The competion is split into four classes - rubber, CO2/electric, Jetex and I/C power. There is a trophy for each class, with the overall winner taking home the Eddie Riding Trophy. (I don’t know how well known Eddie Riding was abroad, so just to explain that he was one of the pioneers of practical, yet very accurate, flying scale models in the UK, and many of his designs are still built and flown today. Most plans are still available from the Aeromodeller plans service). Points are split between static and flying marks, and flights are judged on realism, not duration. To get a qualifying flight you just have to stay up for 15 seconds, and an ROG will get you extra marks. You have four attempts to register a flight, with the marks from the best one counting.
I risked one flight with my new Caravan in the rubber class, but a launch directly into wind lead to a huge stall, and a nosedive into the grass. The only damage was to the propeller, which I repaired, but I did not risk the model again due to the worsening weather. My other entry was a Jetex 50 powered D.H. Venom, from the old Keil Kraft plan. This was finished the day before and test glided for the first time on the day. I had three spectactular attempts, each resulting in a hefty crash. Cyano was used to put the bits back together (including a smashed wing) before I eventually gave up and decided to make proper repairs back home. It was notable that of the 6 Jetex entries, only one was able to make successful qualifying flight,
Not surprisingly, the larger and heavier I/C models coped best with the conditions (as they did last year).
One nice feature of this event is that many visitors to the rally stay behind to watch the competition - if you did a good flight, you got a round of applause. Not often you get such a large audience of non-participents at a free flight event
Terry Manley won the Eddie Riding trophy with his Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter as he did last year. This model coped extremely well with the windy conditions, took off beautifully, and looked most realistic in flight.
Barry Hetherington was the worthy winner of the Rubber class with this Stinson Travelair. Just the centre prop is powered for flying. Barry had to make repairs after the first flight, but thereafter the model flew well, and also managed a successful take-off. Behind can be seen one of two Hawker Harts entered in the rubber class - I think this one was the work of Mark Nulty.
Mike Smith's very detailed I/C powered Martinsyde Elephant would surely have placed higher than 4th in class if only it had managed a take-off - from a Hand launch it flew a treat.
Bob Waddington's Jetex powered Sylphe won the class last year, but this year failed to make a successful qualifying class (along with all the other Jetex entrants except one!)
Bill Harwood scored highly in the rubber class with this lovely Church Midwing, but did not risk flying it in the windy conditions. Behind can be seen my Keil Kraft Venom in the Jetex class. It did not look so pristine after the flying!
Bill Dennis came second in I/C with his Brandenburg C.1 - the model scored well in static and managed one exciting take-off into the gusting wind, followed by an excellent flight. Behind is Andrew Hewitt's D.H.34.
Focke Wulf 47D by Joe Ferguson. A very attractive subject for rubber power - shame that the weather did not allow its flight performance to be demonstrated.
Here are the full results: