Salem Fall Follies this weekend

[Randy Powell]

Looks like the weather will cooperate. I hope to be there by noon tomorrow.   

[Allan Perret]

You flying the RMD ?        What events ?

[Tim Wescott]

And it was fun, too.  I met all my personal goals for the contest -- I got more than a 0 score on both my flights, and my plane's still in flyable condition.  Not only that, but I got a trophy!  Of course, it's for third place in a class of three* which does take the shine off, but since I got it with my highest score ever in a stunt competition I suppose I have to keep it.

* The Pacific Northwest needs more beginners.

[john e. holliday]

Tim,  congradulations on your third place.  Even tho there were only three of you guys.  At least you earned it by flying and not sitting at home wishing you had flown.  What is bad is when you place last in a crowd of 70+ when normally you would be about mid way up on the list.  But, at least we can say we tried.  Keep at it and you will be there.   

[Russell Shaffer]

Well said, Doc.  Tim did better than he says, the only actual damage was one prop and he still made a good landing.  We will all be expecting him back now that the first contest jitters are overcome.  Good job, Tim, and glad to meet you.  You'll be in intermediate with me next year.

[Randy Powell]

It was good to meed Tim and Russell. Good guys.

Allan,

I ended up getting there too late for profile then was only able to fly one round on Sunday since I had to get back to Portland. Trying to accomplish two goals on a contest weekend only insures that both will suffer. The plane flies real well, but the pilot didn't. Oh well, I had fun anyway.

[John Castle]

I was really disappointed I missed this one. I had it on my calendar for months but of course at the last minute some family issues came up and I could not make it. I'm sure I could have given you guys some serious competition for third place beginners.
Oh well I'm glad you guys had some almost perfect flying weather. Hope to see you next Spring at the Regionals.

John

[Tim Wescott]

It was certainly a good meet to go to, and I got the distinct impression that turnout was good -- not just from the comments, but from the fact that the CD kept the competition running smoothly and fairly fast yet it still ran well after 5:00PM.  The fact that most people were willing to stick around that late on a Sunday impressed me, too -- that's not the behavior you see from folks at car shows!

[Leo Mehl]

I Had a great time. My Vector ARC flew well and flying conditions were excellent. My first and last contest of the year. Great seeing all my friends as usual. Leo

[Russell Shaffer]

I hope to see more of you next year, Leo.  Let's see if we can't both make it to more contests.  Russell

[Bill Heher]

Hey Tim- Congratulations!!! I wish I could have been there - I have a trophy for 3rd out of 3 in beginner from a Salem contest- and my plane did not survive!  Keep at it - I'm still flying in Beginner over a year later- but the manuevers are starting to look a lot more like the diagrams. I am starting to work on inverted stuff- but need to find some grass- I am still pretty " Pavement Shy".

Keep on building and flying, fixing and flying, working and flying, dreaming and flying. The fumes of burnt glow fuel are a powerful drug- like Steroids for Stunt. The more you get in your system the bigger your scores get!

I recently burned the last of a whole gallon of fuel in 1 plane and didn't crah or break a prop- and that felt really good!  I know you will progress rapidly- especially if you get a few chances to fly with the regular Northwest fliers. There is a mother lode of stunt knowledge up there, Salem, Portland, Seattle, McMinnville, Eugene, Vancouver, and some of the best people in the hobby are willing to help- believe me- I know firsthand!

[Tim Wescott]

Hey Tim- Congratulations!!! ... I am starting to work on inverted stuff- but need to find some grass- I am still pretty " Pavement Shy".

It was actually inverted flight that lead -- indirectly -- to the crash.  I'm a lot more comfortable flying inverted than I am entering an outside loop from up high, and I'm still having lots of trouble remembering the pattern in spite of lots of time spent flying "air patterns".  So I decided that my routine would be to take the option to fly three and a half inside loops, then enter the outside loops from below, then fly the rest of the pattern.

I forgot to do the extra half inside loop!  This left me rattled enough that I couldn't pay attention to altitude on the figure eight, and wham!, I put the bottom of the second inside of the figure eight at negative four inches of altitude.  Killed the motor, bent the landing gear, scuffed up both blades of the prop pretty badly, and bounced me up into the air about three feet.

So -- lots more air time.  Fortunately this is the last time I'll need to enter a contest without ever having even flown all the elements of the pattern!!  Hopefully this is the last time that I forget the stupid pattern -- but I doubt it.

I recently burned the last of a whole gallon of fuel in 1 plane and didn't crah or break a prop- and that felt really good!  I know you will progress rapidly- especially if you get a few chances to fly with the regular Northwest fliers. There is a mother lode of stunt knowledge up there, Salem, Portland, Seattle, McMinnville, Eugene, Vancouver, and some of the best people in the hobby are willing to help- believe me- I know firsthand!

