PSS Corro MIG 7 in the making

With the GEMS 2010 PSS Fest just two weeks away and really wanting to have something else to fly apart from the F18, it does not leave one with enough time to take on a huge project to complete.

Scratching around on my computer I came across the plans for a correx Mig 7 (which you can find here) and Gert Nieuwoudt has mentioned that he is taking his along again. According to him it builds in less than a week, so it seemed like a do-able project, even with my slower-than-others building skills. So Friday I printed out the plans and with Maizey’s Plastics in Edenvale conveniently close, collected a sheet each of 2mm and 3mm white correx. I really wanted it in yellow as I had a yellow and blue scheme in mind but the 2mm they only do in white .

Quite incidentally, while speaking to Emma, the sales lady there, I learned that Maizey’s intend to discontinue the straight fluted correx in favour of the s-waved version. The reason being that the latter version is stronger in both axis which is better for the bulk of their customers that use it for advertising boards and the like.

This is a real pity, as it is exactly the straight fluted version that we need, especially when utilising the flute as a hinge line. Apparently the s-wave stuff is also realy horrible to work with…. Emma couldn’t say how much longer they would have the straight flute stock around so if you have any correx projects in mind in the foreseeable future you had better go stock up on some correx.

Yesterday I cut & stuck the tiled templates together and marked it out on the corex. Today I got around to cutting out the various parts and this is the fruits of my labour:

Next step is to mark and cut out all the 3mm plywood formers. Time to get dusty

GEMS Logo

It is a little old news for some but we have a new logo. After kicking around some ideas (and there weren’t many to start with….) we decided on the one on the right

HTL#6 – Relaxed Competitive Flying

The title of this post may sound like a bit of a contradiction in itself but last weekend 23 pilots competing in the 6^th Highveld Thermal League proved that not only is it possible but it is a welcome change to the usual frenetic pace of the man-on-man events. This event was, for the first time, run on postals style rules with no matrixing, man-on-man slots or normalising of scores.

With a working window of 7 hours from 8:30am to 3:30pm and six flights to do in the session, you could arrive when you liked and finish when you chose. For those that didn’t want to or couldn’t spend the whole of the day at the field, this was ideal. It made for some very relaxed flying as you could arrive at the field when you liked, quickly fly your six flights and leave or spend the whole day and complete your flights at your own pace. Although quite leisurely it also doesn’t allow you any mistakes, apart from the one throw-away allowed, as there is no normalizing of scores.

The final scores showed just how good the conditions were and/or how well the pilots picked their launch windows. Out of a possible 3500 points Alan nabbed first place with Paul just 1 point behind. The top five spots were separated by a mere 7 points!!!

The weather looked dubious at first. With low clouds, it looked like it could start pouring any minute, but by mid morning it was clearing up, making the thermals easier to find. Post event feedback indicates that the format of the competition was well received and enjoyed. We’ll definitely be doing this again next year.

If I may be permitted to blow the GEMS bugle a little…It is now just short of a year since our club’s inception and although we fared pretty well under the old ETB banner, I think we can all be proud of the performance and achievements of our club and it’s pilots. With the entire competitive core of pilots from the old ETB club, it is no wonder that our newly founded club has wrapped up first place in the club results of this year’s Highveld Thermal League after the 5th round at SGC already. THREE CHEERS TO GEMS!!!

Wolfgang: “ You gotta go that way Peter!”	Volney studiously tinkering with his AVA
Johan looking on as Gordon is about to launch his 2m	Ole Piet looking either tired or dejected… you decide
Nigel in the javelin position with his XPro	Xplorer at the ready, Paul contemplates the conditions
Ever present and dependable Martie preparing to feed the hungry pilots	Getting to grips with his own design home built Tulani (or is that the Emoyeni?), Piet confided in me it was only his lack of regular practise that prevented him from kicking everyone’s butt on the day…..
Baby Nicole: “I’m so sorry for you uncle Evan…. Don’t be too hard on yourself, you’ll do better on the next flight”	“Hey uncle Evan! I’m cheering for you!”
Nigel doing his best impersonation of a winch chute while Wolfie looks on perplexed	Not everyone comes for the flying. Martie taking a welcome break after having fed the masses.

AND THE WINNER IS……. ALAN! CONGRATULATIONS!

And to cap the the day, Gavin Lundie treated us to a flypast with his Tailor Craft. Lots of waving and shouting from those wishing for a flip, couldn’t persuade Gavin to land on the field…… Maybe next time…

Club Notice - powered flying

Whoa!!! The first entry in months and it has to be to issue a word of warning to our members and visitors.... :)

As of end of September all flying at our field will be exclusively thermal. No form of powered flying will be allowed at all. This quote was posted on the MGA blog by Lionel:

"Members of GEMS (Greenfields Eastern Model Soarers) were informed on Saturday of a Falcon breeding / training site located next to the field. To prevent startling these highly strung birds, and with immediate affect, no powered flying (gas, IC, electric or electric assist gliders) is permitted from or around the field. This implies that only thermal RC soaring is permitted.

We have informed the landowner that we will notify all prospective pilots of this restriction & sincerely request that you comply with this. We will shortly consider erecting a signboard at the field informing members & visitors of this specific requirement.

Should you have any queries regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact Paul Carnall or myself.

Regards,
Lionel Brink
GEMS"