Christchurch and District Model Flying Club
Sloping Off - our newsletter

What goes up keeps coming down

I only give advice to people on two occasions. Firstly when they ask for it, which I notice is not often and secondly when I think they need it which is quite often. My advice this time is not to get involved with anything pretty and has all the right curves.

I am reminded of the Nun at a convent school who had to give a lesson in sexual reproduction. All she said was “Do not do it”. She asked “Will one hour of pleasure make up for a lifetime of remorse? Any questions?” asked the Nun.   A girl put up her hand and asked, “How do you make it last an hour?”

My involvement with the Extra 300 to which I refer had been a disaster. This time it was not the fault of the plane. I have always had Futaba Radio gear. I have been flying off and on since 1991 and once during the 90s I did have a radio failure and the planes failed to respond. I have had a few transmitters since then and they have been fine. I bought a new 2,4 Futaba TIC which did all I wanted. It has a timer built in, which I fine invaluable because I fly electric and have different flying times for each plane. Recently I took off the Extra 300, it went up and after about 50 yards it came down again. Ian Hammond and I both thought not another crash. I got out the Stryker which is a Delta. This skittered along the ground and would not rise. Ian asked me what I thought I was doing seized the transmitter put the plane down set it off and it cartwheeled along the runway.  Finally I tried to take off the Wot 4 up it went rather more steeply than usual then down it came just missing the end of the runway. Ian said it must be radio failure. We did a long range check and it seemed to be intermittent.   These things are so reliable that I never think they will go wrong. This time it clearly had. I always think a crash is my error which it usually is but not this time.

I sent the transmitter back to Sussex Model Centre who got it repaired.  The weather has been horrible for flying but there was a nice hour one day late in the afternoon so I took my faithful Wot 4 for a fly in Fawcetts field. I had two wonderful flights I even managed to land it without tipping it on its nose, the grass grabs the small wheels. Then came trouble. I took off for a third flight it went up and then down. Not another  transmitter failure I thought, but it was. I tried to get the rudder working at a   few yards as I walked thirty or so yards away it stopped. Another thing, the voltage showed at I0.5. But as I kept testing it the low power warning light came on. I am not a happy bunny.

I have returned it to Sussex Model Centre who have to get it put right but of course the fault was not theirs. At the time of writing it is still there. I have an old transmitter which I shall use  but not until the weather changes.

The Dynam Messerschmit 262 which I repaired (one of the engines would not work this meant much cutting of wires and soldering). I am pleased to report that it has had over 70 flights. Not flown by me, I dare not land it. Ian Hammond has it. All his landings whatever the plane are perfect. He really is a lucky lander, not like me.

Brian Wiseman.

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