Time for Mad Dogs 3! MEET FULL, ALL PLACES FILLED!

[Gav]

What airline is that?   Being a Friday you want to travel on, there will be less chance of a change of flight, unless its a stupid o 'clock flight time.   But worth a go if you get to the airport in time to try.  Have blagged my way onto earlier flights a few times. Good luck

[Flyboysee]

Hey Brucey

I'm hoping you'll get a lucky break with a Friday flight. Being a week away, is there no way you can just call in a change with the airline?

I'm sure you've thought of all the options - so good luck, looking forward to meeting you if all goes well.

Gav, that avatar of yours is freaking me out :)

[Flyboysee]

Weather!



Does anybody have any predictions? The 15 day forecast says a lovely day at 16 degrees with 19MPH winds. My experience tells me that the forecast gets more accurate as the day approaches. Hopefully we'll have 5MPH from the west - we've been lucky with the first two, let's hope this one is good weather wise too.

By the way, the Sunday option is open to us as  back up for weather, so if it's going to be howling that's something to consider, and as you all know I'm always keen to fly. Since we have a lot of people coming, does anyone who can't make it on day one want to think about Sunday, or those coming on Saturday maybe wanting a double dose?

Talk to me!

R

[Brucey]

My problem is connecting flights, gets complicated!
As for Sunday flying, I'm up for this if I can't make Sat!
As for weather, it's way to far down the line to get anything close to an accurate prediction.

[Gav]

.........or even flying both days if I have anything still airworthy by the end of day 1  :o

Or anything not stuck in a tree.

I'll get my coat......

[DaveyLC]

Weather!



Does anybody have any predictions? The 15 day forecast says a lovely day at 16 degrees with 19MPH winds. My experience tells me that the forecast gets more accurate as the day approaches. Hopefully we'll have 5MPH from the west - we've been lucky with the first two, let's hope this one is good weather wise too.

Its getting better :)

21 degrees, 11mph SE.

[Flyboysee]

Great Haseley Flying Field

Here is a flight I did yesterday to show the state of the fields and the surrounding village for those who don't know the area. It starts at 2km out near the M40.

Great Haseley Fields for Mad Dogs

[Charliewalker]

Good idea to show the layout, bet I still get lost!
Anything we need to bring? ...teabags,  food?,   teabags?,   cooker?,   teabags? 

[Flyboysee]

Hi Guys!

I attended the FPV Bounce meetup this weekend and learned a helluva lot about frequency separation etc. We had at times 7 planes or more in the air and the way this was handled was by having a long flight line. Basically you put 5.8 GHz video on one end and 2.4 GHz video on the other and then fill the places in towards the centre. This way there is the best possible separation between ground stations. We assume that anyone flying 2.4 control will be on 5.8 video ad those flying on 2.4 video will / should definitely not be on 2.4 control.

There will still be some interference from time to time and the best way to handle this is for everyone to shout "5.8 video switching on!' or "2.4 video switching on!" as loud as possible and if there is a conflict the affected person screams back "Switch off!" or something to that effect and all will be well, ie: interference for no more then say two or three seconds.

Once the planes are up the only thing affecting interference is people's proximity to each other, so around 10m between ground stations should be the best, or a bit tighter if we want to fit in the full 15.

While you may be on one or the other side of the field without an easy way to launch, let's all give each other a hand with launching so that the pilot flying doesn't have to stray away from his position. It worked really well at Bounce and as I said there were no black outs for more than a second or so.

The flight line should then move clockwise or anti clockwise depending on the wind direction. In the middle between 2.4 and 5.8 is the cricket pitch which is a no go area (unless you're retrieving a crash :) )

I think if you are flying any other video frequency please work out your interference potential before hand by calculating your harmonics and consider how it may affect other people's video or control.

Here's a diagram of what I mean...



Richard

[dogzilla]

Flight line sounds like a good idea, and yeah everyone shouting when they are going ON means someone can shout back if it messes up their shit.

7 aircraft in the air at once, that sounds wicked! what mix of setups was that do you know?

[Flyboysee]

Flight line sounds like a good idea, and yeah everyone shouting when they are going ON means someone can shout back if it messes up their shit.

7 aircraft in the air at once, that sounds wicked! what mix of setups was that do you know?

Hi Dogz, was mainly 5.8 with Frsky on one end and 2.4 guys had mainly FM and Dragon on the other.... much better idea! Are you coming btw? I saw somewhere you said you'd like to fly in the country...? Well... this is pretty much the country :) I, on the other hand want to fly in London proper!

[CurryKitten]

• SE5 WWI BiPlane (flying a lot better since I rebalanced it)

Is that the one that had a mishap last time ?  I was desperate to see the view from in the air, it felt like the most scale cockpit ever, and I loved the second camera setup.  I'm riding passenger on that one :)

[dogzilla]

Are you coming btw? I saw somewhere you said you'd like to fly in the country...? Well... this is pretty much the country :) I, on the other hand want to fly in London proper!

Yes mate I'm looking forward to it.

And if you ever wanna do some flying in London gimme a shout!

[Flyboysee]

• SE5 WWI BiPlane (flying a lot better since I rebalanced it)

Is that the one that had a mishap last time ?  I was desperate to see the view from in the air, it felt like the most scale cockpit ever, and I loved the second camera setup.  I'm riding passenger on that one :)

That's the one mate. It's a bit less pristine, having seen a lot of hot glue since then, but fingers crossed for a more successful FPV flight this time!

Hi Dave

By all means, we'll be having beers at the pub on Friday night and I may also still be getting a plane ready. I crashed my Penguin at FPV Bounce this past weekend and while I have a replacement I don't want to rush it. I have stripped the electronics out of the Bixler and need to put it together again for Saturday. It's a very busy week for me work wise so it may come down to the wire :)

Let me know if you don't still have my number, otherwise call me Friday when you get in and we'll sink a few!

Also looking forward to flying passenger on that bipe!

Cheers

Richard

[Flyboysee]

FOOD, BEER & COOLIES

Hi All!

Time is aproaching and I have made some enquiries into food etc.

Here's my suggestion :

1. Breakfast: A Continental / Finger Breakfast of Baguette, Croissant, Cheese, Ham, Tea and Coffee.
2. Tea / Coffee / Biscuits / Cool Drinks and Water on tap all day long.
3. Lunch : A South African style Braai (Barbeque) of Boerewors (Sausage) on Rolls with Salads and SA Beer!

I'm happy to wear the apron for the day and make sure the food etc. is well organised. This will mean you can get good quality and quantity sustenance throughout the day without the hassle of having to bring stuff with you, or head out to the Services.

Assuming all 15 arrive (and that you have a healthy appetite like me) this should all come to somewhere in the ball park of £155. That would get us all at least 2 - 3 Boerrie Rolls and a couple of beers or so a head. It's probably more than it would cost to buy Pork sausies etc but I can assure you it will be well worth it :) 




Are you all happy to chip in around a tenner for the day's munching, or would you prefer to bring your own / head to the shops? I think it would be best if we all did the same thing so we can fly together, crash together and break some bread together.

Please let me know by Wednesday night so that I can order the right quantities in if you agree and please let me know if you'll be bringing partners or children. No doubt mine will come just around lunch time :)

Richard