Fly With Catawba Valley RC

Today’s players: Lonnie Hagadorn, Billy West, Jim Bates, Dick Blackburn, Steve Tisi, Wayne Windsor, Al Bleyenberg, and one “guess player” at end of newsletter.

On Lonnie’s insistence, we showed up at the field so he wouldn’t feel lonely. He did tie a porkchop to his ankle so the dogs (or buzzards) would come around, but nothing took the bait. Till Billy showed up.

The boys got there early, a little chilly, but virtually no wind, yeah!

By the time I got there, Jim Bates had already shown up and Billy was flying Lonnie’s new Flitetest Corsair. This plane is one of Flitetest’s cardboard planes. It’s got a 48” wingspan. Lonnie had it out last week with minimal blue paint on it, but today, it was all decked out like a WWII Corsair should be. Jap flags, indicating kills, name on the cockpit for pilot, plane number, and all the rest. I showed up and Billy had it swooping down, soaring up, making a half circle turn, and repeat, while Lonnie is filming. It flew low and slow. Lonnie has some great pics which he will be posting.

Jim had his new Voltigeur there. And go figure, so did Billy. Jim had a couple of go rounds. He asked Billy to “tweek” it. Much improved.

Not wanting to be out done, I had Billy re-re-re……. maiden my troublesome Corsair. This time, I had reinforced the landing gear again for the umpteenth time. First test, needed some weight on the nose, landing was okay-ish. Take off was horrible, veered to the left, even with Billy’s input with the transmitter. We eventually narrowed it down to the landing gear needed an alignment.

So while I was doing that, Billy and Jim did a tandem set of flights, with their Voltigeurs. Looked impressive. At one point, they were “CLOSE”. So close,  I saw one plane loose a sticker, that’s how close they were.

Lonnie got into the mix with his Timber. Nice flying for Lonnie. 

Wayne Windsor non-challantly, brought out his “foamie” ha!ha!, T-28. As per usual, for Wayne, plane goes down the runway, picks up speed, and at 10’ 6”, gets into the air. Another 4’, and it’s up, up, and away. Wayne does his, ho hum, “routine” of showing us all how “it’s” done. Perfect in every way, until he brings it in for a landing, and misses the double wide runway. TEE!HEE!

Steve Tisi brings out his twin engine Commander. This is the plane that Bob Hoover immortalized with his flying skills. If you’ve never seen Hoover fly, look him up on youtube.

A M A Z I N G! With a capital A. This “commuter” plane isn’t designed to do what Hoover does with it.

My turn. Brought out my Dynam T-28 after reworking the nose gear for the fourth time. This time I took Wayne Windsor and Alan Roberts advice and put a spring in the nose gear. Due to my setup, it was a bear to fly. Needed a ton more nose weight, with everyone coaching from the cheap seats, got it back on the ground. This was after it crashed into the tree on the East end of the field. I swear those trees move. Jim Bates was kind enough to help retrieve it from the tree and bushes. Fixable, yes, missing one little piece of the canopy. 

Wayne brings out his B.K. Commanche, four stroke power “oldie goldie”, and not by appearances. It’s up and away and Wayne’s doing that ole timey flying. Still looks great.

All the while, Billy keeps bringing out one of his 4 new planes. Each one unique in its own way. And of course, Billy knows how to fly. Once Jim and I get back from getting the T-28, we go to where Billy has brought out plane 3 or was it 4. I don’t know, lost track. 

Billy is a little vain, this plane matches the color of his eyes.

A “shocking” pink Skysword. Unusual for Billy, this plane has landing gear, go figure. Even though, he flew the living day lights out of it.

Now, slowing down a ton, Dick Blackburn started with his repaired sailplane. It’s a strikingly good looking white with transparent yellow on the middle of the wings. As usual, Dick has his “routine”. Bring out the padded lawn chair, walk back get the plane. Make adjustments to the transmitter, sit down, hand launch the plane. Then soaring greatness. 

