All Seasons Patch:March 1,2008

[bill marvel]

We had much better weather for the continuing quest for a 2008 All Seasons Patch.  Temperatures were in the high 40's to low 50's at Buder Park in St. Louis, Missouri.  Wind was almost dead calm when we started at about 10:30 AM but they were steadily increasing after noon and it felt much cooler.

Gary Frost is preparing his Primary Force with Steve Smith holding for him.  Gary got a short flight in.  On the second flight, the engine (Brodak .40) quit in a vertical leg and it landed very hard.  The Primary Force was unharmed but the muffler was torn off the engine, damaging the case.

The second picture is Steve Smith fueling his Ted Winterman Special.  You can see the tape covering Ted's number.  Steve's number was marked on the plane for the Ice-O-Lated contest last Sunday.  Steve's flying is progressing nicely.

The last picture is Steve Smith's Twister with an LA 40 modified by Lew Woolard.  The chalk entries are our record that we flew today.  John Garrett, the President of Lafayette Esquadrille, either flew much earlier than we did or  he flew yesterday and forgot it is a Leap Year.  I got in a couple of flights, too.

regards,
bill marvel

[Crist Rigotti]

Glad to see that you guys are enjoying the circles.  Today I frosted the canopy on my new stunter and ran the snow blower outside!

[Andrew Borgogna]

Let me guess if you live in So. Cal. you are not in the running for this patch. 

[bill marvel]

Let me guess if you live in So. Cal. you are not in the running for this patch. 

Hi, Andy

If you live in Southern California, you might find the patch a lot easier to earn.  It was for me when I lived in South Texas.  But, we had other challenges and I'll bet So. Cal. does, too!

regards,
bill marvel

[bill marvel]

Glad to see that you guys are enjoying the circles.  Today I frosted the canopy on my new stunter and ran the snow blower outside!

Oh, no!  Not again, Crist!  We are supposed to get a little more snow tomorrow or Monday.

Believe it or not, I bought a snow shovel on the way home.  But, I want one of those grain scoops like you found.  That is serious shoveling!

regards,
bill marvel

[Crist Rigotti]

Well if I can't fly, then I'll work on the new stunter.  Just shot the first coat of clear.  Then another, then tomorrow I'll ink it.

[Paul Taylor]

We got out for a few flights today too.
Kreth, Arlan and myself.

Weather was great!!!

[john e. holliday]

Was planning on going out and get some of the rust out of the bones, but, the wind was blowing trash cans all over the place.  So I shot the clear on the Spitfire.  Have to have it done by Thursday as that is when we load up to go to Tucson by way of Dallas.  Tax time again.  Glad you guys got in some flights.  DOC Holliday

[Andrew Hathaway]

Went out today and got March out of the way.  It was nice here at the house, but at the flying field the wind was blowing pretty good.  11mph by www.weather.com but more like 15-20 constant at the field.  40* felt like 30 something.  Pictures are hard to make out, the first is of me flying the Ringmaster.  The plane is hiding below the horizon.  The second is dad with the plane more visible.

[bill marvel]

Went out today and got March out of the way.  It was nice here at the house, but at the flying field the wind was blowing pretty good.  11mph by www.weather.com but more like 15-20 constant at the field.  40* felt like 30 something.  Pictures are hard to make out, the first is of me flying the Ringmaster.  The plane is hiding below the horizon.  The second is dad with the plane more visible.

Way to go!!!  I'd recognise a Ringmaster on the horizon better than any other plane.

I am going to try to post each month's flights that qualify for the All Seasons patch.  Please feel free to join in and record your flight.  If you get your flight in first, we'll join your thread.  We have nearly two months for the weather to improve so we can get in the next one.

regards,
bill marvel

[Dalton Hammett]

Up here in the greater Erie Pa. area some of the flyers are working for the
all seasons patch also....

Dalton H.

[bill marvel]

Up here in the greater Erie Pa. area some of the flyers are working for the
all seasons patch also....

Dalton H.

Way to go, Dalton!!!  Only nine more months to go.

I am reminded of flying in the snow in Southeast Missouri when I was much, much younger and didn't feel the cold, I guess.  We poured fuel on the head of a Fox .35 and lit it to warm the engine before cranking.  Once in a while, we lit up an airplane, too, but nothing serious.  By Spring, the engines were overheating from the crust buildup in the cooling fins!  Youth was definitely wasted on the young.  I can't believe we did that.

regards,
bill marvel

[Dalton Hammett]

I remember (well,barely remember) starting them that way - or with lighter fluid.

Dalton