THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE C/L FLYER
A report of the goings-on in
south-west France from ROBIN HOLDEN.
I seem to remember a
long time ago a film called ‘The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner’.
Well…I sympathise with his predicament!
As the sole member of the Riberac Model Aircraft Club who lives, eats and
breathes C/L, it’s hard to find other enthusiasts to share experiences and to
fly with. I am lucky to have a good pal and fellow member, John Cross (another
Brit), who brings along his electrically motivated marvels on a Friday afternoon
and helps me with my circulating.
Our club is warm and friendly with a marvellous location occupying part of a
small aerodrome. We have no noise
issues, loads of space, a great clubhouse (with bar and fridge - very French)
and can fly seven days a week. We
are also typical inasmuch as on a Sunday you will be entertained by the sight of
one R/C ARTF trainer after the other…..all looking identical. I am not being an
ARTF curmudgeon…but…doesn’t anyone build their own models anymore? I do get
cross though when I get strange looks and crass comments from ARTF model
‘flyers’ querying my C/L models.
Enough of my favourite rant…
It was gratifying therefore to exchange e-mails with Aime Gilbert of the Sainte
Eulalie Club. He is the President of this specialised Control Line Club with
flying facilities not too far from where we live. His son came third recently at
the World Control Line Champs in Spain in the ‘Vitesse’ class…ie. Speed. The
FFAM website showed that the final C/L stunt competition of the season was to
take place at Sainte Eulalie on Sunday 15th October, so I contacted
Aime for the address of the club site.
The location established, I set off for a good days flying with our club Vice
President, Peter Burden. My good
friend Peter Rabjohn, who has a holiday home here in France in the Charente
Maritime, also agreed to join our little contingent. Peter is a good source of
help and advice for me as I only came back to the hobby after retiring to
France. If I need sound advice,
Peter is the man!
Saint Eulalie is just north of Bordeaux and the flying site is located within
the Municipal Sports Facility. It was amazing - immaculate football pitches,
perfect tennis courts, and a clubhouse where we had lunch. Best of all, no
litter or graffiti. Biggest surprise though was the control line circle - a
smooth tarmac outer take-off/landing ring and a large inner pilots circulating
ring. For safety, the area was surrounded with ’grillage’ as the French call it,
complete with a lockable entrance gate. Peter Rabjohn noticed some new houses
nearby and wondered if there was a noise problem. We were told that as the
circle was in place BEFORE the houses were built the new owners should have
taken that into consideration before purchasing. Hip, hip hurrah for some sound
thinking. Vive La France!
Sadly there were only about half a dozen stunt flyers present, but one face was
very familiar - Serge Delabarde. Such a nice fellow, great talent, easy to talk
to and no edge at all. He was
flying his ’Stunt Machine’ powered by a Saito 56 four-stroke. He made the actual
flying look so easy, and that despite a moderate wind.
Michael Maudet was also present at the meeting and was flying one of Serge’s
previous designs, the K-RENT, which is actually short for ’quarante’, the French
word for 40.
Aime Gilbert was flying his very new ARTF ‘Nobler’.
Aime is an accomplished flyer and fluent English speaker thanks to his
career working for the Ford Motor Company. The windy conditions made him very
careful as this was his first flight with the model. I
hope that ARTF models don’t take over C/L as they seem to have done with
R/C, although I have to admit that they do provide an easy if expensive entry
into the sport.
It was pleasing to see several youngsters with simple sheet trainers learning to
fly under the watchful eye of Serge. Then it was time for lunch and this being
France…but of course we Brits had brought sandwiches! However, the natural French hospitality soon had us sharing
their wine and cheeses and enjoying friendly banter. There was more quality
flying in the afternoon, but unfortunately we had to leave before the
culmination of the day’s competition.