About an hour later, he brings out another sailplane, and goes thru the same routine.

As I’m cleaning out the cigarette butt can, a car pulls up. Gentlemen gets out and heads toward me. This is reminiscent of the old west when a “new” gunfighter comes into town. What the heck, extend my right hand, introduce myself. Alan Moe is my name, I used to be a member. I recognized the name, because he’s on the mailing list. He thanks me for the newsletters, he gets a kick out of them. Thought he check out the field, knowing we were flying today. I catch up on his history with the club, he knows everyone. He knew everyone there today, except for Lonnie, and of course me. Take him over the guys, and he’s off to the races. 

While I’m doing this, Steve has launched his Cessna Skyline (hope that’s right Steve). After a couple of minutes, I hear some yells and groaning. Steve puts his transmitter down and heads to the West side of the runway, way down there. Returning a few minutes later, Steve and Jim Bates are back with “remnants”. Good news, repairable.

Due to the fact that my Corsair has a bad landing gear setup, and the T-28 in pieces, I’m relegated into bringing out “IT”. The Fun Cub. This is my “go to” plane. Does everything I need. I ask Billy to take it up, big grin. Makes some transmitter “adjustments” and proceeds to fly the living daylights out of it. SLIME. Lonnie is burning up a ton of film getting the Cub.

Standing next to me is Steve, told me he had one at one time. Loved it.

Now’s the time to say goodbye to all our friends and company, Mickey Mouse club for some of you who don’t recall that phrase.

We all head out to our respective “hangars”.

Lonnie will have pics and videos.

Great newsletter Al as always I look forward to reading. Just a few corrections. It’s a Cessna 182, 1st flight was spot on with no issues, 2nd flight it hit the ground. Good news is it’s back together. Just need to re-prop it and it is ready to crash again lol.

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Gents,

It was a perfect day (morning, at least) for a maiden flight, and the new Corsair survived 6 trips with just a busted prop on the last landing. I’m very happy with the results and will now put some time into additional painting and adding decals. The blue paint is pretty good as-is, but the gray is way too dark. I think I’ll add some color to the nose and maybe a few “invasion stripes” to help me figure out which end is up at a distance.

She flew a little tail heavy with the 2200 mAh battery all the way forward, so I’ll a a little weight in the nose. She climbs steeply at full throttle (without any elevator input), but flies level very smoothly at 3/8-1/2 throttle. The 2200 mAh battery will give me around 14 minutes at such a low throttle setting, so I spent a bunch of time in the air.

Don, Al, Jim and Bill Holder showed up, and the attached photos show some of what they brought, along with the Corsair shots. Thanks to Bill for filming me while I flew. (He fired off over 600 photos and got tons of keepers!)

Lonnie

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CVRC 31 Thur Mar 28,2019

Thanks for Lonnie for taking up the reporter/photographer duties. Great job as usual. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I didn’t get to the field till 1pm.

By this time the players were: Lonnie Hagadorn, Bill Holder, Jim Bates, Don Jerch

They had been there since 9am. TALK ABOUT HE-MEN! Too fresh for my “delicate” condition. Lonnie had just taken off with his “paper” FliteTest Cub. Now don’t laugh, this is a nice rig. 

Flies great, even with Lonnie at the controls.

Don Jerch was getting his Horizon Valiant ready for another flight. He had his new sailplane a Phoenix 2000, on the ready. Nice paint job using Krylon. Don’t knock it, does a good job.

I took out my “Frankenstein” out. I’m a glutton for punishment. Even with the fairly brisk winds, flew Frankie not too shabby “for me”. 

Once again, Don, Lonnie, and Bill called it a day. HMMM! I show up and everyone leaves??? Jim Bates hangs around, (he gets the “be kind to dumb animals award”).

Once the “boys had left, and for no particular reason, I brought out the “dining room table” plane that I built. It’s a 3D ish Red Eagle Hummer. I asked Jim to give it an expert set of hands and eyes on it, even with the wind conditions.

