Author Topic: St Louis Ice-O-Lated (Read 1453 times)

john e. holliday · « **on:** February 26, 2015, 08:12:54 PM »

Well, needless to say I didn't make it to St Louis. Here it is Thursday and no results posted yet. Did the weather turn bad or not?

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #1 on:** February 27, 2015, 12:38:01 AM »

We had the contest. Fred Cronenwett was the CD and was taking photos, but he must be busy if he hasn't reported yet. It was a weird weekend. Friday night, it snowed, sleeted and freezing rained. I drive right by Buder every day, and it was covered in snow and ice again. It accumulated pretty good on the highway and was one of the most treacherous drives home I have ever had!
Then Saturday dawned and it slowly warmed all day until it got to 40 degrees or so, and cleared the circles. Another cold front moved through after dark, and Sunday was bitter cold with temps around 20 degrees and falling through the day and windy. I opted to not fly and judged the two entries we had in Stunt with Bob Arata, and we had four entries I think in the new Fox .35 Stunt Speed class that we are experimenting with. The cold temps had John Moll and Tim Pansic struggling to get decent needle settings on models that they didn't have much time on. Jason Pearson came into town with his new Fox speed model and put up some impressive runs in the mid to upper 80 MPH range. As soon as the official flights for speed were finished, we handed out awards and headed for warmer venues! Man it was really biting cold with the wind blowing. As I get older, I just can't tolerate cold any more.
Jason brought the venerable Pine Twister to fly stunt with. For those who don't know, it's a stock SIG Twister ( the nose is extended a bit to help balance) made entirely out of pine, instead of balsa. It weighs in the high 50 to low 60 ounce range, but you would never know it to see it fly. Jason does a good job with it. I imagine the cold, more dense air helped with the weight. He and his dad built it years ago, just to see what it would do! Maybe he'll see this and fill in details.
That's pretty much it. It's been a while since we had some good luck with the weather, so I was hoping to get at least into the upper 30s or lower 40s for temps and sunshine with no wind! Looks like the old ground hog was correct with this years prediction!
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee

john e. holliday · « **Reply #2 on:** February 27, 2015, 10:42:33 AM »

Sounds like the contest lived up to its name. I think the last time I was there it was freezing cold and the kids put up their flights and called it quits as well as me. I remember seeing that Twister and looking at it. I too was amazed at well it flew. The gentleman must have a lot of time on the plane as he made it look good. Again, maybe next year.

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #3 on:** February 27, 2015, 03:31:13 PM »

I will get the pictures and results posted, just haven't had a chance this week to get that done. I will get those posted on Saturday

Fred

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #4 on:** February 28, 2015, 04:15:16 PM »

Got the pictures downloaded and updated the club website with results and pictures

It snowed on Friday night, then the weather got warm to 41 degrees on Saturday and all of the snow melted. But then the really cold air came in for sunday but the snow was gone. Always difficult to figure out if the weather will cooperate enough so that we can fly

https://lafayetteesquadrillecl.wordpress.com/lafayette-esquadrille-cl/photographs/photographs-2015/ice-o-lated-photos-2015/

here are the pictures from the contest, lets hope for warmer weather for next year, this is what the park looked like on Saturday at 10:30am, all of this melted and the sun came out on sunday

Fred

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #5 on:** February 28, 2015, 04:17:21 PM »

More pictures

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #6 on:** February 28, 2015, 04:18:52 PM »

John getting ready to fly the Fox 35 speed model

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #7 on:** February 28, 2015, 04:20:59 PM »

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #8 on:** February 28, 2015, 04:22:21 PM »

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #9 on:** February 28, 2015, 04:23:33 PM »

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #10 on:** February 28, 2015, 04:25:09 PM »

Tim's Fox 35 speed model

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #11 on:** February 28, 2015, 04:26:57 PM »

Getting a Fox 35 to run when it really cold is a challenge

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #12 on:** February 28, 2015, 04:28:20 PM »

John Moll's fox 35 speed model

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #13 on:** February 28, 2015, 04:30:38 PM »

Jason Pearson flew his model to 84.95 mph, who knew a Fox 35 Stunt engine can do that!

