Author Topic: New Years Day Flights (Read 7463 times)

peabody · « **on:** December 27, 2015, 05:45:29 AM »

When in GSCB-land, the "tradition" was to fly on New Years Day. Tom Niebuhr is the guy I blame.....he blamed Larry Scarinzi.....
Two years in a row, January 1st was the winter's COLDEST day....6* and 7* , but we flew anyhow! I generally flew a foam combat plane with a Fox 35.....just because.....

Here in Paradise, I have continued the tradition, although the conditions are not nearly as challenging......

It's a great way to wish your flying buddies a Happy New Year, and to get rid of the leftover Christmas cookies and fruitcake....

Have fun!

WR Crane aka MrClean · « **Reply #1 on:** December 27, 2015, 06:30:18 AM »

The Topeka Control line group TOPCLASS used to fly at midnight every year. I don't know what the status is there anymore. All I know is I'm babysitting but I'll be out flying at my RC club on New Years Day and haven't missed it since I joined in the 90's including a day where you had to fly real close. Blizzard you know. I'm just hoping next week isn't like today. 15 mph winds gusting to 25 and 32 degrees. Looks like I need to prep my SPAD. Get the BustaHOR out . I've spent a flight with it on one side of the circle. The flat bottom wing makes that, interesting.

Paul Walker · « **Reply #2 on:** December 27, 2015, 10:51:14 AM »

All the Pacific NW guys are welcome to come here to fly new years day. It is supposed to get up to 15 degrees F that day. Skiis might help!

Lyle Spiegel · « **Reply #3 on:** December 27, 2015, 11:30:45 AM »

I have fond memories of GSCB Snowbird meet. When was the last year it was held? Time to get Snowbird meet V2.0?

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #4 on:** December 27, 2015, 01:43:38 PM »

The Fireballs will be having a fun-fly in Portland Oregon on the 1st. The last few years members have snuck into Delta Park at midnight on the 31st and flown (this is technically not kosher: the park closes at dusk).

Barring disaster I'll be there. The weather report says it'll be clear skies and not too terrible wind.

peabody · « **Reply #5 on:** December 27, 2015, 06:26:47 PM »

Lyle....
I think Niebuhr could help....he probably has pictures.....it wasn't held in 1989 or after......

Have fun!

John Paris · « **Reply #6 on:** December 27, 2015, 06:37:53 PM »

Greater Flint, Michigan area is calling for below freezing temps and winds to 15 mph. Sounds perfect!!! Not sure who will show, but I will be out there for sure. Get in a couple of flights and then hit the Chinese buffet. Could not find a Chinese buffet when I flew NYD in Korea, but we did have some Chinese food.
John

Pat Chewning · « **Reply #7 on:** December 27, 2015, 11:26:31 PM »

Quote from: Tim Wescott on December 27, 2015, 01:43:38 PM

The Fireballs will be having a fun-fly in Portland Oregon on the 1st. The last few years members have snuck into Delta Park at midnight on the 31st and flown (this is technically not kosher: the park closes at dusk).

Barring disaster I'll be there. The weather report says it'll be clear skies and not too terrible wind.

I'm fitting lights to my Akromaster for Jan 31st midnight flying and will also be there on the 1st. Its going to be a busy day: Skiing for the day, flying at night, flying again on the 1st .....

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #8 on:** December 28, 2015, 06:33:17 AM »

Buder park here in St Louis will most likely be flooded, we have had 3 days of solid rain and the Meramec river is at 24 feet which normally floods the park...I will check out the flying site today

I will ask for a rain check on Jan 1st flying....

Maybe put some flying lines on a duck!

Fred

Bob Reeves · « **Reply #9 on:** December 28, 2015, 07:40:27 AM »

Quote from: Fred Cronenwett on December 28, 2015, 06:33:17 AM

Buder park here in St Louis will most likely be flooded, we have had 3 days of solid rain and the Meramec river is at 24 feet which normally floods the park...I will check out the flying site today

I will ask for a rain check on Jan 1st flying....

Maybe put some flying lines on a duck!

Fred

Tulsa is almost in the same situation, we don't have a river close enough to cause problems but with 3 days of rain our circles are flooded. Might be fun with a Dumas airboat.
http://www.webcam.somethinxtra.com/

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #10 on:** December 28, 2015, 09:23:30 AM »

Quote from: Bob Reeves on December 28, 2015, 07:40:27 AM

Tulsa is almost in the same situation, we don't have a river close enough to cause problems but with 3 days of rain our circles are flooded. Might be fun with a Dumas airboat.
http://www.webcam.somethinxtra.com/

I had the same problem this weekend at my usual flying circle -- the water was shallow enough that I could have flown anyway, but it had a skin of ice on it to boot -- so I flew at Delta Park instead.

