Ringmaster WEEKEND

[Brad LaPointe]

October 5th and 6th ? Inquiring minds want to know. I have not noticed anything mentioned about this annual event.
Brad

[Dave Rigotti]

yes

[David Norrid]

I’m kinda new to the group. I picked the lines back up 2 years ago after 40 years. First plane was a ringmaster scratch build. It flew like a dream till I plowed into my my car that I parked to close. I’ve got a new build and I’m ready. Also built a ring on my farm for the sole purpose of flying. You can’t land on cow turds without damage.

[Dan McEntee]

I’m kinda new to the group. I picked the lines back up 2 years ago after 40 years. First plane was a ringmaster scratch build. It flew like a dream till I plowed into my my car that I parked to close. I’ve got a new build and I’m ready. Also built a ring on my farm for the sole purpose of flying. You can’t land on cow turds without damage.

  Welcome to the fun!! I used to fly demonstrations for a friend of mine who's family had a small farm not far from me, and they had a fall festival each fall with hay bale maze, other stuff for kids to do and other things for sale and display. They had usually just harvested the corn, and we would lay out a big enough spot for a circle, and then just drive cars and trucks around in circles in the edge to flatten the ground and old furrows. In the fall the ground is usually soft enough to get run down pretty flat!! Just don't build your circle down wind near any buildings or barns to keep turbulence to a minimum!!. Having a private flying circle might be the common dream of most of us!!
  Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee

[Dennis Leonhardi]

I’m kinda new to the group. I picked the lines back up 2 years ago after 40 years. First plane was a ringmaster scratch build. It flew like a dream till I plowed into my my car that I parked to close. I’ve got a new build and I’m ready. Also built a ring on my farm for the sole purpose of flying. You can’t land on cow turds without damage.

 

[John Cralley]

It's Happening this October 5th and 6th (Make up weekend is the following weekend)!!!! 

Check out our website www.ringmasterflyathon.com It is where you report your flights!

Also check out our facebook Group and Chats https://www.facebook.com/groups/RingmasterFlyAThon Lots of posts and information there too.

I hope to see many many reports rolling in again this year!!!

John Cralley for the Brotherhood of the Ring

[Clifford Chmiel]

Building one now

[John Rist]

Huntsville Alabama NACA club will be taking part.  I have a E-576 Ringmaster with an RC throttle.  Gets about 5-6 legal flights per battery pack.   Weather looks good for this weekend.   

[Mark Mc]

What's the minimum number of laps for an official flight?  I've heard three different numbers.

[John Rist]

What's the minimum number of laps for an official flight?  I've heard three different numbers.

Per the Ringmaster Fly-A-Thon flyer posted above "A minimum of 5 laps & a full stop after landing is required to count as an official flight."

[Steve Dwyer]

The Syracuse Thunderbirds RC club as usual is hosting this year's Ringmaster Fly-A-Thon with their fare of food and visitors. We normally have 6 or more pilots showing up with a variety of models including the "Ringmaster Mystery Model" presented every year because of Pat King's unusual creativity. Last year we flew in the rain proving Fox engines will run in any weather, this year's forecast looks to be much more favorable. Our hearts go out to all those modelers in the south affected and cannot participate because of the Helene Hurricane.

Steve

[Rusty]

Today, Saturday, 10/5/2024 at approx. 09:30 am Jim Deutsch and I got 1 flight in each with our ringmasters.  We had rain, but waited it out to get the flights in.   

Picture: Rusty left, Jim right.

[John Rist]

NACA (Huntsville Alabama) put in 100+ flights today.  Going to do it again tomorrow! 

[GERALD WIMMER]

Did a couple of Ringmaster flights each at the Green Rd site of North Shore Model Aero Club here in New Zealand on Saturday but it was windy and we stopped when the thunderstorms started rolling in. Sunday was even windier so have to wait till next year (normal wild spring weather for October here).

Regards Gerald

[John Rist]

Did a couple of Ringmaster flights each at the Green Rd site of North Shore Model Aero Club here in New Zealand on Saturday but it was windy and we stopped when the thunderstorms started rolling in. Sunday was even windier so have to wait till next year (normal wild spring weather for October here).

Regards Gerald

Give it a go next weekend weather permitting.   

[Dan McEntee]

Today, Saturday, 10/5/2024 at approx. 09:30 am Jim Deutsch and I got 1 flight in each with our ringmasters.  We had rain, but waited it out to get the flights in.   

Picture: Rusty left, Jim right.

      Is that the Ringmaster you just built Rusty!! Looks like you got it done in the nick of time!! Did you get your tank issues squared away?? I got out Friday as the wind was supposed to be better, but only got one flight in before it got gusty, and my right knee was really barking at me, so I just sat around and helped a old friend/new guy with some of his stuff.  Was a nice day for that!!I have been pretty active the last couple of weeks and we went to Tulsa for their contest last weekend, so I think my knee was just rising up in revolt!!. Wind was forecast too high for me for yesterday and blowing good today, so I just laid  around and stayed off my knee for yesterday and today. Tomorrow is looking acceptable and so is Tuesday so one of those days or both I hope to catch up. Knee is feeling better as I type this but I think it's time to see the saw bones for an outlook for a new one. If this one goes as well as the first, I'll be in good shape!!

  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Rusty]

      Is that the Ringmaster you just built Rusty!! Looks like you got it done in the nick of time!! Did you get your tank issues squared away?? I got out Friday as the wind was supposed to be better, but only got one flight in before it got gusty, and my right knee was really barking at me, so I just sat around and helped a old friend/new guy with some of his stuff.  Was a nice day for that!!I have been pretty active the last couple of weeks and we went to Tulsa for their contest last weekend, so I think my knee was just rising up in revolt!!. Wind was forecast too high for me for yesterday and blowing good today, so I just laid  around and stayed off my knee for yesterday and today. Tomorrow is looking acceptable and so is Tuesday so one of those days or both I hope to catch up. Knee is feeling better as I type this but I think it's time to see the saw bones for an outlook for a new one. If this one goes as well as the first, I'll be in good shape!!

  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

No.  I'm still working on my Ringmaster.  I got the base coat of paint on it.   I was held up anyway because I got the wrong tank and had to exchange it.   That Ringmaster is my late Dad's.   It is 39 years old.  It flew great.   I took your advice and used the syringe to measure the fuel.   2 ounces gave me all I want.   

I'm going to send you the engine.  You got any 2 or 2.5 oz profile tanks?

Now with the hurricane coming, I will be delayed more.  I like how it is so far and just cannot decide on the color scheme.  I don't want regular one.

Rusty

Edit:  Added pic of the Ringmaster I'm building.  It is scratch built using the plans and drawings Dan McEntee sent me.  It has the primary color applied, but I have not decided on what the rest will be.  I'm in a hurricane state of mind now.

[Richard Fleming]

Got in eight flights Saturday with my S-1 Ringmaster. Sunday weather a no go with hurricane approaching Wednesday. Was hoping to fly a new S-1  have been working on for the past month and a half but the last storm put me behind. Will have to wait and see if next weekend will work out for make up day.

[Mark Mc]

I got in 25 flights this weekend.  The first two with my Cox PeeWee .020 Ringmaster.  At 2.5 second laps on 20' lines, two was enough.  The next 23 were with a Babe Bee .049 powered Beginner's RM derivative.

Another club member put in 15 Ringmaster S-1 flights at the Tulsa Glue Dobbers Control Line field, and another 42 RM S-1 flights at the Glue Dobbers RC field.  That's dedication.

[John Rist]

The Ringmaster Fly-A-Thon, this past weekend, was big success for the Huntsville Alabama NACA club.  Both days had high of 80 and less than 5 mph winds. A total 5 people showed up and we put in a total 166 flights.  Due to a bad back I did not fly but I brought my 567 E-Ringmaster that has a RC throttle installed. One can take off fly 5 laps and land.  This can be repealed until the battery is dead. We were getting 10+ flights per battery pack. Joe Lacey, Ty Marcucci, and John Cameron did a great job flying the 576.

Saturday we put in 106 flights. Ronnie Thompson Flew the full pattern with his S-1 Ringmaster. Ty Marcucci, and John Cameron also flew their S-1 Ringmaster.  Joe Lacey flew his Ringmaster Jr.  Amazingly no broken airplanes, not even a broken prop.

Sunday we put in 60 flights.  Sunday was dedicated to having fun rather than pushing up the Ringmaster Fly-A-Thon flight count.  Ronnie put in several full pattern flights with his S-1 Ringmaster.  Ronnie also flew one of his Stunt ships.  To say the least Ronnie is the best pilot in the club.  John Cameron put in several flights with their S-1 Ringmasters.  Joe Lacey put in several flights on his Ringmaster JR.  Joe also flew his 1/2A Ringmaster.  It has a fairly hot Cox .049 TD on it.  It was FAST!  It was fun watching Joe trying to keep up.  It also has some trim problems making it a hand full.

