Model flying is one of my big passions, so I thought it only
fitting to install a cache at my local club.
The hunt itself should pose you no major problems, though to
make things a little harder there are a few bits of model aircraft
related trivia between you and the cache coordinates.
These coordinates are for a suggested parking location
and mark the junction of River Lane with the A245. Parking should
be available just into River Lane - it's a dead end road, so don’t
drive more than say 100m or you’ll only end up coming back (the
latter part is closed to regular vehicles anyway). There are a
couple of entrances to the cache site; it is not necessary (and
please don't) to climb over any fences.
Depending on the time you visit (and of course the weather!) you
may be lucky enough to catch some flying action, particularly at
the weekends. Do feel free to pop over and say 'hi' – we're a
friendly bunch, and I'm the tall one in my early 30s. We welcome
spectators but, for your own safety, please don't walk under the
flight paths. There is a sign to this effect when flying is in
progress.
This is also a themed cache, so
please try and exchange only aviation and flight related items,
however tenuous!
Initial cache contents:
- P-38 Lightning diecast model
- Qantas playing cards
- Wooden duck
- Chicken puppet
- Plucked chicken toy
- Royal Mail Airletter (I imagine this can still be used!)
- Logbook & pen
Have a look out for some of these aircraft - this is the bulk
of my 'fleet' in early 2007!
The cache is located at:
N 051 AB.CDE
W000 FG.HIJ
Now onto the model flying trivia...
- Leatherhead Model Flying Club is affiliated (as are the vast
majority of UK clubs) to the British Model Flying Association
(BMFA), which is the national governing body for model flying in
the UK. The BMFA, formerly known as the Society of Model
Aeronautical Engineers, was established in the year AICF.
Somewhat later, the Civil Aviation Authority issued a document
pertaining to the sport of model flying (a Civil Aviation
Publication, or 'CAP'), largely based on existing BMFA flying
guidelines – the ID number of this document is JEB.
- A number of frequency bands are used for various types of
models, however one of these is reserved purely for use by radio
controlled airborne models. This is known as the XYMHz band.
D=Y+1 and G=X-2.
Interestingly, there are also some variants in the way radio
control transmitters are operated, depending partly on the pilot's
own preference but seemingly more on their geographical location! A
transmitter typically has two control sticks. If the RH stick is
used to control the engine speed (throttle) and ailerons (aircraft
bank) and the LH stick controls the elevators (nose attitude) and
rudder (aircraft yaw), then the pilot is said to be operating in
mode H. This mode is actually less common in Southern
England!
You can check your answers for this puzzle on
Geochecker.com.