Author Topic: Sunday at the Narrows (Read 4219 times)

Rod Claus · « **on:** September 25, 2008, 11:25:01 AM »

Hey Skyraider flyer's,
Pete Peterson and I will be at the Narrows at about 10AM on Sunday morning to fly.Looks like it will be a beautiful morning.
We did some trim flights on his new Venus on Tuesday.It is one pretty machine.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #1 on:** September 25, 2008, 11:32:04 AM »

Yep, I'll be there. The weatherliars say clear and 72°. Mild winds (2-4 from the SW). Hmmm....

Howard Rush · « **Reply #2 on:** September 25, 2008, 11:33:32 AM »

I might mosey down there, weather authorities permitting.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #3 on:** September 25, 2008, 11:34:45 AM »

Wow! You mean we might get to see SuperHoward? I'll call the press.

Andrew Borgogna · « **Reply #4 on:** September 25, 2008, 11:53:31 AM »

Careful Randy, if Howard shows up wearing the Green shirt he wore at "Meet 'n Meat" you could suffer short term blindness.

Andy

Peter Ferguson · « **Reply #5 on:** September 25, 2008, 12:07:14 PM »

I'm in. See you there.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #6 on:** September 25, 2008, 02:47:42 PM »

Andy,

You clearly didn't get the full magilla. Wait till you see the hat and pants. Yeow! Good thing I have good shades.

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #7 on:** September 28, 2008, 08:39:51 PM »

Pictures from Tacoma Narrows Airport, Sept. 28, 2008. Nice day, high pressure cell, kinda cool, but windy. It got a bit ugly later, but Pete got some good flights in with his immaculate new Rondenelli "Venus", pics 1-4. Power is a Brodak .40. Pic 5 is Monty Summach's (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada) Olympic, which is now mine. The Oly has a Magnum XLS .36 in it. The controls are WAY FAST, which caused problems for slo-mo me.

Steve

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #8 on:** September 28, 2008, 08:49:39 PM »

A couple of group shots of the lineup at Tacoma Narrows Airport. In the second picture, Rod (Kraut) Claus is chatting with Vic Lichtenberg, who's gonna start flying CL again at 79 years of youth! (He says!) Rod's on the left, Vic is wearing the dark glasses and ballcap.

The "Kiss" (aka Profile Centennial) is a Fancherized Twister, with another Magnum XLS .36 aboard. This one has an OS .46LA muffler (for nose weight), while the Oly has a Randy Smith muffler.

Steve

Howard Rush · « **Reply #9 on:** September 28, 2008, 09:06:27 PM »

That looks like the circle I painted (just the center) at the west end of the pavement. I heard the airport people didn't want us flying there, but if we can, that's great. Sorry I couldn't make it today.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #10 on:** September 28, 2008, 09:28:09 PM »

Yea, the wind was a bit much. Found out that the new pipe needs to be a lot shorter than the old one. Live and learn. Pete's Venus is a killer and Pete's typical flawless workmanship. And yes, Shultzie, I know mine needs more tip weight. A lot more.

Peter Ferguson · « **Reply #11 on:** September 29, 2008, 09:13:53 AM »

Howard, thats where we have been flying for some time now. Airport is ok with it. thanks for painting the circle.

Shultzie · « **Reply #12 on:** September 29, 2008, 10:50:12 AM »

THANKS STEVE...for posting those great photos this morning of yesterdays Skyraiders warm up flying session at The TACOMA NARROWS airport here in Gig Haaaaaba.

Take a look gang...AT THAT AWESOME INTENSE BLUE SKY and how beautiful that long line up of amazingly crafted and finished stunt models looked under that rare bright sunshine.
Again...
Considering how much stranger and downright weird NW direction wind patterns was blowing in at times from over those roof top rows of hangers in the background. Even more amazing...IN SPITE of those conditions we saw some pretty brave and actually quite good flying routines take place.
Dave Gardner....Pete!!!

Thanks for pickin' up ol' walkin-n-hitch hikin' ol' stunt grunt dumb-n-dumbeee who forgot to put in the little * code on the security gate lock.

I was runnin low on film...for my old 35mm Minolta X-700 but still managed to take a few funny photos..that I will post up after processing. (hopefully Costco can do a betta' job of processing and printing.)
I often wonder if most of the local camera centers are giving us less that stellar quality prints ON PURPOSE...as a ploy in attempting to ween us old habitually addicted film junkies off our old outdated boxy-brownies snapshotters???

bye the way....GO TO RANDY'S POST on the building and finishing post where he has taken to show his latest piece of amazingly beautiful creative paint scheme on an equally beautiful and creative stunt model that promised to be another masterpiece of sky art with a color scheme that should really make BOB HUNT'S OL' EYEBALLS POP!!!

billbyles · « **Reply #13 on:** September 29, 2008, 11:35:41 AM »

Quote from: Steve Helmick on September 28, 2008, 08:39:51 PM

Pictures from Tacoma Narrows Airport, Sept. 28, 2008. Nice day, high pressure cell, kinda cool, but windy. It got a bit ugly later, but Pete got some good flights in with his immaculate new Rondenelli "Venus", pics 1-4. Power is a Brodak .40. Pic 5 is Monty Summach's (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada) Olympic, which is now mine. The Oly has a Magnum XLS .36 in it. The controls are WAY FAST, which caused problems for slo-mo me. Steve

Hey, that Pete sure does nice Monokote work...(heh, heh)

Bill Byles

Shultzie · « **Reply #14 on:** September 29, 2008, 11:49:26 AM »

Many years ago...I used to talk long distance to Rondenelli after being introduced to him by my long time mentor, Bob Gialdini. Bob mentioned that in those daze days.....BIG MAN RONDO truly was one of the best stunt flyers to ever pick up a HOT ROCK!
Also in was often mentioned that if you had a stunt model...that had ANY kind of trim problem....DR. RONDO-JELLEO' MAN could find the bugggaboo's fastern' than a runnnnnn-away Merco 35 on 50% nitro.

