The GB Gee Bees await their slot
We picked up a couple of extra members to our team – a couple of German guys with Gee Bees who slotted in perfectly – I would not be surprised to see a German Team GB there next year. A latecomer was Ian Redshaw, who’s model trailer lost a wheel on the M25 and had to arrive without any models, but still made the journey!
The Friday was actually a show day, (dont forget that the entry to the show was free, sponsored by the local council) and was a very pleasant day of flying, with German efficiency on transmitter control. No-one was allowed to overrun their allotted time, which made for a perfectly timed show. The German idea is quite simple – entertainment!! I think a lot of UK shows could learn from this. We managed an extra slot on the Friday, as some of the pilots had not yet arrived.
This all-aluminium DHC-2 Beaver was very impressive
Saturday was cooler, with a fair cross wind (unheard of, according to Richard) which meant for a great deal of rudder control on take-off and landings. This made things a little rough for the (very) large WW1 models, including Ian T-W, the Team Italia with their ½ size Nieuports, the magnificent ½ size Sopwith Pups dropping live (yes live) bombs which blew the wax out of our ears and set fire to the stubble field!
Other models of note were the super, Super Constellations of the Connie Team, a magnificent Gilmore Racer, an all aluminium Beaver, (half size) and of course, the superb models of our home grown Ali Maschinchy.
Major losses that day were a superb F-22, and, a major blow, Steve Bishop’s magnificent Hawk, flown together as a superb pair with his son, until a loose hinge on the flaps rolled the model in – a total write-off sadly.
Saturday night was the Pilot’s Dinner in the marquee, all food (and a lot of the beer) being supplied free by the club, who took the word hospitality to new heights. A firework display and night flying brought proceedings to a close – after a bit of a knees-up for some of the ladies. You know who you are!
Sunday was a bit threatening, but most of the heavy showers seemed to pass by, until the afternoon, which ended the show prematurely, not that we minded, we had seven slots in three days and all models survived despite one mid-air which chewed part of the tail from Rod Bristers Gee Bee, and poor old Rod again, a ‘short’ in his spare model which caused the hasty removal of the wing to prevent it catching fire.
That night, after an evening in Rod and Steve Duffy’s Hotel (posh flyers!) and a superb meal with a bottle of wine donated by LMA new boy Gerard Jordan, we retired to our tents. Middle of the night, the mother of all thunderstorms tried to take us away from Kansas to somewhere over the rainbow.
Then it was pack away, and the long drive to Calais and a 500 mile trek home. Was it worth it? You betcha! If invited, we will certainly go back. Please forgive me if I have not mentioned all the UK pilots, there were a very large contingent. Finally, a very big thank you to Aero Club Rheidt, and Richard Wellborne in particular, for their wonderful hospitality.
