== Reminder: Upcoming Events ================================
Feb. 7 (Sat) — NFMI - Rich Herrmann Annual RC Swap
& Shop Meet, Pensacola. For details and a flier describing
this event, go to the main menu shown on the left of this report and
select Events Calendar.
Andrew is still working on making the maps available on our ACMA
Website. In the meantime, if you need a flying field map, go to Alvin’s
Website > main menu > Field Maps.
== “From the Pits” Field Activities, Dec. 31,
New Year’s Eve Nite Fly ==
New Year’s Eve day was great, weather-wise. Joe Krebs, Russell
Horsley and Paul Verger were back again, but unfortunately they all
had to leave early. There was enough time for a couple of flights
by Russell and his Ultimate
Bipe… And Paul managed a couple of flights with his Piper
Cherokee…
Joe flew his Cub.
Roger Geil showed up with his Carl Goldberg Yak-54.
He spoke highly of the Chinese CRRC-Pro engine that powered it. Let’s
hope they got the lead out, Roger… Roger and Dean could be seen
in a heavy, technical discussion on photography…
Al Ayler was part of a different, less lively discussion.
It kept his attention only briefly…
Harold Dillon brought his SIG Four Star 60, but I never saw the wing.
Did he even bring it? He was tinkering with the engine for some time,
running plenty of fuel through it. I think Robert felt sorry for that
wingless fuselage. He retrieved one of the many disassociated airplane
parts from his collection and tried to make things better…
Frits made a test flight on Robert’s Pterodactyl while there
was daylight. That
went okay until the throttle stuck and Frits had to ditch it on the
runway at full throttle. Only a broken prop. Robert had also brought
his incredible 12 ft. wingspan Coroplast "Triple Beast",
sporting only one engine this time, but it remained grounded. Who
could forget that amazing plane’s first flight?
As the temperature had slowly been dropping, the fireplace was fired
up. Literally! Alvin used about a half gallon of lighter fluid trying
to get the wood to burn.
That oak wood was sporting live, healthy green leaves until about
a week ago! That’s when Russell and Robert cut it. Well, needless
to say a lot of lighter fluid was wasted.
But then, as the fire was about to peter out, Robert showed us how
to build a fire the right way, and soon everyone gathered around to
get some of the chill
off.
Sadly, it was Jon’s turn! Jon was cornered by William Moore
and got more than an earful…
After tearing himself away from William, Jon decided to hook up the
satellite dish someone had dropped off at the field a week
ago. And after some tweaking, tuning, tinkering and satellite
hunting — success!
Thanks to Jon, Rick Koval and Wayne Boudreaux for getting that going.
We won’t be affected by that nation-wide Digital Switch come
February 17 now, will we? And if your TV sets at home aren’t
prepared yet for the Big Digital Conversion coming up, you’d
better watch this…
Several members showed up at the field, not to fly, but to join the
New Year’s Eve Party. Henry came, and so did John and Joyce
Walker. Also there
were Ben McGee, Tony Farmer, ACMA club President Enzo Finizola and
wife Susan, and Jeff Foster, of course.
Gary Johnson showed up with wife Rhonda, and Thomas, Mariah, and Christy,
but more importantly, with the banana pudding. It was good!
There were plenty of desserts, cookies, cake, and even pumpkin pie
with cranberry sauce.
Rick and wife Rose had brought 19-Bean Cajun Soup and it was enjoyed
by many. (I didn’t actually count the beans…) Frits brought
Rotel/cheese dip, and Randy and Melanie Bodiford the Buffalo Wing
dip. The hot chilly was compliments of Enzo and Susan. It all went
pretty fast!... Tony, René and Mackenzie Farmer enjoyed the
food. Robert’s
sister and several nieces and nephews were also there. Thanks to all
who contributed food or time and effort to the party.
Alvin cooked the chicken on the grill, turning those pale white birds
into something very black and crispier than peanut
brittle… He blamed it on Tony, for not being there to man
the grill. Well, Tony, like others, had to work. Alvin didn’t
look like his usual self anyway. I mean, just look at those wild eyes…
Several people brought fireworks. Wayne acted like a kid in a candy
store with all those fireworks
around! He said he had never shot any before in his life, but you
would never know it. He was apparently making up for lost time, blasting
all sorts of things with a broad grin on his face!... Andrew had a
great time with the waterproof firecrackers, blasting holes in water-filled
coke cans. Ben fired off some of the larger and flashier fireworks.
Later, after dark, Frits flew the Pterodactyl again, this time all
lit up with light sticks and LEDs (…not Frits — the Pterodactyl…)
The plane flew well, and was fairly easy to see. But when the throttle
suddenly went low the plane immediately went into a death spin. The
Pterodactyl crash-landed with a twisted and bent fuselage as the result…
It will fly again, Robert promised.
Rick had brought the electric Slow Stick with lights that his Dad
Don often flew at dusk. Rick, not being too familiar with the plane
nor flying at night, had some problems, but the Slow Stick was briefly
airborne anyway. Andrew mentioned that he really missed flying with
Don and his Slow Stick at night. Yes, we all miss Don…
Andrew flew both his night fliers. The electric foam Swift flying
wing looked awesome!
It’s easily tracked in pitch
dark. Andrew also flew his other night flying plane, the FireFly.
Melanie and Amber watched while huddled under a blanket. Don’t
they look cute?...
Ken Tow brought his electric night flier, an all-foam electric delta
pusher. It only
had a couple of light ropes glued to the leading edge of the wing.
He successfully flew it — wildly at times — even though
it was very difficult to see from behind.
Everyone had a great time. The fire — once lit properly —
was very warm and enjoyable. The food was delicious, and fortunately
there were enough people who flew their lighted planes to call it
a Nite Fly! Now Robert is planning another one soon. Stay tuned!
I hope you and your family will have a Great New Year!
Until next time. Fly safe, always!
== Flying Events Farther Down The Road =======================
Apr. 25 (Sat) — ACMA – Spring Scale Fly-in,
Irvington Field.
May 9 (Sat) — Hattiesburg, MS, Fly-in
Andrew is still working on making the maps available on our ACMA
Website. In the meantime, if you need a flying field map, go to Alvin’s
Website > main menu > Field Maps.
== Advertising Your For Sale Stuff in the Swap Shop ==============
You know you can advertise your For Sale items with photos in the
Forum’s Swap Shop. Go to the main menu
shown here to the left of this report and select Swap Shop.
You must register with a username and password first, but that’s
free and it is very easy. If you need help with that just e-mail me
> fjetten@aol.com.
== Still Having Problems Viewing The Pits Report? ===============
Please let me or Andrew know about ANY problems you are experiencing
with the new ACMA Website and its features! And I welcome any comments
regarding the Pits Report or the new Website — good or bad.
E-mail me > fjetten@aol.com, or e-mail Andrew > andrew@acma-rc.com.
Frits Goes Hollywood - Click For Details
