I remember that day well, Ted. I was doing a warm up flight on a circle just downwind of the one you were flying on. I was in the square eight as I recall and heard this ugly sounding "whump" behind me. It was fairly windy that day, and, before I could complete the maneuver I was in, a whole lot of debris blew past me; some of it hitting me in the legs. By the way, how do you like quick links these days?
You were one less to worry about that day for the win, but you did fly that Imitation very well in the Fly-Off. We both got beat by Mr. McDonald on that occasion as it turned out...
Ah, memories - Bob
Aaah, memories! You got that right, Bubba. Although I could stand to forget the memories that it wasn't the only time I (we for that matter) got my/our butt/s kicked by Mr. McDonald!
Reviewing some of Shareen's old records brought back additional memories of that "event" by the way. If any are interested here's what I "re"learned...with some purposeful intent at levity from time to time just to keep me from crying.
Good local Bay area friend Lanny Shorts was the event director in Wilmington, Ohio that year (the first of several years he did that difficult but essential task, I might add...and once again thank him) and had asked if I would mind lending him the Imitation to use to warm up/train etc. the judges. I said sure but he'd have to take it with him since we (Shareen and I) would be flying back commercial and arriving a few days after Lanny intended to start preparations, judge training, etc.
Alas, upon our arrival I learned that Lanny had had an "oops" moment with the Imitation a day or so prior. Turns out the Imitation had blown out of his van (yes!, blown out! As Bob mentioned, it was a windy event) the day before my arrival and sustained significant damage including braking the fuselage in half aft of the wing--upon being introduced to the tarmac in other than the "standard" landing configuration. (Honest, I never landed it that bad on my own!)
I frankly don't remember whether we got together to glue it back together at the hotel or had planned to put it off until returning home but, as you know, that decision was made for us that morning of the top five flyoff. One way or another it was in one piece prior to my first round fly off flight...but not yet test flown.
The morning of the flyoff I was taking that ill fated needle setting/warm up flight when the Excitation (I had to look that name up in Shareen's records as well...Old Timers' having me firmly in its grasp) bit the dust...er, um..tarmac as the press would say. For whatever reason I sure as h-e-double tooth pics wasn't going to be flying the Excitation in the next hour or so (it took the better part of the time before official flights were to begin just to get all the Excitation parts into the used airplane collection facility/garbage can). Ergo, the Imitation had to be called into action. (I don't remember, by the way, how they dealt with the appearance point issue with reference to the fly off score sheets...not that it mattered so I can't be called as an expert witness should the situation arise again).
As Bubba was pleased to remind one and all, I didn't scare any of the other flyoff contestants (although I most certainly would hav...naah, forget it) but we didn't embarrass ourselves completely.
Many thanks to Bubba for reminding me and ruining an otherwise delightful morning (other than the smoke from all the forest fires scattered around the state as of the last three days!)
Ted
p.s. Sorry for the length. One just has to find something to do with the time while forced into "inside abode exile" by the authorities via the Corona virus and Mother Nature via the fires and smoke! You didn't have to read it, ya know.
Topic: What is the bestest-flying, goodest-looking profile stunt ship for LA-46? (Read 8244 times)
