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| Paul Brewer on a mission 2019 BMFA Nationals |
The BMFA Nationals August. 2019.
Hot Hot Hot all three days
Arrived at Barkston on the Friday at 5.30pm having the worst 205 miles journey in years almost 7 hrs & then was queued up in rows in the airfield staging area for another hour, even my official pass did not stop that happening, when allowed I made my way to the scale area marque to set up camp .. Met up With Chris Allen Cd .. Judge Alex Kennedy ..& others, Erected my tent had a Coffee, , placed my Bed in tent .. SRFC member Ben drove me over to the Beer tent there we met up with club member this time Paul Brewer (secretary) of the Worthing & Littlehampton flying club Just as Dave & Cary Knott were leaving for their Hotel .. anyhow Cheesy Chips & Burgers added to the evening ..
My Nationals this year once I again fielded My Hawker Hurricane Built from Dave Knotts drawings to 1/6th scale in F4h Full of hope to change the 2018 2nd place results to a first.. I had in fact WON last year But a scoring input error placed me second & as I had not lodged an appeal the rules say seven days .. WHY WOULD I we all trust the results posted .. Who would have known No post comp Audit was undertaken ..So because of that and the post 7 day rule the STC can't or won't reverse the published flight order or score either, I remain Un Crowned BMFA F4H scale Champion. The same day Dave & I received our letter from the STC committee Chairman confirming on the Sunday of the 2019 Nationals we had lost our appeal, No changes can be made to the final published result therefore, the promulgated results must stand.. My thanks to David Knott who spotted the mistake first, whilst checking my build against the judging marks And did inform the STC of the of that mistake that they indeed verified. I am currently reviewing that situation and maybe lodge a protest and and challenge that decision .
I do not wish to place the whole inaccurate final score error on the shoulders of person performing that task as he was on his own in a crowded scale tent & having to deal constantly with interruptions by competitors and some members of the public too every day at that 2018 event ..
A stop press moment, I did challenge the STC Decision re the 2018 stand off scale result, Under the BMFA general rule 2.3.9(f) and i'm pleased to say this has resulted in the reversal of 1st & 2nd place my thanks to the committee concerned .. The confirmed results have now been posted ..
An apology due
I have removed comments made by me due to misunderstanding after the event alcohol fueled Banter & surrounding the 2018 F4h results jumping to the wrong conclusion of the true facts and posting here unsubstantiated thus unfounded comment and to reinstate good character, my comment causing some distress to the person concerned for that I apologise once more ..
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The Good, Bad and bits I would rather forget
Upside this year I posted a good static score of 1713.. but my first round flight was a struggle heat maybe but a loss of performance from the Laser 150 did not help,anyhow a full flight was completed I landed ok no wheel departed the plane this year.. I started the 2nd round Sunday late afternoon full Sun in face Flight did not last long as the engine clanged to a halt down wind during the descending circle this was the lucky bit as I was able to land safely once again .. spent two hours removing the laser to find 3 of the bearing hsg bolts had come out , two had stayed with the plane & Dave Knott had one spare too .. Refitted we test ran the engine cycled high to low & held model up no sagging great, Neil Tidy wandered over listened thought it sounded fine .. so good to go again me thinks .
The Good, Bad and bits I would rather forget
Upside this year I posted a good static score of 1713.. but my first round flight was a struggle heat maybe but a loss of performance from the Laser 150 did not help,anyhow a full flight was completed I landed ok no wheel departed the plane this year.. I started the 2nd round Sunday late afternoon full Sun in face Flight did not last long as the engine clanged to a halt down wind during the descending circle this was the lucky bit as I was able to land safely once again .. spent two hours removing the laser to find 3 of the bearing hsg bolts had come out , two had stayed with the plane & Dave Knott had one spare too .. Refitted we test ran the engine cycled high to low & held model up no sagging great, Neil Tidy wandered over listened thought it sounded fine .. so good to go again me thinks .
