Piston Poppers - Thanks a bunch!

[Bill Heher]

I just wanted to post a few words of thanks to the Minneapolis Piston Poppers club. I was in the Twin Cities all week for work, and endured some unexpected cold / snow/ wind earlier ( I’m from FL now – so snow in mid October was a memory I had suppressed). The weatherman said Sunday was going to be nice, mid 50’s and light winds. I knew the Piston Poppers were active in the area and looked them up on-line.  I drove to their new field in Fridley MN, just hoping that someone would be there, and sure enough some fliers were out enjoying the day.

I got to meet Wayne Willey, Sina Goudarzi, Jeff Welliver and a few others whose names escape me. They welcomed me and I had a great time, hanging out, watching, pitting a bit and just generally enjoying models and modelers doing our thing. Wayne Willey was kind enough to give me some handle time on his Old Fokker with 4-stroke power, I was a bit hesitant (no flying in about 3-4 months) but I couldn’t resist. I managed to get it back down in one piece, mostly just cruising around with a few loops and lazy 8s. Nice flying model with a great sound.

Jeff invited me out to the middle of the circle while he put in a pattern. This was the 1st time I’d ever seen it flown from the inside ( I’m just above beginner status myself), and it was a revelation. I have watched at contests and such before, and always thought” I’ll never be able to do that”. When I saw it from the pilot’s point of view today it suddenly seemed much more possible.

That experience has really stoked the fire for me to get cracking and fly with a purpose. I’ve been trying to master the beginner pattern, and am almost there, but I am fired up to get past that and incorporate the outsides and inverted stuff. Too bad I have to work so much, boy I wish one of those Florida lotto tickets would pay-off!

Anyway- Thanks so much to Wayne, Jeff, Sina and the others, you guys really made my day/ week/month. I hope to get back and see you again some time, in the meanwhile keep having fun and stay warm!

[wwwarbird]

Thanks Bill,

 We had a really great time, and I'm glad that it was a good day for flying. It's a lot of fun to be able to put faces with the names we see on the Hangar. I hope others get a chance to get ahold of us, or stop by the field, if they are ever in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area as well, the more the merrier!

Thanks!!!