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Once again Harry was the first one at the field, (indisputable proof provided by this photo) followed by Crash Gordon. Unlike the last time when I found him holed up in his car with the heater on, this time he was hard at work. |
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This is Harry's famed cardboard airplane. Yes, cardboard, well most of it anyway. He bought a used wing (traditional balsa construction) from someone for $3, scrounged up an old motor and radio he had stashed away, and threw this embarrassing excuse for an airplane together. It even flew! For those of you that think you can't afford this hobby, take note. It can be done without spending much money. |
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This is our obstacle course being run by one of our contestants. The object was to run your plane in an S pattern around the obstacles and return to cross the finish line. |
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The course looked like a cakewalk. What could be simpler? Well, as many of the contestants found out, it could have been a lot simpler if those dang milk containers hadn't been there. Each one had a couple of handfuls of gravel in it. Running into one meant almost certain disqualification since it would either stop your motor, or simply stop your plane. |
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This is Sandy Downing showing off his Extra 300 just before a flight. |
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Just before Sandy was about to land, the ground shifted to the right, causing his plane to put down in the grass. As luck would have it, a huge sinkhole (just out of view to the right of photograph) rudely ripped off his landing gear. Damage was minor, and the sinkhole was immediately filled with leftover hotdogs from last years BigBird event. |
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Dangerous Dave navigating the obstacle course. |
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Here's Dave showing off with a nice "knife edge." Lower Dave, Lower! If you haven't seen Daves videos yet, you are in for a treat. Find out how you can turn your plane into an aerial photography platform for as little as $30. Better yet, see how you can transform your aircraft into a remotely piloted vehicle using a video downlink for barely the cost of a plane! Very professionally done, these tapes offer step-by-step instructions that make it a breeze. You'll drool when you see footage he's captured. Visit Daves site at www.incab-rc.com. |
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Jim Bemis showed up with this. If you've ever wondered why RC pilots run their engines at full speed with their planes pointing straight up here's the reason: this is the position most likely to fuel starve the motor, causing serious damage via overheating. |
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If the fuel flow can be adjusted to be perfect in this position (not too lean, not too rich), then the pilot can be sure that his motor will never run too lean. In fact under the worst conditions: climbing steeply, motor putting out maximum power, less airflow over cooling fins of motor, lower fuel flow to engine, the engine will be getting the right amount of fuel. The rest of the time, when maximum power output is not needed it will be running rich |
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Last summer at the Big Bird '98, we were all disappointed that Darrel couldn't get his DeHavallid Tiger Moth in the air. Not this year. It flew, and what a sight! |
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No words necessary. |
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Thanks Darrel, you put on a good show! |
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Here is Gary Brown getting his EAA Biplane ready for a flight. |
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Here's Mike, still battling his Piper Cub. This is a tough one to fly, particularly on take-off. This is due to the high wing / tail dragger combination. For those of you who are thinking of getting into the hobby, don't pick this type of plane for your first one, unless of course you have the determination that Mike obviously has! |
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Steve Harris and his son Spencer proudly displaying the same AT-6 that he so rudely slammed into the ground on our last event (Polar Bear 99). Steve was heard to say many times after the crash that the plane was definitely totaled and wouldn't be seeing the air again. Wrong! |
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Bruce and his wife Brenda came equipped with the usual car full of airplanes. |
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Seems like every time I show up at the field, he's flying something or other. |
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Never seems to crash, or have many problems. Just fly, fly fly. |
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He put on a nice show with this gorgeous Corsair. |
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He also flew this one quite a bit this day. Not quite sure what it was other than FAST! |
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Here's Mark getting ready to blow the dust off his Chipmunk. |
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Lost a wheel on take off. Here he is consulting with the Emergency Management Team and Airport Officials. |
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On the grass in one one, er... two pieces. |
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Team Mike Pasky (builder) and "Dangerous" Dave Upton getting the Sopwith Pup ready. |
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It takes over an hour of careful assembly to get this huge biplane ready for flight. Everything is checked and rechecked. |
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And then the fun begins... |
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Sure looks real! Just wait until you see what Mike has been working on lately. |
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Here's the Fun Fly '99 first placer "Crash" Gordon with his winning Phaser (built by Mike Pasky) dressed up in a Navy scheme. This is a new plane for Crash and today's flights were #'s 7 through 12 (roughly) and also the first flights for the pilot since the Jan. 1st. Practicing on the Real Flight Simulator seemed to make a difference. |
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Misc. pictures |
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Misc. pictures |
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Misc. pictures |
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All the way from Oconomowol, Wisconsin comes Chuck Hocking to inspect the planes. Chuck is a member of the Lakeland R/C club and the ABC R/C Flyers and was in the area visiting family. |
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Fun Fly Contest Results / One Minute Flight - In this event the object is remain airborne as close to 60 seconds as possible. Time starts from the moment the wheels leave the ground and finishes when the plane touches down. |
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Fun Fly Contest Results / Obstacle Course - In this event the object is to navigate the obstacles on the runway (plastic milk cartons filled with about 1/2 lb. of gravel) as quickly as possible. No penalty for touching obstacles (unless your plane gets stuck!) |
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Fun Fly Contest Results / Climb & Glide - Pilots have exactly 30 seconds from moment of take off to gain altitude under power, after which the motor must be killed and plane kept aloft as long as possible. |
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Fun Fly Contest Results / Fast Course - Pilots must fly between two points at opposite ends of the field, as quickly as possible. Judges were stationed at each endpoint. |
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Fun Fly Contest Results / Slow Course - Pilots must fly between the same two points at opposite ends of the field, as slowly as possible. Judges were stationed at each endpoint. |
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Fun Fly Contest Results / Overall Score - Gordon, Allan, Darrel, and Dave placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively. Each earned a $10 gift certificate generously donated by Eugene Toy and Hobby. |
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