Once again we will be hosting this event at our flying site at Tommy Paton park on Saturday 15th June.
Come along and see some spectcular Control Line stunt flying and if you are a member of the BMFA and an experienced control line flyer why not enter.
North Down Model Railway Show
Once again we will be hosting a stand at this show over the weekend of 27th/28th April.
This years venue will be the new Bangor Leisure Centre.
Come along, pay us a visit, say Hi, have a chat and pick our brains on your Model Flying queries.
Hi John, we at the Belfast Model Flying Club fly indoors on a regular basis at 3 venues.
Nearly 3 years ago it was suggested to us that we should have some accommodation at our flying site at Tommy Paton Park, something to protect our poor ageing bodies during periods of inclement weather and Oh Yes to protect our models also.
After much chat and âshould we or should we notâ discussion there came a time 2 years ago when we decided yes we should. Yellow pages and the Internet were trolled, suppliers visited and a suitable building sourced, no stopping us now . WRONG.
Just as we had got our ball rolling Belfast City Council were commissioning an audit of containers on Council owned property.
Again major discussion ensued ‘What do you want??’ ‘This is what you can have, is it suitable??’ ‘But our needs are this!!’ ’Well that’s not what we will accept, it must fall into this criteria.’
The ball was being well and truly bounced and the building we had sourced was no longer available , great sadness.
And so as one year rolled into the next, discussion, site meetings, plans drawn etc etc etc, the ball wasn’t bouncing quite so high. Suddenly the ball started rolling again, again Yellow Pages and the Internet were investigated and suppliers contacted and visited and lo and behold a suitable building was sourced and it fitted everyone’s criteria and everyone was happy, Oh joy our site hut was on its way. But then the ball slowed down and was barely moving.
Father Christmas came and went, 2013 arrived and all was quiet in the woods.
Thursday 7th February arrived as most days do in Northern Ireland, grey and overcast with heavy rain forecast.
At 0850 Maurice received a phone call. The building will be delivered to your site in about 45 minutes
ARGH.. lots of notice! NOPE.. Get yourself sorted, contact other members, get to the site to open it and upon arrival there waiting for us was the trailer with our Hanger sitting quietly waiting for us.
The attached pictures tell the tale of its delivery and 
positioning at our flying site and we are all trying to be the same Dwarf Happy.
Who said BMFC was on its last legs ! ONWARDS AND UPWARDS.
Eric Millar
CONTROL-LINE FLYING 
ROCKS – YEEHA
TOMMY PATTON PARK, BELFAST. 15 SEPTEMBER
With this event already postponed from June, and a very bad Summer, the main priority was to have flyable conditions. Fortunately the forecast for Saturday was good, 12 mph and dry, but as this was the first such day following many windy ones, there was naturally some doubt. On Thursday night, which was set for the decision, the prediction was still that Saturday would be good, so we went ahead with fingers crossed.
This was the best Ulster for many years, the weather allowing us to have multiple rounds in both Classes, and fortunately the wind was the right side of flyable. It was coming over the trees at the Car Park, not a good direction, and coming through the gaps at either side at times. It slackened for the very end of F2B and for Classic, the day ending with some interesting practice flights and a chance for Mitchell to fly his Combat models.
After everyone had had a practice flight, F2B was under way at 11.50, with Mitchell Judging. As is traditional for Aerobatics, the flying kept to time, and as CD I much appreciated the basic discipline which everyone displays, and Rodney’s prompt tabulation of the score sheets. A second round was flown starting at 12.40, and we stopped for Lunch at 1.25. Most flights were up to standard, with a few missed manoeuvres, but fliers coped admirably with the turbulence and variable direction.
The last Round of F2B started at 2.00, and by ten to three it was all over bar Rodney’s final tabulation. Chris seemed to be flying very consistently and came through in a strong second place, with Stoo third, Kevin fourth (a few uncharacteristic problems) and Ivan fifth, with second and third, and fourth and fifth places closely fought. John Hamilton took copious notes on how flights could be improved, and was soon deep in discussion with fliers, with some of his suggestions being put into practice immediately!
Those not flying in Classic were asked to Judge, but Mitchell joined them, which allows another useful exercise, as the less experienced Judges will be able to compare their scores with Mitchell’s, to everyoneâs benefit. The Judges were therefore Stoo, Mitchell and Chris. Classic had a very modern twist, as Ivan has powered his Crusader with an electric power train, very successfully. The model flies very quietly, which can only help the Judge’s impression on the flight, and at a very uniform speed, again helping the manoeuvres.
