Copyright © 2017 by "Tom Tomlinson"   "   All Rights reserved  
Tom Crompton                              Dave Whitehouse           
Last Update:30th August 2023:  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.


Good news, Dave managed to secure the use of Rochdale (Kingsway) Sport Hall once again for our indoor flying and we have an agreement for the following two years from September 2022.
                               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 2023/24 are as follows
3rd September Penny Plane, both classes
1st October Chuck/Catapult Glider
5th November Bostonian
3rd December "Capacitor Duration" and Tombola
7th January Peanut and KitScale
4t February Rigby Swallow Paper Plane
3rd March Precision/ Duration using the "Pussycat" again
7th April Penny Plane Both Classes
5th May Osprey and Legal EagleSee news page for more details

So the Velodrome dates are
21st Oct 23 at 11-4pm Fun fly meeting
30th Dec 23 at 11-4pm Funfly meeting
10th Feb 24 at 9-5pm NW Free Flight Gala
16th Mar 24 at 11-4pm Funfly meeting

Although Dave got a fair deal, the cost has gone up 50% since we were last there.  This will mean that we have had to increase the cost of flying to £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