World Helicopter Championships 2005

[B47]

As a recent member of the HCGB and a first time competitor in this year's British Championships (yes, the white 47 above) I would like to lay to rest the whinging that the HCGB is a millionaire's club and a closed shop.

My co-pilot and I could not have been made more welcome, particularly in entering the Championships and everyone was extremely friendly. It helps if you have something to fly of course, but no one cares, or probably even knows, whether the machine you arrive in is owned or rented or if you're a cash strapped PPL just hitching a ride. Before joining I'd heard all the rumours that everyone was loaded with private turbines - it's just not true.

Granted, the centre of gravity for the social events is in the south, but that's where most members are. It doesn't suit us Northerners but the answer is for more people to join.

Don't knock it 'till you've tried it....

[helifun]

AlanM heythrop park did work well for the british championsips this year.

Is heythrop park too small for the WHC?? possibly. why ?

The british championships only had 28 competitors the world event could attract up to 60 competing helicopters.

Close to enstone just about worked well although the UK CAA were not happy with how close some of the fixed wing aircraft were flying to the competition area. English speaking helicopter pilots coped well with the close proximity of enstone and the brize norton zone but issues may a rise with some of the overseas crews. In fact a number of the competitors flew into the brize zone but only got away with it as it was the weekend.

The act guy was having difficulty coping with the competitors and visitors and concerns were rasied about having to fly over the main building to reach the competition field as well as all the trees on site.

Fire cover was commented on ie only one vehicle and crew but at least three areas to cover with very poor access to the sites and the same for the medical cover.

Fuel at enstone was expensive and included a landing fee for each up take.

And ha ho it’s a public venue with public footpaths crossing it and open to un restricted public access who’s going to pay for the insurance here then ?

B47 all your comments are true and actually reinforce the view that a small minority of the club have a millionaire's club mentality but they are the ones controlling the HCGB regardless of the views of the membership.

The reason that you were both welcomed was that you were mixing with the nice guys in the club while the millionaire's club members (who all own private turbines) were in their own social circle avoiding the riff raff.

[AlanM]

Thanks for that reply - it's a shame as it was a great venue (socially at least!)

What about quieter RAF stations, Benson/Odiham for example? Or even Shawbury or Middle Wallop as they send a few crews!

I have to say that as a non member of the HCGB, I was made to feel very welcome by a number of member's and organising staff, inc Pat Malone.

Fingers crossed that a location can be found.

[XT244]

Of course, I vote for Middle Wallop.
The ex.Home of my RAF XT244

If actually Middle Wallop then we flight the long way back to the roots of this ship.
Regards



EDIT: Correction. Please read AAC (Army Air Corps). RAF is wrong. Sorry

[zerosum]

Helicopter Championships

helifun

I note that your original message was dated the same day as you registered with pprune and I suspect that you did so with a view to making mischief based on half truths and gossip.
Take a look at this web site
http://www.millini.co.uk/cerebos.html
It makes them tastier!

[Anne Tenner]

Helifun,
Well there's a mis-nomer if ever there was one!

Thank you B47 for backing up - as a new member- everything I have been trying to say. I am sure we must have crossed paths, as I swang my bucket, and was busy being accepted by both the Millionaire's Club and the "riff-raff" as no doubt you were too.

Maybe not, maybe the fact that we were friendly, you a new member and me a member of some years with a licence but no dosh, confines us both to "riff-raff" !

Must make a mental note to find out who the Millionaires Club are and who owns their helis rather than renting them, so I can find out who my friends are and who is shunning me.

Sounds to me rather like Helifun suffers from a chip on the shoulder - Lighten up! We are all "anoraks" when it comes to flying. A real interest in flying knows no social strata and everyone can enjoy talking about it. Try forgetting who you are or what you can't afford, just talk to fellow enthusiasts at the club about helicopter interests and all will be OK. Don't Moan - ENJOY! The glass can be half full as well as half empty!

[Pat Malone]

Gadzooks, the secret of the British Championships is out!
I had hoped that by publishing only 12 pages on them in the autumn issue of the HCGB magazine Rotor Torque, and two pages in AOPA's General Aviation, they would pass unnoticed. The advance notice threads on pprune didn't help. This means there's a risk somebody might see the seven pages on the World Championships in the winter edition of Rotor Torque. What's to be done?
Anyone who accuses the HCGB of elitism has some serious issues to address. I've been to many events as a member, and even more, recently, as the publisher of their magazine, and they're the most clubbable bunch you could imagine. (And not in the sense of baby seals, either).

