National Flying Club

 

The NFC committee are now thin king of the future and with the departure from the pigeon scene of Catteralls transport who have supported the National for so many years, the National must move on. With this in mind they have taken the step of looking to the future with a transport company who like the NFC are prepared to commit to a super transporter that will have all the technology to make it the best on the road. The work that has gone into the design of this transporter is unparallel in the UK. Building has now started with the internal superstructure being assembled on the factory floor with the first trailer due to arrive in early December. Everything is going according to plan and to time schedule. With these transporters being prototype they are subject to new design and engineering skills being brought together like never before in the pigeon world. This work is from various sources that all have the same element of enthusiasm and excitement between those who are involved in developing these innovative transporters. Brian Stansfield was telling me that he is sure that they will encounter some “teething problems” in such a venture but with the building experience behind this venture these experienced people will soon get to grips with anything that crops up. Then by the time the serious building is under way everything is resolved. Of the various priorities with the new transporters the main one is the air quality control and with the information available that looks like being the best that is available, a benefit for the pigeons with time in the baskets. What you must also remember is that with this air system it is all changed every 20 seconds, so there is no chance of stale air in these new transporters. Also humidity levels will be under control and air will be moved through the vehicle in a gentle and even flow. Pigeons produce 5 watts of heat per bird, which is what the ventilation system is based on. The predicted ventilation race is compared with the new EC regulations (EC Regulation No.1. 2005) although this does not directly apply to racing pigeons. However it would be beneficial to demonstrate that the proposed system meets or exceeds this requirement. The regulation requires that the ventilation system, must be capable of ensuring even distribution throughout with a minimum airflow of nominal capacity of 60M3/h/kN of payload. It must be capable of operating for at least 4hrs independently of the vehicle engine. The proposed ventilation system gives a nominal capacity of 400M3/h/kN with all the fans running, this is the minimum requirement is for 2 fans to be running at all times. Sufficient battery power for all 10 fans is required for at least 4hrs. So you will see from the above that the NFC will have over 6 times more capacity than the required minimum.  No pannier floor dressing will be used and birds droppings will fall into a collecting tray beneath where they stand, this will greatly alleviate dust contaminating the sir. The pannier design takes freely into consideration the com fort and hygiene of the birds at all times. Water availability will be along three sides of the pannier (the word crate doesn’t come into this new design) and therefore there will be no excuse for a bird not drinking. A prototype pannier will be on view at the NFC committee meeting to be held on the 10th December. More detail will be disclosed as and when it becomes available. In the meantime should anyone have any queries regarding the new facilities that are coming the way of the NFC then please call Brian on 01829 770306.

General information supplied by Brian Stansfield to www.elimarpigeons.com