Belfast Model Flying Club

You have found the home of the Belfast Model Flying Club. You can read about our club’s history on the History page. However, staying in the present, we would like to tell you a bit about our curent activities.

During the winter months September to April, we fly indoor models at Lisburn Leisure complex and Bloomfield Methodist Church Hall. These models range from small radio helicopters, small and lightweight fixed wing radio (slow RC), to larger and faster fixed wing radio (fast RC) and Ultralight rubber (free flight). 

When the weather is better, you can find us outside, winter and summer, on our very own dedicated control line site at Tommy Patton Park, Holywood Road, Belfast 5.   The site has Irelands only purpose built competition control line circle and a second all purpose grass circle.

Control Line flying is our main activity, however many of our members also fly small unconventional RC aircraft and RC helicopters at the site.  The site is not suitable for large RC models.

Come and join us for some fun and friendship.  All we ask is you join a club to ensure you are covered by BMFA insurance.

TOMMY PATTON PARK, BEFAST. 19 TH JUNE.

For once the weather forecast was good for our competition, warm, sunny but with a possibility of a bit of a breeze. Unfortunately it started breezy and got increasingly stronger as the day went on.

Our entry for F2B was the best for sometime, with Kevin Barry travelling from Cork and Chris Gilbert bringing along Adam Taran from Dublin, this was Adams first visit.

Mitchell Shaw judged the F2B competition, with Ralph McCarthy judging the Classic competition.

F2B was the first competition flown, with a fair breeze affecting everyone’s flight to some extent. Chris being caught out on his first flight hitting the ground, breaking the prop and causing other slight damage. This finished his involvement in the competition.

John and Maurice both posted good scores, with Kevin and Adam scoring well, Adam showing as a bit of a dark horse with a very competent flight.

The second round started with the wind blowing quite a bit stronger, John’s, Maurice’s and Kevin’s scores holding up well in such conditions.

The Classic competition was between Maurice flying his U2 and Kevin’s flying his Ares. Maurice mastering the conditions with apparent ease.

Our thanks to all for coming along, especially those who travelled so far to make the day worthwhile.

Peter Bradshaw.

F2B Results Flight 1 Flight 2 Total Placing

Maurice Doyle 863 879 1742 1Peter Bradshaw 826 532 1358 4John Hamilton 833.5 888 1721.5 2Kevin Barry 709.5 788.5 1456 3Chris Gilbert 74 —– 74 6Adam Taran 713.5 —– 713.5 5Maurice Doyle 933 1Kevin Barry 683 2

CLASSIC Results

Ian from Icarus Models advises they have started  the “BANGOR ELECTRIC FLYING CLUB”

We heartily welcome this new venture to the local flying scene and wish them every success.

There are many in our midst who now shy away from what they call “those noisy smelly oily things” and others who embrace both disciplines.

The club is BMFA affiliated.

Flying takes place at Ballymacormick Playing Fields on Sundays from 1pm – 5pm and in the summer months on Wednesdays from 7pm to dusk.

Indoor flying takes place on the 1st Friday of the month from Sept to May at Bangor Grammer School Gymnasium.

Ian Butler is the club Chairman and Colin Little, Secretary.

bangor.electric.flying.club@googlemail.com

The SkyBirds Rally took place at  Mountstewart on Saturday 8th May.

This year the weather was definately on our side with good sunshine all day.

Control Line and Radio Control flying displays continued throught the afternoon to enthral the public.

The static display of Radio Controlled Scale was fantastic with some lovely models proudly shown.  This was also the Judging for the static section of the Northern Ireland radio scale competition which kept the judges busy all day.

This is now an annual, growing and important event in the callender of Northern Ireland aeromodelling.

The support of all those who gave up their time freely and helped with the success of this event is greatly appreciated.

We look forward to SKYBIRDS 2011

This will be held at Bangor Leisure Centre over the weekend of 17/18 April.

The Club hosts a stand at this exhibition displaying models and selling kits.

Come along for the exhibition and have a chat.

We look forward to seeing you there.

LAOIS FLYING SITE, PORTLAOIS 20 SEPTEMBER

 With Chris Gilbert away, and John Hamilton not able to be present, the entry for 2009 was limited to a select few. Stoo Holland, Kevin Barry and Maurice Doyle made the journey, now slightly longer from the North side as the access is down a long lane parallel to the new Motorway, but this is still an excellent site, and the Motorway will speed travel next time. The near part of the site had been fully mown, giving a full Control Line circle with ample space for lines and models. The R/C Scale Nationals were flown simultaneously on the far runway, and our thanks are due to the Portlaois Club for the use of their fine site, their warm welcome and to John Molloy for carrying out the Judging so willingly.

 When everyone arrived, the weather was as near perfect as can be, with a gentle Westerly breeze and blue sky. The Scale had started on Saturday, and they had to postpone the start until the mist cleared, but there was no need to hurry on such a lovely day. It clouded over later, but stayed very good for flying to the end, with just enough wind to set the direction.

