NORWIND Indoor Model Flyers

Tom Crompton Dave Whitehouse

Last Update:28th September 2024: UPDATED This coming seasons dates, competitions and Manchester Velodrome Dates

GOOD NEWS! WE HAVE THE ROCHDALE HALL BACK - MAP AND ADDRESS ON "HOW TO FIND US PAGE".

We are in unanimous agreement about retaining the style of the meeting as primarily being for indoor freeflight, but that we would welcome micro radio, if flown thoughtfully with respect to fragile freeflight models.

As the meetings are now an hours longer, we would like to try the following format to see how it goes:

We will run the competitions from 11:00am to 2:30pm This gives 3.5 hours to get a good competition time in. It also means results and prize giving would probably done before 3.00pm This leaves a fair amount of time for general flying before and lightweight duration until 4.00pm. Size and weight of models should be within the NORWIND rules (ie. max wingspan 24" max weight 28 grams)

See the "About Us" page for information re types of models flown at NORWIND

Indoor model aircraft flying took place at Clayton Green for many years, well before indoor radio flying was a real possibility. The group is made up of like-minded model aircraft fanatics who come together between the months of September to April to have FUN! For many years, the cost of the meetings was underwritten by Derek Hardman (Mr. Solarfilm). After Derek, Chris Fouweather organised the meetings before moving away from the area.
When Chris moved from the area a few years ago, the meetings were set to close, as there was no alternative organisation. Tom Crompton, Dave Whitehouse and Tom Tomlinson , decided that they would underwrite any financial loss incurred and would try to set Clayton off on a sound footing for a few years to come. In April 2017 flying at Clayton Green was no longer possible (see the notice below)

THE NAME NORWIND WAS CHOSEN BY THE MEMBERS AS A TRIBUTE TO JOHN WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE GROUP AND PROBABLY THE BEST FREE FLIGHT COMPETITOR THE UK HAS EVER HAD. JOHN RAN THE ORIGINAL NORWIND GROUP FOR MANY YEARS AND INTRODUCED MANY CURRENT MEMBERS TO INDOOR FLIGHT

JOHN O'DONNELL (14.8.1932 - 18.4.2017)

TRIBUTE TO JOHN O'DONNELL

AFTER 25 YEARS, WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO BOOK CLAYTON GREEN AS OUR FLYING SITE. THIS COINCIDED WITH THE SUDDEN DEATH OF JOHN O'DONNELL WHO WAS A REGULAR MEMBER OF THE GROUP AND A MUCH RESPECTED AEROMODELLER
JOHN RAN THE ORIGINAL NORWIND GROUP IN WIGAN FOR MANY YEARS AND OUR NAME CHANGE IS A MARK OF RESPECT TO JOHN.

Norwind fly at Rochdale (Kingsway) Sport Hall and we have an agreement for the following two years from September 2024.
The address is Turf Hill Rd, Rochdale OL16 4XA
There is a map on the "How to find us" page.
The meetings will normally be on the first Sunday of the month, from September to May unless Bank Holidays interfere. Times have been amended to 11am until 4pm at the request of the Hall.

Norwind dates and competitions for 2024/25 are as follows
1st September Bostionain
6th October Penny Plane
3rd November Pussycat, duration and precision
1st December Capacitor Duration and the Tombola, finish at 3pm
2025
5th January Kitscale and Peanut
2nd February New" No-cal competition, but for WW2 era aircraft, finish at 3pm
March Cancelled
6th April Penny Plane and Chuck/Catapult Glider
4th May New Norwind Challenge Al Backstrom Tailless model called the Persey

The Velodrome dates are:all Saturday from 11am to 4pm,
with the exception of the Gala which will be from 9am to 5pm.
Dates are:-
26th October
30th November
28th December (Provisional)
1st February 2025,
1st March 2025 intended to be the BMFA NW Gala.

The cost of flying is £15 per session. Spectators and visitors (who want to see what we do) free. We hope this is acceptable.
The mainly freeflight focus of the group will remain as before.

Cheers
Dave & Tom C