Growing in popularity each year the Thames Valley Model Air Show
at Blackbushe Airport is rapidly turning into a “must attend” show
for many of the countries top display pilots and this years show
on Saturday 16th May continued that trend in spectacular style. Many
more retailers were in attendance this year but the biggest increase
in numbers was the spectators, for most times throughout the day
the spectator area behind the flight line was crowded with people
eager to see some of the very best in model display flying.
F4U Corsair looked great in the air
John Norris, Perry Lambert and Darren Goule
were joined by Azza Stephens and Matt and Steve Bishop for the two
allocated Horizon Hobby flying shots during which they flew a variety
of Hangar9 and E-flite models with different power plants.
Will Sturgess
put on a superb display with his Hangar 9 Carden Yak equipped with
Specktrum 9 channel receivers.
During the first slot in the morning Darren flew his
Hangar9 Spitfire powered with a E-flite Power 60 Outrunner on 6s Lipos
and Castle Creation speed controller, Azza flew John’s Hangar9 P-47
Thunderbolt powered with an Evolution 16.5cc glow engine whilst Perry
and John flew Hangar9 B25 Mitchells, Perry’s model was powered by two
Evolution .36 Glow engines and John chose the electric route with 2
E-flite Power 46 Outrunners on 2 4s 5000mah Lipos and 2 Castle Creations
and for reliability all the models were equipped with Spektrum DX7’s
radios.
Azza did a great job with Johns Hangar
9 P-47 Thunderbolt
Darren electric powered
Hangar 9 Spitfire
Perrys Hangar 9 B25 Mitchell coming in for landing
Worthy of note is the fact that due to the versatility of the Hangar9
models there are not undue modifications needed to power the models
with either glow engines or electric motors and in the air there was
little if any difference (apart from the noise) in performance.
Electric
and Glow engine powered B25 Mitchells ready for another sortie
Sadly due to a very heavy
rain shower and hail stones the first slot was cut short and with the
models landed safely it was time to dry out and cover the models then
it was off to check out the rest of the show and grab a bite to eat before
the afternoon slot.
The second slot comprised a four model display
using the E-flite BAE Hawks and Perry and Darren were joined by Steve
and Matt Bishop flying these super fast jets. Each Hawk was powered
with E-flite’s own ducted fan and motor set-up, with E-flite 4s 3200mah
Lipo packs, 60amp E-flite speed controllers and E-flite servos with
Spektrum DX7 radios.
Left:
Steve Bishop with his turbine
powered BAE Hawk with the
‘little baby Hawk’ from E-Flite
Above:
Eflite Hawks gettin it on!
John also managed to get a flight with the aerobatic
E-flite Diamante powered with an E-flite Power 25 and a 4s 3200mah
Lipo from E-flite and Castle Creation 60amp speed controller.
The guys
from TJD Models always have a great time and put on a good show
Dave Whiltshire of
MotorsandRotors seems pleased with his Spektrum transmitter!
All in all a very good day despite the weather and hopefully we will
all be back again next year.
TG
