On Saturday 6th August the 2011 EDMAC Cloud Tramp event was held. This year 32 flyers gathered and took part on Epsom Downs. Numbers were slightly down on last year but still a good turn out never the less.
At 17.00 hours the mass launch of 32 Cloud Tramp models took place, a spectacular sight.
Congratulations go to Leon Cameron who recorded the longest flight with a time of 1 Min. 42 secs. He no doubt had serious coaching by both his father and grand father who are seriously keen aero modellers.
Many thanks to Ted Horne for running the event again this year and taking the official photos. Thanks also to Tony Tomlin for supplying additional photos. The event was great fun as always and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
May I also thank the R/C flyers present who stopped flying whilst Cloud Tramp 2011 took place.
Well done everybody.
David Lambert
Chairman EDMAC
We've received the following photographs from the 2011 event;
Ted Horne ran the Epsom Downs part of Cloud Tramp in 2010 and 2011. Last year we asked Ted for an explanation of Cloud Tramp for those who might not have encountered it before;
'For those club members who are unaware of the origins of the Cloud Tramp ''Competition'', I will attempt to give a very brief summary of the event.
'Back in the early fifties, an American by the name of Charles Grant attempted to encourage the youth of the day to become interested in aeromodeling, and the best way to do this he thought was to publish a simple plan and a set of instructions in a hobby magazine. In 1954 the plan of the Cloud Tramp was published in Model Aeroplane News. The only difference between that plan and today's plan, is the fact that whereas the original showed the propeller being carved from balsa or pine, today's plan allows the use of a plastic prop.
'How the event became truly international I do not know, perhaps someone can tell me. What I do know is that on that on the first Saturday in August at exactly 5.00 P. M. U.K. time, a mass launch of Cloud Tramps takes place at exactly the same time all over the world. 5.00 P. M. U.K. equates to 9 A.M. Californian time, and 5 A.M. Australian time, where I am told the event is flown under flood and searchlights, as it is dark there at 5 A.M. in their winter. Whilst there are no entry fees, no prizes, and no glory for being the last one down, some organisation have made it into a competition of 5 flights.
'For as long as I can remember, there has always been an event on Epsom Downs. This year some 37 flyers took part, not as many as previously when as many as 50 plus have taken part, but never the less, a good turn out.'
Thank you Ted, for running the day, in both 2010 and 2011, and for the explanation. More information on the event came be seen on the Cloud Tramp website.
Cloud Tramp 2010
EDMAC again hosted Cloud Tramp on the Downs on Saturday August 7th 2010. Initial reports indicate around 37 Cloud Tramps were launched. Video and photos from the day are shown below. I've been promised some more phots which will be added here when I receive them.
Alex Cameron videoed the launch at 5pm - here is his video;
The traditional, official group photo courtesy of Peter Norman - thanks Peter!
Cloud Tramp 2009
Despite the rain the 2009 Cloud Tramp event went ahead on Epsom Downs on Saturday August 1st 2009 with around 40 people participating in the mass launch at 5pm to coincide with other groups around the world. The initial pictures are shown below. More details will be added when available.
Cloud Tramp 2008
Initial pictures from the Cloud Tramp event held on Epsom Downs on Saturday August 2nd 2008 are shown below. More details will be added when available.
Cloud Tramp 2007
Thirty-four EDMAC members and guests participated in the 2007 running of the annual Cloud Tramp event on Saturday August 4th. The picture above is the official Epsom Downs Cloud Tramp picture, courtesy of Peter Norman.
This year the weather was not entirely favourable, with a moderate, gusty wind from the South, but given the weather we've been having this summer it could have been a great deal worse - at least it didn't rain! The mass launch took place at 17:00 BST to coincide with other events held all around the world. More details of Cloud Tramp can be found on the Cloud Tramp website which will be updated as details come in from around the world.
Participants this year were;
Robin Willes, Chris Hayward, Tony Clark, Keith Miller, Barbara Green, Rod Green, Shaun Green, Derry Eggs, Graham Moore, Peggy Moore, Martin Standbridge, Roy Sissons, Peter Evans, Leon Cameron, Simon Nolan, Melanie Nolan, Peter Norman, Graham Sheppard, Jan Sheppard, Alex Cameron junior, Malcolm Jagger, Colin Derrick, Eddie Birch, Terry Bird , Alex Cameron senior, Pete Cameron, Fred Brown, Tom Thompson, Jean Smith, Mike Eyre, John Privett, Tim Mountain, John Meaney & Margaret Willes
Thanks to the Downs Conservators and the BMFA insurers for making it possible for EDMAC to host this unique event.
