Contrary to popular belief, people who work in model shops don’t spend all day every day playing with their own models!!!However, on Friday afternoon Dale and myself decided we were actually going flying. We closed
shop dead on 6 o'clock (usually we don’t leave till gone 7). We were cashed up, loaded up and were off to our own secret flying site in Kent by 6.30.
We arrived at flying field around 6.45, all models still intact after a mad dash along A2 in Kent and some rather bendy country lanes.
First out of cars were a pair of Weston Cougars, one of my favourite planks (sorry for term plank but I class myself as a heli flyer). Once started and both airborne there was a really noticeable difference in performance between two. Dale’s is fitted with a OS46LA, whilst mine has a West Eurotech 36 fitted. We both decided to go for height, (when I say height I mean clouds were getting in way) Dale’s climb rate was respectable but mine climbed like a homesick angel. After a few attempts at getting it to flatspin & some low inverted circuits I was out of fuel, so was forced to land and get next model out.
The next candidate was a Century Predator Gasser which has had one previous flight. The beauty of petrol powered models is that they are cheap to run & there is no starting equipment required. The previous flight was used to set model and engine up correctly. After a few tweaks to engine I was happy with way she was running I thought we would do a few gentle circuits with a couple of stall turns thrown in for good measure. I must say this is probably most stable model in hover I have ever flown. I landed, then passed controls to Dale for a quick play. He also loved how stably it flew.
