General Messages

This message board is used for general club discussion. The committee may also post any important information regarding the club or flying site here.

  1. Posted by: Steve Hartley on 20 November 2010

    The 2010 AGM minutes are now available for download.

  2. Posted by: Graeme Halliday on 11 November 2010

    Found this on the internet today. Quite topical I thought.

    Jet flypast scares chickens to death
    August 27, 2010
    A FARMER in Brittany is suing the French defence ministry claiming a low-altitude fly past by their planes scared 5,000 of his chickens to death.

    Etienne Le Méhauté, who owns a chicken farm with 68,000 birds in Pléguien, Côtes d'Armor, is suing, claiming the deaths will cost him €12,000-€15,000.

    "We were in the house eating," he told Ouest-France. "When they passed we felt the vibrations right up our spines. It was so strong.

    "The chickens were terrified. They were all piled up on the beds on the same side. We separated those we could."

    While Mr Méhauté did not see the jets, several workers out in the fields watched them pass and neighbours confirmed being shaken by the noise.

    The defence ministry has launched an investigation.

    Major Frédéric Solano of the air branch of the military's public relations office (Sirpa) confirmed that two jets had been flying in the area at that time but that their altitude should have corresponded to low-level flying regulations.

    Should the investigation confirm a link between the jet fighters and the 5,000 dead chickens, the military would be prepared to offer compensation, he added.

    It would be interesting to see the outcome of this.
    Graeme

  3. Posted by: Steve Hartley on 31 October 2010

    The flying area map has been updated to reflect the new no fly zones. A hard copy of this map will be sent out to all members together with membership renewal forms.

    The waiting list is now open.

  4. Posted by: Graeme Halliday on 30 October 2010

    Hi Mike,
    I think you have misunderstood the problem, The chicken farm is not directly in front of where we currently fly. It is the field at the top end (Left as we fly now) The problem is caused by people flying too far to the left end where the buildings are.

    When we moved into the field we thought long and hard about where to fly from. If you go over to the wires to fly you are flying near 10 -15,000 volt wires. Against BMFA guidelines.
    You woukd have to carry all of your gear over there by hand then walk back and park your car. If you turn up when other people are already flying, either you walk across a live field or everyone has to stop while you move your gear, and the same again when you leave.

    In the winter the field would have a muddy path across it.
    You would be flying with your back to the neighbours who have been known to be less than impressed with us being there at all.
    Agreed the sun would be behind us but that is the only advantage.

  5. Posted by: mike burke on 30 October 2010

    chatting to ken a while back and just happen to say the one disadvantage of this site was it was south facing and he did not think it would it would be a problem moving to the other side of the field just in front of the cabels but we would have to carry our gear across i never thought much more about the conversation but with the problem with the chicken farm it might solve the problem of straying over the farm as nobody flys behind the flight line

  6. Posted by: Graeme Halliday on 28 October 2010

    Further to the recent incident I have visited the chicken farmer to resolve the issue that they have with us. The lady concerned is very angry with us for the problems we are causing her business. I will give further details at the AGM.

    Be under no illusion these problems could cost us a lot of money and lose us the field. Take what is said very seriously and do not ignore the new no fly zones and pit arrangements.

    I have posted a notice and revised map on the flag pole. Please read it before you next fly.

    No flying is allowed in the no fly zones.
    No flying at any great altitude is allowed at the top end of the field where we share a boundary with the chicken farm.
    No model is exempt from this. All can cause the problems we are at fault for.

    I have spoken to Ken about the area we use for the pits. As of today we are to move one crossing point further down the field towards the main road.

    Please ensure we cause no damage to the grass in the pits due to fuel spillage. Use the trays provided or use your own.

    All these little problems are adding up to a big one from which we may not be able to recover.

    At lot of time and effort was taken to get use of this site. I have spent a lot of time this week trying to make sure we don't lose it.

    I hope to have a good turnout at the AGM because there are very serious issues to discuss and they could affect us all. The date for the AGM is Wednesday the 10th of November. If you don't come to any other meeting, come to this one.

    Graeme Halliday
    Chairman

  7. Posted by: Graeme Halliday on 26 October 2010

    Another incident with the chicken farm.

    I have had another phone call from Ken our landlord to pass on another complaint from the chicken farmer.
    They are fed up with us flying near the boundry line that devides the flying field and the chicken farm land.
    A plane came down in the farm on Monday and although the pilot did the right thing and went round to ask permission to collect the model, the farmer has still contacted Ken to complain about the intrusion onto their land. They are very concious about infection spreading from neighbouring fields. Never go over the fence to retrieve any downed model.

    There appears to be one or two planes which regularly fly over or far to close to the boundary.
    IT HAS TO STOP. Ken is getting very annoyed now amd we are at risk of losing the field.

    PASS THIS MESSAGE ON URGENTLY!

    I have to contact the farmer in person now to sort this out and I don't want to do it again.
    Thanks

  8. Posted by: Last comp, AGM on 16 October 2010

    Yomorrow is the last competition of the year, Weather permitting. Check the events page for details.

    Next month is the club AGM. Formal invitations will be sent out soon. Please attand as we will be discussing important issues that could affect all of the club members.

    You will be able to renew your membership at the agm.

    Regards
    Graeme Halliday

  9. Posted by: Steve Hartley on 08 September 2010

    For those of you who need to stock up on fuel we've had this message from Hobbystores in Reading.

    "I was wondering if it possible to let your members know that Hobbystores will be running a fuel deal on the 17th / 18th September. The fuel we will be selling is primarily contest 10 and sport 5 gallons and should be well priced (almost show prices I'm told). We hope this works out for both ourselves and you, cheap fuel is never a miss in the current climate as I have found out on my last personal order and will help us generate some turnover, there will also be some other bargains on the days but as yet I have not been told what they will be."

    John Edmunds

    (Reading Hobbystores Manager)

  10. Posted by: Graeme Halliday on 08 September 2010

    Helicopter competition tonight at the red cross hall.
    It will involve lifting and moving stuff, so the model of choice would be the co-axial type like a twister or Blade with skids or a wire rod fitted to it.
    The MCX size models would be too small to handle the small payload.
    If people turn up with un suitable models, I will have to change my plan.

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