hands. Okay, flying is allowed as it is actually now NT land. The problem is no cars will be allowed to access the site. This will mean a 1/2 mile walk, leaving cars in the NT car park.

The NE site at Start Point has become far more difficult to access for slope soaring. Again, the farmer not wanting slopers (or anybody) on his land. He has erected an electric fence around the areas we would wish to access, even though there are no animals on the land. Signs saying Keep Out, etc., mean very difficult landing areas.

Photos were all taken by Dave Shipton. Cheers, Terry Antell