Bowden Trophy 2011

BOWDEN TROPHY by Pete Walkingshaw
Date 14 July 2011.
Updated 30 July 2011. Additional Photograph courtesy Andy Brough

Enclosed a couple of photographts of my Scorpion built from a plan and won this years Bowden Trophy competition. Also included background information about the competition.

The detailed Bowden Trophy rules are available on the net if ever you decide to enter this comp. Basically any high wing cabin model may be used, average wing spans seem to be between 40 and 50 inches. Almost everyone seems to use Diesel engines of about .5 [point 5] to 1.5cc althought Glo-plug and Petrol [spark ignition] engines are also allowed.

Each competitor is allowed two flights and two minutes is allowed to start the engine, the aircraft must then ROG [rise of ground] the flights must be longer that 30 seconds but not to exceed 60 seconds to avoid disqualification, so the time to aim for is 45 seconds. Engine runs are usually controlled by clockwork pinch timers and additional points are awarded for take off, landing and general flying characteristics.
This does seem like a simple comp but during a comp everyone takes it very seriously apart from the spectators who are always taking the wee wee.

My preparation normally starts during the winter months when I always build a new Bowden model and because my power flying site is very small I install lightweight radio in order to get the model trimmed, radio of course is not allowed during comp. This year there was 28 competitors and wind speeds averaged out at 15 mph too high for free flight but nobody chickens out and I estimate about quarter of the models were damaged during the first flight. After the first flight I was positioned third and won the comp during the second round and will be presented with a cup during the annual national competition awards later this year.

You probably have been to the power national at RAF Barkston Heath and its less that two hours from York, so if you want to enter next years comp any high wing free flight model would be ok. Leeds Model Shop keep a good selection of kits and one of the most popular winning models I've seen at Barkston is the
Matador.

Regards

Peter