Maurice’s U2 demonstrated a very traditional problem with IC motors on his first flight, the motor hardening off and cutting early. Kevin’s Fox 35 in his Ares had a very intermittent beat to it, leading to Mitchell suggesting that it must have a plug lead off! In the end, the status quo was restored, with Kevin second and Ivan third. The results were available at about 4.30, and John Black, despite a family crisis, was on hand to present them. It was very gratifying to have such a good turnout, many successful flights, and a calm evening to allow some chat and flying before everyone set off for home.
Thanks are due to Mitchell for being Lead Judge, to the Classic Judges, to Rodney for Tabulating so quickly and efficiently, and to all our visitors for travelling so far. The degree of co-ordination and co-operation demonstrated by Aerobatics fliers is remarkable, and means that the timekeeping and running compares very favourably with indoor events which have much more predictable conditions.
Stoo is not long back from winning the Oliver Combat at the British Nats, so congratulations to him. We were recollecting his win in Combat at the Criterium des Aces in Belgium in 1963, a long time ago. Mitchell flew his Combat models, and Ivan invited others to fly his Crusader, a unique experience. It pulls like a traction engine, and is very heavy on the controls. The propeller is a 12 x 6, very big for the size of model, and runs clockwise, which makes for interesting comparison with our normal anti-clockwise rotation. The precession torque definitely makes it fly tighter in outside manoeuvres, and sluggish in insides. There is therefore room for further development, but considering that this is Ivan’s first try at electric power, there is every indication that it has a lot to offer for Aerobatics.
I will be sending the Scores to everybody for information and scrutiny.
Maurice Doyle
| Results |
Round 1 |
Round 2 |
Round 3 |
Best 2 |
Placing |
| F2B | |||||
| Judge |
|
Mitchell Shaw |
|||
| Maurice Doyle |
974.5 |
1002.0 |
1054.5 |
2056.5 |
1 |
| Chris Gilbert |
961.5 |
950.0 |
946.5 |
1902.5 |
2 |
| Stoo Holland |
961.5 |
934.5 |
931.5 |
1896.0 |
3 |
| Kevin Barry |
796.0 |
886.0 |
811.0 |
1697.0 |
4 |
| Ivan Bolton |
812.0 |
804.5 |
863.5 |
1675.5 |
5 |
| CLASSIC |
|
|
|
|
|
| Judges |
Stoo Holland |
Mitchell Shaw |
Chris Gilbert |
Best |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
| Maurice Doyle |
2491.5 |
2962.0 |
|
2962.0 |
1 |
| Kevin Barry |
2561.0 |
2675.0 |
|
2675.0 |
2 |
| Ivan Bolton |
2065.5 |
2322.5 |
|
2322.5 |
3 |
Due to the very “seasonal” wet weather in June the champs had to be cancelled.
We are proposing to run the champs on Saturday 15th September as usual at Tommy Patton Park.
See you there – weather permitting??
BRINNY FLYING SITE, NEAR BANDON, CORK, 7 AUGUST
This was our first experience of this excellent flying site, which exceeded any expectations. It had short grass like a bowling green, containers for food, shelter and storage of models and grass cutting machinery, and wonder of wonders, a flush toilet! The site has a very attractive outlook over a valley and quite adequate space for full length lines.
The weather was not so certain, with the threat of rain ever present, but it remained nearly calm, so be thankful for small mercies. After practice, one round of F2B was flown, with the rain starting, and there were showers for about an hour, but it held off for the rest of the afternoon. The cloud formations were very heavy and dark, but the rain below them fortunately seemed just far enough away to allow an excellent flying day.
The entry was the best for a long time, seven in F2B and four in Classic, and John Molloy, Ralph McCarthy and Richard O’Brien Judged F2B. They needed a break for lunch, amply supplied by Cork, the host Club, and the F2B fliers who were not flying Classic stepped in to Judge this class, a very efficient arrangement which allowed three flight of F2B and two of Classic to be flown. Richard O’Brien as CD masterminded this, but all concerned with the Judging are to be thanked for their efforts. It was the best Irish Nationals, in terms of amount and quality of flying, for a long time, possibly ever.