Is he still alive....he was in horrific health the last time I talked to his family....(that was waaay back around the late 60-or mid 70's???

"Time flies...along with my old age and

paint infected brain cells?"

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #15 on:** September 29, 2008, 05:22:26 PM »

Quote from: billbyles on September 29, 2008, 11:35:41 AM

Hey, that Pete sure does nice Monokote work...(heh, heh)

Bill Byles

Bill, I hit Pete with that on Sunday...so you're too late. He growled like the big teddy bear that he is...

Schultzie...I recall reading that Mario R. did die sometime ago...in the '90's, I think. While that's not a good thing, it gives me hope, since others manage to live a reasonably long life, considering the miserable care they've taken of themselves. I've had enough health problems in the last year to last me a lifetime, anyway, and none was self-induced, AFAIK. Well, except for playing wit' toy planes since I was a pup.

Steve

Howard Rush · « **Reply #16 on:** September 29, 2008, 11:42:17 PM »

I can remember where in the hangar at the '62 Nats I was when I first saw Rondinelli's Venus. It ws beautiful. As I recall, the wing was completely sheeted.

Shultzie · « **Reply #17 on:** September 30, 2008, 08:53:24 PM »

Quote from: Howard Rush on September 29, 2008, 11:42:17 PM

I can remember where in the hangar at the '62 Nats I was when I first saw Rondinelli's Venus. It ws beautiful. As I recall, the wing was completely sheeted.

Some where in my photo box of airplane crappola....I did have a small polariod photo of Rondinelli that was also used in an old AAM or MAN magazine holding that Venus. Like Bob Gialdini...both were using sheeted wings back then...huh?

Gads...Rushski' you must have been a kiddie waaaaay back then?

My first nats was at the 67 LA with ol' Sting Ray No. 1

Shultzie · « **Reply #18 on:** October 03, 2008, 02:55:53 PM »

Just gotta get a new Ditzeee camera....I finally located my roll of 35 mm film that I shot last week at the narrows.

My old Minolta X-700 gotta go!

Last shot is a double exposure (tried to stretch the amount of shots on a 24 exp. roll with no suck-cess!

Perhaps just as well....but as you can see..Mike's beautiful model right in Pete's face will...he and Randy are trying to give our Rod a Wet Peteee'n wet Randy!!!

Randy Powell · « **Reply #19 on:** October 03, 2008, 03:23:41 PM »

And it looks like the weather may (MAY) cooperate on Sunday this week for another session before the Fall Follies.

I plan to be there if it's reasonable. 10am?

Peter Ferguson · « **Reply #20 on:** October 03, 2008, 06:04:13 PM »

Shultzie, I think the double exposure is great. You should do them intentionally. I like the idea of a portrait shot with the guy flying his plane superimposed on it.

Randy, I'll be out there if it doesn't rain.

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #21 on:** October 04, 2008, 09:28:10 AM »

Haverly's "JD Falcon" in the double exposure looks great.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #22 on:** October 04, 2008, 10:16:06 AM »

I like the cone over Rod's heart. That's cute.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #23 on:** October 04, 2008, 11:10:51 PM »

Well, it ain't looking good for tomorrow. Forecast is wind and rain. And wind, lots of wind.

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #24 on:** October 05, 2008, 12:51:07 AM »

Quote from: Randy Powell on October 04, 2008, 10:16:06 AM

I like the cone over Rod's heart. That's cute.

Looks like it could hurt...especially when its cold! Is it really that cool for a sweater, this time of year, up there?

Peter Ferguson · « **Reply #25 on:** October 05, 2008, 09:27:54 AM »

I was there, I brought a jacket but didn't use it, Highs were about 60. The shot was taken between 10-11 am so it was probably in the mid 50's. Nice fall day except a bit breezy. Today is more of the same, as long as the rains holds off.

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #26 on:** October 05, 2008, 02:44:46 PM »

It was cool enough (with wind chill factor) that us skinny guys were comfy in a sweatshirt or windbreaker. Well, I'm not so skinny, but I am hypoglycemic...low blood sugar. Rodney is dieting, so he's low on heating fuel, too. Neither Pete has skipped a meal in awhile...thus, T-shirts were fine for them. It's the time of year when you need to be prepared for hot or cold. I suggest always, always, always, taking a polar fleece jacket if you're going to be outside, any time of year, in the NW. My favorite is Cabela's "3 Season" coat, nylon exterior, polar fleece lining. The NW Skyraider's jacket is similar (Mike Haverly was wearing his in the picture).

I didn't take my own advice for the contest at Chehelis in September, and regretted it a little. For the Prairie Fire Stunt Contest in Edmonton, Alberta, I've always taken polar fleece jacket and a Filson hat, and always found them useful in early August...also shorts, because it can be as hot as Texas! On the way home one year, it was 110 deg. F. in Kamloops, BC. I had the AC on and about fell on my face when I got out to buy gas...er, petrol....eh! Big distances, too, so you have to watch the gas gauge and plan a bit. Bring several credit cards. Mine got blocked as I was trying to leave Eddie. Shoulda notified Visa that I was going someplace, apparently.
I would have been in deep sewage, without a backup card.

Steve

Randy Powell · « **Reply #27 on:** October 05, 2008, 08:18:55 PM »

It can also vary for place to place around the the Sound. Today was cool and rainy here. May have been better down in Gig Harbor. We had wind and rain. Oh Joy!