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Dear Members
Firstly I would like to start by wishing everyone a very belated Happy new year - sorry it's so late!
Secondly, as I'm sure you're aware, at the 2015 AGM Mark Christy announced that he would be standing down from the committee and there would be a change of Chairman for the AHA for 2016. Having been the AHA chairman before, some time ago now, I volunteered my services once again and at that same meeting I was elected to the position until such time as my services are no longer required.
I would like to take the opportunity of thanking Mark for his time and service to the AHA during his term as Chairman. As you know all of the committee work is done on a purely voluntary basis and at times the various roles can be quite time consuming. Mark is taking some time out to concentrate his efforts on a new business opportunity and an extension to his family so I would like to add my personal best wishes to him in these endeavours. Have no fear though, flying model helicopters is an incurable illness so you will still see Mark enjoying this exciting hobby of ours for his own benefit and at his own pace.
Good luck and very best wishes Mark!!
Moving swiftly on there are some items of news and some calendar entries from the AHA committee for 2016.
2016 Calendar
Its still early yet but, thanks to some hard work behind the scenes, there are already some confirmed dates for AHA events this year!!
7th March 2016 (Season Opener)
Season Opener- A season opener event has been planned for the 27th March at the Gliding centre near Leicester. This is an informal get together with members from the F3C & F3N UK teams in attendance to help with setup & practice. More on this nearer the time. The event is open to everyone, so please don't be shy, bring a model with you and just enjoy the atmosphere and rub shoulders with some of the best model helicopter pilots from around the UK.
9th - 10th April 2016 & 8th - 9th October (Charmouth Helicopter Fly-In)
The Spring Charmouth fly-in is over the weekend of the 9th/10th April. I'm told that rooms/caravans at Newlands Holiday park are going fast as usual so don't delay - book your place today and don't forget to invite your flying buddies (or even your family) along as well.
Autumn Charmouth is 8th/9th October (again bookings go fast!!).
Check the AHA website for details on the event http://www.theaha.co.uk/
10th - 11th September 2016 (UK round of the F3C Euro Heli Series)
Euro Heli Series- The F3C Euro heli series is going from strength to strength and a series of 4 events will be held this year across northern Europe. The UK leg is now registered with the FAI as a World Cup event to be held on the 10th/11th September near Abingdon in Oxfordshire- should be a superb event with some truly world class pilots in attendance. Check out the website and facebook page for details
http://www.euroheliseries.net/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/euroheliseries/?fref=ts
Please also don't forget to check out the UK F3C Team website & facebook page at:
Throughout 2016 (F3N League Events)
Julie Fisher is finalising the dates & arrangements for a number of events towards the F3N league which is sure to be very popular again if last year is anything to go by - check out and like the F3N UK facebook page for more details.
https://www.facebook.com/f3nuk/?fref=ts
NEWS
BMFA Nationals- As most of you will now probably know there is some doubt as to whether Barkston Heath will be available to host the BMFA Nationals this year (it has happened once before since I've been involved, around 2003). Representatives from the AHA committee were due to attend a meeting at the BMFA HQ on the 6th February which was cancelled, we're not sure why as yet but we hope to have some further news on this very soon.- we will of course update you as soon as we know anything more.
Membership- Its that time again- please don't forget to renew your AHA membership for 2016. You can either use the paypal payment gateway on the AHA website at: https://bmfa.org/AHA/AHA-Membership
Or if you prefer a more traditional process you can print out the membership form, which you can then complete and post together witth your payment, please send both to the membership secretary at the address on the bottom of the form.
And lastly (hooray!) the BMFA have been in contact about a potential exciting new event near Winchester over the weekend of the 30th and 31st July. At this time we do not have much information on what format the event will have, but as far as we know its aimed at all forms of rotary craft (quads, helis ect). The BMFA are asking the AHA (as the rotary craft specialist body) to help run the flight lines, give demos and maybe even run a contest over the weekend. The dates are unfortunate as they clash with the F3CN European championships in Poland so that counts out some of us - but please don't let that put you off. If you are interested (as an AHA member) in helping out please come forward and I'll put you in touch with the organiser at the BMFA to discuss the details further. If all goes well it promises to be a very worthwhile event!!!!!!!
There are one or two other things being worked on at the moment which I've been sworn to secrecy on but I hope to leak some details very soon!
That's all from me for now, so until next the next time - take care, stay warm, fly safely and enjoy.