As anticipated in last year’s Report, Adam Tarran has made great strides in his flying with John Hamilton’s Happy Hour, as has Peter Bradshaw with another HH, so they came out first and third in F2B. John unfortunately had family health problems, and was unable to be present, but first and third with your old models is not bad! Maurice Doyle was second in F2B, and Kevin (close behind Peter), Stoo, Chris and Ivan following along. Ivan is recently returned to Control Line, and was a Team Race flier, so his performance in his first events showed continuous improvement.
Classic saw Maurice Doyle first, Kevin second, Stoo third and Ivan fourth. There were no crashes, no damage, and few flights were other than complete and well flow. Our thanks to the Judges and the Cork Club for their hospitality and facilities, to all the fliers for their preparation and participation, and here’s to the next time. Control Line Aerobatics is flourishing and in good state.
Maurice Doyle
| Results | |||||
| Flight | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total Best 2 | Placing |
| Adam Taran | 2632 | 2977 | 3055 | 6032 | 1 |
| Maurice Doyle | 2862 | 2878 | 3018 | 5896 | 2 |
| Peter Bradshaw | 2572 | 2702 | 2881 | 5583 | 3 |
| Kevin Barry | 2726 | 2853 | 2716 | 5579 | 4 |
| Stoo Holland | 2267 | 2621 | 2786 | 5407 | 5 |
| Chris Gilbert | 2409 | 2458 | 2340 | 4867 | 6 |
| Ivan Bolton | 1728 | 1991 | 2312 | 4303 | 7 |
| Classic | |||||
| Maurice Doyle | 2941 | 2842 | 5783 | 1 | |
| Kevin Barry | 2412 | 2787 | 5201 | 2 | |
| Stoo Holland | 2215 | 2400 | 4615 | 3 | |
| Ivan Bolton | 1765 | 1984 | 3749 | 4 |
MACI Aer Rianta Power Trophy 1951
Many MACI (Model Aeronautics Council of Ireland) members will have seen the magnificent Aer Rianta Power Trophy (recently being awarded for the Irish Nationals Radio Control Scale), which is a replica DC3, about 18 inches span, steel, on a massive plinth with the winnersâ names on rows of plaques around it. Tom McClelland of Belfast MFC has the best memory of it of anyone, as he was the first to win it, when he won the Free Flight Power at Baldonnell Aerodrome in 1951. Sixty years on, he recalls that it was awarded at the MACI AGM by the Chairman of Aer Rianta (the Education arm of Aer Lingus, the Irish National Airline) , and moreover, he was awarded a replica, photo above, which he still has. He has made a magnificent gesture by presenting the replica to Belfast MFC to hold in perpetuity, a very much appreciated momento of a very special day for the Club.
The inscription on the replica is ’Aer Rianta Power Trophy, T McClelland, Belfast MFC, 11th Irish Nationals, 1951’. This means that the first Irish Nationals was held in 1940, and in those early years, the presentations were made by the Taoiseach, Eamon DeValera, showing the recognition of Model Flying in those days. From 1945 to 1950, the SMAE (Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers) sent teams from England to fly in the Irish Nationals, and they naturally provided most of the winners in the Free Flight Power and Wakefield (Rubber powered) events, names like Bill Dean, Ron Warring and Norman Marcus. Tom was therefore possibly the first to win this top event from this side of the water.
At the AGM Tom met Jimmy Tangney, who was in the US Navy, and had come top in the Team Trials for the British Wakefield Team, but could not fly as he was American. Des Woods, who is mentioned later, said the English fliers came over âBecause they had never seen a steak in their lives!â.
Tom recalls many details of the event and flying at that time. His winning model was a Banshee, an American design by Leon Shulman, still available as a plan for Vintage enthusiasts, and powered by an Elfin 1.8, a very powerful motor at that time. He also built and flew a Slicker 42, powered by a Mills 1.3, and other Kiel Kraft designs, the Bandit by Bill Dean, the Competitor and Ajax. He remembers flying at Baldonnell, and also at Weston Aerodrome, and several sites around Belfast. One was near the Railway Station at Finaghy, and also the flying site at Hannastown, high up on moorland behind Divis Mountain. It is still there, now owned by the National Trust, who are inviting the public to come and enjoy the wide open space.