Day three on early afternoon this time in 2nd from last to fly .. My engine started straight away .. taxi to take off the wind not quite across the runway took off well and I went to cruise speed, reopening the throttle power dropped & sounded very very rich but kept running around 1/2 stick motor the Hurricane seem to be manageable the first few maneuvers are all flat, Now using height to build energy I managed the half cuban eight Putt Putted back up to height run in & down for the Immelman turn model clawed upward & flicked rolled but flew off ok putti putting again got up but not as high headed in for the final loop this was aborted so went for the landing, Wheel & flaps down all looked good called it nice curve sinking ok closed the throttle for the flair & landing the worst happened and the engine increased speed ( if that had been a go around maneuver) was a 10 ... wandered around the sky for a while hoping to run out of fuel .. Then elected to land on grass put wheels up Flaps Down flew round and down to a couple of feet above runway engine picked up, Round for 2nd attempt tooooo fast 3rd try low across grass still a tad fast pulled back elevator very slowly till the tail dragged the grass And the Hurricane dropped on the grass i'm Down safe .. only a pulled flap hinge, damaged carb intake stone guard & dented my Ego .. Big round of applause helped .. ended my Nationals in Forth place .. & sun burnt too .. Great time Banter most of the time with spectators & competitors alike ..
Update post nationals, On returning home I removed the lower cowl, Inspection revealed the ball link had detached from the throttle arm.. It was obvious I was the author of my own downfall having not checked it was secured properly after the engine was reinstalled ....... "😢Dam it" also it had been overheating a sure sign slightly loose head bolts.. (Now if the weather had been cooler, breezy as normal for Barkston Ho hum...... So both myself & david must rethink our cooling which is marginal at best becomes critical in the heat we experienced at this Very unusual three days of sunshine & minimal wind ..
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F4C
The Nationals Gremlin Bags another Victim
My good friend did not fair any better this year 2018 F4c National Champion David Knott had to abandon his first round flight, First off he taxies to the take off point pulls the trim back to Get the Hurricane stationery, called Take off Now moves the throttle up model starts moving one cylinder quit no power to take off, returns back & starts again. Then the 240V laser just after take off again lost power when he throttled back to cruising speed refused to open up again, power was minimal after that David got the large Hurricane back to terra firma safely.. we Spent a while trying to re tune the carb, top end ok the idle kept cutting anyhow its running, so a test flight was undertaken at the end of the day, this went well, on landing the model slowed up quite fast and pecked the runway resulting in a new propeller..
The Nationals Gremlin Bags another Victim
My good friend did not fair any better this year 2018 F4c National Champion David Knott had to abandon his first round flight, First off he taxies to the take off point pulls the trim back to Get the Hurricane stationery, called Take off Now moves the throttle up model starts moving one cylinder quit no power to take off, returns back & starts again. Then the 240V laser just after take off again lost power when he throttled back to cruising speed refused to open up again, power was minimal after that David got the large Hurricane back to terra firma safely.. we Spent a while trying to re tune the carb, top end ok the idle kept cutting anyhow its running, so a test flight was undertaken at the end of the day, this went well, on landing the model slowed up quite fast and pecked the runway resulting in a new propeller..
Before the nationals: David Knott was meticulous in his preparation for this years Nationals replacing the old Laser For another new 240V running in then Fitting it into a large Extra 260 for air testing .....
Happerley back in the Hawker Hurricane, and after test running at our club site .. Dave took the model to rollestone Home of the flying Druids for test flights & it was just perfect ..(CAA rules prevented flying a large model being flown at the SRFC site) so you see even the best can't prevent s.h.1.t happening
link here for that flight on Bobbarlow1 u tube site https://youtu.be/s2xQMX6T9LA ..
David Worked in all that heat for eight hours on his Hurricane (hidden in plain view ) the problem turned out to be a loose throttle arm, the he arm was moving past the closed position then it would be pulled back by the servo, fully open never was We had been tuning a ever changing scenario on the 240v laser, while ( It's not easy) trying to tighten that a slight slip broke the 2nd one which then meant he now had to remove the engine Panels, the Engine & moulded lead weight. lots of screws & a couple of special tools !!. A call went out on the PA Found a replacement arm this was donated by Ali Machinchy senior .. problem almost fixed "Phew" ..
