This Was Going To Be The Day...

[Dick Pacini]

Finally, I have a plane ready to fly.  The P40 ARF is completed and hopefully airworthy.  Today my new digital scale purchased from the US Postal Service came in the mail.  I anxiously loaded the batteries and placed the P40 on the table.  It came in at 40 ounces ready to fly.

Late this afternoon, I loaded up the truck with the P40 and all the support stuff I could remember.  It has been since 1975 that I flew, save a cameo appearance flying a Stiletto in 2000.

The park where I am going to fly is just around the corner.  It was vacant except for a couple of kids playing on swings.  The soccer field on the lower end was my goal.  Nobody there and the grass was nice and short.

I paced the circle out and set my plane on the ground downwind.  I connected the lines and carefully unreeled them, finally connecting the hard point handle.  I set the handle down and walked back to the plane where I ran the lines gently out again with my fingers to check for twists, which ultimately were undone at the handle.  A quick check of up and down and everything felt comfortable.

At that moment, I saw black clouds heading my way.  I also felt the wind shift 90 degrees and I heard rolling thunder in the distance.  It also started to cool and the wind picked up.  Well, I decided it would be best if I postponed my return to the circle until another day.  With the weather turning crappier by the second, I couldn't roll up fast enough to get back to the truck.  The wind came up so hard and fast that I almost couldn't hold on to the plane to get off the field.  Then came the rain, big fat drops.

So, I made it home without incident and the Gods Of Stunt are pleased.  I didn't fly but I didn't stuff it in or get hit by lightning, either.  I left the plane and all the stuff in the truck.  Tomorrow is another day.  Stand by!

[Tim Wescott]

Better Luck Next Time!!!

[Garf]

You need to check the weather radar BEFORE you go out.

http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?ID=AMX&lat=0&lon=0&label=you&type=N0R&zoommode=pan&map.x=400&map.y=240&centerx=400&centery=240&prevzoom=zoom&num=10&delay=50&scale=1&showlabels=1&smooth=0&noclutter=1&showstorms=0&rainsnow=0&lightning=0

http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?ID=EYX&lat=0&lon=0&label=you&type=N0R&zoommode=pan&map.x=400&map.y=240&centerx=400&centery=240&prevzoom=zoom&num=10&delay=50&scale=1&showlabels=1&smooth=0&noclutter=1&showstorms=0&rainsnow=0&lightning=0

http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?ID=HOU&lat=0&lon=0&label=you&type=TR0&zoommode=pan&map.x=400&map.y=240&centerx=400&centery=240&prevzoom=zoom&num=10&delay=50&scale=1&showlabels=1&smooth=0&noclutter=1&showstorms=0&rainsnow=0&lightning=0

[Randy Powell]

Garf,

I always check the weather radar before I go out. I look out the window and take a guess. I'm usually just about as accurate at the weatherliars around here. The be fair, they usually guess more or less right about what's going to happen but seldom can actually tell when it going to happen.

[Peter Nevai]

You need to check the weather radar BEFORE you go out.

http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?ID=AMX&lat=0&lon=0&label=you&type=N0R&zoommode=pan&map.x=400&map.y=240&centerx=400&centery=240&prevzoom=zoom&num=10&delay=50&scale=1&showlabels=1&smooth=0&noclutter=1&showstorms=0&rainsnow=0&lightning=0

http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?ID=AMX&lat=0&lon=0&label=you&type=N0R&zoommode=pan&map.x=400&map.y=240&centerx=400&centery=240&prevzoom=zoom&num=10&delay=50&scale=1&showlabels=1&smooth=0&noclutter=1&showstorms=0&rainsnow=0&lightning=0

http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?ID=EYX&lat=0&lon=0&label=you&type=N0R&zoommode=pan&map.x=400&map.y=240&centerx=400&centery=240&prevzoom=zoom&num=10&delay=50&scale=1&showlabels=1&smooth=0&noclutter=1&showstorms=0&rainsnow=0&lightning=0

Yup we Floridians, live by the weather radar, But then in our neck of the woods ya gotta. Florida is the lightning capitol of the USA.

[Garf]

Using the moving radar, I have been fairly accurate predicting rainouts. It doesn't always work, but it's at least as accurate as the "pros".

[Steve Helmick]

During one of my flights at Stunt at Thun, in the OH8 in fact, I noticed a ring around the sun. That means the weather is gonna change. It won't be a change for the better, and it might get pretty ugly. Kinda old fashioned, but you can take it to the bank.   Steve

[Garf]

Whatever works.

[john e. holliday]

I am glad you played it smart when you seen the clouds and felt the wind shift.   

[Dick Pacini]

Well, thinking that I might just wait a day or two, I left all the stuff in the back seat of the truck.  I never gave it a thought until I happened to look at the plane later that I saw all the doggone wrinkles and bubbles in the covering on half the model, part of which was in the sunlight, probably made worse by the heat in the truck and the magnifying effect of the window glass. RATS!  I brought it inside and put the finishing iron to it.  Some of the wrinkles just wouldn't stay down.  Whoever thought that plastic was a good covering for an airplane...never mind.

[Damian_Sheehy]

Some of the wrinkles just wouldn't stay down.  . . .

If it's a trapped air bubble, just pop it with a pin and go over it with the iron.

[Dick Pacini]

Ok, another attempt yesterday afternoon.  The park was completely empty and the soccer field beckoned.  I started to set up and discovered that one of the brass thimbles was missing from the lines.  How and where it fell out is beyond me.  Apparently, the stunt gods are still pissed off about something.  Home again to ponder the situation.  Tomorrow is another day with a trip to try and find a replacement.

[john e. holliday]

Now you know why I use 1/16 OD brass/copper tubing.  Anneal the brass tubing.  Slide the cable/leadout thru the tubing and bend it around 1/8th drill bit or wire.