Wichita

[Elwyn Aud]

It started off dark and stormy which didn't bother some attendees. Got hot, sunny, and humid by midday.

[Paul Taylor]

Nice shots Elywn!

[De Hill]

Elwyn and I Left Tulsa around 6:30 am and headed for Wichita. After we turned north on I-35, we ran into heavy rain which dogged us almost all the way in to Wichita. We arrived at the flying field around 9:30 am. The rain had just stopped.

Racing, Combat, and Stunt were flown today. Lew Woolard and I  judged Profile, Classic and Old Time Stunt. The sun made it awfully hot which complimented the high humidity. When we finished judging, we were both cooked.

We saw Marvin Denny. He came out and counted laps for the racers.

The most interesting plane mishap happened to Jim Lee. The Primary Force that Jim was flying lost it's fuel tank when the rubber bands let loose. The tank was still attached to the fuel line, and the tank pivoted into the wooden prop, which shattered. The fuel  line and filter ended up  wedged between the shattered prop.

I've never seen that before.

[Joe Gilbert]

It rained cats and dogs there might have some fish too. Great shot and good thinking Steve.

[Douglas Ames]

Looks like a nice flying site.
Great pic of the nose-over Elwyn!

[Ron Cribbs]

The puddle nose overs wreaked havoc on the restarts!

Great event, great hospitality!  Good times!

[Elwyn Aud]

A few more from Saturday.

[Elwyn Aud]

A few Sunday pics...

[john e. holliday]

Thanks or the pics Elwyn.   I can't believe I missed this contest, but then again the  good ole State Farm Insurance cleaned me out of any monies if I had remembered the contest.   

[Jim Kraft]

I was there on Saturday and was going to fly my Box Car Chief. It did not want to cooperate as the Super Cyclone did not want to run without going into a missing streak. I checked several things that I could but to no avail. Probably for the best as the heat and humidity got to me and my wife and I decided to go visit Marvin and Ree for a bit. We had a good time and laughed a lot.

I just do not seem to be up to a lot of activity when the heat and humidity get high. Guess I am getting old. It was great to talk to everyone and watch others fly racing and stunt. Oh! When I got home I found the problem with the Cyke. Seems the points had oxidized to where I had about 50 ohms resistance and the paper I usually use to clean them would not do the job until I cleaned them with a burnishing tool. All is good now until the next contest. LOL

[Doug Burright]

Elwyn,
 Great pictures! I'm glad you came up to Wichita! You certainly captured some neat action! IE: Me trying to catch the submarining Cassutt with my high-water socks on! Can hardly notice that my back is all messed up! Good ones of Andrew's Concours winning, Red, White and Blue Nobler, in flight. Also, My Purple and White Fancherized Twister-with the WICHIHAWKS Decal on it.
- in flight, also! This was alot so see, and experience, and you've done a great job here. Thanks SO MUCH for providing a lasting memory, of the weekend! Great pictures of all the important, and gorgeous planes, too!

One thing...I have flown in two contests now, received 2 awards for flying, but have still not defeated another pilot. Rules that I knew from a long time ago said: If you place, and beat four people, you MUST move up to at least the next higher class, for next year's season.  Is it that way now? I need to know, then, I have lots of practicing to do!

[john e. holliday]

Doug,  you are the one that can answer that.   In some parts of this great land I could go and place in EXP and other parts I would do good just to keep from placing last in INT.  Have not flown beginner and I would probably do good to keep from placing last there even locally.   Sure wish I could have been there to see every body, but competition is just fun flying any more when I can get out.

[Andrew Hathaway]

Great pics and great people.  Always love to see Elwyn's pictures!  Thanks to the Wichita club for hosting a fun contest, and to De Hill and Lew Woolard for judging.  The ground was a bit soggy and wet, but the weather couldn't have been better.  We had a great time!

[bill bischoff]

Here are some pictures from racing on Saturday. The first one is Mike Greb warming up his Sport Goodyear Polecat. The second is Phil Dunlap pitting Patrick Hempel's Sport Goodyear Mirage. The third is Melvin Schuette and Rob Christie flying Fox-Goldberg race.

[bill bischoff]

Here's a few more. The first is Bill Bischoff and Patrick Hempel flying Sport Goodyear. The second is Doug Burright sending Rob Christie's Shoestring on its way. Next is Dave Rolley fuelling Melvin Schuette's Shoestring.
Last is the entire racing group, L to R, Phil Dunlap, Patrick Hempel, racing director Kevin Seaton, Dave Rolley, Bill Bischoff, Melvin Schuette, Mike Greb, Rob Christie, Doug Burright.

[De Hill]

The Wichihawk club put on a banquet Saturday night at Dawson United Methodist church. (Lew Woolard's Church)
They had fried chicken and barbecue; plus all the side dishes you could think of. Many diets foundered on the desserts  located on the far end of the serving tables.

I talked to Julie Woolard. She told me that a while back, Lew was selected to go to Washington D.C. with the honor flight. He  and a bunch of other WW2 veterans were honored and bussed around Washington and shown the sites. Lew told me on sunday that it was one of the highlights of his life.

This was an excellent banquet!

[De Hill]

It rained Saturday night, but it didn't rain during the contest on sunday. Combat, Navy carrier and AMA stunt classes were flown.

We had 6 entries in stunt, one beginner, one intermediate, two advanced, and one expert. There was no contest held in Wichita last year, and this might be part of the attendance problem. Lew Woolard and I judged stunt. We started around 9 am and had it finished by 10:45. Elwyn and I were heading home by 11:30 am.

The Wichita club has 6 members. The youngest two are in their 40's. I hope they can keep on going. They have a great city supplied flying field with two paved circles and 3 grass circles.

[Doug Burright]

We are trying to generate more interest in Control Line, in Wichita. The local hobby shops are becoming aware of our needs, and word of mouth goes a long ways. Still, people think C/L is dull. I tell them: If you really want to feel how a plane flies, try it on lines! Most of the R/C crowd has flown C/L in the past, but think they have it great with all the technology. Wait until the FAA stops R/C altogether! We will be the go-to guys!

Wichita DOES have a great facility to fly our planes! We are very lucky. Mike Tallman is to thank for his work with the city, to obtain the location, and concrete circles. The site has been active since the early 1980s. Our club, The Wichihawks, fly there every Tuesday, and whenever the weather permits. In the winter months, we fly on weekend afternoons, and when weather permits. Tonight, I flew a Mono-Line .051 powered plane. That was different and fun! There are other facilities in town to fly R/C, and the circles are not set up to allow them. Well, more rambling....