For what this plane is, it actually flies pretty decent. Jim’s words. Jim does a bunch of tweaking and it’s like a whole new plane. Then the wind says, no more for you. Just too blustery to fly such a light weight.

So Jim and I gab for a bit. Jim decides to head “up yonder”. Still have to have that explained to me.

I grab a late, late bit of lunch. I break out Frankie again. First flight, even with the wind, not to shabby. Bring it in, rubber side down. I do some tweaking on the transmitter.

I put the plane into the air, going right to left, circle the field a couple of times. Wind is playing havoc with it. I decide, time to come to papa. I come down the runway  from left to right, too much speed, do a fly around, still heading right, right, right……..

NOW, BETWEEN MY DISTANCE VISION ISSUES, MY SUNGLASSES, THE WIND, THE NEXT SOUND I HEAR IS THAWK AND THEN SILENCE. There is Frankie, straight down the runway about 30’ in the air, stuck in a tree, pretty as you please. So, I saunter over to “shake” it out of the tree. Makes a lousy Christmas tree ornament. 

All you “seasoned” pilots out there know this is a near impossible feat. I don’t climb trees.

Besides, the branches wouldn’t hold me. Trying to “shake” it out by using the transmitter, didn’t work. PLAN B. I go back to the hangar, grab the fiberglass flag poles that are hanging up in the rafters, grab some tape. I go back to the tree, tape the poles together to “knock” it out of it’s perch. With 30’ of fiberglass rod taped together isn’t very stiff. I worm, twist the pole up to the plane. After about 10 pokes, down she comes. Repair the broken prop, lost landing gear, and we can be in the air.

NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY:
load everything back in my trailer and car. Close up the trailer lid, close the trunk. Go to start the car, hmmm, no keys. I spend the next half hour, looking in every “normal” place I’d have put it. NOPE!. Next option is to call my wife. Not a good option, she works from home on her computer, tied into work.

LIGHT BULB! The cutlass of this vintage has a trunk release in the glove box. BUT! It don’t work without the ignition on. 

McGiver: drop the glove box door, pull the wires of the switch. Get a jumper from the lighter to the switch. POP. There are the keys on the trunk floor taking a nap.

I GO HOME.

For those of you who are of grey/no hair status, you’ve probably heard of Paul Harvey. 

So, in his famous tag line: NOW THIS IS THE REST OF THE STORY

This is the continuation of the Sat Mar 23, newsletter. 

Now. The story of going to Mark’s place and then Wayne’s place.

The phrase that comes to mind is: DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN. Mark leads me down the road apiece, about 4 miles to his “homestead”. We turn down this paved lane/road that’s lined with 40’ pine trees.

About ¾ mile down the road, we come to a clearing. Brand new house, at the 2 o’clock position. A guy in the field/grass is mowing with his pit bull standing guard.

At the 9 o’clock is a house/cabin that looks like an old railroad station. I go straight into a laneway, make a u-turn so that I’m facing out.

Mark comes from the new house in his golf cart. I’m thinking we’re going to his “hangar”, but we make a sorta kinda detour. Mark takes me on a tour of the property. We go past some old barns that have an array of old rusted farm equipment. Next, is the old original farm house. A little farther, we make a left turn and go past Marks’ sons house. Go past my car, we’ve just made a circle. We head straight past Mark’s house and head into the woods. Dueling banjos is playing in my mind. Go about 30’ and come to a mowed hay field. He stops the golf cart and tells me that this used to be the field for the club. By now, a few years down the road,  it’s being farmed for hay.

Still going at a 45 degree angle, we go between a couple old buildings that have rusted tin roofs and old barn wood sides.

Inside the over hangs are some 50’s military trucks. We head farther and more to the right. Lots of older cars and trucks, basking in the sun. We finally come to the front of this 40’x80’ 30’ tall steel building. There are 2 double axle covered trailers in front. We head to the first one, Mark opens the ramp/door.

