Fall FOllies upcoming

[Mark Scarborough]

Ok guys, its the last shindig of the season in Salem, who all is coming, anyone game for a bit of trash talking?

Ok so I really dont have any room to trash talk, but what the heck,,,

Randy,, how about it,,
who else is coming I wil be in town Friday night hoping to get some flying in assuming weather allows,,

[Mike Haverly]

I'm leaving the house at oh-dark-thirty Saturday morning.  I should be there in time for Classic.

[Tim Wescott]

I'll be there at least on Sunday, but to judge (if John lets me) rather than to fly.  So I have to act like I have a stick shoved up my need to exhibit solemnity and probity.  No trash talkin' for me.

[JoeJust]

I thought a lot about going to Salem and entering Beginner PA or OTS, but decided that being the only Beginner  could be judged by Tim, and while he would give me a fair and honest report on my flight I really didn't want to spend the rest of the day listening to him go on and on in minute detail.  I already know my flying stinks so why send the couple hundred bucks to re reassured that at 79 I still am a beginner?
Joe

[Mark Scarborough]

now Joe, Tim is a good and fair judge,, ( especially with appropriate bribes,, _) that said, I have not found the magic bribe yet LOL

and you know its more about Mike Hazels burgers than the flying,,

come on over and hang out

[JoeJust]

Mark, thanks for the offer, but I am not in any shape right now to fly in public.  I'm still not quite recovered from the Fly-A-Thon and really don't need to push the physical envelope.  Still having fun though!
Joe

[Russell Shaffer]

Since Joe isn't coming, I will be there to fill last place.  AND, the forecast is for dry on Saturday and Sunday and not even too bad for Friday.

[tom brightbill]

I'll help fill out the entry lists---

[Randy Powell]

I'll be there. Maybe I can beat John Thompson. I haven't put in a single flight since Centralia so I'm not expecting much.

[Chris Cox]

I had some minor surgery on my right hand two weeks ago.  Really hoped it would be all healed for the Fall Follies, but 2 flights last Sunday proved me wrong.  Ouch!  Doing physio now and should be good to go for Golden State, but Salem is not happening.  

So what have I learned?  Should have waited until contest season was over...

[Mark Scarborough]

I had some minor surgery on my right hand two weeks ago.  Really hoped it would be all healed for the Fall Follies, but 2 flights last Sunday proved me wrong.  Ouch!  Doing physio now and should be good to go for Golden State, but Salem is not happening.  

So what have I learned?  Should have waited until contest season was over...

ahh come on
Chris it might be the only chance I have to beat you in competition LOL,, your handicapped and all,,

then again, maybe not,,

[Randy Powell]

Yea, I managed to beat Alan Resinger at Vancouver. Of course, he was in serious pain with leg issues and could barely stand up, but hey, you have to take what you can get.

We'll miss you, Chris.

[Scott B. Riese]

Yea, I managed to beat Alan Resinger at Vancouver. Of course, he was in serious pain with leg issues and could barely stand up, but hey, you have to take what you can get.

We'll miss you, Chris.

BUT ALAN is always like that....

I'll see if I get something to fly. OTS is all that I've flown this year. Well that's not true...I have my .10 sized plane I could fly in expert. Super flyer dose everything quite well. However, it needs gear....

[Pat Chewning]

Yep, I'll be there.   Watch out, I've graduated from beginner to intermediate and can (occasionally) do the whole pattern now.

[Howard Rush]

When your hand heals, Chris, will you be able to play the violin?

[Steve Helmick]

My plan is to leave in the wee (weee) hours of Friday and drive to Springfield, come back to Corvallis and visit the family plots, then back N. to Salem Friday afternoon sometime. Sunday night, I'm going to Moses Lake.

If anybody wants to split the cost of a room, I would be interested. Salem, Fri. & Sat. nights.   Steve

[Randy Powell]

I'm bringing the spousal unit. Should be fun - though with the loss of Chris, the fun will be somewhat lessened.

[Chris Cox]

When your hand heals, Chris, will you be able to play the violin?

d

No, I'm afraid I may never play the violin again...  😱

ahh come on Chris it might be the only chance I have to beat you in competition LOL,, your handicapped and all,,
then again, maybe not,,

Probably not Mark.  It only hurts, but I can still fly half ways decent.  😈

[Mark Scarborough]

d

No, I'm afraid I may never play the violin again...  😱

ahh come on Chris it might be the only chance I have to beat you in competition LOL,, your handicapped and all,,
then again, maybe not,,

Probably not Mark.  It only hurts, but I can still fly half ways decent.  😈

well,, it was a thought,, dang,,

[Steve Helmick]

Anybody know if Patrick is coming over? That would be cool!  Steve

[FLOYD CARTER]

Hold on there!  The violin is my territory.  However, I don't play as much in public these days for fear I might get another hand cramp just at the wrong time.  (at home, I can stop and rest)

Floyd

[Mark Scarborough]

Anybody know if Patrick is coming over? That would be cool!  Steve

If you are refering the  the glow plug spitting, ye of short stature, red white and blue mustangcat guy,,
nope he wont be there, despite Randy and I both harrassing him, something about the wife redirecting energy or time,,??

so nope, he wont be there,

[Randy Powell]

Pat has gone into hibernation. Hopefully, his honey-do list will shorten and he will be allowed to associate with the riff-raff again.

