Bumpy Green Heads North-East - For the
BMFA Nationals 2004

We arrived at RAF Barkston Heath in Lincolnshire close to 11PM on the friday with the rain just starting and the wind blowing gently but gusting occaisionaly. The first job was to set up the marque in the dark ~ oh joy. Fortunately our friends from Green Air Designs had arrived some time earlier and found the pitch and with both sets of van headlights illuminating our task we set about the poles and sheets as quickly as possible. With the four of us working as a single unit we soon had the frame assembled and the roof installed before the wind could carry it away. Strapping the frame down and installing the sides was accomplished just as quickly and with the rain now steady the shelter was complete. Sigma Signs arrived shortly after midnight and after unloading some models from their van we were set. Marcus discovered the poles for his tent were missing so joined John inside the main marquee for the night. At 6 metres by 3 metres there is plenty of room inside. Originally we thought it would be very cold at night inside the marquee but quite the opposite was true even with the gaps at the bottom of the side panels. With everyone settled we were all soon asleep - despite the wind doing it's best to keep everyone awake. We would like to take this opportunity to apologise to the chaps on the Stuart McKay and Fibretech stands (either side of us) as we made quite a lot of noise setting up. We wouldn't normally arrive so late for an event so hope they don't think us a bunch of noisy louts by default.

The BMFA is the body delegated by the Royal Aero Club to be responsible for all aspects of model flying in Great Britain. The BMFA normally has around 780 clubs affiliated to it, with a combined membership from clubs and individual members of over 36,000. Membership brings many benefits, including 3rd party liability insurance. It is also recognised as the sole representative organisation for the sport in the U.K. by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) which is the world wide governing body for all forms of sporting aviation, including model flying. See the BMFA website for more details. www.bmfa.org

RAF Barkston Heath is an active airfield and is located East of Barkston, South of Ancaster, about 6 miles North-East of Grantham in Lincolnshire. Barkston Heath is home to the Joint Elementary Flying Training School (JEFTS). JEFTS is an MoD organisation but the aircraft and some of the instructors are civilian - the remainder being a mixture of pilots from the three branches of the forces. Barkston Heath is also a relief landing ground (RLG) for the nearby RAF Cranwell. Used from the late 1930s as a relief landing groung for Cranwell, closed 1943 for rebuilding. From early 1944 to March 1945, 14th, 15th, 53rd and 59th troop carrier Sqns of the 61st Troop Carrier Group with C-47s towing Horsa and Waco gliders. The 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment camped nearby. Operational during D-Day and Arnhem. March 1945, 349th TCG were there with C-46 Commando before they moved to France. From June 1945 to May 1948 it was used by 256 MU and 2 RAF Regiment. From May 1948 to present, it was and still is used as a satellite and relief landing ground for Cranwell.

Many manufacturers who don't always attend the regular shows make an appearance at the Nationals as it usually draws huge crowds because of the variety of disciplines and flying. Plus it is very often a great place to snag a bargain, being the last major event of the year. Bumpy Green again teamed up with Sigma Signs for the event, also Green Air Designs who brought along their fantastic range of depron foam jet fighters and Ampower batteries who specialise in Lithium Polymer cells and accessories. The trade line, as always is a complete mixture with R/C, Control Line and Free Flight specialist dealers all pitched in together to make one fo the broadest cross sections of the modelling industry to gather at one event. Being one of the biggest events of the show calendar the catering is widely varied and instead of just a burger shack and an ice cream van trying to cope with everything there is a huge range of food available on site. Of course the burger stands are there along with the ice cream vans but also fish and chips, traditional cornish pasties, doughnuts, a real filter coffee stand and our favourite ~ Mr T's Roasties where you can get a roast dinner of beef, pork and turkey served with veg, roast potatoes and gravy all served inside a plate sized yorkshire pudding. Totally delicious and a welcome change from the usual fare available at the model shows.

The Nationals is in a league and scale of it's own with six radio control flightlines consisting of Scale, IMAC, F3A Aerobatics, Funfly Aerobatics, Pylon Racing and the Show Line. At the same there were Control Line events and indoor events. Transmitter control for any events single flightline can be tough enough imagine the work, effort and preparation required for siz, all at once. Hats off to the BMFA for managing it with the minimum of fuss and incident. Being such a huge event means it can be difficult to get to see all the action and by being a 3 day show it does allow visitors to see more variety especially if camped for the weekend. Fortunately Tony was able to slip away to get some picures from the trade and show line.

Giuseppe Cannella on his jet powered wheelchair put on shows throughout the weekend to raise money for the Parkinsons desiese society. The wheelchair belongs to his mother-in-law and while she was on holiday Giuseppe decided to bolt on the jet engine which was originally destined for a high speed go kart. The wheelchair does 60MPH and Guiseppe put on a series of runs over the 3 days that gained much publicity for the Parkinsons Society and the British Nationals Show on BBC television. Guiseppe flies at a club not too far from Bumpy Green and we have seen some of his other creations which include very detailed scale jet powered models. We wish him every success in his fund raising and modelling ventures in the futures.

Article by John Kent from Bumpy Green Model Aerodrome
October 2004

Comment by Paul Bailey on 20041011170443. Rating 5

Excellent review of the Nats. Great to know there are others who like all aspects of model flying and appreciate the skills in each area.I went on Saturday because of the forecasts and had a great day as well as spending loads of dosh on a new model and motor.(Hype 3D and Eurotech 50)Gulp! hope I can handle it.

VIEW / ADD Your Comments This is where you can leave your comments about the article itself or about the subject of the article. For example maybe its a review and you would like to tell people about the experience you have with this particular model. Name: Email Address (optional): Rating: 1 2 3 4 5 Excellent = 5 Comments: