Our 1998 Big Bird was a great success!  Pilots came from as far as Mt.Vernon, Washington.  Though we only had ten registered pilots, great fun was had by all.  Channel 16 showed a very nice clip on the evening news featuring a few of the great aircraft that flew.  We were treated also by guest appearances and acts performed by the AMA Show team of Oregon, The Tidewater Taildraggers! Acts included combat, a giant biplane with smoke, and a beautiful Eindecker to name a few.

My many thanks to the club members who helped put on this fun filled event.  Without your support this would not have been possible.  A special thanks to Annie and Diane for the fabulous job they performed operating the food booth!

I hope next years Big Bird is as much fun as this one was!!!

Sincerely,
Dave Upton

 

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Click here if you are unable to download or view the large pictures.

	This is Cliff.  He drove all the way down from Mt. Vernon, Washington.  Darrel is a member of the Skagit Co. RC Club.  BB9801.JPG
	Cliff and his wife getting the 1/3 scale Super Cub ready for flight. BB9802.JPG
	Looks pretty real!  Cliff put on a good show, and many at that. BB9803.JPG
	Oooops!  Luckily no damage (whew!).  BB9804.JPG
	Jack Lindsay and his wife from Albany. Jack is a member of the Albany Thunderbolts and the Benton County RC Club.  BB9805.JPG
	Jack brought his 1/3 scale Clipped Wing Cub.  It is powered by a SuperTiger 4500 2-cycle with a 22 x 10 prop.  He has been flying this one since July 1st, 1998 and has about 25 flights on it.  BB9806.JPG
	Jack has been modeling since 1943 and enjoys flying the Scalemaster Circuit. BB9807.JPG
	Mike Pasky's creations took much more than their share of the spectators attention.  A 1/3 scale Sopwith Pup and a 1/4 scale P-51 made a strong visual impression.  Luckily, Mikes P-51 was not yet flyable, thus ensuring enough limelight to go around for the other pilots!!!  BB9808.JPG
	This plane looked and sounded so real.  I'm not sure what a real Pup sounds like, but the Zenoah G-62 sounded good.  Piloted by Dave Upton, the Pup put on an impressive show. BB9809.JPG
	Yes that is a big plane. Oh,... yeah, that's Mike. To visit Mikes web page and find out more about him and his planes click here.     BB9810.JPG
	Sometimes pictures come out really good despite the photographer.  This is one of them.  BB9811.JPG
	Another nice shot of this very photogenic aircraft.  Nice work Mike!  If you would like to find out how Mike can put you behind the controls of one of these beautiful creation click here. BB9812.JPG
	"Dangerous" Dave checking his twin with a helping hand from Harry.  This plane was built by Carl and acquired by Dave just five months ago.  In this photo you can see the nose mounted camera ready to go.  BB9813.JPG
	Dave has an impressive history of over 200 flights on this craft, many with still camera and video telelink gear aboard. He has produced a series of video how-to tapes designed to show people how to install this surprisingly inexpensive and easy to install gear in their own planes.  BB9814.JPG
	This is Darrel and his DeHavallid Tiger Moth.  It was a disappointment for all of us that Darrel couldn't get his motor working properly.  This gorgeous plane was... well, gorgeous!  It was (not?) powered by a YS120 4 stroke. BB9815.JPG
	Don't planes that look this good just have to fly?  NOT!!! BB9816.JPG
	Don't things that fly have to look like planes?  NOT!!! BB9817.JPG
	Right after we all turned our backs on him, Darrel pulled this out of his sleeve.  I don't think it qualified as a "Big Bird."  In fact I don't think it even qualifies as an airplane.  But fly it did!  Darrel says he's had this around since "87.  Powered by OS FP40 with no landing gear.  BB9818.JPG
	This is Steven and his son, Spencer. Steve brought a Midwest Extra 300s.  This one has a very oversize Moki 3.60 twin on it that puts out 8.2 HP.  Steve claims that this plane will hit 130 mph.  It is 2 years old and has over 75 flights on it. BB9819.JPG
	Spencer, by virtue of his dedication to the chore of field maintenance has earned himself the title of "Lawn King Extrordinair and Mower Managing Consultant," as recently quoted in the acclaimed Eugene R/C Aeronauts monthly newsletter.  And when he's not cutting the grass, he's flying this custom built Mongoose powered by an O.S. Max 40. BB9820.JPG
	Despite his youthful 12 years, Spencer is actually quite an accomplished flyer and we're all proud to have him as a member.  Here he demonstrates what less nimble pilots shouldn't do; fly upside down and VERY close to the ground.  Spencer has been flying since he was 6 years old. BB9821.JPG
	Harry (Eugene Aeronauts) brought his Aeronka Sedan dressed up in CHP colors.  Looks real nice! 106" wingspan and powered by a Webra 120 2 cycle with 3.2 HP. This was the first plane that Dave Upton put a video camera in.  It is several years old and Harry says he has about 25 flights on it.  BB9822.JPG
	Frank showed up with his Ultra Sport 1000.  It is 3 years old and has about 20 flights on it.  It's powered by a Molki 180.  After overshooting the runway and "parking" out in the bushes, Frank explained that this plane is very slippery and somewhat difficult to get back on the ground.  Sure looks like a fun plane to fly! BB9823.JPG