Updates under consideration - If you have any immediate queries - just ask. Gallery to follow.
Bats- Bramhall Area Thermal and Slope - plus electric...
This BMFA affiliated
soaring club was founded in 1978 and flies flat field from the Bramhall
Recreation Centre south of Stockport in
Slopes abound in
The flat field fun starts with regular Wednesday evening and weekend thermalling and club contest flying. Bungee and hand tow, two metre, and open class through to electric assist gliders and traditional free flight. Large scale gliders and aerotow features on our list but we do not fly power from the Bramhall fields of course. Note that the site is owned and operated by Stockport Met to whom we pay an annual fee - and access times are strictly enforced. Current membership cards must be available for inspection on demand.
Some of our members incidentally are involved in full size aviation both civil and military - just thought I'd mention that.
Slope soaring covers just about anything that you can name from lightweights, aerobatic, pylon racing, fun comps through to quarter scale - although the accent is on enjoyment. Our experience includes organising and running national and international contests too. Must mention that the flying of electric or powered models is not permitted at any time from any of our slope sites. Remove the battery and prop and it becomes a glider, but do not think to fly under power.
Our winter calendar - first THURSDAY of every month - includes talks,
slide shows, Bring and Buy, video and bring a model nights, quiz and most other
things that you can think of. The social side is not neglected and we
tend to spread ourselves around numerous events nationwide during the
summer. For holidays overseas, we probably have the contacts that you
will need and camping and caravanning takes us to the Isle of Man, all over the
Just enjoying a few indoor events in the run up to spring, lots of fun and instructional too. Interested?
There is a tremendous amount of experience and expertise here at Bats and the club operates a tuition and achievement scheme. Subscriptions for 2010 are a modest £15 plus the BMFA membership and insurance element of £29. The BMFA subs only have to be paid to one club so members of other BMFA affiliated clubs can join as associates. Our modest fees cover the flying facilities, monthly meetings and the excellent 'Bat Chat' monthly newsletter. Plus of course everything that goes with being a member of an active group.
Incidentally, for those with net facilities, 'Bat Chat' is available as a PDF (downloadable) file and is out around the 10th of the month. Almost always a bumper issue with up to twenty pages and colour pics too. Of course we would like your input as well...
E-mail the membership secretary, Julian Grocott - j.grocott(at)ntlworld(dot)com for application form and further details -or-
Click here for printable membership form in PDF.
Membership cards are provided which must be available for inspection on demand at the flying sites that we have secured and pay for.
We look forward to seeing you up here in due course.
E-mail me at chasg(at)rdiner{dot)net if you want to discuss general matters relating to our activities.
BTW, in case you found this page via a search engine, the full 'From up here' web site URL is; http://homepages.enterprise.net/chasg/index.htm
Best wishes,
Chas Gardiner.
Bats Winter Meetings.
Generally, first THURSDAY of the month at;
the Ladybridge Sports and Social Club, Cheadle Hulme,
January 7th -Gordon Bartlett talk and slideshow. Russian and US supersonic flight plus the Concorde story. Sadly snow bound but watch out for revised date.
February 4th - Visit by BMFA CEO, Dave Phipps.
March 4th - Clear the decks, Simon Cocker looms large...
Last one is; April 1st 'Bring a model' night. Let's see what you have been working on during the winter - or anything else of interest - ancient or modern. The club monitor will also be available so bring your transmitter and the crystals that you will be using; have them checked and recorded for the preferred frequency register.
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Every Saturday and Sunday - glider and electric glider flying
at
Day light hours seven days a week, join the regulars out on the slopes. Nothing like it… Handbook, events, weather forecast and slope for the day available to members of the slope group. e-mail for information.
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New Year's Day. 10:30'ish. Annual wake-up at
****A good gathering enjoyed sport flying, soup and sausage rolls before the snow came in...
2009/10 outdoor events and comps.
A full program of gliding and electric events is scheduled and details will follow below. Watch out also for extra weekend events such as our funfly and other gatherings. Be there.
Club and open slope soaring events will also be listed together with the regular excursions and we have a wide selection of excellent slopes for any wind direction.
Our weekly excursions are to be posted on a coded web page which will give wind strength and direction plus forecast and recommended slope. The url is available to Bats members along with the site list with full instructions and conditions such as lambing and ground nesting dates etc.
Incidentally, almost all of our slopes are on private land and only available to full members. It will not cost much to rectify that of course...
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BATS THERMAL AND SLOPE COMPETITION CALENDAR 2010.
If you are interested in the
Bats contest classes, be aware that we hold numerous events for glider,
electric and slope. These will not always appear here so join the club and you
will be kept fully informed...
Feedback; Contact Chas when you have eyeballed this page. Thanks