Just checked the weather report again. It's improving even more. Rain today but partly cloudy tomorrow without the benefit of rain and mild winds. Even better on Sunday. Cool.

[Fred Underwood]

Looking at Salem weather for the airport area, Saturday and Sunday are partial clouds, 72 - 73° and wind of 5 - 7 SSW.  Rain and wind s supposed to be out of here about 2 - 3 pm today.  One might even get a few flights this afternoon/evening.  Until they change the report again

[Russell Shaffer]

There was a window between 1:00 and 2:00 with no rain at all and very light wind.  I got in 3 flights and got needle settings and fuel loads on 3 planes.  Nothing Fred would have to worry about. 

[Tim Wescott]

Is anyone flying in?  I'm kinda thinking of branching out to Scale if my shoulder doesn't get any better, and it'd be fun to model the plane of one of the Stunt Crew.

[Fred Underwood]

There was a window between 1:00 and 2:00 with no rain at all and very light wind.  I got in 3 flights and got needle settings and fuel loads on 3 planes.  Nothing Fred would have to worry about. 

I use a button to adjust RPM for conditions and put in the required amount of electrons for time.  About the same as needle valve and fuel load

[Mark Scarborough]

I use a button to adjust RPM for conditions and put in the required amount of electrons for time.  About the same as needle valve and fuel load

what he said

[Russell Shaffer]

So, for Sunday, is anyone afraid of a little wind and rain?  As a serious question, do electrics fly in the wet?

[Russell Shaffer]

My questions are now answered.  No one was afraid of the rain, electrics included.  There was, however some odd wind conditions that resulted in many people passing on second flights.  See www.flyinglines.org for complete reports.

[Tim Wescott]

My questions are now answered.  No one was afraid of the rain, electrics included.  There was, however some odd wind conditions that resulted in many people passing on second flights.  See www.flyinglines.org for complete reports.

Yup.  And the wind conditions significantly improved after the first flight of the second round, and just kept getting better for the only two people left, and the one latecomer who goes to church on Sundays quite -- hmm -- religiously.  I was the 2^nd to last to pull out -- as I was leaving, Howard and Mary-Lou were waiting on his battery charger, in an empty CL circle under high clouds, in a light wind that would have been absolute stunt heaven except that no one was flying.

[Mark Scarborough]

Yup.  And the wind conditions significantly improved after the first flight of the second round, and just kept getting better for the only two people left, and the one latecomer who goes to church on Sundays quite -- hmm -- religiously.  I was the 2^nd to last to pull out -- as I was leaving, Howard and Mary-Lou were waiting on his battery charger, in an empty CL circle under high clouds, in a light wind that would have been absolute stunt heaven except that no one was flying.

The wind was not nice in the first round,, enough said,, at least not for me,,
the drive home was survived,, the last three hours of the 8 hour journey were in pouring rain in a string of about 40 cars coming back to college,, fortunatly all but a couple were smart and didnt try to pass,, those couple found the worst possible place to pass, but all involved survived

as to the contest,, I ran away after my first round,, uh,,, ,flight? portion of a flight,, attempt,, whatever you want to call that mess,,

[john e. holliday]

Sounds like you did not have a good day.  It is amazing about drivers as I was on my way home from the Tulsa meet, didn't stay around long after combat was done.   I'm driving the speed limit using the cruise control.   Nothing worse than tailgaters.  When I could see there were several cars behind me,  I would slow down to let them pass if I thought there was room enough.   Dome realized what I was doing and passed.   But there were some that would pass with no room to be really safe.     In fact one was at the side of the road a few miles later with the car of flashing lights behind it.   By the way some times I do push the speed if I feel it necessary in no passing zones.  Sorry for the rant and now have it off my chest.   Too bad you guys didn't have the Tulsa weather as it seemed like stunt heaven except for the dead calm a couple of times.   Better luck next year guys.

