This is the Phoenix and guess where I am?
Of course, each one of you is correct for I am at
ETSA Park in Adelaide. Before I get on with this month’s quite exciting story of tonight’s indoor flying at ETSA Park in the close suburb of the City of Adelaide, I would like to diversify, and just touch on a previous event that was held by the Southern Soaring League – (my club, I might add) down at their brilliant 100-odd acres field at Milang. I thank SSL’s Secretary come Treasurer John Blanchard, for the following information in what was an amazing event.
This was an F3J event and that means that it was for the upper echelon of glider fliers in this State. I’m not giving a full story but I just wish to touch on the two gentlemen who filled first and second place in this comp. Oh okay – I’ll call him my hero and my mentor, and you will read on and find out why. I speak of the Managing Director of Model Flight, one of South Australia’s leading model shops which is situated at Maple Avenue Keswick, Mr Michael O’Reilly. This event, held at the SSL’s magnificent field at Milang, just south of Adelaide, enticed 16 of the best glider guiders to test their skill in this event. Okay, no more on that event except to say that Mike, at one of his finest flying displays scored a top 1000 in four of his five rounds. I shant speak of his 6th round cos he drops that anyway, so he ended up with a score of maximum 5000 out of a possible 5000. Gollee – and we speak of the year 12 results - how can one do better than that. Just 4.3 points behind Mike was his 1/OC at Model Flight – the very brilliant – Jamie Nancarrow, competing in one of his few events of this caliber but, no doubt, not his last. Michael’s amazing ability to sniff our thermals when they just don’t seem to be there, is something of which others often speak. I shall make this rather bold statement that, had he been blessed with another pair of legs, preferably in the front, today one would no doubt, find him at Adelaide Airport, wearing a little red jacket, sniffing around the incoming baggage on each flight. I have just felt some rumblings in the foundations of the Phoenix humble abode and, worried for a short time of the cause, I realized that Merrin touched down at Adelaide Airport, just a short time ago. Hope you made it to the airport, Jamie. (Sorry, local joke) NOW – DEAR READERS – I shall touch the subjects for which I am being paid. What a disastrous day your friendly Phoenix has experienced. Ah please, dear readers, let me elucidate – that means let me explain, I hope. Firstly, deciding to do some housework, my vacuum cleaner went up in smoke. The answer – a new replacement. That’s not a real problem. But – this is more important. I usually like to come home from Indoor and watch Rex, the wonder dog. It also gives the grapes time to settle. My friends, both of them, have been asked not to ring me on Thursday nights. But before I watch Rex, I must partake of some supper, having fasted most of the day in preparation for indoor flying. I usually have a fruit supper. May sound strange but please let me explain. My fruit is usually grapes. They must be the little red type and I come home, remove my shoes and socks and tread them into the carpet, for quite some considerable time. But – here comes the hard part – squeezing the little b……s in through the long dark neck of the bottle. That was not the worst part of the night. Having fast forwarded through an hour of the ‘Vicar Of Dibney’ – which, when watched the previous night in real speed, had worn out my laughter box, I discovered to my absolute disgust that Rex was a repeat. Oh well, that means that I am starting this an hour earlier. I really am joking for I have returned home from one of the most enjoyable indoor flying nights we have experienced for the year. I must speak firstly of our Victorian friends from Doncaster. Please explain – you are so keen on model aeroplanes, your building skills are enormous, and yet you don’t know the first thing about playing football. Actually, someone told me that – I don’t give a Billy Connelly – as you keep making models like the Yak. I speak here of the Doncaster Yak which was admirably demonstrated by Andy Hollitt tonight. Ken Peart makes this lovely model and the Phoenix says, “”full marks”” Ken. Of course you had picked a brilliant demonstrator in Andy Hollit cos there is not much that he can’t fly. He speaks so highly of your Yak that we just had to watch his demo with your aircraft. Most impressive Ken. My photo does find Andy proudly holding the Yak aloft. 
