Wings and Wheels Spectacular 2009

Spectacular was certainly the right word to describe both
the weather and the show itself.
Now in its 23rd year this show continues to go from
strength to strength, billed as family show there was
certainly something for everyone to look at throughout
the weekend.
Located on the historic Battle of Britain airfield at North
Weald, Essex the show included just about every aspect
of radio controlled modelling you could think of, large
scale R/C aircraft and helicopters, R/C tanks, R/c trucks
and a superb display of R/C boats on the large boating
pool.

Horizons display marquee set up and ready for the first visitors of the weekend

Bargain hunters were once again able to visit possibly
the largest “Bring and Buy” marquee of any show and
if unable to find what they were looking for there, the
model retailers along the flight line were more than able
to tempt the shopper with some amazing deals at “show
prices”

The superb location of our “Mini Marquee” allowed
visitors to browse at all of the Horizon Hobby models
including models from Hangar9, Parkzone and E-flite
with the new dual function electric powered control line
or radio controlled Ryan PT19 model from E-flite
getting a lot of attention in particular and John Norris
was kept busy all weekend answering questions from
modellers and public alike.

Plenty of bargains to be had at the massive bring and buy

Three of the six E-Flite Hawks in loose formation

I’m flying the red one!

Electric powered Hangar 9 Sundowner 50’s

Out on the flight line Perry and Darren, did a fantastic
job flying their electric E-flite Hawks and Diamante’s
and at one point there was a very impressive 6 Hawks
in the air at the same time the additional pilots being
Ali Mashinchy, Azza Stephens and Steve and Matt
Bishop. Perry also flew his blisteringly fast Hangar9
Sundowner 50, converted to electric power with an
E-flite Power 90 motor the vertical performance was
astonishing.

Walking around the show it was impossible not to miss
the R/C tanks with their on-board sound systems,
smoke and revolving turrets, do the guns work mister?
I didn’t take the chance and ask, better safe than
sorry!

Further along the sound of “exterminate-exterminate”
could be heard from the full size Daleks from the Dr
Who TV series that kept youngsters and adults alike
entertained catching out the unwary with a squirt of
smoke or water from their dummy weapons, great
stuff.!

Moving on to the boat pool, it was here that just about
every type of nautical craft could be seen, everything
from a delightful small row boat crewed by “Laurel and
Hardy” to steam powered boats and larger types such
as warships.

Do the guns work? You ask em!

Little boy fascinated by the Daleks

Also located at the southern end of the showground
along with many other traders was the track where
people could try their hand at R/C truck buggy racing
whist along side was another very realist track with

bridges, trees and road signs of the “Tamiya Trucks”
group with their super scale R/C lorries that were
fascinating to watch with every last detail of both
vehicles and operation copied in miniature.

Mitzubishi Zero

Euro Sport 3D with unique thrust vectoring

Alis show stopping 50% Piper Cub

Gregg Veasy’s stunning Mitzubishi Zero

TJD Warbird collection

Back on the flight-line the display of models was very
impressive indeed with lots of fine large scale models
ranging from early propeller driven types right up to
modern turbine powered fighter jets and in the air
these models were truly amazing.

Probably the stars of the show as far as the pubic were
concerned were the superb display routines by Ali
Mashinchy with his 50% scale Piper Cub and his
amazing Euro Sport 3D thrust vectoring turbine model,
the mass WW2 warbird displays by TJD Models with
their superbly detailed large scale models Gregg
Veasy’s highly detailed Mitsubishi Zero being a
particular favourite, Motors and Rotors also put on an
excellent display with four Hangar9 Carden Yak54’s
flying in tight aerobatic formation and there can be very
few modellers that cannot fail to be impressed by the
realistic formation flying of Steve and Matt Bishop with
their turbine powered BAE Hawks in Red Arrows livery.

Motors and Rotors put on a fantastic display with their Hangar 9 Yak 54’s

Dave and Matt Bishop flew a very tight formation display with their BAE Hawks

Sadly the weekend seemed to fly-by far too quickly and
by 5.00 pm on Sunday afternoon after a splendid
weekend it was time to think about packing away the
models and marquee, saying goodbye to our friends
and reflecting on what was truly another Wings and
Wheels “Spectacular!”

We hope to see you all again at next years Wings
and Wheels on 26th and 27th June 2010.