 After practice flights, Kevin, fresh from becoming Portuguese Aerobatics Champ at Julio Isidro’s event there, started the ball rolling and produced a good flight with his Trivial Pursuit with a Super Tigre 60. Maurice was next and made his best score in this round flying his Aguila with another Super Tigre 60. Stoo was unable to get off successfully and recorded a zero, his Brodak 40 not performing in the profile Cardinal.

 After a break, when Stoo successfully sorted out his motor, the second round was flown in the same order, with lower scores for Kevin and Maurice but a good flight by Stoo helped compensate for his first round problems. Maurice landed slightly too fast, and seemed down safely, but the spats suddenly caught on the grass clippings and the u/c folded neatly below the wing.

 Kevin and Maurice had brought Classic models, and with the F2B run off fairly quickly, and John willing to Judge, they set out to run this off. Maurice had a flight with his U2 with a Super Tigre 46, but Kevin’s Fox 35 in his very pretty Tucker Special would not perform, despite a good practice flight, so the event was stillborn.

Not the best Nats for attendance, but it was a very good boost for morale to have such an excellent flying day after such a dismal, windy Summer. Once again the combination of Port Laois and September seemed to produce the right conditions. We would just like to see more entries – maybe next year?.

Maurice Doyle

Results                       F2B

 TOMMY PATTON PARK, BELFAST                                           27 JUNE 2009

 The weather forecast was pretty dire, (this is taken direct from last year’s Report!), but this time we managed it better by deciding to postpone from Saturday 20 to the following week. Thanks to the excellent communications provided by email and telephones, everyone was kept in the picture. Saturday 27 fortunately had excellent weather, with the added bonus that Stoo Holland was able to come along and boost the entry. Mitchell Shaw and John Black also came to Judge, and John Hamilton was moving very freely following his hip operation, so the turnout was very representative of F2B.

 There were 4 entries in F2B, Stoo and Chris travelling from Dublin. Peter showed notable improvement in his scores over last year, as did Chris, and his first flight bettered Stoo’s individual scores, so everyone had something to show for their efforts. The competition between 1^st and 2^nd, and between 3^rd and 4^th, was pretty close. No-one had it easy.

 Our thanks to everyone for coming along, particularly those travelling furthest, and making the day worthwhile, Mitchell and John B for judging, fortunately in pleasant conditions for once, and John H for Line Pulls.

 Maurice Doyle

F2B Results      Flight   1                                  2                                  Total                            Placing

 Maurice Doyle               1899.5                          1982.5                          3882.0                          1

Peter Bradshaw             1872.0                          1924.5                          3796.5                          2

Stoo Holland                  1736.5                          1661.0                          3397.5                          3

Chris Gilbert                  1748.0                          1585.5                          3333.5                          4

From September 2010 our Saturday afternoon indoor flying session will be moving from Lisburn Leisure Centre to :-

Ashfield Girls School

Holywood Road

Belfast.

This new venue is right accross the road from our Control Line site at tommy patton Park.

Lisburn has sadly become to expensive to continue there.

We would like to thank all who supported us a Lisburn and hope to see you at Ashfield where the hall is roughly the same size as Lisburn but without the nets to catch our models:)

Sessions will still be on 2nd saturday in the month from 2pm to 5pm.

Len and Mini Titan at Patton Park

Len Johnston – 21st August 2009

It is with the greatest saddness we report the passing of our good friend and committed modeller Len Johnston.  Len suffered a short but devestating illness.

Len was a great character and friend to all who knew him.  His enthusiasm was infectious and his support to other modellers unsurpassed.  Len was a great inspiration to young and old alike and extolled the virtues of electric over i/c.  He was to be found at our flying site with his Mini Titan and at our indoor meetings with lots of little models.  He was always there with help and advise, and had a great depth of knowledge in electrics and model engineering.  His wisdom and enthusiasm will be greatly missed.

Our condolences are extended to his family.

We welcome Icarus Models, Bangor to the NI modelling scene.  Our best wishes our extended to Ian Butler and we wish him every success in this new venture.

Icarus Models

127  High Street,

Bangor,

BT20 5BD

http://icarusmodels.com/index.html

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Ian at Icarus models and I can report a well stocked model shop for ALL your modelling needs – nuts, bolts, props, batteries, models, electric bits, balsa, depron sheet, carbon fibre rods, glow & diesel fuel and a lot more.  All at prices that rival mainland model shops.  Ian will also be organising an on-line mail order catalogue in the near future, again at prices to rival mainland shops but with the advantage of the local element.

This venture deserves the patronage of all local modelers new and old. 

The one thing NI needs is a serious modellers shop that can supply the needs of modellers – Well here it is.  No longer should we complain at only being able to get our needs met through mail order.

Support local business

The Skybirds Rally, at Mountstewart Gardens, Co. Down proved as always to be a very successful display. Despite threatening terrible weather in the morning the sky cleared, almost, for the afternoon with just 2 short very wet squalls dampening things down. The control line flying display was superbly flown by Maurice and Peter, sadly the vintage Tomtit flown my Eric flipped over on landing and suffered a broken tail. Our thanks go the the North Down club for their participation and excellant static display of some marvelous radio controlled aircraft.