Friday 31 January 2014

Weekend fun and Setting up

  A morning’s flying the Merlin so I took the chance to follow Martin’s advice and try out some EM type turns.  Being new to this turn style I started off by simply reducing my differential and flattening out the more ‘Nordic’ turns I’m more used to.
  This seemed to work pretty well and what became an extended bank and sweep turns, heading back to me in the centre of the course.    There was even the occasional ‘kick’ as I really go the turn right, what I liked was the steady build up of speed when it was right and the clear identification of ‘wrong’.  I’m a long way from doing any of this in a race but the Merlin’s ability to smoothly carry ballast and keep on tracking made it a very simple air frame to use.
  It was AGM weekend and so the Slope soon started to fill up- a nice change on southern slopes really.  The entertainment of 3 men trying to work out how to make an EPPi-soar work only to launch it into the turning point of an F3F model is always worth 10 minutes of your morning.

  The pitbulls met their match on the ground with my Terrier but in the air they looked really impressive!

Sunday 5 January 2014

Getting out before the next Storm

A break in the rain and storms had me on Beer Head by 8.30 in the morning this Sunday.  With the car park impassable, the 30mph winds smack on the hill reminds you of how much II enjoy throwing a model around with full ballast!

  After last week’s Wooliebbacks highlighted some set up issues and just plain lack of practice the chance to thrash the Merlin in smooth sea lift was not too be missed.  It’s a lot easier without the buzzing and stopwatch!
  The set up felt really nice and adjusting the differential mid flight on the multiplex radio makes things really easy to set up.  The Merlin really reminds me of my excellent old Sting.  Driving through the turns and she pings and pulls around the corners so reliably!  A happy day today!


Next storm soming up the coast- time to go!