When looking back some twelve months to my first newsletter in the Spring of 2008 I was reminded that I had agreed with the chairman that I would take the job over on a trial basis. Well, I’m still doing it and I hope to continue to publish on a Spring/Summer/Autumn basis in future.

Of necessity, some items must recount past events but, wherever possible future flying meetings and social events will be included; that said, just remember that the newsletter is also a ‘forum’ where you can air your ideas, news and views – so please let me have some "Copy"!

At last, the weather has improved following a cold and windy winter and the patch is drying out well, having been extended northwards and been well rolled by Bill and Stan – with of course some help from the mower – Perhaps some turbine action soon?? Midweek attendances have increased and we are seeing more electric and 2.4 GHz both of which have benefits to offer in terms of safety and reliability and the resulting pleasure, which is of course what aeromodelling is all about.

I have to record the departure, from the committee, of four long standing members; mostly going back to the formation of the club; to whom we offer our sincere thanks for many years of sustained effort on the club’s behalf and we welcome their replacements; Mark Handley, Bryn Nowell, Mark Barnes and David Parsonage.

Neil, Geoff and I attended the BMFA 2^nd Chairman’s Conference at Pontefract on Saturday 7^th March and as our chairman reported last year, we, as a club, still seem to be "ticking the organizational and operational boxes". In spite of the economic situation, BMFA membership nationwide is larger than ever and we benefited from a day of four informative speakers and some lively discussion, in addition to meeting old friends.

Please do read the notices in the clubhouse regarding the necessary health requirements required to fly, and also note that in future all existing and new members will be asked to sign a membership form stating that they have read and will comply with the club’s rules and fitness to fly.

LMA Longhorsley - Saturday & Sunday 23&24 May.

Teesside – Saturday/Sunday 30&31 May

DDMFC Scale day NEW!! Sunday 28th June – Mark Handley and Bill Gillham judging. – see noticeboard for details.

LMA Cosford (the Big One!) – Saturday & Sunday 18&19 July (public days)

To round off I have an article from Mark Parsonage:

I’ve always wanted to be a pilot in the RAF and I’ve just got one step closer. As some of you know I’ve just finished a four-weekend Gliding scholarship on the Grob G109B motor glider with the Air Cadets at RAF Topcliffe.

It was – and is - a fun and scary pastime I started off on weekend one where I was learning how the controls work (which is basically the same as a model aircraft) and how to fly the aircraft in controlled way. On the second weekend I was quite far ahead of all the others, so we did taxing, pre-flight checks, takeoff and landings, I could only do this on the Saturday because the poor weather on the Sunday. The third weekend was circuits and PLATOs (power loss after takeoff) drills which was quite exciting especially when you all most touch the ground in someone's field.

The fourth weekend was the biggest weekend of my life! On the Saturday I went up as usual and after a couple of circuits the instructor radioed EX14 complete (pre solo check) when we landed we taxied back to the start and shut down the engine on the taxi way. After a couple of minutes a yellow land rover came towards us and I thought what's going on, then the instructor jumped out and I asked "what's going on?" the instructor replied "your going solo" and gave me a quick brief then he said "start your pre-flight checks, takeoff, fly a circuit, land and taxi off the runway". I was nervous because if anything went wrong there's no one sitting next to me to correct it. I started the engine and taxied on to the runway, took off, flew a circuit and landed and all this time my heart was racing. After I landed I was over the moon as I’d got my silver wings (which means I’ve gone solo) later that day I got my wings in front of the whole of the 645 Squadron, after that I asked if I could do gold (which is the highest award for a Gliding scholarship) and the officers had a meeting to see how I progressed through out the course.

On that Sunday I was told that I was flying again but this time I was doing the AGT (advanced gliding training) which involves high strength cross wind landing and steeper turns (which is meant to take a whole weekend) but I completed that in one hour or so. The instructor was very pleased and told me that I will be doing five more solos to complete the AGT and I did those to a high standard and later that day I received my gold wings (the highest award in the course). Later that night I was asked by the Commanding Officer if I was interested in being a staff cadet after my GCSEs and I said yes so hopefully after my GCSEs I will be teaching cadets how to fly gliders at RAF Topcliffe.

Well done Mark.

Fly safely and happy landings.