Club Update January 2011

Hello,  Happy New Year to you all.
The weather at the start of the new year has been kind not too cold with very little wind, so those who have been able to get to the patch have had some really good flying conditions,
such calm weather seems to make things so much easier, resulting in far less accidents, and leaving me very little to write about.
Can I remind those who do not get to club regularly that subs are now due ,and the AGM is on 03/01/2011. those of you who do attend will know that a few long standing members are giving up their memberships, we wish them all well and hope they can still continue to fly at another site, with easier access, and I am sure they would always be made welcome at future club nights if they wanted to attend.
I know that I keep banging on about the (A) Cert, but for those who seem concerned about taking, or at least attempting it, please remember we do have 3 examiners in the club, and it is much easier on the nerves if you know the person testing you, we also have a rule that says if you don’t have an (A) then you should not fly alone, so come on gents, there is no shame in attempting and failing,but there is a great feeling if you pass.
In the interest of fair play I must report that I crashed the whizz on Sunday, at the time it appeared to be completely due to dumb thumbing (pilot error) but in my defence, during the subsequent flight I appeared to suffer complete elevator failure, I even had time to say to Andy that the model was going in and shut the throttle, but before the inevitable happened the model leapt upwards as I had not let go of the up stick. the model was landed and the avionics fully checked, all plugs removed and re-fitted no fault could be found!!!
I took the decision to fly again and there was no repeat of the problem. So, is the no crash Hastings reputation still in tact, you decide. I do have a theory for the elevator problem, the model is one piece, and has been rigged ready to fly, and stored in the shed for about 4 years, this may have led to corrosion in the connectors for the elevator servo, by disconnecting and re-connecting a few times, I may have improved the connection, I will never Know.
Don’t forget, anyone can email Nick if they ever feel the need to come up with a long winded excuse why they crashed their model, especially if I have reported the crash to the world.
A few members have spoken to me about the lack of things arranged for club nights, as I have said before the committee need your input, if you have any ideas, please let us know and we will endeavour to action them.
I started this piece by saying the weather has been kind, in future I should avoid writing this blog week by week, things did not continue as they stared, the weather in the second half of the month has been quite poor, but windy weather should be seen as an opportunity to improve and sharpen your flying skills, and not as an excuse to watch re-runs of the Dam Busters.
May all your Sundays be glitch free, all the best
Stu Margate