[purple chopper]

We should not confuse the right to comment/complain/question the running of any organisation as moaning or someone having a chip on their shoulder. Everyone has the right to question and to stimulate healthy debate.

Although it is true to say that the way a club member highlighted issues last year may not have been supported by a lot of members the actual issues raised were heavily supported by Helicopter Club members.

Having been established over 30 years ago perhaps the club should put out a questionnaire to all its members to establish what they all think. A few well worded questions could be included with any future committee election ballot forms and with pre paid envelopes included could ensure a full response.

[northpoint]

I agree with Anne Tenner & Zerosum, helifun has a serious chip on his shoulder and judging by the tone of his ill founded tirade he's been using a lot of vinegar too.
If the HCGB is run by such a bunch of arrogant, elitist, self serving nepotists who seek to exclude and humiliate him on every possible occasion then why does he want to be a member of such a club?
I've never heard such pathetic nonsense. You had it right Anne Tenner, why does he not stand up and change things instead of hiding behind a vale of anonimity on pprune sniping at the heels of people who actually put themselves out and get stuff done.

Purple Chopper:- I don\'t think anyone seriously questions anybody\'s right to discuss and question matters but before \'going public\' then there is an obligation to ensure that you have got your facts straight.
This will include speaking to a number of people to ensure that you have all the information that is available and not just that which a particular individual feels supports their own position. (We can all be guilty of selective recall on occasion.)

[splitneedles]

I think I must belong to a different HCGB from Helifun. I've been a member for a while and remember well the first Club event I went to in my R(iff Raff)22. The Chairman and secretary both made a point of coming to introduce themselves and to introduce me to other members so that I immediately felt at home.
Turbine owning members have even been known to accept a lift from me.
The Helicopter Club is like life itself: you get out what you put in.
I thought we were all grown up people in the HCGB but perhaps I was wrong

[XT244]

Dear Heli-Friends in UK

I follow this discussion since a few days.
What shall foreign vistors think about this?
I plan to visit the contest next summer with my R(iff Raff) Bell47 (see posting above from 4th. Dec.).
Under this circumstances ........

Best regards

[md 600 driver]

as a member of the hcgb for a few years now ,after joining with a enstrom f28f and working up to a turbine i have always found the commitee and staff to be very welcoming and inviting even though i am northener from yorkshire

helifun

do i know you ?
why not join the commitee and change things
maybe you did try to join the comitee try again next year if you are who i think you are i supported you
regards steve

my 5 pence [or 2.5 cents ]worth

[redrod01]

Hello All,

I am writing to say I was extremely shocked to hear about the cancellation of The World Champs at Kemble. The organisers have spent two years or more planning this event and to have it cancelled at the 11th hour must be soul destroying!!

Anyway, as one of the three marshallers controlling the aircraft at Heythrop Park this year, I would be pleased to see the Worlds moved there. It is a wonderful venue and has more than adequate space to accommodate the expected aircraft.

We have discussed the safety issues and are sure that, if requested, we would be very pleased to marshall at the World Champs. The Competitors Parking area might have to be relocated to one of the larger fields but that is not a problem if the grass is cut and the residue is baled and removed.

Otherwise, I guess Middle Wallop could be an alternative!

Good luck to all with the pending re-organisation anyway.


Redrod01

[jerry712731]

I am confused about this thread

Are the Championships being held at Kemble or what ?

As I posted in an earlier thread, if there is some doubt, Shoreham would be a good venue, closer to the continent and a reasonable amount of accomodation and night life in Brighton.
Rumour has it that the management would go out of thier way to hold the event and it is the home field to a previous freestyle champion. It has been posted that every tom dick and Harry would only enter the Freestyle championship when it was last held in the UK, but we did win



Will it be at kemble or do the organisers need help to ensure that this event is held in the UK and given the high profile it deserves and make Helicopters more acceptable in the UK

JJ

[XT244]

The side FAI.ORG has nothing about this.

What's now?