There's an answer to this problem:

http://www.outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=3456

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #11 on:** December 28, 2015, 10:56:26 AM »

Or put floats on a 80" span Piper Cub, this model flew off of the ROW pond in Roseburg, Oregon in 2000 at the NW Regionals

Astro 40 geared electric with Nicads and 18" prop and throttle control

Fred

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #12 on:** December 28, 2015, 01:09:04 PM »

Quote from: Paul Walker on December 27, 2015, 10:51:14 AM

All the Pacific NW guys are welcome to come here to fly new years day. It is supposed to get up to 15 degrees F that day. Skiis might help!

on the good side,, no lighter fluid will be needed to start our motors,,,
on the bad side,, I think the skis will throw the trim off slightly

Paul Walker · « **Reply #13 on:** December 28, 2015, 01:25:01 PM »

Quote from: Mark Scarborough on December 28, 2015, 01:09:04 PM

on the good side,, no lighter fluid will be needed to start our motors,,,
on the bad side,, I think the skis will throw the trim off slightly

I was thinking more along the lines (pun intended) of a Flite Streak. Only problem is finding a center and clearing enough snow to stand properly.

The fact that it might be 15 degrees might keep me indoors. Gettimg soft in my old age!

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #14 on:** December 28, 2015, 02:14:23 PM »

yeah,, I have to agree,, 15 degrees is a bit far away from the acceptable weather conditions for enjoyment,,
as the temperature gets farther away from my age ( numerically) I find my self more inclined to find a nice warm heat source and either make balsa dust, or swap war stories about how good I think I was / am / could be...its so bad at my young age,, I have really come to enjoy the remote start on my pickup this year

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #15 on:** December 28, 2015, 03:08:53 PM »

Guilty as charged. We now do the New Year's thing in Dallas. It has a mixed bag for weather, nice or brutally windy and cold, depending on the year. We are always treated by Dave Ek trying to get a ceiling fan to fly and then we adjoin to Chubby's restaurant.

The last Snowbird meet that I attended was February 1964. I went to school in St Louis that fall and stayed for about 9 years, so I don't know if that was the last Snowbird Meet or not.

Those in attendance were like a who's who of Northeast Stunt Flyers, and several of the airplanes in my photos were published. Some of the people were Ed Elasick, Bill Simons, Gene Schaefer, John D'Ottavio, Andy Lee, Larry Scarinzi, Harold Price, Ron Pavloer and Moses Quintana.

I can show many of the pictures, if anyone is interested.

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #16 on:** December 28, 2015, 04:12:07 PM »

OK Ty,

From the Snowbird Meet Feb 23, 1964:

1) Bill Simon's airplane
2) Moses Quintana, Ed Elasick, John D'Ottavio (Andy Lee Photo)
3) Mose Quintana, "Airliner"

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #17 on:** December 28, 2015, 04:20:15 PM »

Snowbird Meet Feb 23, 1964:

4) Ron Pavloer's airplane
5) Lyle Spiegel
6)EdElasick "Impala"
7) Gene Shaffer

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #18 on:** December 28, 2015, 04:27:46 PM »

Snowbird Meet Feb 23, 1964:

Bob Miller "Extended "Gee Bee"
9) Gee Bee
10) Gee Bee
11) Moses Quintana's "Airliner"

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #19 on:** December 28, 2015, 04:33:55 PM »

Snowbird Meet Feb 23, 1964:

12) Moses Quintana, Fred Miles, Ed Elasick, Andy Lee, Ed Hartley
13) Larry Scarinzi's "Flipper"
14) Harold Price "Crusader"

YakNine · « **Reply #20 on:** December 28, 2015, 06:08:42 PM »

I will be at George Gaydos field with the usual suspects on Friday morning although it should be windy, I was gonna bring the flite Streak but I will probably take the little Buster , the 15X doesn't mind the cold and the skinny wing does pretty good in the wind. T.J.

Lyle Spiegel · « **Reply #21 on:** December 28, 2015, 07:14:32 PM »

Thanks for posting photos. I was there and you have kindly posted color photo of me with profile Mustang, kneeling in snow, wearing white coveralls. Thanks for the memories! Please note however, the picture of me is some how mis- titled as Fred Miles, but it is mistaken. I recall Johns JD Falcon, Harolds Crusader, Valkyre, Moses Quintana ship, and Larry S flying his awesum yellow Stingray that he brought out to the nostalgia combat fun fly last fall. Lyle

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #22 on:** December 28, 2015, 09:32:39 PM »

Lyle,
Thanks for the correction. Do you know if there were anymore Snowbird Meets after that??

Lyle Spiegel · « **Reply #23 on:** December 29, 2015, 04:19:56 AM »

Tom, according to Peabody posting, no more Snowbird meets after 1989? I interpet that to mean the last one was 1989. Unsure if tradition was kept up every year until then. Need LS to chime in ?
Lyle

Lyle Spiegel · « **Reply #24 on:** December 29, 2015, 04:29:12 AM »

Correction, I re read Peabody msg, no meet in 1989, so implies last snowbird meet 1988? Would be interesting to figure out who (whom?) among us that attended in 1964 is still in the hobby.
Lyle

peabody · « **Reply #25 on:** December 29, 2015, 06:03:43 AM »

Lyle...I joined the GSCB in 1989 and there were no Snowbird meets afterwards....although the more seasoned members spoke of them....
Given the time stamp of Tom's pics, and my remembering, there are five years that the event stopped being a "Snowbird meet" and simply a New Years Day fun fly.

I also wonder if the Snowbird meets were held on January 1? I think I recall them being later.....mayhaps March?

Thanks

for some reason I posted the same thing as an answer to Lyle under the "fun combat" thread

Frank Imbriaco · « **Reply #26 on:** December 29, 2015, 05:26:49 PM »

Quote from: Tom Niebuhr on December 28, 2015, 09:32:39 PM

Lyle,
Thanks for the correction. Do you know if there were anymore Snowbird Meets after that??

Indeed there were.
I attended them 68-70. 1969 stands out in my mine. An honest 10 plus inches of snow the very day before- but the weather couldn't be better for the meet. Near 50 degrees and light winds. Circles cleared just enough for take-offs and landings with a path to the handle. I remember having to hold the handle way high for both. Among others, Jr.-Sr. entrants included Dawn Cosmillo and her then boyfriend, Don Shulman( Leon's son and Jason's Dad ), Wayne Colgan , Rob Feinstein , probably more.
I flew an old resurrected Fox 35 powered Detroit Stunter as I was building my JD Falcon II that winter.
I can't recall if we flew anything other than stunt that day.

Frank Imbriaco · « **Reply #27 on:** December 29, 2015, 05:48:35 PM »

Tom and Lyle- Sorry -thought you meant after 1964 and now that I've re-read, you meant any after 1989.

peabody · « **Reply #28 on:** December 29, 2015, 06:05:25 PM »

Frank
Do you recall if the Snowbird was always on New Year's Day?

Pat Chewning · « **Reply #29 on:** December 29, 2015, 06:59:02 PM »

I've prepared my plane for new-year's eve flying.

Frank Imbriaco · « **Reply #30 on:** December 30, 2015, 05:52:20 AM »

Quote from: peabody on December 29, 2015, 06:05:25 PM

Frank
Do you recall if the Snowbird was always on New Year's Day?

No, it was a February thing , but I could swear that a few times they actually had a Jan. 1 event. Jimmy Dammerel said it was only February.

peabody · « **Reply #31 on:** December 30, 2015, 06:26:33 AM »

Thanks Frank....
I guess that the Snowbird Meet vanished sometime between 1984 and 1989 then?
I remember that a few of us flew on January 1, 1990.....

Have fun!

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #32 on:** December 30, 2015, 01:45:04 PM »

As I sad above, I personally can only talk about that the Snowbird meets up to February 1964. Jim Dammerell is probably correct that they were only held in February.

The New Years day thing had nothing to do with the Snowbird Meet. I don't know how 1984 was ever associated with the Snowbird Meet.

Frank Imbriaco · « **Reply #33 on:** December 30, 2015, 03:41:33 PM »

I really dig Mose's "Airliner" ! Heard about it, but never saw it. Another clockwise flyer. Most I've known have been very good pilots. Of course, Gene was altogether something else. The only guy I ever witnessed who could "stop" a AAA meet. Everybody stopped what they were doing to watch Gene's flight. At first I thought that I was the only kid wowed by his act. Then, Hunt (and others) told me that his flying impacted them the same way.

peabody · « **Reply #34 on:** January 01, 2016, 03:54:24 PM »

Quite a few got out to the MCRC field today.....it was the first nice day this year! 84*, and very little wind.....great to see everyone and a great way to kick the year off.....

Have fun?

Joe Hamorski · « **Reply #35 on:** January 01, 2016, 04:25:39 PM »

Had a great day in Orlando flying! Only 2 of us, Jimmy 'One Flip' Mitchell, and myself, Josie. About 75* with very light winds...Been a rough year for our group. From work schedules drastically changing, to the "Celebration of Life for Bill Christie." Bill, you are remembered for your great company, very kind heart, and let the good times roll. Both planes Jimmy and I flew today, Cardinal and Smoothie, were built and finished by our friend Bill. Thank you...

