A Miracle at Baton Rouge

[Mike Griffin]

We all watched as Jim Lynch kept his beautiful Super Ares taxing around the circle until his fuel ran out.  His lines were reversed and he caught it after the plane was released.  He managed to keep the model on the concrete and taxi it until it quit.  We all stood up and gave him a thunderous round of applause.  That was not an easy thing to do and I am sure it felt like an eternity to him.  Besides being a great person, he is an excellent pilot.  

It was a wonderful two days even if it was windy as heck.

Mike

[RC Storick]

I take it your sentence has been served and you are back again?

No need to stir the pot he had no sentence.

[Mike Griffin]

Just glad to be here and see you all again.

Mike

[Perry Rose]

In the above situation would holding a towel or some soft cloth and let the plane taxi into it killing the engine be a good thing or not? I saw pit crew throw a rag into the broken prop of carrier planes after a hard landing to kill the engine years ago.

[Mike Griffin]

Perry I asked Jim about that and he was afraid that any action to try and stop the plane would damage it so he decided to just ride it out till it ran out of fuel.

Mike

[frank williams]

We're not talking about any plane here ..... it was the most beautiful Ares you have ever seen ... a beautiful blue with thousands of Ibeam ribs .... it was one of the bigger Ares.

The plane was released ... it rolled a quarter lap .... I said "this is gonna be a great takeoff" .... it rolled a half a lap ..... I said "best takeoff ever, for sure" .... at three quarter of a lap on the ground  I said " OK Jim, you might be overdoing it a bit" .... at a full lap on the ground ... I said " maybe I ought to go get a garbage bag for the small parts" ......

A great job of "not flying" ..... full tank on the ground ..... only damage seemed to be to the underside rear of the wheel pants .....

They said next year they are gonna have a tether plane event 

[Mike Griffin]

We're not talking about any plane here ..... it was the most beautiful Ares you have ever seen ... a beautiful blue with thousands of Ibeam ribs .... it was one of the bigger Ares.

The plane was released ... it rolled a quarter lap .... I said "this is gonna be a great takeoff" .... it rolled a half a lap ..... I said "best takeoff ever, for sure" .... at three quarter of a lap on the ground  I said " OK Jim, you might be overdoing it a bit" .... at a full lap on the ground ... I said " maybe I ought to go get a garbage bag for the small parts" ......

A great job of "not flying" ..... full tank on the ground ..... only damage seemed to be to the underside rear of the wheel pants .....

They said next year they are gonna have a tether plane event 

I could not agree with you more Frank.  I had the same thoughts running through my head.  That is a beautiful airplane.

[Joseph Patterson]

      I know of one incident where an engine started backwards and the flier threw a rag into the prop and the sudden stop ripped the nose of the airplane off! Jim did a great job keeping it under control. Looked like a Greyhound chasing a rabbit. The Super Ares was as Frank said absolutely beautiful! 
     Doug

[Brent Rogillio]

Jim won the tether car event at Baton Rouge with that round.

[Steve Helmick]

That "prolonged takeoff" can be real hard on a plane, like turn it into trash. I'd guess you guys have a pretty darn smooth circle. Ours...I thought it was smooth, but it's not that smooth.

I always check the controls for the guy I'm launching...up is up, etc. For a few guys, well, their handle is purposely backwards, and I always tell them that! Mike and Jim (where the heck has Jim gone off to again?), you know who you are! I also check and make sure the clips at the leadouts aren't twisted up. Doesn't everybody? Why the heck don't you???  Steve

[Steve Kocher]

I have added a few photos of the event and one of his next flight where he actually got the airplane in the air.

Steve.