Latest News & Information

New Committee for 2011/12
Following November's AGM some changes have taken place on the Club's Committee. Derek Rowe, our long standing Treasurer, has decided to step down after many years of service on the Committee. Chris Pinchbeck was elected to replace him.

Also standing down this year was another regular Committee Member, Justin McCarthy. Chris Dorkings volunteered at the meeting, to replace him, and was duly elected by the attending members.

Our grateful thanks for all the hard work done by those standing down this year. Details of our full Committee can be found in the 'Members Area' of the web site.

Roy Berridge Challenge for 2011 Awarded

Tony Blake has been awarded this year's prize for his entry in the Roy Berridge Challenge. His own design of the unusual Taylor Aerocar was presented to club members at a recent Club Night. Tony had found an old photograph of the aircraft and to a fancy to it. Using just the photo he scaled up the dimensions into a full working plan. Not content with this, he the decided that the model would be electric powered. Tony mounted the motor in the cabin area and ran a piano wire drive shaft to the tail mounted pusher propeller. This initially caused some headaches due to the shaft flexing. But after much perseverance the model took to the air fulfilling the criteria of the Challenge.

Aerocar International's Aerocar (often called the Taylor Aerocar) was an American roadable aircraft, designed and built by Moulton Taylor in Longview, Washington, in 1949. Although six examples were built, the Aerocar never entered production.

Club member and long time model builder, Roy Berridge who is no longer with us, laid down a challenge to all Club members to design and build a model aircraft from scratch. Not only did he lay down the Challenge but he also donated a Challenge Shield and a Prize Fund to be presented annually to the winner. The RB Challenge is intended to encourage individual club members to expand their knowledge by experimenting with new designs and materials for model aeroplanes.

To see a video of the real Aerocar click on this YouTube Link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7kvljZJUg8
Peter Dennis

SWRCS Club Member is New British Champion!

Christmas Fun Fly 2011
The date for this year's festive Christmas Fun Fly have been announced. The event will take place on Tuesday 27th December with Wednesday 28th in reserve in case of bad weather.

Events to practise include LeMans, Gone, Loopy, Limbo Dancer, Balloon Buster, Streamer Creamer, and Spinning Jenny. I think you get the idea, but if not full details can be found in the recent Newsletter issued by Frank Watkins.