14th PANDAS Electric Free For All 2017.

Report by John Thompson
Pictures by Sheila Marshall
Edited by Terry Lee

With the site being in use for our usual June event we had to bring it forward to Saturday 14th May.
The day dawned sunny with fluffy clouds making a change from our usual gales for this event.
I arrived at 9.0 am to find that Sheila and Allan Marshall had already been at work having camped in their caravan overnight and other willing helpers had set up everything. Gordon and I set up the table and were soon booking in the flyers.
The wind had picked up and was a little off the flight line, but nothing to worry about. After my introduction Terry Lee said his piece about the site perimeters and the air was soon buzzing (makes a change from growling).
A wide variety of models were flown ranging from Vintage to EDF and I estimated around 40 were on site with twenty four pilots. Mostly PANDAS but with visitors from Dewsbury, Keighley and others. Around lunchtime dark clouds were threatening rain so I decided to hold the prize giving. The Eric Johnson Trophy & a bottle of wine went to Colin Terry who bravely flew his own build RPG and Whippet autogyros several times. Another award of wine went to visitor David Lovegrove who had a beautiful plan built Bob Palmer ‘Mars’ (an old stunt control line design with twin fins) fitted with retracts, and a diminutive Wombat as well as a Swanee, all old timers.

Soon after the rains came, followed by intermittent showers so most of us sat in the cars chatting and some brave souls continued flying.
It was pleasant to see old friends from other clubs, and all seemed to enjoy themselves, and I believe Allan got at least one new member for PANDAS, what would we do without him and Sheila?
Many thanks to the Club for allowing the use of the field and the members who helped to set it up.

	Part of pits
	Spectators enjoying the sun & watching the flying
	Colin Terry won the 'Eric Johnson' trophy flying these two autogyros
	Dave Lovrgrove's Mars, - a Bob Palmer control line model converted to radio control