[Mark Scarborough]

Sounds like you did not have a good day.  It is amazing about drivers as I was on my way home from the Tulsa meet, didn't stay around long after combat was done.   I'm driving the speed limit using the cruise control.   Nothing worse than tailgaters.  When I could see there were several cars behind me,  I would slow down to let them pass if I thought there was room enough.   Dome realized what I was doing and passed.   But there were some that would pass with no room to be really safe.     In fact one was at the side of the road a few miles later with the car of flashing lights behind it.   By the way some times I do push the speed if I feel it necessary in no passing zones.  Sorry for the rant and now have it off my chest.   Too bad you guys didn't have the Tulsa weather as it seemed like stunt heaven except for the dead calm a couple of times.   Better luck next year guys.

worst weekend at a contest is still better than,, well you know the saying right?
its not the worst weather we have had,, not the best,, but there were some holes in the air , one of which I found on the bottom of the outside squares,,
lets just say, its a good thing its the last contest of the year( well except the Golden state in CA) I was contemplating the trip south for this next weekend, but alas, there is no airplane to fly now,, let building season commence

[Tim Wescott]

as to the contest,, I ran away after my first round,, uh,,, ,flight? portion of a flight,, attempt,, whatever you want to call that mess,,

I know I didn't look closely, but from the distance it looked repairable.

[Mark Scarborough]

I know I didn't look closely, but from the distance it looked repairable.

From a distance, Tim it stopped skidding right at your feet!

and its pretty well toast, there are fractures completely around the horiz stab, the front top block is fractured, there is a crack in the wing sheeting, the nose and doublers have veritcal fractures,, for as flat as it hit, I was actually shocked at how much damage it had. Now if I could clearly define what happened I would feel better, I think there was a "hole" in the air, I saw several people have problems right at that part of the circle and I was being brave and aggresive. Flying my bottoms down instead of being aware of the bad air and being conservative,, alas, it is what it is,, and there is another one on the bench now

[Randy Powell]

On Mark's plane repair, not so much. Fractured fuse, stab and wing. Probably could be repaired, but I'm not sure I'd trust it.

I bailed on the second round. Could have flown, but my first flight spooked me a bit. The wind wasn't bad, just weird. It wasn't so much Mark's crash (it is, Mark, after all ), but my experience last year in very similar conditions. OK, so I was a weenie. But I won't have a new PA plane until about the middle of next year so I wanted to preserve the toad I have.

[Tim Wescott]

From a distance, Tim it stopped skidding right at your feet!

Hey, I was busy judging your landing!

[Mark Scarborough]

Landing? oh ok,, so did you have to think about pattern points after my "landing" too

[Tim Wescott]

Landing? oh ok,, so did you have to think about pattern points after my "landing" too

As a stunt judge, who needs to display solemn probity at all times, yes, I did have to consider what to give your for a landing.  Of course, in your case it was mostly whether should it be a zero or a line, but hey, I did give it thought.

[Mike Haverly]

Unfortunately I was standing about 15 feet from where Mark mad his abrupt early inverted landing.  He earlier dried the soaking wet paved circle with a lowww inside round loop bottom.  I was thinking to myself that he might be flying a little beyond his, and his equipment's capabilities.  Mark, I feel your pain.  I'm pretty sure we've all been there.

The air was lumpy and had some huge holes, sometimes around five feet altitude.  Let me make a case here for bagging the left hand (AKA pusher) props.  That is exactly the spot they can be disappointing, especially with an airplane that might be a little on the portly side, (like mine). 

Wait 'til next year, right?

[Mark Scarborough]

Mike thats interesting,
yes I was being brave ish, I have been flying my bottoms mostly where they belong, and I did not kinow if I would get a second flight so I "went for it". I tried a three blade on mine and it wasnt happy, partly because its a bit heavier than needed, and not sure why else, but it wasnt happy ( this was at the WSR so it wasnt all on my own observation)

on my painfull drive home LOL, I thought about it alot, I think the same thing happened on the insides where I "dried the circle" on the second loop, but I did not recognize it, I just thought I blew it and pulled out late,, but in my reflection I think it was a combination,, on the outsides wherre I actually imparted energy into the asphalt, my first bottom was pretty good, solid and where I wanted it, the second one just felt like the bottom fell out of it,,
I was in fact being braver than I should have been ( of course justified in my mind at the time) I have actually been pretty conservative this year at contests because I did not have a backup plane, so this being the last contest I let it all hang out,, who would have thought it would actually slide all the way around to the judges though LOL, and with good line tension!!

alas, its probably a write off, except perhaps the wing...
Fortunatly I have another already in the works, all the major componants are complete ready to align and assemble,,
onward and upward,, that airplane taught me a lot, and pretty much owed me nothing,,
Also, it answered my dilema about whether to go the Golden State,,

[Russell Shaffer]

On the bright side, not going to Golden State will most likely pay for your new airplane.  That particular spot in the circle was strange as Mike says.  We were watching Steve Helmick's flight later and his plane did an abrupt dip right there while in level flight.  I'm sure Steve didn't do it with handle input. 

