Here’s some general info concerning the Model County Flying Club.
The Clubs’ flying ground used to be just outside the village of Ferns Co.Wexford.
Due to the ESB building a sub station close by and stringing new power lines over the site, that site is now closed for flying. :cry:
A new site near the village of Monageer, (about a twenty minute drive from the old site) is in the process of being constructed.
The land is owned by one of the club members, (Brian) and together the club is creating what I think will prove to be a near first class flying site.
It comprises of a ten acre field. There will be three Main runways of around 90mter length with a large hexagonal ‘any direction’ take-off/landing area in the center thereof.
A Clubhouse with a kitchen for ‘light’ cooking and tea/coffee making facilities, lounge with heater, where viewers can sit in relative comfort while looking out over the flying ground
(and no doubt comment on other pilots faults, ) and a “charging room” to charge up those power hungry Li-Po’s. (Mains 220v supply laid in.)
The place will even have a flushing toilet for the benefit of pilots who had a particularly violent curry the previous night!
A hard standing car park and outside bench table/seats will be available for those alfresco types. :wink:
All ISR members will be welcome to use the site.
With mains electricity available, I’m thinking that winch towing for gliders may well be possible.
I’ve never seen winch towing gliders launched before, sounds a good idea to me as it won’t need a tug plane and second pilot. If need be, the winch could be left at the site, (under secure lock and key.)
Turning to the slightly more delicate matter of money.
The M.C.F.C. welcomes all Cert A (and B) pilots with recognized insurance cover. (Those pilots without a Cert. would need to have a certified A or B pilot in attendance.) However flight grounds don’t run themselves and members of the MCFC do have a rota of duties, mostly grass cutting.
If any other pilot wanted to use the flying site, other than during competitions or organized fly-in’s, a small fee would be requested to go towards the clubs funds. The amount is yet to be decided, but I don’t think it’s likely to ‘break the bank.’
( The idea of this charge is so that non MCFC members who aren’t involved with the ground’s work rota won’t feel that they are exploiting the good will of the MCFC members who do have to cut the grass and maintain facilities at the ground. )
The only times that gliders won’t be allowed on the site are during MCFC competitions days, the dates of these I’ll post in due course.
I honestly believe this is going to be a excellent flying ground and the more pilots who want to make use of the facilities the better.
So, with the summer not too far off (I hope) some (or all) ISR members might want to factor in the opportunity of some thermal flying here in the “Sunny Southeast”
Incidentally,……….Mt. Lienster is about 40minutes drive away. So if you went to Big L. and found insufficient wind to slope soar, you could toddle off to Monageer for some thermaling. Sounds good to me!
See you there,
Keith
