RC AeroBase Official Launch

Today sees the official launch of a problem solving internet database for Radio Control modellers, RC Aerobase.

It came about due to the frustration at having to search through many websites to try and seek solutions when if there was a single place to find concise, relevant and authoritative answers life would be so much easier. This website was started in Autumn 2015 and sufficient articles added by 16th March 2016 to go for an official launch. The intention is that it will grow as more volunteer contributors come forward either to enhance existing articles or add new articles.

The originator of this idea is fellow South Cheshire Radio Control Society (SCRCS), Bob Hynes and following much discussion we formulated the framework and production of RC Aerobase website.

The majority of articles have three main features that are present.

1. The article title is a brief description of the problem as perceived when it occurs.
2. The body of the article contains the potential cause(s) and
3. the potential fix(es).

The website is aimed at everyone, regardless of experience or degree of knowledge; all can use it to problem solve or contribute to help others. Indeed we are looking for knowledgeable authors to add their specialist knowledge to a wide scope of subjects.

Vampire Flying

Following on from enjoying the hand launched Fizza I decided to bring out another old friend from a long sleep, my Vampire. This model will be 10 years old next month so it's doing very well indeed, do vampires live forever?

It's what we call stand off scale, if you stand back it looks like the full size version, well stand right back and you don't even see the propeller on the font. Anyway I like twin boom aircraft, they look so right somehow and the performance is outstanding. Fast or slow, it's great fun.

Ravenair Simulator

Landing a Boeing 747

A Christmas present from my wife was to visit Ravenair flight training and air charter at  Liverpool John Lennon Airport for a simulator flight. We took another couple with us so it was a shared experience we all enjoyed. I decided to be a little adventurous had the simulator setup as a Panavia Tornado as used by the RAF, it was quite sensitive on the controls but I did alright until it came to landing - always the painful bit!  I did land on the runway, the last ten feet of it, then through the perimeter fence and followed that with a nice drive through a wooded area. My wife opted for a more gentle Boeing 747 which she enjoyed and landed on the runway without overshooting. Oh well! 

It was great fun but whilst waiting for out turn I couldn't help looking out of the window at all of the real aeroplanes and thinking "If only...."

 

Model Flying, Great To Be At The Field Again

Wind, rain, a boggy field and a dodgy knee has reduced the amount of model flying I have been able to enjoy this winter. Thankfully there's been an improvement in all of these aspects recently, some sunshine even but the flying strip was still too wet to cut the grass so some suitable models had to be chosen. My hand launch Fizza was built from scratch by me 10 years ago and despite sending 6 weeks smashed up in a tree some years ago still fly's well (after repair of course). 

I'd forgotten what fun a simple model like this can be, it's just a sheet wing with elevator, ailerons and throttle being the only controls. Power is from an Enya 15 BB engine making it quite nippy, yet it glides well - which just as well as it needs gliding down and belly landing at low speed.

I haven't flown a helicopter for months and so I'm pleased to have succeeded flying it and taking home piece. Power for this 450 size helicopter comes from a LiPo battery which provides a flight time of around 6 minutes, it's a good idea to land before that time is up though!