personal profiles

Meet NIGEL COWARD from Wiltshire, UK

I have been flying models for around a year now, just down the road from Reg at Westbury in Wiltshire. I spend most flying hours slope soaring on the Westbury White Horse, where with a good West or North wind you are guaranteed strong lift and good company from other flyers. I have to confess to enjoying slope combat, indeed that was what initially attracted me (and many others I understand) to the hobby. Having started with an EPP Zagi, I have now progressed to an SAS Mamba for my combat exploits. The Mamba gives a little more speed and agility, although I get the impression from other flyers it's a bit 'twitchy' .... Keeps the reflexes tuned, in other words!

Before I am accused of hogging the slopes and scaring off the purists, I must also point out that I fly a Chris Foss Phase 6 and am close to finishing a Multiplex ASW27b... Can't wait for that initial launch. I bought the ASW27 for general soaring off the slope and also for trying a bit of aerotow. Jeremy Davies, a colleague from work who is the man guilty of introducing me to the hobby via slope combat, has a 1/4 scale Piper Cub which he is currently preparing for tug work, and we are both looking forward to getting started. I might fit a tow release in the Phase 6 to practice with! I will send some progress shots and a review of the flying (and towing) when I get there!

What other models do I have? A Kyosho F16, which hasn't really been up much. Disappointed with the 3-minute flight time, to be honest! A scale ASK16 motor glider, which was the victim of a mid-air on its maiden flight with another model on a maiden... how often does that happen?! That aircraft has recently been sold to pay for a homebrew fun fly from Jeremy, which I intend to push around for a bit to hone my powered skills. I also have a Flair English Electric Lightning kit tucked away in the spare room, something which I am especially pleased with because I had been looking for one for ages, which will be making an appearance on the building board soon... This aircraft has to be one of the most fantastic designs ever. If I had the money and the room, I would buy a full size one and sit it in my garden just so that I could get that 'WOW!' feeling each morning when I look out of the bedroom window!

Attached are a few photos. The ugly bloke with the Phase 6 is me enjoying the brief summer, last year, the other guy with the monster glider (!) is Jeremy, taken on the same day. There is also a shot of my ASK16 just before completion... Now residing in someone else's hanger!

Progress shots of your Cub project will be very welcome, Nigel, as will your suggested review of the flying and towing.

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If you want to send me pictures by conventional mail, my address is

Reg Heath, 60 South View Gardens, Andover, Hants, SP10 2AQ, UK

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