First thing to hit your senses is a BIG BLUE CORSAIR fuselage hanging on the right wall. It has to be 6’ tall. Extremely shiny dark blue covering with multitudes of WWII markings on it. The wing is hanging on the left. It’s about an 8’ wingspan.

Mark recalls the story of being at Joe Nall one year flying it. He’s flying it for a friend. This is in the time of 72mh. This means cross chatter can mess up someone else’s plane controls.

Marc is zinging this thing everywhere. Eventually comes in for one of his perfect landings. 4’ off the ground, straight in front of him and the rest of the crowd, someone turns on their transmitter.

KERSPLAT!  One crashed Corsair. 

No one owns up to being the “culprit”. Which means, at that time, you pick up the pieces and go home.

THIS IS NOT MARK’S PLANE. The owner is so bummed out, he pulls the electronics out of the plane and says take it. Mark takes it home and its back in the air the following week. Who says you can keep a good pilot down?

The rest of this trailer is loaded with shapes and colors and styles of planes. He’s got a story for each one of them. OH! To be able to turn back the hands of time and be there with them.

Next is the second trailer. More of the same, and stories for each one. AND! I’m loving it. Wish I could remember all of it.

We “mosey on over” to the steel building.  OMG! This place is packed. Every square inch is either bits and pieces, tools, farm equipment, STUFF, and everything is covered in about 3/8” dirt or dust.

Worming our way around the tables and storage shelves, we come to a clearing. I make a 360 and everywhere the same. 

COMMA BUT!  There is a table as soon as I walked in with 6 planes stacked on top of one another.

The only covering on them is the dust. All the while, Mark is narrating about what he’s done in there. This is Wayne Huffman’s building. Wayne and Mark have been buds for decades (sorry boys). They have done more work and storytelling in this building than you can imagine. 

The door opens up and in walks this guy. It’s Wayne. I do the introductions, tell him I’m impressed with all the “toys”. You need to get out and fly!!! Been busy he says. Plus, didn’t know when anyone was at the field.

Mark educates Wayne about what’s been going on. And the fact that I took over Marks position. We keep walking straight ahead. There’s an 8’ lathe, 4’ metal sheer, 6’ metal brake, a couple of welders, drill press. Is there anything ya’ll can’t do in here? They look at each and grin. Follow us. As they lead me towards a closed in room, I can’t help but notice this storage rack to my right. From top to bottom are planes. A  T-28, P-51, then planes I have no clue what they are, all stacked from waist height to about 15’ in the air.  All with the “dust”.

We go into this room. It takes a lot to impress me, but they did. This is their workshop. Lathe, Bridgeport, CNC machine, steel work table, ………, it don’t stop.

There isn’t much they can’t make in there. And have.

We head back out to the main area. I know I’m in trouble when both Mark and Wayne sit down. It’s a tag team match between the two of them reminiscing about days gone by. The fields they started, were kicked out of. Having to find new locations. Stories of pilots and flying.

As they are talking, Mark gets a “light bulb” moment. He stands up, goes back towards the machine shop room area. He digs around doors, plywood and whatever else is there, “searching”.

Found it! He brings out this 3’ x 6’ board covered in Polaroid pictures. These were the shoot, pull out, develop on their own, pull off the covering , and see the photo. They are stapled in an orderly fashion on this board. The date on the pictures is 2011. The field logo is an original CVRC one.

Both Mark and Wayne are struggling to remember the names to the faces. The “fun” part, were the “characters” in the club from “yesteryear”. One notable, was Cecil. He’s wearing a beat up old ball cap, white-ish  T-shirt, suspenders holding up his Levis, and a big toothy grin.

Turns out Cecil was kind of a “scrap” man. He’d show up to the field with a plane that was “frankensteined”. Fuselage from one plane, wing from another, bits and pieces of every description.

