Hot Sunday flying, and Bob Z's wild maiden flight of the Jezebel

[RknRusty]

It took me a while to file Sunday's flight report, but here it finally is. Lots of fun, the planes and us got plenty hot and greasy before it was all over.

It's been over 100F for a week and today(Sunday) was only supposed to be 98, so we decided to start late and fly till dusk. And it was a good decision, we may try that MO for the rest of daylight savings time. The wind gets much tamer late and flying into the sun doesn't seem quite as bright.

Our newest club member Bob Zambelli came with his latest build called Jezebel, designed by Lt. Col. Henry "BOO" Bourgeois that flew in Black Sheep Squadron on the 2nd Tour with Pappy Boyington. It's a beautiful twin engine model. It had new but old-stock Fox 19s on it. Or maybe .15s, Bob can confirm that. They were not yet broken-in, but that didn't slow him down. Nor did the fact that he just finished it today before bringing it out to fly. He'll sometimes show up with planes that may not have haven't cranked and flown in years and just flies the ever living snot out of them! Last year he dusted off his old Colibri 4 engine stunter and put on a thrilling show, which I reported on here with a video. This time was just as exciting with his new untested twin. See for yourself. Balls of steel, I say!
Here's a video capture of the Jezebel, Also named Miss Harriet in favour of his fiancee, and the movie.

He is not afraid to really let her rip as soon as it's airborne. Bob, it's great to have you join up with the Carolina Gang, we enjoy having you fly with us.



Here is my Oriental flying with its new 5 ounce tank which now holds enough fuel to run where it truly shines, launching at 10.8k RPM, without running out of gas. This plane is a graceful thing of beauty. It continues to please me. In this case, it's being piloted by my buddy, Wayne Robinson.



Then again, I might have to call her Dirty Bird II if she keeps getting this dirty. I put up more flights in one day with it than I ever have before. Looks like I found a little tall grass there. That happened when I landed. She's a real greaser after this day of flying.


It's much more relaxing flying with three people than with the usual two of us. And we took turns with the RC guys at the field too. There was a nice breeze with enough clouds developing later on that it was pure stunt heaven. Thermals would switch up on us, but I swear when the big yeller bird is on song, she doesn't care where the breeze is, just plows through it like nothing. I'm flying this plane much better than any of my earlier rattletraps. I'm happy to say that mostly, I don't suck anymore. Landing is my only nemesis. I am terrible at it. I put on bigger wheels for the grass, and it looks better but no difference in my bouncy landings. I'm either too hot or stalling.

I brought the Ukey for my warmup plane, but after one flight I felt good, so parked it. Wayne finished trimming his Intermediate Death Star, or IDS, and it's a really good stunter. He based it on the Ukey after he redesigned and built the UKey G2, which didn't come out to play today. But here is a picture of the IDS and Ukey side by side.


Till next time, fly and have fun.
Rusty

[Brent Williams]

That orange and black airplane is nicely done.  Looks like it's built from a Corehouse Gotcha Streak III.  I like the use of carbon veil on the leading/trailing edge. 
How did it fly?

[RknRusty]

That orange and black airplane is nicely done.  Looks like it's built from a Corehouse Gotcha Streak III.  I like the use of carbon veil on the leading/trailing edge. 
How did it fly?

He's told me what that wing is but I don't remember. I'll ask him. It's an LA46 up front with a 4oz chicken hopper tank. It does fly really well. Wayne intended to take it to fly at Brodak but didn't get enough trim flights, and Sunday was the first time he really let it rip. It really grooves, can't make it hinge even if you slam the corners. We always fly in wind out there at Fort Jackson, and it bashes right through, so it's a competent stunter. I'm guessing that'll be his plane for profile in Huntersville and Jacksonville, but he also has two other good profiles. His re-designed Ukey G2 is pretty tight too. There are several changes including the bellcrank moved to the bottom. Here it is.

The photo doesn't do the forest green justice. He presented it to Pat Hartness of Triple Tree at Joe Nall, but it still resides here in Columbia. That's a Triple Tree logo on the tail.

[john e. holliday]

Bob Z. is one of the greats when it comes to flying.   I too have had planes that after a loop or two with some inverted, I would do the pattern.  Then again I've had a few I was lucky to get them down in one piece.   Hope he can get some one to kit the "Jezebel" or get full size plans.