[Mike Haverly]

Mark, not necessarily a three blade prop, just one that goes the other direction.  I got awakened to that fact with my profile, the same one I've been flying for three years.  In its early life I was using a 12 x 6 LH APC (AKA pusher).  After nearly being pulled over on my face I final listened to that same observer you mentioned at WSR.  Properly trimming the model to its capabilities with a RH 12 x 6 APC made a pleasing difference.  I think we fell in love with the overall line tension that props were providing and ignoring the issues that were they were hiding.  

Kinda like putting a cable handle on an airplane that "hunts" instead figuring out what is causing the anomaly.

[Mark Scarborough]

Mark, not necessarily a three blade prop, just one that goes the other direction.  I got awakened to that fact with my profile, the same one I've been flying for three years.  In its early life I was using a 12 x 6 LH APC (AKA pusher).  After nearly being pulled over on my face I final listened to that same observer you mentioned at WSR.  Properly trimming the model to its capabilities with a RH 12 x 6 APC made a pleasing difference.  I think we fell in love with the overall line tension that props were providing and ignoring the issues that were they were hiding.  

Kinda like putting a cable handle on an airplane that "hunts" instead figuring out what is causing the anomaly.

fair enough, and thanks for the observations,, interesting that you were able to tell I was "pushing" a bit hard,, oh well part of the learning curve,, I will be back, hopefully a few ounces lighter,,
and thanks, I appreciate the input

[Steve Helmick]

I left Friday about 2:30AM and got home about 4:30pm today (Monday), after driving to Spokane. I got to Ritzville about 8pm Sunday, after going through Sisters, Madras and Biggs Junction. It got wet a bit before Tri-Cities and rained hard all the way to Ritzville. Traffic was pretty ok except near Sisters, where it was very slow but usually moving. It was pretty heavy to Madras, but pretty much WFO to Biggs if you wished (I did not wish, but was a bit illegal).

I didn't go to the field Friday, didn't fly Saturday, and only the one official flight Sunday. I can't say I recall ever having a flight in that much wind and turbulence while also experiencing moments of wake turbulence. The pucker factor made it easy to pack up and leave early, not long after Mark. At least, I took the pretty route, and was closing in on the I-82 turnoff before dark. It was dark when I got to Pasco, however.

We learned (yet again) that the weather guessers are often full of crap.

Randy was the happiest guy on the field, being a UW Huskies fan.   Steve

[Howard Rush]

Conditions improved throughout the day Sunday.  Air for my first round flight was OK, but bumpy.  The second round flight had even better air, but seeing two guys pull out too low made me fly pretty conservatively.  

Rain on wings makes airplanes fly poorly, as do wet lines.  It wasn't raining when we flew, but there were lots of puddles that got the bottom of my airplane wet on takeoff.  I suspect that either wet wings or sticky lines bit Mark.

Conditions after the contest got so good that I regretted having started discharging my batteries.  After a few minutes of regret it started raining.  We moseyed on down the road.

[Mark Scarborough]

Conditions improved throughout the day Sunday.  Air for my first round flight was OK, but bumpy.  The second round flight had even better air, but seeing two guys pull out too low made me fly pretty conservatively.  

Rain on wings makes airplanes fly poorly, as do wet lines.  It wasn't raining when we flew, but there were lots of puddles that got the bottom of my airplane wet on takeoff.  I suspect that either wet wings or sticky lines bit Mark.

Conditions after the contest got so good that I regretted having started discharging my batteries.  After a few minutes of regret it started raining.  We moseyed on down the road.

I dont know really for sure, I know most likely it was a combination of at least two issues, the primary was making the choice to fly aggressivly in my first round not knowing if weather would allow a second flight. Thereby placing my bottoms at 4.5-5 feet,, and putting myself in the danger zone for any anomoly to take me out,,
I took the precautions to have someone hold my handle and lines off the ground, but it was very humid so that may have not been enough, as to water on the wing, that is a new lesson to watch. To my mental replay it seemed right after I made the turn the airplane just dropped ( as much during the turn too)  . The clue to be safe should have come when I was in the loops and the second one dropped out under me as well...
at least its the last contest so I can get my new build up and flying over the winter and hopefully another besides...

[Randy Powell]

Yea, I was just paranoid, I guess. Truth is, when my second flight came up, it wasn't all that bad. But I had packed up and was planning to leave and I just couldn't convince myself that I would improve much. Probably silly. It was fun anyway and like Steve, my drive home was, ah, interesting. Pounding rain most of the way and a lot of accidents and slowdowns.

See you all in Portland in April.

[Tim Wescott]

... the primary was making the choice to fly aggressivly in my first round not knowing if weather would allow a second flight ...

At the point that the first round was being flown, there wasn't much clue that the second round would turn into such nice weather.  The first round was just survival first, points second (well, except for you and Russel).