Radio Controlled Electric Flight really took off in the 1990’s A number of modellers in the Taunton area had been experimenting for quite some time with motor gliders and so in 1996 it was decided to form the Webster Flyers. The club is an informal one, run with the simple maxim of flying electric models and gliders safely.

Why the Webster Flyers ? Many of the existing members had the privilege of being taught to fly by Frank Webster who sadly died just after his retirement in 1993. Frank was the ultimate enthusiast. During his working life he regularly visited Germany and more often than not returned with a parcel containing modelling goodies. Frank was game to try just about anything! He spent many happy hours putting final touches to his aircraft and was a firm believer that if it did not have a pilot then it would not fly properly.

There was not much that would dissuade Frank from flying ….inclement weather was definitely not a reason to stay indoors………If you got cold Frank always had a drop of something special to warm you up at the end of proceedings. Visibility or lack of it was no excuse either. I recall one new years day flying at Pitminster playing field. Stood at the gate you could not see the goal posts at the end of the field. However as Frank pointed out with our old timers (Astro Vikings) which flew relatively slowly, we would not need very much space and so we proceeded to fly off into the mist until you could barely discern the model and then sharp turn back down the field!

Frank was an excellent teacher. I remember well just before I went solo, he would make me look away from the aircraft, he would then put the plane into an unusual manoeuvre and it was down to me to find the plane in the sky and regain control! It may sound rather like a baptism of fire however it has stood me in good stead when flying in bright blue sky in charge of a plane which has disappeared.

Thus the Webster Flyers came to be.

Adrian Whatmore

Chairman, Webster Flyers