So here I am, stuck in the Gateway for a night because Mickey Mouse Airlines has broken down again, and I thought I could take the opportunity to reflect on a year’s model flying.  I say model flying because building has been almost non-existent in the last 12 months.  My entire production amounts to one “rat” racer; not the most complex of airframes!

 Early in the year it had already become obvious that I would be doing little RC flying, but I did plan to take part in both the slope soaring and indoor.  These I managed, but with little real commitment; I just turned up and flew what I had left in the loft.  The “Big Plan” for the year would be to attend the Control Line Euro Champs, BMFA British Nationals and the RAFMAA Main Champs.

 Planning for the Euros was going well, right up to the point that some fool started a war!  My job meant that I was only indirectly involved, but “man B” (Chris Barker) was whistled off to take a full (supporting) role in the farce.  By the time he returned the Euros were upon us, so we piled our kit on the bikes and left.  The competition was held near the city of Tours in central western France, and since the ferry trip took 6 hours we decided to over-night at a campsite just south of Le Mans.  The site would have been fine if it hadn’t been for a local farmer’s cockerels, which had decided to compete to be the first to crow; since there were a lot of them they started at mid-night and kept it up continuously until breakfast time.

 On day two we travelled to the site and got settled in our tents.  The following day involved meeting up with people, exploring the flying site and attending the opening ceremony.  This would have been spectacular if it hadn’t been for the fact that the automated fireworks broke down part way through; ah, computers…

 The first couple of days of competition passed with little to report; in each discipline the top teams showed their potential, mainly being affected by the very high temperatures (40+ at times).  By Tuesday evening it was becoming obvious that the sky couldn’t support the thunderclouds any longer, but we were sure that we had time to nip out and eat.  The journey became a little protracted as each village we passed through was closed, but eventually we found somewhere, and sat down to an excellent meal.  All was well until we came to leave.  At this point the heavens gave up the losing battle and started to dump some of the water, in VERY LARGE drops, on the two unfortunate fools wearing nothing more than shorts, a T-shirt and a crash helmet.  We pressed on - skin is waterproof after all – and got about halfway home when things turned a whole lot more sinister.  The wind suddenly accelerated to storm-force and the torrential rain gave way to full size ice cubes!  We had to stop at the side of the road; there was no option.  I ended up crouching behind my bike to shelter from the bombardment, but not before I had sustained wounds on my forearm and bruised and swollen knuckles.  Better was to come: by the time we finally reached the campsite, the continuous lightning was illuminating a scene of utter devastation; we joined the others hiding in the toilet block, the only suitably solid building.  

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 Sometime after midnight a very nice French lady rescued us to the local college, where we stayed for the duration, returning to the site on the next day only to patch up the tents, dry things off and pack.

 The final days of competition went well (ish).  In F2A speed the team missed the individual medals but took the team gold, although our junior took junior gold.  In F2B Stunt we filled our traditional mid-table positions.  In F2C Team Race only one British team made it into the semi-finals, but missed the final.  In F2D Combat all British participation involved spectating by the end of round four, with the exception of our junior who took junior bronze.  A superb competition was rounded-off with an administration balls-up and a banquet, both as only the French could achieve!  Chris and I rode home the following day, a trip that was only marred by the thousands of trees ripped apart by the winds; four days later the crews were still trying to clear the roads.

 The BMFA British Nationals were divided between venues this year, due to the non-availability of Barkston Heath.  We collected at Oakington near Cambridge for the control line events.  Chris flew with his new pitman, Mike, an ex-pongo but not too bad for all that.  I teamed up with Neil Tricker (Hon.) for Goodyear and Noel Stephenson (Hon.) for Phantom.  The weekend was fairly un-eventful but the highlights were certainly Chris and Mike achieving a personal best in F2C of 3-28 and Neil and I doing the same in Goodyear with 4-46.  At the final count Chris took away silver and two bronzes, whilst we managed silver and a bronze.  We were both pleased because the trophies are superb.

 A quick dash home to change models and drop off the laundry was followed by a trip up to Honington for the RAFMAA champs, still the highlight of my year.  As usual we worked hard and flew all the classes, this year with a little time to spare.  The sad fact is that whilst we have enough flyers to make useful competitions, most of them are now Honoraries.  We would love to see more serving members bringing along a couple of simple models to fly.  Surely you must have noticed that the Control Line flyers are achieving far more flying time in the three days?  The results of the Main Champs speak for themselves, and I am not going to dwell on them here, but the fact is, Chris and I are there to be shot at, and if you bring a model (mini-Goodyear is a good place to start) then you will get all the help and encouragement you need.  Please get in touch if you need plans.

 So there we have it, a thoroughly enjoyable year, which, if I ever succeed in leaving Brize, should culminate with a two day comp in Los Angeles.  That remains to be seen, and I will report back in due course.  You have been warned…