Author Topic: Blaine Aviation Weekend C/L Demo (More photos added) (Read 3678 times)

wwwarbird · « **on:** May 24, 2010, 07:33:43 PM »

This past Saturday and Sunday May 22-23 the Minneapolis Piston Poppers were flying at Blaine Aviation Weekend at Anoka County Airport in Blaine, MN. We had a great club showing with most of our members in attendance. Basically, this is an annual airport open house event that our club participates in each year by giving flying demos all weekend. It's a fun weekend for us and is also an attempt to give some C/L exposure to todays generation. We also try to answer any questions that the spectators have, and try to promote the hobby as much as possible.

This year was forecast to be very windy which it was on Saturday along with some rain, so there was a little morning flying for us but that was about it. Sunday was much better with a medium but fairly steady breeze and about an hour of mist mid-day. After that the sun popped out and it got HOT, but overall we got in quite a bit of flying by the days end.

The full scale turnout was pretty light this year, but there were four AT-6's, a CAF B-25 "Miss Mitchell", a Sea Fury "Sawbones" which has raced at Reno, an N3N Navy Trainer and a few other odds and ends.

Maybe some of our other club members can add some more, but here are my pics from Sunday...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #1 on:** May 24, 2010, 07:35:55 PM »

Some more of our lineup...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #2 on:** May 24, 2010, 07:39:34 PM »

Our Safety Officer, Glen Peterson, answering some questions...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #3 on:** May 24, 2010, 07:42:13 PM »

More of our models...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #4 on:** May 24, 2010, 07:58:11 PM »

The T-6 guys having some fun...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #5 on:** May 24, 2010, 08:00:00 PM »

"Sawbones"

wwwarbird · « **Reply #6 on:** May 24, 2010, 08:02:04 PM »

N3N Navy Trainer...

Dalton Hammett · « **Reply #7 on:** May 25, 2010, 09:34:01 AM »

Some nice photos there and some very nice models. That is a great way to show folks a bit of C/L. Our club will be flying for an EAA Open House on June 6th at the Meadville, Pa. Airport. It has been so well accepted that we have become part of the annual event. Keep up the great work.......

Dalton H.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #8 on:** May 26, 2010, 11:43:47 PM »

Keith Sandberg's scratchbuilt P-51B Mustang and newly finished Midwest "Panther"...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #9 on:** May 26, 2010, 11:47:38 PM »

Keith's scratchbuilt Beech D-18 and my PBY...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #10 on:** May 26, 2010, 11:49:47 PM »

A pair of Brodak Shark 402's...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #11 on:** May 26, 2010, 11:51:56 PM »

Mel Roy's Brodak Guardian and my newly finished scratchbuilt Curtiss Helldiver Stunter...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2010, 11:54:58 PM »

Keith Sandberg's original design "Challenger", a .15 size Stunter that is a great performer and can also make a great trainer.

Someone needs to kit this thing.

John Stiles · « **Reply #13 on:** May 27, 2010, 12:15:06 AM »

Outstanding, thanks for taking the time.

stephen hollier · « **Reply #14 on:** May 28, 2010, 09:47:07 AM »

I have a Brodak .15 that would work great on the challenger where do I get plans for this plane?

Dalton Hammett · « **Reply #15 on:** May 28, 2010, 10:18:18 AM »

You are right,, that Challanger is a real nice looking plane - are plans available

??

Dalton H.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #16 on:** May 28, 2010, 06:20:11 PM »

Stephen and Dalton,

Keith does have plans for the Challenger, he's built a bunch of them along with some others in our club. It really is a great performing .15 size plane.

Dalton Hammett · « **Reply #17 on:** May 29, 2010, 09:29:40 AM »

Thanks ,, I will contact him....

DH

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #18 on:** May 29, 2010, 03:17:58 PM »

Do you guys think there would be a good demand for the Challenger if it were offered in a kit. That is of course with Keith's permission and I would certainly talk to him before i did anything. I think it is a neat looking little plane. Let me know what you guys think?

Mike Griffin
Custom Cut Kits.

Michael Reed · « **Reply #19 on:** May 30, 2010, 03:58:53 AM »

Mike,

I'd definitely be in for a kit.

Thanks,
Mike

Steve Scott · « **Reply #20 on:** May 30, 2010, 09:27:59 AM »

Quote from: Custom Cut Kits on May 29, 2010, 03:17:58 PM

Do you guys think there would be a good demand for the Challenger if it were offered in a kit. That is of course with Keith's permission and I would certainly talk to him before i did anything. I think it is a neat looking little plane. Let me know what you guys think?

Mike Griffin
Custom Cut Kits.

I had understood RSM had committed to kit Keith's Challenger. That was several years ago. Perhaps if all of you leaned on Eric Rule again...

Functions such as these public demos are one of the most important aspects of our hobby. A representative from another show attended, saw us Piston Poppers put on great show and has asked if we could stage a similar demo at his upcoming event at Eden Prairie, MN Flying Cloud Airport in mid-July. Members at our recent meeting agreed to participate again. Looks like Wayne will have another "road trip"...

Here is the Challenger in bare bones:

Bill Adair · « **Reply #21 on:** May 30, 2010, 11:41:59 AM »

Wayne,

Those are some terrific looking models on the flight line.

Isn't that a Grumman Mohawk in the first picture? I had a flight in one of those strange looking birds, while in the AF. The army often provided transportation for us AF troops, because all of our test aircraft were dedicated to AF test flight programs.

Also got to fly an AT-6 briefly a few years ago, and then turned the controls over to the real pilot, during a full aerobatic routine! What a ball that was at my age, but the pilot asked if I was OK every few minutes, so I could tell he was worried about this old fart in the front seat. If he could have seen the ear-to-ear grin on my face, he wouldn't have been so concerned!

Bill (still smiling when I think about that flight)

wwwarbird · « **Reply #22 on:** May 30, 2010, 11:56:11 AM »

To those who are interested, RSM will not be kitting the Challenger. Some other options are being looked into at this time.