News and Past Events

A&B CERTIFICATE TEST DAY

MORE TEST DAYS PLANNED - see A & B CERTIFICATE TEST DAYS

EBENEZER 10th ANNIVERSARY

JACK BEARTON MEMORIAL PLATE (VINTAGE)

TOMBOY 3s

A & B CERTIFICATE TEST DAY

report to follow

EBENEZER 10th ANNIVERSARY

report to follow

JACK BEARTON MEMORIAL PLATE (Vintage)

Winner - James Parry of Dorset - with his "Utility"

2nd place - Tony Tomlin of Surrey - with his "Buzzard Bombshell" - a 1940 design by Joe Konefes

TOMBOY 3s by Tony Tomlin

Sunday 11^th of May, 2008,  saw a total reversal of weather conditions from the first round of the Tomboy 3s league, six weeks ago, at Wellingborough, Northants (see News Archive ). This time the sun shone solidly throughout the day with a light breeze springing up in the afternoon.

Competitors came to this popular event, in some cases, travelling long distances. Prospective competitor John Wheeler, from Merseyside, had been building and covering his Tomboy, in his caravan, since the previous day but, sadly, time caught up with him before he could complete it. Lined up for the 2pm start was John Wingate, the SAM 35 Radio Secretary, from Anglesey, flying in the Tomboy3s competition for the first time. Tom Airey and David Boddington, who took honours in the Tomboy League last year were both hoping to repeat their previous successes. Also present were Tony Coulsdon and Tony Tomlin, both following the latest trend using 2.4GHz radio equipment. Colin Shepherd, flying Tomboys3s for the first time at Old Warden, made very competitive times in the preliminary rounds, whilst other strong competition came from James Parry [Wimborne] and Geoff Stubbs [Oundle]

All eight competitors made it to the fly off, having completed two preliminary flights of over 4 mins. It was hoped for 10 entrants but this was not to be, as John Strutt, from Essex, had radio problems with the loss of his model and Tony Overton was in  a similar situation but luckily, in his case,  the model was found.

As before at the fly off, all contestants, after lining up, were given 90 secs start up time and a 10 second count down, before all launching together. The visual system used this year worked well and all models climbed swiftly, making the most of their 3cc fuel allowance. It soon became apparent that Tom Airey, winner of 3 rounds in 2007, was in trouble with a premature engine cut [only half the fuel had been used] and a return to earth in just over 2 minutes. He was followed down 30 secs later by Colin Shepherd and then John Wingate, both unable to contact any worthwhile lift. David Boddington was unlucky landing just 10 seconds short of 4 minutes. Tony Tomlin, James Parry and Tony Coulsdon were all in weak lift, with Geoff Stubbs circling well below at around 200feet.

Suddenly as often happens early in the afternoon, the lift was gone and Geoff Stubbs came down landing after 4mins 14secs, followed by James Parry, 37 secs later. The two remaining models circled slowly with the winner, Tony Tomlin, recording a time of just one second more than Tony Coulsdon, at 5mins 27secs!

Name	1	2	Fly off	POS
Tony Tomlin	6m 39s	6m 01s	5m 27s	1
Tony Coulsdon	5m 11s	4m 01s	5m 26s	2
James Parry	5m 21s	4m 40s	4m 51s	3
Geoff Stubbs	4m 35s	4m 15s	4m 14s	4
David Boddington	5m 02s	4m 42s	3m 14s	5
John Wingate	4m 38s	5m 412	3m 15s	6
Colin Shepherd	5m 43s	4m 59s	2m 41s	7
Tom Airey	4m 43s	4m 37s	2m 05s	8

It is hoped to run up to 10 Tomboy3 competitions this year with Tomboy3s being flown at Old Warden at the SAM 35 Vintage Meeting, 22.06.2008, and at the Festival of Flight on 28.09.2008.

 For more information on these events contact Tony Tomlin. Tel 02086413505 or email pjt2.alt2@btinternet.com