Well, that's me, way back before man had even set foot on the moon.
I was born the usual nine months later on the 30th November 1968.
This was the year that the TU-144 'concordski' beat the Concord into supersonic flight.
Boeing rolled out it's first 747, Lockheed C-5A Galaxy made it's first flight and LBJ ended the bombing of North Vietnam! ! ! ! !
Meanwhile back in a little village in the middle of the Costwolds in deepest England called 'Lechlade', I was entering the world as a new aeromodeller. . . .
3 years later, and having got addicted to the all models in my fathers workshop and the intoxicating substances that go with it, I started to dabble in the world of 'free-flight' . . . . . Pity I got more paint on me than on the model, still, not a lot has changed.
So then the big thing happened ! ! We all moved to Ireland on my 7th birthday (30th Nov 1975) . . . WHY ?
The reason for moving was so that my father and two of his mates from Cirencester, decided to set up a company 'Technopower Enterprises Ltd' in Smithstown Ind Est, Shannon in order to produce two main types of Model Aero Engines. Firstly there was the Telco CO2 engine. It was designed in 1,2,3 and 4 cylinder versions. Most sold were of the single cylinder version.
But the best and the most interesting engines designed and made by the company were the 'Technopower' 4-stroke radial engines. These were based on the Armstrong-Siddeley Genet engine of the 1930's era, supplied in 5, 7, or 9 cylinder versions. A few years later Both 'Telco' and 'Technopower' were sold on to the UK and USA.
The first radio I used was my fathers 'Skyleader' set and the first model that I flew a 45" piper cherokee built by me from a kit. I then tried gliders and float planes. My first radio set was a JR Max 66 set and was installed in a Hi-Boy powered by an OS 40 that was purchased for me as a gift by my uncle in model Spot in Leicester in the mid to late 80's. In 1988, I purchased a Futaba FF7 and used (abused) it for the next 10 years. In 1998, I bought a Futaba 9ZAP set from UK show pilot Paul Heckles and have stayed with ZAP's since that time and then got a new ZAP WCII that I purchased from Ripmax for the Jet World Masters back in 1997. I currently fly my model using a Futaba 14MZ that I was fortunate to have won at the XFC championships for just $50 worth of raffle tickets . . . Lucky me!!!!!
I am a self taught model pilot and fly a different mode to most (not mode 1 or 2 or 3 or 4), still it stops people from trying to fly my models.
Only one person has the 'KNACK' and that is UK show pilot, Steve Holland. . . .As he says 'It makes his brain hurt' after flying my mode. . . .
Way back in 1991, I contacted the then editor of RCM&E (Radio Control Models & Electronics), Kevin Crozier, and asked if I could do a kit review for the mag. He said give it a whirl and since then I have done a few as you can see below. I have also been asked on two occasions to be a jury member for the 'R/C Model of the Year Awards'
Here are the reviews I have done are . .
Model | Kit | Issue Date |
Puma 40 | Robbe | Nov 1991 |
Skybolt | Sig | Jun 1992 |
Mustang 40 | Midwest | Aug 1992 |
Super Sportster 60 | Greatplanes | Jan 1993 |
Sukhoi 40 | Midwest | Apr 1993 |
Flying Machine 25 | EZ | Apr 1993 |
Euroa Quilla | ASP | May 1994 |
F-86A Sabre | Westfield MC | Jun 1994 |
Jodel D120 | DB Sport & Scale | Mar 1995 |
F-82 Mustang | Dynaflite | Jun 1995 |
Ryan STA | ASP | Oct 1995 |
Luck of the Irish | Endurance Record Report | Jan 1996 |
F-16 | Westfield MC | May 1996 |
Apache Helicopter | Kyosho | Feb 1997 |
Bobcat Glider | Bob Martin Models | Jul 1997 |
W.A.S.P. 40 | BVR | Jan 1998 |
F-86D Sabre | Cambrian MC | Aug 1998 |
Superquick | Sebino Models | Oct 1998 |
Baby Boss | Pete Tindal | Dec 1998 |
3D Simulator | Tru-Flite | Jan 1999 |
Staudacher S-300 GS | Sebino Models | Mar 1999 |
Sting | Hacker Models | Apr 1999 |
Video Link | Weston UK | Jun 1999 |
Excitation | Pete Tindal | Sep 1999 |
Jet Masters 99 | Team Report | Dec 1999 |
Magnum 45 | Weston UK | Mar 2000 |
Aerofly Simulator | Ikarus | Apr 2000 |
Easy Street | Balsacraft | Jun 2000 |
Inovation | Pete Tindal's Models | Aug 2000 |
Rapier Delta | Balsacraft | Mar 2001 |
Palio Glider | Scorpio Models | Apr 2001 |
Mirage 2000-5 | Ripmax | Jun 2001 |
Limbo Dancer ARTF | Ripmax | Aug 2001 |
Reno Racer | Ripmax | Oct 2002 |
Magic Fun-Fly | YT International | Apr 2003 |
Flair Spitfire | Flair Products | Oct 2003 |
Extra 330L | Het-RC | Nov 2004 |
My interest in international events, shows and competitions started back in 1992.
I entered the 'Europa Star Cup' in the UK and obtained 3rd in static with my "scratch built" 1/2 scale Pitts S-1S Special.
Since then I have felt the urge to do more competitions and have attended the following main events. . . . . .
Europa Star Cup | 1992 | England |
2nd Jet World Masters | 1997 | England |
3rd Jet World Masters | 1999 | Austria |
Jets over DeLand | 2000 | U.S.A. |
Scottish Nationals Scale | 2000 | Scotland |
Millenium British Nationals | 2000 | England |
Scottish Nationals Scale | 2001 | Scotland |
British Nationals Scale | 2001 | England |
Top Gun Invitational | 2001 | U.S.A. |
4th Jet World Masters | 2001 | Thailand |
XFC Invitational | 2003 | U.S.A. |
Futaba XFC Invitational | 2005 | U.S.A. |
7th Jet World Masters | 2007 | N. Ireland |
Top Gun Invitational | 2008 | U.S.A. |
Here I am after doing something a little bit different.
On Sunday the 9th July 1995, I had a crack at doing the British R/C endurance record.
The first flight of the day was at 04:54 until 09:53 (only 36 seconds under the 5 hour mark) so the model was re-fueled and
a second flight was done from 15:02 until 20: 46. A total time of 5 hours 46 min and 56 secs on this second flight.
The main reason for doing this . . . Raising £1,300 for the local Hospice.
The area which I realy get a rush, is in the wild world of Model Show Flying, I got my BMFA 'B' Cert back in May 1995 and have never looked back.
So, having been invited to many clubs and shows through the years, I thought that I should put something back into the hobby by staging my own fly-in for these persons to come to and for them to fly at.
The first one of these was held near where I live back in May 1995. Christened as the May Madness Weekend it was attended by my friends from the NWMAC among others, who spent the 3 days flying models and hitting the local pubs.
The second May Madness was held in the same location two years later in 1998 and numbers were up. 1999 brought friends from England and in 2000 was to be the BIG ONE. Since then I have held a Madness each year.
So what is next ? . . . . . Well there are so many things that this hobby/sport has to offer and I for one can't wait to get out there and experience the thrill that is Model Flying.
Watch this space for more as it happens. . . . . . . .