If you said that this years Long Mynd scale day was dominated by Purbeck Sailplanes and their
ASW27 then you would be right.
There were no fewer than seven different examples of this design entered with Ricky White (son
of Purbeck) placing first and Simon Cocker placing third.
From a personal point of view this event was the first scale competition that both Peter and I had
taken part in. We both have Purbeck ASW27's. Peters has been finished and he has been flying it
for quite a while, whereas mine had only been finished on the evening before the competition
at the campsite.
Hardly ideal preparation.
Eight o'clock on the morning of the competition saw us on the Pole Cottage slope preparing for
its maiden flight. The model was launched and it soon became apparent that it was tail heavy.
To compound matters the lift was also very patchy - weak in places, even worse in others.
What followed was a very uncomfortable ten minutes whilst I struggled for height. Just before
starting a landing approach, I thought I would check the brakes. Unfortunately only one of them
closed. From uncomfortable to desperate.
A quick landing approach left me shaking but the model undamaged. Subsequent examination showed
an error in the assembly of the airbrake. Having corrected this and added a little lead to the
nose I was prepared for my competition flight!
Peter having witnessed my discomfort elected not to fly his ASW27. Instead he would fly his 1/3
scale Schleicher Ka3, a model he was much more comfortable with.
Scale judging was as successful as my test flight had been. The judge elected not to accept my
documentation.
As I had modelled a foreign (USA) based example I had been in touch with its owner via e-mail and
he had photographed it with a digital camera and sent the files as an e-mail attachment which I
had then printed out on a colour printer. Something that other modellers might need to take into
account when choosing a suitable subject to model. Oh well at least the flying might be better.
Peter flew first an made a good job of the manoeuvres. His landing, I thought, was outstanding.
I flew my manoeuvres OK but the landing was a little fast and I landed long. Quote of the weekend
came from Terry White (Mr. Purbeck) - 'Watch the landing box, it isn't where you think it is'
It certainly wasn't anywhere near where Terry landed!!
Second quote must be from Tony Baker. Chatting to him I enquired what he did for a living. His
reply ,'I take photos for magazines - Penthouse , Playboy and the like - you've probably seen them!'
Yes Tony - never miss an issue!!!
It doesn't matter how badly you have flown, when they call the prizes at the end of the day you
still hope that you might qualify for one. Well they must have added the points up wrong because
neither Peter or I won a prize. Oh well, perhaps next year.
We left having had an enjoyable day but with one question in our minds. Has anyone seen a fullsize
ASW27 perform a low slow roll at high speed at no more than 30 feet? Scale competition I ask you!
E-mail me if you have.
More photos coming soon
Back to
features page homepage about us photo album
favourite
sites