[helifun]

It’s interesting that people choose to attack the person with a view or comment rather than look at and see the points being made. yes i and many others do care about the club and this forum is the place to highlight concerns as it is accessed by a large number of the club members. yes i have tried to change the many aspects commented on here from the committee without success.

The arrival this week of the current issue of the club magazine highlights many of the points that have been made. the chairman’s ramblings are exactly that. articles about wonderfully expensive trips again and again …………………. By the same people.

And wow how the committee must hate someone ! the new articles sent out all but name the person they are after.

will new members have to have declare any criminal record ? will you be thrown out if they find out you have a record at a later date ? will the club have the id card before the rest of the uk ?

but it will be ok if kill someone when drink driving as all driving offences are excluded !!!! so that’s all right then.

the right to veto a committee member even though he they had been elected by a vote from the membership ?

yes the committee are volunteers and everyone recognizes that but look past the trees – the reason no one puts their name forward is because the membership are not informed of the seats available until about 3 weeks before the agm. why was a notice not included in the current issue if the club magazine inviting nominations ? why are the name of the committee members to be replaced not published in good time ?

changes in the clause for the position of secretary mean that there could be a non-director serving until they die. i don not see that as a fair system of rule unless you live in zambia !!

if all of the paperwork that arrived this week from the committee is not an example of what is wrong with the club then ha ho i’ll put my new rose colored sunglasses on again and live happily ever after – just like real life

[zerosum]

OK, helifun, lets just take a look at what you say.
The chairmans ramblings, as you call them, do in fact cover some the cheapest events that the club has run this year and quite often when there is a charge it only to cover lunch - or do you expect a free lunch as well? There were no restrictions on the numbers for these events so you need not have had any fear of rejection, all you needed to do was put your name down.

I’m sure that you have been to some interesting place and had some interesting experiences so why not tell the magazine editor about them. That way there would be some new faces in the magazine.

In 2003 nine out of sixteen events were FREE. In 2004 ten out of seventeen events were FREE or at less than £10 per head, there were even some events which did include a FREE LUNCH! That does not sound expensive to me.

Nobody ever asks club members what, where or when they would like to go, you say. The events secretary is always asking members for suggestions (see page 9 of the winter edition of Rotor Torque), so come on lets hear something positive from you. Just what would you like to do and what would you be prepared to pay? If you give the guy a call he always takes notice of what members say and as you will have noticed he always gives due thanks and acknowledgement of all help and suggestions he receives.

If as you say you care about the club then why do you not use the club's own web site and the members forum. You above anybody should know about this. What have you to fear from doing so?

There is always plenty of time to nominate, or be nominated, for election to the club's management committee. And as Anne Tenner said if you really feel that you represent the groundswell of opinion within the club then you should stand for election, you'd walk it. And no, you would not be rejected by the encumbents all but one of whom are obliged by the club's rules to retire with no immediate possibility of re-election at the next AGM. Start your campaign now! You can work out who is due to retire by reference to the clubs rules and minutes of previous AGMs. Or its probably easier just to ask the Chairman or secretary; it’s not a state secret.

By the way, I object to being described as riff-raff.

[Whirlygig]

...er, zerosum,...er... it was me who first used the phrase "riff-raff" to paraphrase another Ppruner's post. It was self-deprecating and not directed at anyone - I don't think helifun used that term.

This is a discussion where I can see both sides. For whatever reason, and you can argue against it until the cows come home, but it is my impression that the HCGB is a bit elitist. OK, I have only been a member for a short while and I believe that things have changed in the last few months. All sorts of people out there can say, "oh no, Whirly, they're not elitist" and maybe they're not BUT that is the impression I have got. Sorry.

Secondly, I am Chairman of car club which is run entirely by volunteers. We have all sorts of members who appear to have nothing better to do than whinge but will not give up the time to help improve things. So I understand that, unless the committee of any club have feedback and input from the membership, then the committee can only act as they see best and within their sphere of experience.

Cheers

Whirlygig

[splitneedles]

Hi Whirlygig
Must confess to a momentary SOH failure there. I think that we should join forces to form "The Riff-Raff Tendency", a new ultra elitist group within the HCGB, shunning all Private Turbine owners or indeed anyone who even has aspirations to be one.

[oldbeefer]

The Poms generally don't win - that is usually down to the USA who's crews spend the best part of a year practising. But we do enjoy it (at least I did at Chantilly in ??'92)!