Fliers from Dublin he recalls were Des Woods, Doc Charles, Billy Brazier, who had a Model Shop, and Johnny Carroll. Local names were a Father and Son called Croft, who flew Comets at Malone Aerodrome, now a Housing Estate, JJ Hanley, CWA Scott, who had a Flying Circus in the Thirties, and a pilot called Macintosh, who was naturally called âAll Weather Macâ. Other names are Frank McDonnell, who flew a KK Outlaw, Sammy Young, who flew a Comet powered by an Ohlsson 61, Wally McCormick, who had a Low CLA design published in Aeromodeller, Howard Menary, Bill Tinnion, Bunny Boyce, John Rankin, Robert Gardiner and Wilbur Little, who owned ATO Model Crafts in Belfast. ATO was All Types Of, and Wilbur found balsa from Carling Floats  and succeeded in making a series of ATO kits in the time just after the War when everything was scarce.
Tom remembers that about 1950 the Belfast Club ran an Exhibition in the Wellington Hall in the YMCA, Wellington Place, Belfast, and it was a well supported and successful enterprise. Claude Austin, (later to be lost in a yachting accident) of Austin’s of Derry (a major Department Store, still prospering in Londonderry today) was flying Control Line models, causing quite a stink in the confines of the hall. Norman Osborne, a great F/F modeller of the era, still going today, and in contact through Howard Stephenson, was flying microfilm free flight indoor models and was not happy with the air disturbance caused by the C/L activity.
Tom is now flying with Ulster Model Aircraft Club at Nuttâs Corner and enjoying more sedate models than the screaming Banshee. He is a very modest and unassuming man, but enjoyed casting his mind back to the events of 60 years ago. Belfast Model Flying Club is very honoured to be presented with this valuable record of an event of note in the Club’s history.
Maurice Doyle
Chairman
Tommy Patton Park, Belfast – 18TH June.
For once the weather forecast was good for our competition, with generally favourable flying conditions to last most of the day.
With six entered in F2B this was the same as last year, Kevin Barry travelling from Cork with Chris Gilbert and Stu Holland coming from Dublin.
Mitchell Shaw was our judge in both F2B and Classic.
With the weather being so favourable F2B got started as soon as everyone had their practise flight.
The competition was very close after the first round, with John and Maurice posting scores within two points of each other. The fight for third was equally close with Kevin, Stu and Peter all within nine and half points of each other.
Unfortunately Chris’s model came to grief when it hit a large bush just outside the flying circle, this finished his involvement in the competition.
The second round started with John posting the highest score of the day , clinching first place in the competition, with Maurice consolidating second place.
Kevin improved his score to take third with Stu in fourth and Peter fifth.
Classic was a single round competition, again flown in good conditions.
Maurice taking the honours, with Kevin in second place and Stu third.
Our thanks for all coming along, especially those who travelled so far to make the day worthwhile, and the judge for his essential contribution.
F2B Results. Flight 1 Flight 2 Total Placing
John Hamilton. 970.5 1011 1981.5 1
Maurice Doyle 972.5 959 1931.5 2
Kevin Barry 907.5 957.5 1865 3
Stu Holland 901.5 901.5 1803 4
Peter Bradshaw 911 830.5 1741.5 5
Classic Results.
Maurice Doyle 922.5 1
Kevin Barry 883 2
Stu Holland 798.5 3
Peter Bradshaw
This photograph of the Club assembled at the Boxing Day event at Newtonards Aerodrome in 1958 was provided by Derek Wilson, still active in the North Down Model Engineering Society in the Transport Museum, and scanned by John Black.
We are hoping to make contact with old members for the purpose of a Reunion get together sometime in 2012.
Members we can recognize are: Gillis Telford, James Wade, Derek Graham, Maurice Doyle, Derek Wilson, Tommy Cranston, Frank Jackson, still active in NIMSA,  Norman Tayor, Peter Valentine, Davy Black, Nick, Ronnie Armstrong, also active in NIMSA, Brian Wicklow, Barry McGrath, Paul Wilson. Can you give us any more names?
Hopefully we will have a few more pics in the near future for you to remember days gone by.
Please any old members of the club get in touch, we would love to hear from you and add you to our list of Friends of the Belfast Model Flying Club.
You never know you might get bitten by the Control Line flying bug again..