Dave took time out to call for me I too had an gremlin & had to land part way through my last flight, perhaps their catching...
Then to top his problems after the Engine was fixed David put the Hurricane on the runway & a wheel was not locked down , resulting in the tailwheel damage back for more repair..
NO 2nd round that he scrubbed, went back to work and repaired tail wheel .... 🙏All ready for 3rd round this time all went well,, David returned highest flight score & the Highest static too But no podium this year Lots of effort put in only disappointment the reward , Had he got the 2nd flight in He would have been the clear Winner
.. He'll BE Back ....
NO 2nd round that he scrubbed, went back to work and repaired tail wheel .... 🙏All ready for 3rd round this time all went well,, David returned highest flight score & the Highest static too But no podium this year Lots of effort put in only disappointment the reward , Had he got the 2nd flight in He would have been the clear Winner
.. He'll BE Back ....
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| Because of the 2018 results Cock UP the new double checking of scores on the board Has been put in place by th STC and good thing too, It Did effect a few place changes on the scoreboard, Poor Richard Crap with his Stampe SV4E went from F4c Winner to 4th (hero - zero he said) Steve Jackson, and his Avro 504 Pushed hard to Second place & good old John Carpenter with his Howard PETE was a well earned Third .. From Sorrow to elation Mick Henderson on the other hand was down and out sitting in the back of his van Pondering the what was ifs, Suddenly found himself catapulted up to to F4c Champion ,when Alex Kennedy came to find him & much jubilation from north of the Border followed ... The scores they may still change subject to Audit confirmation.. (To much heat for the computer)?? ............................................................ now some good news I'm really proud of Benedetto Devzio from SRFC flying club here in Sussex I'm mentoring him in scale competition flying, Dave Knott is too, He flew a Freewing Spitfire coming 5th in his First ever Nationals & gave a very creditable performance, high praise from both judges for his smooth flowing performance.. Great stuff. Ben .. look out for him in the future.. Congratulations Ben ..👍 your hooked . Photos are by me Pete Fullard unless otherwise stated ..  |
| Myself & Hawker Hurricane ready for the final round ( did not go at all well ) that pesky Nationals Gremlin got on board "again" !! photo Bob Fletcher..
Saturday Barbecue share what you have evening & beer /wine just some of the attendees
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below the Mick Henderson's winning F4C model DH9A
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| The 2019 F4c Champion just before he knew it ................................................  |
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| Lunch Break Dave starts His Grumman panther looks a little worried! An boy did he enjoy himself putting on a superb aerobatic display .. great stuff Dave.. |
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| Two views of Ben Devizio Flight line Spitfire The Spirit of Kent |
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| Ben & Pete |
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| Ben Demonstrated His F104 Phantom , With aplomb in the late afternoon |
Alistair Foot Another Foamie This time a Hawker Hunter
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| A Happy Brian Wood Fettling his retracts in the Sunshine |
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| Dave Neil Tidy & Pete trying to access the problem with the LaserV240.. Photo John Minchell below strip down & removal of engine in progress  |
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| Graham Kennedy took a sneaky early morning Flight (Think he wanted to show He Can fly too ) |
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Almost got you Bob "they tell me you moved just like the athlete you are,"😓 nice underside shot
photo by Bob Fletcher
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| Enjoying the events of the day Dave Cossins foreground Jeff Hartnoll & Geoff Brown ..
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The scoreboard at the end of the events , This is only provisional prizes given on the day So are still subject to
verification..
 ........................................................................... All Photo's below are courtesy Bob Fletcher..  Jim McCall Spacewalker 1st S/O scale  Roger Warman Piper PA 18 super cub 2nd s/o scale
Stevan Ansell Vans RV4 3rd s/o scale
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🌞🌞🌞
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