Runaway plane, never coming back

Published 18 Jun 2010 12:03 1 Comment

Homeowners have been asked to look for a stray plane that may have landed in their garden.

Thankfully though it isn't a Boeing 747 but a brightly coloured model glider that was lost at the Scottish Aeromodellers Association's recent meeting on land near Weston Farm, Newbigging on Sunday June 13.

The glider which was being flown by James Duncan from Perth has a six foot wingspan and is built from light balsa wood, tissue paper and varnish.

And was last seen heading south in the direction of Biggar.

Competition organisers are hopeful though of it's safe return, after a similar plea made several years resulted in a lost gilder being reunited with it's owner.

Jim Arnott of the Scottish Aeromodeller's Association said: "The models take flight after being towed up like a kite, it then flies entirely on its own without any remote control.

"On Sunday, James's plane was caught in a large thermal of rising air and it climbed to several hundred feet. We watched it through binoculars for twenty minutes until it disappeared from view.

"We're hoping that either a homeowner or farmer has found it but doesn't know what to do with it. In terms of money it's not worth much but James will have put in up to 50 hours work to get it just right."

The Scottish Aeromodellers Association was formed directly after WWII in 1947, as a result of young boys imaginations being fired by battles between the RAF and Luftwaffe.

Jim said: "Our models are an art, anyone can walk in to a shop and buy a ready to fly remote controlled plane. As modelmakers we need a clear understanding of aerodynamics and such, each race meeting consists of 5 three minute flights to qualify for the final unlimited flyoff, adjustments have to be made on the ground and it takes quite a bit of skill."

Anyone who has seen or found James's glider can contact the Peeblesshire News on 01721 729481 and we will make sure of its return.

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 18 Jun 10

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