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #14 on:** February 28, 2015, 04:32:58 PM »

you never would have known that it snowed the day before, John, Jason and Tim with the Fox 35 speed models

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #15 on:** February 28, 2015, 04:35:05 PM »

John Garrett flying

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #16 on:** February 28, 2015, 04:37:17 PM »

the Propane heater Randy brought out was a big hit!

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #17 on:** February 28, 2015, 04:41:08 PM »

Club members came to help score and time events

Let's hope for warmer weather next year!

We have a preliminary date for next year, all updates will be kept up to date on the club website

https://lafayetteesquadrillecl.wordpress.com/lafayette-esquadrille-cl/control-line-contest-st-louis/control-line-contest-stunt-pampa-perky-speed-fox35-speed-st-louis/

Fred

C.T. Schaefer · « **Reply #18 on:** February 28, 2015, 05:08:51 PM »

Thanks for posting the contest report and pictures. You guys are awesome! Crazy, but awesome! This event interests me but it is doubtful that I would be able to travel to St Louis to fly. I wonder, if the event gains momentum, it could be a postal type event like Perky? Well, anyway, I have been having fun (before winter put a stop to things) trying to get some rpm from the old Fox. If I can make some proper lines I will report results in the spring. Our field here in NJ still has at least 6" of unyielding ice.

Shug Emery · « **Reply #19 on:** February 28, 2015, 05:24:03 PM »

This was great to see. You guys have a wonderful field. Want to fly there someday))))
Shug

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #20 on:** February 28, 2015, 05:42:37 PM »

I feel lucky that Buder Park is so close to home and we can fly any contest there with minimal equipment. Drop on by anytime!

Fred

john e. holliday · « **Reply #21 on:** March 01, 2015, 01:45:11 PM »

Thanks for the great pics. Would have been there, but things happen. I still remember the first year when Emmy and myself came down. The old Ford showed out side temp at 20F degrees when we got to Columbia. Mid 30's when we got to Buder and while we were flying. When we left the field the Ford showed in low 40F degrees. Emmy slept with the trophy all the way home. Her Mom said she took it to bed with her and then to school. I also remember everyone telling her to take the big trophy. She looked at me and said she wanted the little one. If I could only get her flying again. Maybe next year as the old saying goes.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #22 on:** March 01, 2015, 08:45:18 PM »

Quote from: Fred Cronenwett on February 28, 2015, 05:42:37 PM

I feel lucky that Buder Park is so close to home and we can fly any contest there with minimal equipment. Drop on by anytime!

Fred

You guys are very fortunate, you've got a great site with a long history. Us Piston Poppers will be losing our field to property development effective April 30th. As of right now we have no alternate site, or any promising leads.

Brent Williams · « **Reply #23 on:** March 01, 2015, 09:13:30 PM »

Quote from: Fred Cronenwett on February 28, 2015, 04:22:21 PM

more

Just curious about the info on the wing. Is this model really built from pine?

wwwarbird · « **Reply #24 on:** March 01, 2015, 09:17:31 PM »

Quote from: Brent Williams on March 01, 2015, 09:13:30 PM

Just curious about the info on the wing. Is this model really built from pine?

Yes, check out Dan's above comments.

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #25 on:** March 01, 2015, 10:39:44 PM »

Quote from: Brent Williams on March 01, 2015, 09:13:30 PM

Just curious about the info on the wing. Is this model really built from pine?

Yup! If you could hang it from your rear view mirror, it could be an air freshener!. He did a good job of finishing it, you can't even see any of the knot holes! Maybe Jason will jump in here with the accurate complete story. He's been flying that model as long as I have known him. I think it got him through his beginner and intermediate days. Flies nice.
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee

Brett Buck · « **Reply #26 on:** March 01, 2015, 11:07:30 PM »

Quote from: Brent Williams on March 01, 2015, 09:13:30 PM

Just curious about the info on the wing. Is this model really built from pine?

  Yes it is. the craftsmanship (by his dad, Joe) is outstanding. I think I launched the first flight. Jason was *well* beyond Intermediate by that point.

   He might be the best natural pilot I have ever seen. Ted and I marveled over his uncanny natural feel for maneuver shapes. And his ability to fly some pretty, uh, challenged airplanes very well.

  I think Joe also built the Quadra-powered Banshee, too.

   Brett

Here's a picture of the Banshee, I am pretty sure Joe built it, the caption is a gag

http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php/topic,9622.msg83507.html#msg83507