Blenheim Model Aero Club's Annual float Fly 2011
By Chris Brew
Arriving at Lake Pinot around 9.30 am it was already apparent
that this was going to be a great event. After a week of uncertainty
in regards to the weather, the day could not have turned out any
better.
There was already a bustling group of people in attendance unpacking
models from the back of their vehicles. The BBQ was already set up
and water was on the boil for a warming cup of tea or coffee.
Around 15 members from the Blenheim club, MAMS, Nelson and Kaiapoi
attended with a wide range of models from foamies through to scale
models. There was also a good number of spectators.
A personal favorite of mine is Graham Smithson's Schneider Trophy
look alike made from a much modified ugly stick. It is sometime
since I have seen this model and it was great to see it back in the
skies over ARA. Graham also bought over from Nelson a newly acquired
DH Beaver made by Slipstream with an impressive 2.2 meter wing span,
look great making slow passes over the lake.
Speaking of Schneider Trophy it was also great to see Errol Morrison
from the MAM'S club finally make it along to the lake with his
Supermarine S6B, Errol has indicated his desire to fly floatplanes
at this event for a while now so it was good to see him here.
Someone else who has been trying to get to this event for a couple
of years now is our own President Tony Rodgers. Tony was unfortunately
ill on the day last year. It was good to finally see his Greatplanes
Seawind take to the skies.
Guy had much more success this year with his Sealane after a bad run
with the engine last year he has repowered his model and had a great
days flying.
It was good to see Graeme Phipps and his wife back this year from
Kaiapoi, Graeme once again bought along his lovely PA19 Super Cub which
this year managed to escape a dunking, Graeme also had great fun in
jumping his air boat over the oar that a certain club member managed
to loose while retrieving their model from the center of the lake,
this kept us all amused for awhile. Graeme's new addition to the
fleet this year was his own design Osprey,
there have been some problems in getting this model airborne but all
is well now.
All in all an absolute awesome day was had by all who attended,
there were only two incidents on the day, Razz unfortunately
had an elevator servo give up and caused a nose dive from a good
height, the model came out of it fairly well and is repairable. The
other incident would have had to be me, I had only just finished a
conversation with someone about buying another Pulse if something
were to happen to mine when it did!
A result of just having too much fun and forgetting about fuel, I
managed to run out and in a bad spot, that and a wrong decision saw
my Pulse safely landed in the water but heading for shore at a
great speed 20ft from shore the model decided to leap from the water
in an end for ender and land right side up again fair and square in
the dingy with not a drop of water to be seen inside the model
saving the radio gear.
To all those that attended and helped organize this event thank you
and we hope to see you all along next year to do it all over again.
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More Photos on the following page
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