BUT! He could fly. He ticked off a lot of other members who had the “good” machines. A couple of guys felt sorry for him and bought him a brand new plane.

The very next week, he brought it to the field. But, he had “frankensteined” it. OH WELL! Can’t change a leopard’s spots.

This same scenario went on for about 80% of the rest of the pics. The remainder seemed to be lost in time.

I thanked Wayne, asked him to definitely come out and fly. I could see a glint in his eye, thinking about what he could scrounge up to bring. We said our good-byes and back to Marks house.

Mark then took me to HIS trailer/hangar. These plane were no slouch. Cap 32’s and a Super Decathalon the size of my car. On the floor were the left overs of 3 Gremlins. On the walls were about 10 other planes. I’m just shaking my head. These were during Marc’s IMAC days.

By now, I’m into sensory overload. Made my good byes, see you at the field, bring Wayne. Then it’s a long drive back to Maiden. The hardest part of all this is trying to remember it all and get it presented to all of you, and do it justice.

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Thanks Don for the update. I had some repairs to do on 3 planes, before I could come out. My goal was for 11 ish, ended up being 12:30 ish.

Got there and the gate was open. YEE!HAW!, someone is here. Get nearer to the hangar, and I see a pickup. Not sure who it is, also see an 8’red plane on one of the plane stands.

It’s Marc McClellan. He had global emailed that he was coming out, but I thought it wasn’t till 3 ish. No matter, he’s here.

The plane he brought is a Super Decathalon. New to him. He bought it at the Burlington swap meet a couple weeks back.

As I got up to the plane, I noticed that it was in really good condition. Still had that “new car” smell.

Mark was going thru the setup procedure. Putting the wings on, filling it with fuel……..

By now the windsock was at 90 degrees constantly. I asked Marc if that is a problem. He gave me this big Cheshire Cat grin. Never too windy to fly.

I also noticed his ballcap was from the IMAC bunch.  International Miniature Aerobatic Club. Do a search on the internet, you’ll be amazed.

Basically, these guys are the formula one drivers of the r/c world. They know there sh..t.

Plane is all set, plug hooked up, prime the motor, 3 flicks of the prop (no external start, except for his middle finger) and it comes to life.

The prop on this thing is carbon fiber. I squawk at having to pay $5 for a prop. This thing is $60. Ouch.

Put the plane on the run way. Run the engine up a couple of times, no spit, no sputter. Do a controls check. I slowly make my way back behind the 

Pilot stands. This is to take pics. 

Marc revs up the motor. 

Pic one: Marc behind the plane

Pick two: the plane is going forward (this is about 8’ in front of Mark).

Pick three: no plane, I look over the camera to see what happened. The plane is now 30’ in the air at 15’ passed Mark, going vertical like a scalded rabbit

Pick four: ain’t none. Plane is still going vertical. A straight 90 degree vertical. 

Pick five: are you kidding, plane is still climbing. Somewhere around “I can’t see it anymore”, Mark kicks it over to head left to right. He drops the altitude so we can 

See it better. Once in a safe height we can see it, he does a left to right knife edge, flips it over and does a right to left knife edge, flips it over and does STUFF!

Mark is mumbling to himself. Don’t hear him, the wind is messing up my hearing aids. Plane comes down across the field for a landing.

Straight as an arrow, heading towards the runway, BUT, it’s crabbing at about 20 degrees due to the wind. But still stable (pilot).

Lands on the grassy area past the runway, kicks it around to bring it back to him. 

Plane ends up at his feet. Motor still running, he’s pushing buttons on his DX18. Plane goes up again, same routine as the first time. Only this time, the knife edges are

Cleaner and sharper. Hmmmmmmmmm…….  Something tells me this isn’t his first rodeo.

Brings it down again, same as last time. Plane at his feet, mumble. Plane is facing towards our right, throws more throttle into it, plane starts down the grass,

At about 80’ to our right the plane, buries itself into the grass on it’s right side, motor quits.

