Incident (flying) on Belle Isle

[KEITH McCRARY]

 Last week Saturday Bob Mcdonald joined me for a flying session on the rock (Belle Isle). Weather was windy @ 15 mph temp @ 45 degrees. With the wind I went with 64' lines. Did not feel very comfortable. My plane was a tad fast with lots of wind up. Bob on the other hand had his PA .75 just truckin around, right thrugh the breeze. Not a good day for me. I got caught upwind twice on landings. The plane just floated up and died. Resulted in a scraped chin. Dang! I was flying so well in earlier outings but in the presence of "one of the top pilots in the country" my flying took two steps backwards. After Bob took a turn with my plane he said that it was indeed too fast, in addition it might be too quick in the turn for me. Suggested longer lines and reduce the spacing at the handle. So I went to 66' lines, turned the needle in a bit and left the handle alone. Line tug was lighter. While inverted on the upwind side my purty plane just settled to the concrete. DOUBLE DANG ! Oh well. Joe  Lajoi also showed up. Did not fly but took some pictures for posting.

Keith Mccrary

[john e. holliday]

Well you are flying with one of the best.   His Dad was also one of the greatest.  I built a very poor example of one of the Detroiter.  It flew great, but needed someone that knows how to build.  A little hint on flying in the wind.   Always try to lead the plane thru it and don't stop flying until the wheels quit rolling.   Some people call it whipping the plane.  But, stepping backwards while keeping line tension will help on landings.  It takes practice and I have learned how to slow them down when landing, on those calm days.   By the way, the planes look great. 

[KEITH McCRARY]

Thanks John. Just gotta fly a lot more.

Keith

[Randy Ryan]

Hey Kieth, how you doin'?? When did you start flying on Belle Isle? Looks like a nice parking area let's have a contest there!!!

[Joseph Lijoi]

Hey Kieth, how you doin'?? When did you start flying on Belle Isle? Looks like a nice parking area let's have a contest there!!!

Yes Randy, lets.  Keith started an earlier thread that has all the details.  There is also a grass field immediately adjacent to the parking lot.  We should call it the Roland McDonald Memorial.

[Randy Ryan]

Haven't been on allot this summer Joe, got allot going on personally but hope the end is near. Didn't see Keith's post, I'll go look it up. I like that name and a contest down there would stir up memories of the Plymouth International

[KEITH McCRARY]

 Randy! Hey, all is well. I started flying there just after the Signal Seekers CL Contest. And yes it is a nice site. Smooth concrete and no turbulence. If you get the urge to fly please call me I will meet you there. As long as there is no snow I am going to get flights up. I would like to see you back in circle. Really miss the Saturday morning sessions with the Signal Seeker control line crew.

Keith McCrary

[Randy Ryan]

Well for the time being Keith I can't do anything, got allot going on personally that I hope will be done my New Year, than I'll be free to do it.

[M Spencer]

Can pay to have the DOWN line out a notch on the handle , or just pull the top one in , if its set up sensitive ,
when the winds starting to push it around . theres one or two places getting it into the corner stops the wind takeing over .