15 October 2011
I note that some people, mostly those who hardly ever fly at the Whams are growing concerened about the wind turbines that will be arriving next year. When we did the reserch before we made our agreement with E-On one of the people I talked to was the chairman of Chester-le-Street Model Flying Club. They have two turbines at the end of their runway of about the same dimentions as ours and he said that they could hardly ever notice any effect when flying downwind of them. 
Follow the link to www.clsrmc.co.uk
2nd October 2011
Just to complete the set all three of the turbines have been errected at Carlecotes. Big blades, about 60 metres in diameter, and just look how much they bend when stationary.
23rd Sept 2011
Quarries or Turbines - I am not sure.
Going up to the Windmill cafe today after a successful flight with the Bulldog today I noticed a new cabin, much smaller than ours, but definatly a contractors. By its position I would think it is something to do with the extension of the quarry on the ridge that will be creeping towards our field over the next few years. Unfortunatly there was nobody arround to ask but I hope to find out what is going on soon.
You can just make out our field behind the cows.
As I drove back towards Brown's Edge Road I did however notice some new marker posts and what appeared to be crop circles in the positions where two of the turbines are going to be built. So it would appear that at least the pliminary survey has started for what is officially known as the Blackstone Edge Turbine Cluster.
The white patch with a stick at the top edge is just where turbine Nº 1 is positioned and I could see another aproximatly where Nº should be going.
If you read this web site and the HDMAC one don't be too alarmed by the very dramatic picture of turbulance downwind of some turbines.
1. I believe the weather conditions in this instance were very peculiar.
2. I have now flown twice behind the turbines allong towards the cafe and it is impossible to detect any difference between the up wind and downwind side.
3. Chester-le-Street model club fly in the next field to two turbines about the same size as those that will come next to us and their chairman assures me they are not a problem.
4. There is a video on YouTube of an american pilot (who else) flying a model equiped with a first person video camera actually through the rotating blades of a big wind turbine without a wobble or a shake. If I can find it again I will put it up in the video section.
21st Sept 2011
First of three (Todays Yorkshire Post)
Follow this link for the Yorkshire Post article and photograph.
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/around-yorkshire/local-stories/turbines_arrive_as_firm_invests_10m_in_wind_farm_1_3792834
That is one big turbine.Two more to come at this site and then three behind the Whams.
16th Sept 2011
“The Turbines are Coming – They are! – They are!”
I am sure you will all recognise the first picture; the turbines that have been just up the road for about eighteen years now. Just another seven to go and they run out of planning permission and may have to be pulled down.
BUT! What is happening behind Hepworth Iron (now Wavin) and mid-way between Carlecotes and Crow Edge? This is the first of, I think, two turbines that will be a bit more like the ones we are to get next.
Having checked with the developers it is now definite that “our” turbines will be erected in the Spring/early Summer of 2012 so make the most of our very rural site now because very soon we will be situated on the very edge of a large construction site and, at least in my lifetime, things will never be quite the same again.
Note the turbine blades lying on the floor! Add half the width of the blade to the top of the mast and you get one heck of a big windmill.
Blackstone Edge Wind Turbine Cluster
I learned today (sometime back in Spring) that the proposed Wind Farm at the back of the Whams flying field is not very far away from starting. The probability is that the bases will be put in this year and the turbines erected sometime during the summer of 2012.
The most interesting development however is that E-On have no longer any interest in the site having sold it on to another company. This should not, I hope, have any effect on the club but I am at present seeking confirmation that this indeed will be the case.