Mark “must have his a hole in the grass”. I’m tilting my head and thinking to myself, wait, I just cut that area of the field on Tues. I don’t remember and holes.

We walk on over to retrieve the plane. Sure enough, the right side of the plane is down on fuselage in the grass. But so is the right landing gear. The right side landing gear had separated

From the fuselage. Well! I guess no more flying for the day.

I help carry parts back to his truck. He loads up all his “stuff”. So, Al, what are you going to fly today? I look at the windsock, NOTHING!.

Do want to come over to my place to see my “stuff” and maybe we can go over to Wayne Huffman’s place. Hmmm, let me think about that.

HELL YES!

Now. The story of going to Mark’s place and then Wayne’s place is for another letter. 

The phrase that comes to mind is: DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN. Film and way too many words and pics, at 11.

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WELL! For once, I’m at a loss for words. Ya’ll just laughed.

Today, by 10:00, Groundhog Day officially happened, 12 groundhogs had come out of hibernation to grace the field with their presence and see their shadows.

That is a whopping 49% of the club, in one place, at one time. And nobody fought.

In order of appearance: Lonnie Hagadorn, Alan Roberts, Bill Holder, Al Bleyenberg, Billy West, John Walker, Jim Bates, Dick Blackburn, Steve Tisi, Wayne Windsor, Randall Hendricks, David Putnam.

Lonnie was on photographer duty. A little too windy for his delicate condition to fly.

Everyone else had a crack at the whip with  their own specific whip. Many flights, only a couple of minor “oopsies”, nothing major. Even the Grand Guru, Wayne Windsor, had an “oopsie”. AND! He’s the senior “expert”, I’ve lost all my faith in him.

Billy West didn’t fail to amaze us with his flying expertise. One of his flying wings actually went into a wing flutter. Now to put into perspective, this was 10 feet off the ground, right in front of the main flight line, at SPEED!. Of course, everyone begged him to do it again. Billy, always the shy one, accommodated, 3 more times, until a piece fell off the plane. Luckily is was just the canopy, minus a chunk(technical term) from the prop hitting it.

Jim Bates brought out his one week old H-King Voltigeur MkII 3D. Jim did the “maiden” last Wednesday with mixed results. The receiver didn’t want to play well. In the turns, the plane would have a mind of its own, buck and wobble, straighten out, then be good till the turn again. He repositioned the ASX receiver and all seemed well. Then it got too windy to fly. So today, with confidence on his side, he tried it again, to his dismay, a repeat of Wednesday’s flight. Out with the receiver and in with the “normal” receiver. Happy as a clam, Jim that is.

We were at 11 members, when another truck pulled in. Had to break out the “defibrillator”, Randall Hendicks showed up again, that’s 3 in a row. He bee lined to the other “seasoned members” for a meeting of the minds. After about 30 minutes, he heads to his truck, brings out this transmitter that has Roman Numerals for numbers, it’s that old. It’s a present for Dick Blackburn.

Randall heads back to his truck. NOW, everyone is in shock, Randall brings out a plane. SILENCE. Then the guffas. Randall brought out an unblemished “never used Gremlin”. That is one purty plane. Then poof, a cloud of dust and a hearty hi ho Silver, and the Masked man is gone.

By now, it’s past noon, and I see guys are heading to their own specific “feed bag” locations. I blink, and by 1p.m, Billy West, Steve Tisi, John Walker, and I  are left.

I’m now feeling comfortable with the wind to get my plane out. This is the Gamma Ares 370. It’s my first and second plane combined due to a few “oopsies” in the past. 3 times up, 3 times down. No damage. GO ME.

Now, the last of the guys have left. It’s 2p.m. and they have other commitments. So, there I am, in a crowd of one.

Not be undaunted, I drag out my Dynam T-28. This was my 3^rd plane. I actually had successful flights. It’s heavy enough to handle the winds. 3 up, 3 down.