All in all it was a great weekend.  A picture of my 576 E-Ringmaster and its throttle handle attached.

[Warren Walker]

I put up one flight at Whittier thanks to Mike Meddows.
W.W.

[John Rist]

Today is the last day of makeup flying for the Ringmaster Fly-A-Thon.  Time to get your reports in so we can see the total!          

[Perry Rose]

I got in two flights on Sat. and three flights today with my Dixon Ringmaster Excel/Evolution .52 combo.

[Steve Dwyer]

Is a great event here in Syracuse, NY. We broke our last year's record on the number of flights with 6 pilots, it was a bit breezy. I flew my old Ringmaster Junior twice, my Ringmaster Tri-Plane twice, my Ringmaster Gyro twice and my Ringmaster Bi-Plane once.

Steve

[Joe Ed Pederson]

  You got any 2 or 2.5 oz profile tanks?

 

Rusty

If you only want a 2 oz. fuel tank, I highly recommend the Dubro 2 oz plastic clunk tank.  Because the tank is so short, I use surgical tubing for the feed line inside the tank, but if you aren't going to do aerobatics, a regular fuel tube inside the tank should be fine.  The tank can be made into a uniflow tank as well, but they don't provide the tubing for a uniflow line.

I used to get the surgical tubing from Sig.  Not sure where I'll get it in the future.

Joe Ed Pederson

[Motorman]

New record 11,164

[Steve Dwyer]

Who says control line modeling is going away??

[John Rist]

Who says control line modeling is going away??

it would be interesting to know the average age of the pilots?  I am  84!  lack of young folks is the problem.   

[Paul Smith]

it would be interesting to know the average age of the pilots?  I am  84!  lack of young folks is the problem.   

The event is based on a 1948 design.  An airplane 76 years old.  That would be a good estimate of the minimum age of those still interested in it.

[Brett Buck]

it would be interesting to know the average age of the pilots?  I am  84!  lack of young folks is the problem.   

   The winner of Advanced at Golden State 2024 is in his early-mid 20s, with a 500+ point pattern from Nationals and World Championship judges. One of our FAI Team members is also 20-something.
   
    I am not trying to downplay the issue, but this does still appeal to a select set of younger people.

     Brett

p.s. apropos of the title, after a late scratch due to an "unfortunate event", I borrowed Uncle Jimby's "20 Point Ringmaster" and came in second in classic at Golden State, with no appearance points and no practice flights (although I did have one flight on it about 3 rebuilds and 20 years ago). Scared hell out of Dennis! 25LA, reduced choke area, Xoar 9-4, usual stuff. I also managed to land it acceptably well twice in a row, although that may have been an accident or good luck.

[Dennis Nunes]

I borrowed Uncle Jimby's "20 Point Ringmaster" and came in second in classic at Golden State, with no appearance points and no practice flights (although I did have one flight on it about 3 rebuilds and 20 years ago). Scared hell out of Dennis!

I wasn't scared ....... much! But some may have heard a huge sigh of relief when your second round score was posted.   

Dennis

[Brett Buck]

I wasn't scared ....... much! But some may have heard a huge sigh of relief when your second round score was posted.   

Dennis

   I figured after Chris' unfortunate event, you needed extra motivation.  Jim REALLY hated me, because I managed to make it look like you could reliably land the airplane without bouncing it.  I would not recommend putting any money on that theory.

     Brett

p.s. BTW, I note that the Skyray 35 is already eligible for Nostalgia 30, and Zack's airplane was actually flown many times in teh Nostalgia 30 era. So watch out...

[Richard Fleming]

This was my latest Ringmaster for the weekend flyathon.

[Richard Fleming]

I used a Brodak rib kit and landing gear. Had a  left over decal and elevator horn from previous Brodak kit.The rest was cut out from the extra wood I had accumulated. The past six Ringmasters I set up the controls as shown on the Ringmaster Lite plans that Pat J drew up during the brotherhood of the ring days with bell crank reversed so it is sort of self centering on the neutral, pushrod on the inside bell crank hole and longer elevator horn. The Brodak set up is ok with the shorter elevator horn, pushrod in the middle bell crank hole but they give you the option to use the longer plywood control horn. It is just more throw than needed but the Sterling kits were like that. Still a good flying plane. Used up my left over Monokote but I really like using Ultra cote much better! A well used 40th Anniversary Fox 35 that I cleaned up. I replaced the cork gasket on the rear case cover with new laser cut gasket and anaerobic sealer. No more lean runs and a steady needle setting.