I realized when I got home last night that the Salem field is only 5-10 minutes more time away from my house than Delta Park, even though Delta Park is about 10 miles closer.  I'm pretty sure McMinnville is much longer, as it's across the Willamette from me, and traffic on 99W is nasty.

[Bill Heher]

Tim- upright entry into the outside loop is really no different than the 1st outside of the Horizontal 8, except you are at the top instead of climbing up out of the inside.  Another thing to remember is that you need to get 2 laps in between the inside loops and the outside loops- and I seem to end up finding a way to hit the ground before I finish the inverted laps. That is what I am working on now- flying nice level inverted laps- but so far they are at about 20-25 feet high. Hope to get to the point that I dont't do this anymore- see pic!

[Tim Wescott]

Tim- upright entry into the outside loop is really no different than the 1st outside of the Horizontal 8, except you are at the top instead of climbing up out of the inside.  Another thing to remember is that you need to get 2 laps in between the inside loops and the outside loops- and I seem to end up finding a way to hit the ground before I finish the inverted laps. That is what I am working on now- flying nice level inverted laps- but so far they are at about 20-25 feet high. Hope to get to the point that I dont't do this anymore- see pic!

I realized this Saturday that I had only been going up to 30 degrees or so at the tops of my maneuvers, and indeed my loops were still very cramped yesterday.  So I think if I start from a "real" 45 degrees I won't feel so crowded.  I also think I know what one of my long-term problems with the pattern is going to be, but I'm gonna start working on that the next time I fly!

I taught myself to fly inverted the first time that I was actively flying, over 30 years ago: I learned from a RC aerobatics column in Flying Models to not think "up" and "down" when directing the plane, but rather to think "canopy" and "wheels".  That way when you're close to the ground instead of thinking "up, no down, no up is down and down is up and oh that reminds me of how I need to vote come November" you'll just think "go toward the wheels" and there you are.

Someone will (wisely) come into this thread and tell you that you don't want to think when you fly -- if you can do that, great.  If you just have to think about it verbally to establish that direct arm-brain connection, then do it as I said.  And spend that time air-flying if you can -- visualize the airplane in front of you, with the wheels up.  Then practice climbs and dives until you get used to the response of the controls when you're wheels-up.  If you don't mind messing up your canopy-up flight for a while, start thinking (or visualizing) "toward the canopy" or "toward the wheels"

When you can air-fly inverted without getting befuddled, then try it on a real plane.  Preferably one that responds a bit slower than a full-house stunter.  Something very "trainerish" is good for learning to fly inverted, because the flying will just be much more relaxed.  I will devote entire flights to practicing level inverted laps (when I'm not devoting entire flights to level upright laps).  Oddly, my level flight is still as jumpy as a chihuahua that's drinking espresso, but I'll fix that at some point...

[John Witt]

Would someone post a report and results?  Pictures are even better.

John

[Russell Shaffer]

We missed you, John.  John Thompson took quite a few pictures, keep an eye on Flying Lines.  Are you still flying Intermediate or did you move up?  Russell

[John Witt]

I flew advanced in Auburn. I wasn't flying very well, tho.  Was last in Classic.    But not last in advanced.  

Electric Impact ready RSN.

[Russell Shaffer]

Where did you ever get the idea for an electric Impact?

[Mark Scarborough]

Where did you ever get the idea for an electric Impact?

I know, what a bizzare concept 

[Scott B. Riese]

As a person that was there and a Judge on Sunday I must say there was "STUNT IN THE AIR" Light breeze 2-4, Overcast, 68 degrees, 50 % humidity, lunch, and Twenty Seven Flyer's just for PA Stunt.

The flyer's had great conditions. Paul and Howey battled it out for Expert. Howard came up just shy.HOWEVER, it could of been his best flight ever. Just a bobble on Intersections of two manoeuvres cost him. Paul's "Rule book with color" Flight had only one out of place overhead. Dave Royer took first place in advanced with HIS best flying of the decade. And no BOM!

Leo came out of retirement to cause an uproar.....He put in a good flight for a 78 year old with one eye, bad hip, and no teeth....we call him "LUCKY"...lol

Randy Powells Ringmaster...WAY KEWL......I want one.
More will come from Dirt Dan.....OH HE FLEW GREAT.....

[john e. holliday]

It's about time for the senior citizen to start flying again.      Hey Leo, we got to stick together and keep these snot nosed kids in line.   

[FLOYD CARTER]

Leo looked good at the Follies.  I think he introduced me as "the oldest one there, next to him", or something like that.  (and he was right).

Floyd

[Tim Wescott]

Would someone post a report and results?  Pictures are even better.

I found this: http://flyinglines.org/Follies.10.html

[john e. holliday]

Thanks for the link Tim.  A lot of great pictures.   

[Scott B. Riese]

As they say........phots add 20 LBS..............In my case WOW...I'm fat. Thanks for the photos John!

[Russell Shaffer]

Not even close, Scott.  You may be a little large, but I know some fat guys.  You just don't measure up.