Not wanting to push my luck, NOT, I drag out the 3D dining room table built Red Eagle Hummer. Even though it was a yo-yo, with me the controls, didn’t crash it. 2 more flights that well exceeded the “flight line” restrictions, sorry Jim, got it back in one piece. 

UNCLE! UNCLE! UNCLE!

Head to the house.

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Todays players: Lonnie Hagadorn, Bill Holder, David Putnam, Alan Roberts, Wayne Windsor, Al Bleyenberg, and (are you sitting down) Randall Hendrick

My morning was eaten up with some Craigslist selling. Last minute, sorta, decided to go to the field. Lonnie and Bill were already there. They had been there since 10:30, and it’s 1 pm. Only plane in sight is Lonnie’s 3D foamie. Asked Bill about his plane. Look on his face said it all. A little too exuberant in landing broke the landing gear. Simple fix once he gets home. 

So, what else can he do, but, be Lonnie’s co-pilot. SOMEONE HAS TO DO THE DIRTY WORK. Go Bill.

Now Lonnie loves auto pilot boxes. He was making some changes to the “boxes”. Lonnie knows what he’s doing, He’s told me so many times.

Headed to my car to unload. Suddenly it’s too quiet outside the hangar. I peak around the corner and crickets. Aliens must have made a landing and took the boys. 

Not seeing anyone, I head to the down side of the field  Directly in front of the hangar. I get about halfway and see a couple of heads. They get closer and closer.

Bill is holding Lonnie’s plane. Doesn’t look like it’s in the shape it should be. Once close enough we can talk to talk, turns out the hinges that hold the left aileron had let go from the main wing. That could definitely be the culprit. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a pickup truck heading towards the hangar. Once it’s parked, the driver obviously gets out. 

NOW, THE NEXT PART OF THIS IS TRUE. NO MIRRORS OR SLIGHT OF HAND IS BEING USED.

It’s Randall Hendrick. We all look at each other in amazement.

The boys clean up and head to their houses. Not because of Randall, but they’ve been there a few hours and had run

out of planes.

I drag out my “dining room table built” Red Eagle Hummer. It’s a pseudo 3D foamie. It will fly like one, but not 

With me at the controls. Wind was everywhere from nothing to about 10 mph. A little challenging for flying  that light a foamie. Did some “fancy for me” trimming. 

Landed nicely. Some expo adjustments, and back into the air. Better, but the wind is too erratic for this light a plane.

Put it back in the car and drag out the “go to” plane for me. The Fun Cub”. Before I can get it into the air, another vehicle is coming down the lane. 

Randall and I are waiting  to see who it is before I take off.

I had to braek out the defibrillator. Wayne Windsor and David Putnam.

Be still my beating heart. CVRC “royalty” has graced us presence on this holiday, St.Paddies day.

Come to think of it, Wayne does have a strong resemblance to the Irish icon.

Once again, defib time, Wayne bring out a T-28 foamie. Now I thought this was sacrilege for  a man of Wayne’s

stature. To Wayne’s credit, he had an Ercoup in the back of the SUV.

 Wayne, your stature and my faith in you, is restored. Wayne and David (also with a T-28) shows us “younger” pilots

what flying is all about. Alan Roberts also shows us how to fly in the wind with his Timber.

Next on the agenda, Wayne brings out the Ercoup. This plane is gorgeous. It’s straight as an arrow, the monokote

Is layed down smooth, tight, and colors are amazing. Now this thing is 20 years old.

So all the guys crowd around Wayne to help him put it together. Next, they do the engine start procedure. Over and over and over and over. 

Everyone is verbally jabbing Wayne about it. Now Wayne, the sweet natured person that he is, basically tells each one who “jabs” him what to do. Very eloquently.

We are all, rolling in the grass laughing. Prop comes off, cowl comes off, a few tweaks and reverse the procedure. Second stab with the starter and she fires to life.

Randall does the co-pilot duties and takes it to the runway. Seeing Wayne control his plane into the air is amazing. A couple of circles around the field, and something goes wrong. 

