Ullswater Splash In 11th & 12th June 2011
I called in at camp site where the Windermere Model Waterplane Flyers were holding one of their events this past weekend. Alastair was there with his boat performing recovery duties though the standard of flying was such that he wasn’t needed that much. My landing was just a bit on the heavy side and the rear support of the floats broke the ply plate in the fuselage. The repair was a bit more than I was prepared to attempt at the lakeside so I hung around and took a few photos on Saturday and the Sunday was given up to sightseeing.
Watching the regulars fly it struck me that the models with a boat shaped hull and a pylon mounted engine were the most stable. Trainers can relatively easily be converted into water planes but they are not as stable, in gusty conditions, as the flying boats. The photographs show some of the models there on Saturday most of which were flown though getting good flying shots were difficult because the models almost disappeared into the background clutter of parked boats and green mountains. Unlike our flying sites the horizon was up about 45º from the horizontal putting the models quite a long way off when they were flying against the sky.
Just a word of thanks to the members of the W. M. W. Flyers who made me welcome and didn’t laugh too much at my efforts. Thanks to Richard and Bron of our club who lent me a transmitter while mine was being recalled. Hope Bron didn’t miss the Phoenix flight simulator too much.
A final odd thought! It is just possible that I may have slept in the same bed as Joe Priestnal. The owner of Elm Lodge wanted to be remembered to you and thanks you again for the day you took him flying.
May 2011
Go to the video page for an update of this years event.
