The competion is split into four classes - rubber, CO2/electric, Jetex/Rapier and I/C power. There is a trophy for each class, with the overall winner taking home the Eddie Riding Trophy.
Points are split between static and flying marks, and flights are judged on realism, not duration. To achieve a qualifying flight, a time of 30 seconds has to be achieved for I/C power, 20 seconds for rubber and CO2/electric, and 15 seconds for Jetex/Rapier. An ROG gets you extra marks and you have four sets of judges to try to register a qualifying flight with. The marks from the best flight count.
I managed to win the rubber trophy again this year with the Mr.Mulligan, benfitting from the breezy conditions - the model is not very big, but fairly heavy, and stable, coping with the breezy conditions well and managing a take-off after 2 abortive wing tip scraping attempts. I also came away with the Rapier Trophy again, though a judged qualifying flight was only achieved on the final attempt out of eight. That's what I get for trying to trim a new model at a competition!
Most impressive new model at the event had to be this magnificent electric powered Handley Page 0/7 (a civil conversion of the HP 0/400) built by Michael Smith. Michael waited until the end of the two hour session before risking a flight from a hand launch. It looked steady enough but did not have quite enough grunt to get away for a qualifying flight.
The winner of the Eddie Riding Trophy this year was Andrew Hewitt with his venerable D.H.4, which made several excellent flights climbing safely away from the tarmac. He told me that as the centre section struts are now shot, the model will be retired - not a bad way to finish!
This was another model I had not seen before - a diesel powered SPAD VII by Bill Dennis. I saw it get one qualifying flight where it got away well, but lost out on approach and landing marks as it spiralled in when the power cut.
Paul Bingham had this Bristol F2B Fighter entered in the CO2/electric class. A good flier, and on one occasion it came in for a perfect landing on the taxiway, which got a well deserved round of applause from the watchng spectators.
As well as his D.H.4, Andrew Hewitt had also brought along this enormous rubber-powered Fokker E.III. You get an idea of the size by looking at the Mig 15 at to the left! The weather was rather breezy to risk flying it, but Andrew did anyway (brave chap), and was rewarded a good qualifying flight. The model finished second in class.
The Breda 15 makes a very attractive subject for a free flight model, and this one was the handiwork of James Campbell. The model flew well, and was placed 4th in the CO2/electric class
Very cleanly finished electric powered Piper J3 Cub by Roy Pritchard.
John Watters electric Cessna Bird Dog parked next to my Mr.Mulligan.
Apologies for the extreme yellowness of some of these photos, but the models were on display in a yellow tent this year through which the sun was shining! Anyway, this was the Mig 15 entered by Paul Bingham - a reduced version of the classic Keil Kraft design, for Rapier L2 power. Unfortunately attempts to get a qualifying flight were interrupted by a heavy "landing" on the unforgiving taxiway.
Joe Fergusson was the builder of this rubber-powered Miles Mohawk. A very attractive subject, but unfortunately the model failed to register a qualifying flight. You can see my Rapier-powered Republic Thunderchief on the right.
James Cambell entered this Mig 15 in the Jetex/Rapier class. Using a catapult to launch the model, it was a spectacular performer spiralling up into the sky like a duration model. I did not get a chance to ask him what motors he was using, but I think they must have been Rapier L2HP's.
This was another new model I had not seen before - a very nice large scale Sopwith Triplane entered in the I/C class by Brian Conroy.
Terry Manley brought along this fine Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter and finished 4th in the I/C class.
Here are the full results: