Author Topic: Flying today in Alburquerque (Read 6133 times)

Bill Heher · « **on:** August 07, 2010, 11:30:04 PM »

On the road agian- this time in New Mexico. I made it out to fly today, it was a beautiful day for some Stunt Flying in the clear skies at Maloof Airpark in ABQ. It sure seems backwards that I have to leave home for work to get some flying in- but hey - whatever it takes right?

A good bunch turned out for the Monthly Meeting of the New Mexico Coalition of Control line Addicts. We got in some good practice for the upcoming High Desert Control Line Fiesta next weekend. See the contest flyer on the club website http://www.nmccla.org.

After a morning of flying we adjourned to the Control Line Central Hobby Shop for the business portion of the meeting and a tasty lunch. Final details of the contest were hammered out and organized. It should be a great contest. Here are some pics from todays flying at the field- note that this is the regular C/L site, the contest will be held on the R/C side on the nice paved runway, covered shelters w/tables, etc.

Bill Heher · « **Reply #1 on:** August 07, 2010, 11:31:49 PM »

A few more pics

Clint Ormosen · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2010, 01:17:14 AM »

Is that 'ol Cunha there with the Stylus? Looks like him.

Balsa Butcher · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2010, 08:48:44 AM »

Good eye Clint... that would be me. That old airplane is now sportin' a ST-51. It was one of the better flying days we have had recently and the weather should hold for the contest next week.

Larry Cunningham · « **Reply #4 on:** August 08, 2010, 09:50:33 AM »

Only in New Mexico can you get a sky that blue and clear.. It looks pleasant. Have fun, guys.

Of course you realize that someone not knowing a pattern was being flown might caption the photos with such as:

"Oooohh oooohh! God!"

"Criminy! It's upside down and headed to the cement!"

"Oh NO!! Can't this thing fly level?"

;->

Nice photos, if you see my friend Gary Marchand out there, give him my best.

L.

"The doctors X-rayed my head and found nothing." - Dizzy Dean after being hit on the
head by a ball in the 1934 World Series.

Bill Heher · « **Reply #5 on:** August 08, 2010, 11:52:47 AM »

I should have gone into work today instead of to the field. I wanted to get some more practice flights in - I have been able to complete the Beginner pattern pretty regular now, and wanted to be all prepped and ready for next weekend.

Finished up a fair pattern and decided to do a few more Overhead 8s- trying to get the outside the same size as the inside. Guess I opened it up a bit too much- got loose on the last 1/2 of the outside and lost tension- POW!

Straight into the pavement. Airframe is totaled, even for someone with my experience at rebuilding wrecks ( I do it quite often), the entire wing center section is little splinters, and the fuse is the same back to the wing trailing edge. Also I had changed props so the plastic spinner didn't fit- so the end of the crankshaft took the impact. A really good running O.S. 35 now has a broken mount lug and crank. I already called my buddy in Phoenix and asked him to pull the O.S. 35 motor off my Twister there and send it to me, now I have to find another RTF plane by Friday. Anybody in the Duke City area got a flyable .35 size beater that want to part with??

I really want to compete this coming weekend, I even told myself after my 3rd flight today-" Not bad, if you can do that at the contest you stand a chance to finish somewhere other than last place!"

Leester · « **Reply #6 on:** August 08, 2010, 12:03:53 PM »

If the wing is salvegable, cut yourself a profile fuselage use the stab & elevator and make a Profile Oriental.

Jim Snelson · « **Reply #7 on:** August 08, 2010, 03:10:32 PM »

Dahng Bill. That sucks. If you need anything I can help you with or use of my shop let me know.

Lance and I went out but did not get there until about 11. We must have missed you. Lance got in about 4 or 5 flights before the wind came up and we went home.

Jim Snelson
www.clcentral.com

john e. holliday · « **Reply #8 on:** August 08, 2010, 03:15:26 PM »

Hey Bill, that happens to the best. You probablywon't have to worry about a plane as there are a great group of guys out there. Now a question, is the flying field west of ABQ(can't remember how it spells)? As many times as I have travelled thru the city have not seen too much on eastern side except a great big ole mountain chain. Hope you guys have a good contest.

Balsa Butcher · « **Reply #9 on:** August 08, 2010, 05:14:07 PM »

Well, it's not a beater but you are welcome to fly my modified Brodak P-51 profile at the contest. A 35FP will drop right in. For sale?, well I hadn't thought of it but we can talk. And you are correct Doc, the field is in West Albuquerque North of I-40 near the Petroglyph Park. It can be seen on Google Earth.

Jerry Leuty · « **Reply #10 on:** August 08, 2010, 05:58:11 PM »

We have been talking of coming to Albuquerque next weekend. It is a 12 hour drive for us. After already having traveled some 7000 miles this summer in our motor home I am a bit reluctant to travel again. But when you are as old as I am one needs to take advantage of every opportunity to go. Someday it may not be possible to attend out of the area contests. Even my own contest in eastern Dallas county is a 200 mile round trip for us. Needless to say we don't get out there but a couple times a year for flying. I have been flying different planes this past week finding one that I would like to bring with us to Albuquerque. I think that it will be a profile Cardinal and a scratch built profile Oriental. I too have crashed a full fuselage plane yesterday during practice. The engine went a sluggish 4 cycle and I was inverted. I tried to flip it back over in a outside loop and it simply fell in from about 45 degrees in the circle. I use to run backwards to save them but now I just stand and observe the inevitable crash. Chin up. Build you a few Oriental profiles and go flying. You will get better and most of your crashes will be from equipment failure instead of pilot error. Use better judgement on doing overhead maneuvers on an empty tank. Most of the crashes from my first 12 planes was from a OS .35S that quit in an overhead. Now the FPs and LAs keep a steady tight line no matter where I am. The plane that crashed yesterday had a new K&B .35 in it. Nice engine.............crashed ship.

Jerry R. Leuty

Bill Heher · « **Reply #11 on:** August 09, 2010, 10:59:28 AM »

Hi Jerry - sounds like we had the same mo-jo going this weekend. Sorry to hear you crashed. The OS in the Oriental was running great, and didn't quit in the OH 8. It was running strong when it hit the pavement! It still turns over nice, but needs a crankshaft. I can probably get by with a bigger washer on the monut lug, there is still over 1/2 the hole left.

Dick- I will take you up on your kind offer- unless someone has a plane a that is not that nice! I would be slightly aprehensive flying a really nice looking model, especially if the wind / temp are high. Adjusting to the air up here is hard- but the I had the Oriental flying well, and it was kind of heavy with the repairs and 2+ ozs of lead on the tail to balance.

Balsa Butcher · « **Reply #12 on:** August 09, 2010, 12:16:13 PM »

Uhhh Bill...would you mean Pete?

Dalton Hammett · « **Reply #13 on:** August 09, 2010, 01:00:39 PM »

Hi Bill, Sorry you did in your plane. I think this must have been a bad weekend for quite a few from some of the reports I've seen. I didn't fare any better myself.........

Dalton H.

Bill Heher · « **Reply #14 on:** August 09, 2010, 04:19:33 PM »

Quote from: Pete Cunha on August 09, 2010, 12:16:13 PM

Uhhh Bill...would you mean Pete?

Duh!! yes I meant Pete- brain fade- still lingering from yesterday!
I sent you a PM

Jim Snelson · « **Reply #15 on:** August 09, 2010, 10:18:24 PM »

BIll,

Give me a call. I sent out a plea for you to the members on our email list and I have several options for you if Petes offer does not work out.

Jim Snelson
www.clcentral.com

Bill Heher · « **Reply #16 on:** August 09, 2010, 11:16:38 PM »

Jim,

Thanks for the help, I talked to Pete today, but I am a little aprehensive to use his P-51, that is a really nice plane. I am interestedin all options - so give me your phone # and i'll call you to discuss what else may be available.

I am pretty stoked to fly against Lance- I was watching him fly and he looks so much more relaxed than I feel when I'm on the handle trying to put a good pattern together. Tell him I'm gunning for him!

Bill Little · « **Reply #17 on:** August 10, 2010, 04:01:29 AM »

Hi Bill,

Sorry to hear about the plane going in. Especially when the contest is a couple days away! Sounds like Jim has you covered if you feel too nervous to fly Pete's plane.

The C/L crowd is always coming to the rescue.

Bill

John Stiles · « **Reply #18 on:** August 10, 2010, 05:05:40 AM »

Quote from: Bill Heher on August 07, 2010, 11:30:04 PM

On the road agian- this time in New Mexico. .............

I remember running outta gas in Albuquerque back in 67' ..........as I recall it was about 9PM, and they had rolled the streets up!

Had to catch a big truck to the next town and another one back.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #19 on:** August 10, 2010, 09:10:04 AM »

It aint like that now. The first VSC we went straight north via the old two lane roads out of Tuscon Town. Going east we topped a rise and looked at all the lights in the valley ahead. That is one big town. Don't get the same site going west tho. You guys have fun and tell the Snelsons I said hi.

John Stiles · « **Reply #20 on:** August 11, 2010, 04:46:10 PM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on August 10, 2010, 09:10:04 AM

It aint like that now. The first VSC we went straight north via the old two lane roads out of Tuscon Town. Going east we topped a rise and looked at all the lights in the valley ahead. .........

I bet you weren't wearin flip-flops

john e. holliday · « **Reply #21 on:** August 12, 2010, 07:58:02 AM »

Natural born American all the way. Even had to drive to Topeka to get real birth certificate. Was told the one I had was a copy. The joys of getting a passport just so we can visit our neighbors and any state outside of the continental states. You guys have fun this weekend and I want lots of pictures.

Bill Heher · « **Reply #22 on:** August 12, 2010, 02:24:03 PM »

Don't wory Doc- I'll take lots of pics when I'm not busy flying or helping out. Getting them posted may be another story - my laptop just died ( I'm using the computer in the Office Center at the hotel right now).

Jerry Leuty · « **Reply #23 on:** August 12, 2010, 07:00:57 PM »

We arrived in town earlier today. We went to the flying field and spoke with some R/C guys there and then on to Wal Mart @ Coors and I-40. I will be out at the field in the morning trying to get use to the air density and time the fuel tank limit. My two planes are flown and well proven so hopefully I will make a better showing this year instead of coming in 3 rd. in a Imtermediat 3 place class. Of course there may be more than 3 in the class and I might not even place. But I have been flying this past month at 650' altitude. Now to find out how 6000'+ feels again.

Jerry