Firstly I would like to start by wishing everyone a very belated Happy new year - sorry it's so late!
Secondly, as I'm sure you're aware, at the 2015 AGM Mark Christy announced that he would be standing down from the committee and there would be a change of Chairman for the AHA for 2016. Having been the AHA chairman before, some time ago now, I volunteered my services once again and at that same meeting I was elected to the position until such time as my services are no longer required.
I would like to take the opportunity of thanking Mark for his time and service to the AHA during his term as Chairman. As you know all of the committee work is done on a purely voluntary basis and at times the various roles can be quite time consuming. Mark is taking some time out to concentrate his efforts on a new business opportunity and an extension to his family so I would like to add my personal best wishes to him in these endeavours. Have no fear though, flying model helicopters is an incurable illness so you will still see Mark enjoying this exciting hobby of ours for his own benefit and at his own pace.
Good luck and very best wishes Mark!!
Moving swiftly on there are some items of news and some calendar entries from the AHA committee for 2016.
2016 Calendar
Its still early yet but, thanks to some hard work behind the scenes, there are already some confirmed dates for AHA events this year!!
7th March 2016 (Season Opener)
Season Opener- A season opener event has been planned for the 27th March at the Gliding centre near Leicester. This is an informal get together with members from the F3C & F3N UK teams in attendance to help with setup & practice. More on this nearer the time. The event is open to everyone, so please don't be shy, bring a model with you and just enjoy the atmosphere and rub shoulders with some of the best model helicopter pilots from around the UK.
9th - 10th April 2016 & 8th - 9th October (Charmouth Helicopter Fly-In)
The Spring Charmouth fly-in is over the weekend of the 9th/10th April. I'm told that rooms/caravans at Newlands Holiday park are going fast as usual so don't delay - book your place today and don't forget to invite your flying buddies (or even your family) along as well.
Autumn Charmouth is 8th/9th October (again bookings go fast!!).
Check the AHA website for details on the event http://www.theaha.co.uk/
10th - 11th September 2016 (UK round of the F3C Euro Heli Series)
Euro Heli Series- The F3C Euro heli series is going from strength to strength and a series of 4 events will be held this year across northern Europe. The UK leg is now registered with the FAI as a World Cup event to be held on the 10th/11th September near Abingdon in Oxfordshire- should be a superb event with some truly world class pilots in attendance. Check out the website and facebook page for details
http://www.euroheliseries.net/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/euroheliseries/?fref=ts
Please also don't forget to check out the UK F3C Team website & facebook page at:
Throughout 2016 (F3N League Events)
Julie Fisher is finalising the dates & arrangements for a number of events towards the F3N league which is sure to be very popular again if last year is anything to go by - check out and like the F3N UK facebook page for more details.
https://www.facebook.com/f3nuk/?fref=ts
NEWS
BMFA Nationals- As most of you will now probably know there is some doubt as to whether Barkston Heath will be available to host the BMFA Nationals this year (it has happened once before since I've been involved, around 2003). Representatives from the AHA committee were due to attend a meeting at the BMFA HQ on the 6th February which was cancelled, we're not sure why as yet but we hope to have some further news on this very soon.- we will of course update you as soon as we know anything more.
Membership- Its that time again- please don't forget to renew your AHA membership for 2016. You can either use the paypal payment gateway on the AHA website at: https://bmfa.org/AHA/AHA-Membership
Or if you prefer a more traditional process you can print out the membership form, which you can then complete and post together witth your payment, please send both to the membership secretary at the address on the bottom of the form.
And lastly (hooray!) the BMFA have been in contact about a potential exciting new event near Winchester over the weekend of the 30th and 31st July. At this time we do not have much information on what format the event will have, but as far as we know its aimed at all forms of rotary craft (quads, helis ect). The BMFA are asking the AHA (as the rotary craft specialist body) to help run the flight lines, give demos and maybe even run a contest over the weekend. The dates are unfortunate as they clash with the F3CN European championships in Poland so that counts out some of us - but please don't let that put you off. If you are interested (as an AHA member) in helping out please come forward and I'll put you in touch with the organiser at the BMFA to discuss the details further. If all goes well it promises to be a very worthwhile event!!!!!!!
There are one or two other things being worked on at the moment which I've been sworn to secrecy on but I hope to leak some details very soon!
That's all from me for now, so until next the next time - take care, stay warm, fly safely and enjoy.