Control Line at Joe Nall

[Derek Barry]

 On Wednesday of last week dad called me and told me that he was going to the Joe Nall Fly In. Bob Shaw had asked him to come hang out for a few days (as he usually does). He also wanted dad to do a demo flight on Friday at lunch. Dad had no interest in flying in front of thousands of people so he asked me if I could take the day off work and do the honors. Well, after a LONG Thursday at work (I stayed an extra 4 hours to justify my absence on Friday) I agreed to go. For those of you not familiar with the Joe Nall, it is one of the biggest R/C events in the country. Thousands of people show up from over 40 different states to spend a week flying. This is not a contest, just a BIG fun fly. Every kind of plane and helicopter imaginable and a few that are unimaginable are there. There is always ten to fifteen planes in the air at different areas of this huge complex. At noon every day they shut the place down and have an hour long demo with some of the best pilots in R/C performing their routine. I had the honor of being the first one up at noon on Friday. The announcer and dad talked over the loud speaker during my flight. He was explaining the maneuvers and describing to the crowd what they should look for. This was very interesting, I have never had anyone talking over a PA system during my pattern. Somewhere during inverted flight I was so busy listening to dad and the announcer talk I lost count of how many laps I had done. Not that it mattered but I found it funny. I was able to fly a solid pattern and in my opinion, do the control line community proud! There were plenty of cheers after I finished and it was an experience that I will not soon forget. I hope to be invited again in the future, it was great fun!

Derek Barry

[Eric Viglione]

Way to represent Derek! Good job!

I had a similar pleasure a couple years ago at Top Gun thanks to a referal from your Dad. (I guess you weren't up to the long drive, heh heh) It was a good time, and I ran into Steve Buso judging, which was cool, yet kinda wierd at the same time. That's another story...

I had a couple of people come up to me after, one claiming to be a (south american?) national c/l champion from... I can't remember, the 1990's I think... and was glad to see C/L represented. Anywho, it was a fun job, especially after the full scale A10 took off on the far runway and left my ears ringing. 

You bump into anyone you knew there?

EricV

[Paul Taylor]

I remember reading about the Joe Null event in one of the AMA issues. I hope someone got photos and will put it in MA.

Way to go Derek!

[Louis Rankin]

I go to several of the R/C funflys in my area every spring and summer.  I always take a C/L stunter, usually a Nobler or Oriental and ask if I can do a demo.  Everyone is always amazed at what those string planes can do.

Derek, good on you, and I hope they gave you an invite back for next year.

[Will Davis]

Joe Nall is less than 1 hour from me, Attended alot of the events in the  late 90's  very nice event, alot of vendors and  spectators .. glad Derek was able to get to fly, Maybe  he can fly again next year

[EddyR]

 I flew at one of the old time RC meets 3-4 years ago very near Ft Brag. I flew the AAsr as they wanted a old time plane flown. They really enjoyed it as many of them had flown CL many years ago.
Ed

[PJ Rowland]

I had a memorable demo at an RC Demo day with a friend doing the announcing. It was quite funny, RC guys dont know how late we really leave the pullouts. During the reverse wingover the announcer said - " Now he is going to do a wingover head vertical toward the ground and pullout quite high and safely...

As I headed toward the ground .. the shouted out with about 10 feet to spare .

" OHH MY GOD LOOKOUT! "


The crowd gasped it was so funny.

Its pleasing to hear you had a top day Derek.

[Alan Buck]

not a better flyer than Derek to do a demo way to go Derek

[Doug Moon]

That is awesome!  I am so glad you got to do that.  And I am so jealous  I have read about that fun fly many times and would love to go to it let alone fly in it!!!!

Way to go!!!

[john e. holliday]

Way to g Derek and glad it worked out for you.   Years ago while at a radio fun fly someone asked me to put up a control line flight.  I had been flying my RC Senior Kadet.  Put up a patternwith the SIG Mustang I was using at the time.   After landing and while winding up the lines, was asked never to bring a control line plane to an RC fun fly again.   I guess that is what killed me on radio.   

[Russ Danneman]

Way to g Derek and glad it worked out for you.   Years ago while at a radio fun fly someone asked me to put up a control line flight.  I had been flying my RC Senior Kadet.  Put up a patternwith the SIG Mustang I was using at the time.   After landing and while winding up the lines, was asked never to bring a control line plane to an RC fun fly again.   I guess that is what killed me on radio.   

well  doc  don't blame you. gotta remember anyone can fly 200-300' off ground . sounds like they were jealous ! rd

[bob branch]

John
Sorry you had that kind of experience. I have been invited to fly at several rc fun fly-ins as have some of my cl flying partners. We have always been well received. Also fly cl at several rc clubs and am have been welcomed at all. The RC club I belong to is just really disappointed I've recommended against putting in a CL field at our club field. We have the land, but the tree lines make it just untenable. We are surrounded by forest on too many sides and the winds make CL all but unflyable there.  Yea, there are jerks in RC but that is the same in everything. Lots of nice people and most really get a thrill out of seeing a pattern. It was only with the advent of 3D RC flying that anyone came near the ground very much. 

bob branch

[Derek Barry]

Way to g Derek and glad it worked out for you.   Years ago while at a radio fun fly someone asked me to put up a control line flight.  I had been flying my RC Senior Kadet.  Put up a patternwith the SIG Mustang I was using at the time.   After landing and while winding up the lines, was asked never to bring a control line plane to an RC fun fly again.   I guess that is what killed me on radio.   

I have met "those kind" of R/C guys before.  I pray for massive in flight battery failure for them......

[Allen Brickhaus]

I have been requested to fly at many R/C Fly In's and have been welcomed and appreciated.  Actually I am the President of a 60 person model club.  We always have combination events.  Our R/C Charity Fly In is June 25 and 26 in Paducah and we are having a C/L section on one of the circles at the field on the same day.

Allen Brickhaus