Last 2009 Flights for Team Rootbeard

[Paul Taylor]

Well the rain has stopped today and the temps went up to a blazing 47 degrees.

Ryan and I packed up to put up our last flight of 2009. Our first attempt to start the cold LA .46 did not go, the first glow starter was dead. We grabbed the backup glow starter and it was not much better. So we had to drag out the flite box and use the glow starter from it. The OS sputtered to life. Had to open the needle a bit as the last time Ryan flew the temps were in the 80's.
We were both a little rusty, but managed to get in a flight. And the field was muddy and had small puddles but we found a dry place to land.
The next 30 days will be very cold so I guess we will hang our handle up and wait for warmer weather.


HAPPY New Year everyone!

[Randy Powell]

Man, I wish we could fly. It's pounding rain here and the wind is cooking.

[Gary Anderson]

Man, I wish we could fly. It's pounding rain here and the wind is cooking.

Hi Randy,
I know what ya mean, I believe it was around sixty degrees, lite wind and that darn sun blazing. Maybe I'll be able to burn some circles tomorrow. Yesterday my Saito decided it didn't need to run so I got to watch the rest of the crew fly. I think I got the bugs worked out of the saito and going to give her a try. I told the Saito I was taking my Double Star 61 and my enya 60, so if she messes with me tomorrow, she'll have to sit out of the circle and watch!!! The Saito is in my Strega, the DD is in my Stiletto and my Enya 60 is in my, a cross between a Strega and a Shark 45. They all fly better than I do, Gary (could be in trouble only have half a gallon of fuel)

[Leo Mehl]

It hasn't been good flying weather in Portland either. Snow rain and wind. The weather sucks and seeing I am no longer flying competition I can stay inside where it is warm.

[Randy Powell]

Leo,

Just wait till the weather improves and you get those competitive juices going again.   

No Portland contest in April this year? It's not listed on Flying Lines.   

[Harleyman]

            the temps went up to a blazing 47 degrees.

Gosh would 47 degrees feel nice around here right now.  
Glad you guys could get out to end 2009 the right way.  
Hopefully the weather will be better for us in May.  

Happy New Year!

[Bill Heher]

Glad to hear I wasn't the only person fighting puddles and dead batteries. I had to get my final flights in on the 30th, yesterday was nicer but I spent the day riding herd on my son and his friends at the Go-cart tack (sore butt!).

I got the Akromaste up with an OS .15 FP replacing the Thunder Tiger that didn't want to run at Lake Wales a few weeks ago. Much better engine run, but need to get the tank adjusted and get it to stay put.

I also entertained a car of spectators- who probably think I am nuts. 1st try with the Shoestring from the stooge gave them the treat of watching me stand at center circle with the engine running till it ran out of fuel - Stooge didn't release.
2nd try I got it flying but it quit inverted- I fought instinct and just glided in upside down- into a puddle- big steam cloud for effect.
3rd flight and all was going well, until I wandered a bit too far to the side and ran the plane through the end of a pine tree branch! Killed the engine and settled to the ground right in front of them with pine needle bunches hanging off it and sticking out of the wing!

I still had fun- and that's what it is about- HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!! GO FLY!

[john e. holliday]

Yes that is what it is supposed to be about,  "FUN".  Single digit temps with below zero wind chill does not encourage me to get out.   47 degrees here would be a heat wave.

And Leo you olf F*** it is about time you start having fun.  I still go to and enter contests, but quit worrying about the judges.  I myself am not a top notch pilot and will never be.  Hope to see you at VSC as well as everybody else nation wide.

[Paul Smith]

I beat your "last day" record by 57 days.

[Charlie Pate]

  Smart people build planes this time of year!
  But then ,you guys are from Tennessee!
  Seriously; as  a kid we would go and fly year round . we would hold the plane as close to the fire as possible
  to warm the engine. Dry cell, all castor fuel , didn,t help any.
  Now that I,m older ,I don,t do this stuipid stuff anymore.
  I simply hang out as safety director at the quarter midget track for six to eight hoirs where the
  track temperature at the impound and parking lot usualy runs around 125-130 degrees.
  You see, Im from Tennessee Too!
  Hope to fly more this year.
  My flying buddy Marshal Busby have vowed to do this for 2010.
  Hope we can make good on it!