RIP (Rest In Pieces)

Please join us in a silent prayer for those who gave their planes to further the sport.

As a sign of respect for the departed aircraft would you please refrain from laughing out loud while you are in our aeronautical cemetery.

Our young Calum gets the honour of being the first to get a plot in the CVF cemetery.

On the 14th October 2006, Calum's trainer passed on, once it was passed its wings folded and plummeted to the ground like a lead brick.

The CVF crash investigation team (vultures) quickly arrived on the scene to determine the cause. After much deliberation, it was decided the reason for the crash was that it is near on impossible to fly a plane without its wings.

Several witnesses gave evidence for Calum, stating that the deceased was flying straight and level when for no apparent reason the wing dihedral increased rapidly, this was closely followed by the wings completely departing the vicinity of the fuselage. In a desperate act to save the blighted aircraft Calum closed the throttle, but nothing could prevent the impending impact.

Examination of the wreckage revealed everything, mainly because 'everything' was scattered all over the field. The nice shiny new engine fitted the day before was pulled out of its 6 inch deep hole and much to everyone's surprise was no longer shiny.

Pyromaniac Bruce and his amazing plane burning machine containing Calum's trainer

Calum's trainer tail fin has proudly taken up its position on the wall in the club hut, gone but not forgotten. Rest in pieces 'Flying trainer'

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Our second plot owner actually lost his plane before Calum but, due to the fact that it may just be possible to repair and the wing survived, I decided 2nd place was honour enough.

On 14th October 2006 (not a good day for flying was it) Bruce was fine tuning the engine of his beloved friend and partner in flight, Glens Models 68” Extra 330S.

The once happy couple have had a short time together, they only met on the 15th September, but they have had a most enjoyable time since the 330S fledged on the 22nd September.

The engine now being run in, he decided to lean it out a bit and have a couple of test flights. After the first, Bruce reported that it was flying much better. A few more minor adjustments and it would be perfect.

The second test flight was going fine, the engine running smooth, over the runway and off to the right. Then it happened, it appeared that the radio link was lost. Bruce's baby was not responding to his commands, in much the same way as real babies don't. It looked like failsafe had kicked in, round and round, down and down.

The last bit of down resulted in the engine being ripped out, the wing ripped off, the bulkhead exploding and generally what could best be described as 'not good things'

Crash analysis posed as many questions as answers, but the most probable cause was either the aileron servo Y-lead coming out of Rx, or Bruce's preferred cause - radio interference.

As i am writing this I just received an email from Bruce, it would appear that the Extra 330S is a tough old bird, there was still a flicker of life in its ignition battery. Bruce currently has her on life support and is waiting nervously to see if she can pull through. Lets hope she lives to fly another day even if I have already buried her in the cemetery!

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