Yup. You read correctly.

I'm contemplating reactivating within the hobby. However, I need to determine the feasibility of it before I waste time/money.


FIRST ISSUES to SOLVE:

Have any of you come up with a good system for solo starting as well as remote launching a combat wing that would allow me to solo fly?


There are ZERO C/L enthusiasts that I know of in my immediate region. (Eastern OK near Fort Smith, AR.) IF I fly again, 90% of it would be solo. The years of involving my wife in flight sessions are past and gone. (Not fair to her, plus she hated the exhaust goo, noise, etc.)


SO...

Have any of you successfully devised a combat wing launcher that lends itself to hand starting??


Andre Ming

Hi Doc!

Glad yer still a' kickin'!

I would love to see pics, but please consider your health. It can wait.

Being self sufficient in starting/launching is the single biggest hurdle for me. IF I can conquer that, then returning to flying can be an "as in the mood" sort of thing without inconveniencing the wife (ain't happenin'), or having to wait until I can hook up with a (currently non-existent) flying bud.

I've lost touch with all the C/L'ers I was in the loop with.

BUT, even if there WAS a "flying bud", I would NOT want to be dependent on coordinating with same for a flying date/etc. I need to be able to be self sufficient within the hobby. THAT will go a long way toward insuring better longevity within the hobby on account that me having fun within it would NOT be dependent on others, as has always been the case.


Andre

We have a winner!

Way to go Jim! Thanks!

THAT is a very do-able solution!

(Yes, I remember RKNRusty here at Stunthanger. He was a super nice guy.)

Okay, so I have a "start here" idea for solo flying of my combat wings and non-landing gear sport planes.

The immediate thought is that a plastic folding table with a .36 size sleeve on one end, and a 1/2A sleeve on the other would cover all my potential bases: Combat wings with .35/.36 size combat power, "Ringmaster-type" sport plane w/36 sleeve bearing power, and 1/2A combat wings/conventional planes.

NOW, I guess the next step is to make a decision. I don't have a sport airplane at this point, and I really don't think it would be wise to return to flying with a combat wing, in spite of having a restrictor in the venturi. Even with a restrictor, a 36X powered combat wing tootin' along at 90 MPH just might be a handful for a 71 year old that hasn't flown ANYTHING since about 2015-16.

BUT... the above idea means I CAN do this if I so choose.

Progress.

Andre

Thanks for some input, Gerald!

Yup... it's a LONG ways from Patootey, OK to New Zealand!

The sleeve/sheath seems to be a pretty good solution. Yesterday I saw a clip on FB of a guy that has a very sophisticated (yet home built) solo launcher that reasonably simulated actual hand launching. It was interesting, but would take more fabrication/etc.

I'll mull over my options as the time nears to consider such.

To use US baseball nomenclature: In the meantime, I've climbed out of the dugout and am looking over my bat selection. Eventually, I'll select my bat... and then I'll head toward the batters box.

I suspect this return will not be rapid. I've given away, or tossed, a LOT of needed stuff in the past couple of years, so convinced I was that I was "done" with C/L.

Really, this "I'm done" brain spasm was very poor logic on my part. Consider that I've been interested (and owned) C/L airplanes beginning about Christmas of '58 or '59... had several ill fated plastic planes before learning to fly in '66, and ever since (off/on) essentially C/L has been a part of my life, even including providing my living for several years. Did I really think I could just decide to end it? Not very smart.

Anyway... the process of looking over supplies options and beginning to order/acquire is slowly beginning to take place.


All fer now.

Andre