The plane does flips, hammerheads rolls. I yell out to  Wayne if that’s what the plane is supposed to be doing. Ever get two lasers burn a hole in your eyes. I did.

Laughter from the peanut gallery.

I yell over to Wayne about knowing when the plane will run out of gas. When the engine quits, lasers again. Laughter. 

¾ ‘s of a lap later, and as he’s bringing it in for a landing, silence. Forward motion is now slooooowed down a lot. Wayne’s piloting skill was breath taking. It landed about 100’ from the runway.

I look over at Wayne, lasers.

By now, my hip replacement it talking to me. I pack up everything. Wayne’s back from getting his plane. Almost in unison, they all sit down on the field stands. 

It’s tall tales time. I “force” myself to listen for the next half hour. It was brutal. My sides were hurting from laughing. I couldn’t figure out who was the biggest bragger.

Said my good byes and headed home.

CVRC 24 Mon. Feb 25, 2019

After a month of being cooped up in the house because of my hip recovery, Dick  was kind enough to pick me up to go to the field.

At 10:15 the “accu” weather forecast was warm and mild winds. THEY LIED.

It was cold until about noon, windsock was always at 90 degrees and changing directions.

Today is going to named ‘the Billy Wild West Show”. He started out with a couple of zoomers, blink and  you miss them. Course they didn’t have tail sections on them. “someone will have  to explain that one to me”.

After his 3 million mile an  hour forays, he switched over to something a little more “docile”. He brought out his “PinkLady” J3. Now this thing has a 12’ wingspan. HUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEE.

Everyone pitched in getting  it ready for flight. Controls checked, wind, ha!ha!.

Motor runs up good (electric). All set, slow take off, but at about 15”, slow steady climb. He went thru the usual maneuvers and it looked impressive. Turning into the wind, just put the brakes on any forward movement. So a little more throttle and the Lady was creeping forward again. Did that for about 10 minutes, did a bucket load (technical term) of trims and all was done.

Brought it in for a picture perfect, on the runway, landing, and then….. (someone, won’t mention any names) seems to have forgotten to tighten  the collar screw on one of the wheels. Once free from its bond, the wheel just roller happily off into the distance. In the meantime, the Lady, came to a right hand pivot turn STOP.

Good news, no damage. Go Billy.

Next up to bat was his twin engine brand new Mule. All controls checked, engines revved up, and away we go. Down the runway, clears the runway, makes a hard up, nose to the left and kersplat.

Bringing back the carcass, the boys were diagnosing “what went wrong”. Too little battery, bad battery, props rotating wrong. Too much current draw. Now remember, this is brand spanking new. Obvious questions from the peanut gallery. Did you read the instructions, UM. Did you follow the instructions, UM. Seem to have a little pattern  here.

All the while Dick Blackburn is just looking and surmising (how’s that for more than a 4 syllable word).

Billy, did you check the aileron controls, UM. YEAH. Just for grins, let’s try it again. Now, to the best of my feeble knowledge, when you move the right stick to the right the right aileron should go up. DIDN’T.

Big sheepish grin on Billy’s face. BUT I CHECKED IT AT HOME!!! Due to the wing and nose damage, he had to blue tape everything back together,  he was itching to try it again.

Once “taped”, flight control check, motor check, MULE just sailed off the runway. Even with a twin engine setup, the into the wind flying was fun. It went backwards more that forwards. Some trim, more throttle, and another satisfied customer.

By now, I heard a noise, it was either Dick’s or my stomach growling. Lonnie had left about 10 minutes previous, Don, was right behind him. Too windy to fly for both of them, and Dick and I chose not to attempt fate.

Jim Bates brought out one of his 3D planes and did quite well in spite of the wind. A couple of attempts there and it was off to lunch.

Hope you enjoyed the “commentary”. Errors and omissions extra, tax on delivery, recappable tires.

Al “new guy Pres”

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