It is constructed of EPP foam and, even with a span of 720mm, weighs in at a most attractive 140 gram in a ready-to-fly configuration. (gee! That’s a big word for the Phoenix – I hope that I have it correct.) It carries Hyt500 5 gm servos –pulled along by an Eflite Park 250 motor – now I’ll make the statement that, having watched Andy’s demonstration, I think I could almost fly it, The Phoenix says, to the Doncaster boys, have a wonderful 2008 and I sincerely hope that you enjoyed your Christmas. Forget football! 
I managed to gather in the Model Flight staffers, well three of them with the boss, for a group photo. From the left they are. Matthew, (normally called Matty, although I can’t work that out for the life of me) Mike (playing poppa Christmas for his boys), Jamie, who was in a hurry to get home tonight (I can work that one out) and Brenton
It was so pleasing to see Kirk and his son in attendance tonight. What a look of admiration on Kirk’s face too. Obviously fascinated by his son’s progress which is brilliant. 
We had our first quad-mid-air tonight when Brenton’s little yellow Jenny managed to take out a mixture of four aircraft as he came in for a rather fast landing. One of the damaged crafts was Mike’s flying saucer which, though it didn’t look real bad, had to be retired for the remainder of the evening. 
Dennis Miller was seen to fly his foamie round with streamer attached. This streamer was the cause of the little red sleigh having a premature landing with half the streamer wrapped round its main shaft. Tut! Tut!
I have spoken of Andy Hollitt and his ability to fly anything, but, once again he excelled himself tonight and, literally, flew anything. Our pix shows Andy in conference with Mr. Helicopter, Don Rosella.
 Personally, there were two highlights tonight and, in view of lots of people having their Christmas lunch or dinner, it is quite obvious that a large number of people throughout, particularly suburban Adelaide, will be entertained by a radio controlled RoboCopter. This is another exciting flying machine that is on 2.4 GHz. Well, you all know that that means that you can fly in large numbers without fear of interfering with other fliers. I might add that there were six (6) of these fascinating little crafts in the air at one time tonight. 
A delightful touch was added by Jurgen Schneider with the first flying sleigh that we have seen at ETSA Park. I apologise for the slight blur, but it was off the ground at the time, and that was the best of six attempts to catch it. A pretty little thing and, with its twin rotors flew impressively. Well done Jurgen. I have really left the best to last. CHINOOK. To me – that spells enormous in the field of helicopters. This is another model that has not yet made the all inclusive Web Page of Model Flight but I do urge you, dear readers, to watch out for it. 
Brenton Wildman, yes the same gentleman that you encounter with your mail order service from which you survive from Model Flight, demonstrated the brilliant Chinook tonight and I have enclosed a static photo of this magnificent craft. Of course two sets of double blades means that you are playing with eight blades, (it comes with 4 spares) but it is such a steady flyer that I do not see that as being a problem. I don’t have a price on it cos it has not yet appeared on our Web Page. Watch for it dear friends – it is brilliant.
Yes, Dear Readers, I really do know that it is Christmas time – I wished you all greetings in my column last month but, with all the exciting stuff that is coming on Model Flight’s counters and shelves, there is nothing in store for you but a wonderful 2008. We meet again in January on the third Thursday night. Our wonderful friendship that we hold with ETSA Park was ably demonstrated by the Duty Manager, who motored down from the hills tonight, just to open up the stadium for us. We do have a wonderful relationship with the management of ETSA Park. Long may it reign.
Sincerely, The Phoenix.
Phoenix Indoor Flight Reports
Indoor Flying at ETSA Park 2008
| Date |
Court |
Time |
| September 18th |
1 |
8.30-10.30pm |
| October 16th |
1 |
8.30-10.30pm |
| November 20th |
1 |
8.30-10.30pm |
| December 18th |
1 |
8.30-10.30pm |
| |
|
|
| 
I
want a quote on how much freight it will cost to send items to me.