Larrys4227 · « **Reply #36 on:** January 01, 2016, 07:25:59 PM »

Quote from: peabody on January 01, 2016, 03:54:24 PM

Quite a few got out to the MCRC field today.....it was the first nice day this year! 84*, and very little wind.....great to see everyone and a great way to kick the year off.....

Have fun?

It was a great day with some nice folks ..... hope to see you and the guys soon Rich.

Larrys4227 · « **Reply #37 on:** January 01, 2016, 07:27:41 PM »

Quote from: Joe Hamorski on January 01, 2016, 04:25:39 PM

Had a great day in Orlando flying! Only 2 of us, Jimmy 'One Flip' Mitchell, and myself, Josie. About 75* with very light winds...Been a rough year for our group. From work schedules drastically changing, to the "Celebration of Life for Bill Christie." Bill, you are remembered for your great company, very kind heart, and let the good times roll. Both planes Jimmy and I flew today, Cardinal and Smoothie, were built and finished by our friend Bill. Thank you...

Glad to see you guys got out .... yeah, its been strange flying for you Orlando guys.

Very sorry to hear about Bill .... when you get a few, please contact me. Its the first I've heard of this.

YakNine · « **Reply #38 on:** January 03, 2016, 08:02:25 AM »

The GSCB had a good turnout on Friday Morning I was glad I packed one my propane space heaters it doesn't attract the Fire companies attention like a bonfire does. There were quite a few electric planes flying, and three glow engines All Foxes ! The hi light for me was when Tom Luciano had Larry Scarinzi fly his father's restored Killer Combatter that Larry designed in 1958 powered by a LOUD 36X on crank case pressure that Larry collaborated on with Duke Fox in the design of for a flight. He is amazing to watch and at 82 years young he showed us whipper snappers how its done . A fun tradition that I am honored that they let me be a part of.T.J.

John Paris · « **Reply #39 on:** January 03, 2016, 08:44:15 AM »

Okay turn out in Flint, MI. We had cold, wind and snow so it was right on target.

John Leidle · « **Reply #40 on:** January 03, 2016, 02:44:25 PM »

I got late start Friday morning, loaded 2 planes & all my equipment in the truck. I get up to the field & set out my safety cones, like a dufuss I leave my coat home so I fly 3 hours without a coat it was sunny but a bit cool for me ( frost in the shade = 32 degrees ) anyway hada good session my Diva is contest ready .
John

Norm Faith Jr. · « **Reply #41 on:** January 03, 2016, 09:01:14 PM »

Hi Lyle, was that (or maybe still is) a Mid-West Mustang?
Norm

Quote from: Lyle Spiegel on December 28, 2015, 07:14:32 PM

Thanks for posting photos. I was there and you have kindly posted color photo of me with profile Mustang, kneeling in snow, wearing white coveralls. Thanks for the memories! Please note however, the picture of me is some how mis- titled as Fred Miles, but it is mistaken. I recall Johns JD Falcon, Harolds Crusader, Valkyre, Moses Quintana ship, and Larry S flying his awesum yellow Stingray that he brought out to the nostalgia combat fun fly last fall. Lyle

peabody · « **Reply #42 on:** January 04, 2016, 03:49:33 PM »

Len Bechtold and wife Sharon drove his C6 'vette over from Jupiter to fly with us at MCRC on January 1st. He's got his Ring working pretty well....the temp was 84*F or so....very little wind....great day!

Shug Emery · « **Reply #43 on:** January 04, 2016, 04:16:59 PM »

Here is the Minneapolis Piston Popper's Frozen Fun Fly short video. We had windy conditions and temps around 18º.
Tony's wife made some wonderful chili. Cold but fun day. Norm made a Flying Snow Saucer just for the event.
Shug

wwwarbird · « **Reply #44 on:** January 04, 2016, 06:26:48 PM »

Quote from: Shug Emery on January 04, 2016, 04:16:59 PM

Here is the Minneapolis Piston Popper's Frozen Fun Fly short video. We had windy conditions and temps around 18º.
Tony's wife made some wonderful chili. Cold but fun day. Norm made a Flying Snow Saucer just for the event.
Shug

Looks like maybe Norm's saucer could use some of Howard's vortex generators?

john e. holliday · « **Reply #45 on:** January 05, 2016, 10:32:26 AM »

Great you guys got to fly. Extent the nose on the saucer a bit. Neat novelty idea though.

Author Topic: New Years Day Flights (Read 7463 times)

John Leidle