========== “From the Pits” Field Activities, Feb.
20/21, 2009 ==========
…….........…. All photos by Frits Jetten unless
otherwise indicated …………..….
I have no more news regarding the runway. As I mentioned in the last
report the County will use a contractor to do the repairs. You are
reminded that for safety reasons all flying must cease while
County workers are present on or around the runway.
You may have noticed that pile of sand that suddenly sprung up at
the south-east end of the parking
lot. Field Marshal Jeff Foster will be using that sand to level
some low spots in the areas between the pit areas and the runway.
The intent is for the centipede grass to slowly grow on top of it,
a process we successfully used on our grass runway at our old field
on Dawes Road.
This weekend was taken up by much of my Mardi Gras
obligations, so I didn’t spend a lot of time at the field. I
only managed to be at the field for a couple of hours Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday I took part in the Joe Cain Procession downtown… But,
have no fear! I have some reliable informers who usually let me know
what all is going on during the times I’m not at the field.
And I’m lucky to have more reliable informants than I have non-reliable
ones! So here goes…
This past weekend our field club was host to an unofficial, but planned
event of sorts. Wes Batson and his giant scale flying buddies from
out of town and out of state got together at our field on Friday and
had a mini 3D fly-in all
weekend long. It didn’t interrupt normal flying. I’m
sorry I don’t remember most of the names of the visitors. But
one did a very nice job hovering his YAK. That was Hal Jennings of
Greenville, Mississippi.
Nice plane.
And a nice hovering
demo.
There was more than one YAK. But this was the largest one, I thought…
The giant scale guys did their usual routines. Like this two-man hand-launch.
And some really up-close hovering.
And, of course, “the
touch”. (Not sure what it’s really called, but that’s
what I call it)… Wes and Marie Batson had brought their almost-identical
42 % Extra-260s.
Marie has the one with the 3-bladed prop, as she’s involved
with IMAC competition
(IMAC – International Miniature Aircraft Club). At times Marie
was Wes’ spotter.
And Wes put his Extra through its paces.
Nice hovering by Wes. He showed off his stuff…
There were other club members present with their 3D-capable planes.
Scott Cameron showed up. Not sure if he flew it or just socialized.
And Sam Chest and his giant scale Dietrich Extra-260 were there. Sam
DID fly… I love those sparkly Carden Aircraft decals…
Paul Verger brought his Aero Sport Extra-300 and had a couple of
nice flights.
He did a crisp 4-point roll and a nice vertical rolling loop. Try
that sometime. Do a loop while rolling continuously! And he did a
favorite of mine, a figure M with 3/4 rolls. John Kenna would have
been jealous!
Katt Connors is back in town. Or, at least she and her husband and
sailboat are back in harbor in Pensacola. She showed up with her CAP-232.
Katt took some videos.
She also visited with Linda Koppisch and Russell Ward. Or perhaps
I should say that Russell visited the two ladies.
Russell was so enthralled talking to them that he forgot to fly the
Hangar 9 F-22 Raptor "jet" that I spotted in the back of
his truck…
Raiko Potter showed up with some fellow modelers from across Mobile
Bay. He was supposed to pick up a large YAK.
Raiko and Paul talked about good old
times… Jade Taylor came to the field with his giant scale
Ultimate 10-300 biplane.
I had never seen this 42% bipe before.
It’s HUGE!
There were some problems with the electronic ignition, I believe.
But at last Jon Koppisch took up the bipe.
Nice
flight. Jon made it do several wild maneuvers.
He flew it very
well. Jade seemed pretty happy with this
flight.
Jeff Foster and Alvin Reed enjoyed the food, as they always
do. Now, Alvin has claimed to be a connoisseur of food (that means
he recognizes edible things when he see them), and he watches TV cooking
shows a lot, so he supposedly knows what “presentation”
is. Well, this
isn’t it… I see President Enzo Finizola was also in
the food line on Sunday…
I hope they left some food for James Sansing and son Cameron. The
two were in town and paid our field a visit.
Robert Sanderson showed up with his Paleo, the powered sail
plane. (I finally found out its real name!) I’m surprised
that the plane still lives!
Robert and Andrew Smith, and possibly others, flew it. And there was
more limbo. I really would prefer to see sturdy PVC poles holding
up the streamer instead of “live limbo poles”. Just in
the interest of safety… I’m just saying…
Frits took up Robert’s Paleo and let newcomer Craig Robison
fly it on the buddy box. Craig did really well. The Paleo got its
dihedral brace stressed into a deeper V-shape again! No tight loops
and turns for this glider…
Did I hear correctly that we had some rocket firings this past weekend?
And that they went clear out of sight, never to be seen again? I hate
I wasn’t there to see that!
Roger Hagler flew his red and white Taylorcraft, a tiny airplane…
Johnny Turner showed up with his little P-40 Warhawk and his newest
combat plane, a green flying
wing… Gary Johnson has just about completed repairs to TJ
Rohyans’ crashed Four Star 40. It’s looking just about
ready for a flight. Well, after engine and electronics are installed,
of course…
On Saturday I had already gotten wind that Joe Kreb’s had crashed
his ¼ scale, twin-cylinder powered Cub on Friday. From what
I heard, the Cub lost control and went in at the east side of the
field, in the tree line near the big power lines. However they didn't
get the Cub’s tail section down out of the oak tree until Sunday
afternoon. Robert got it down with some help from Jon and Joe’s
grandson Matt.
Joe says he will build another Cub.
Al Ayler brought his twin-engine P-38 Lightning, not to fly, but
to tweak the engines some more.
So as not to tempt himself, he never put on the wings…
Newcomer Larry Bramblett showed up with a new, green Lazy
Bee. He and Paul Kelly had flown it Friday.
Paul also has a Lazy Bee\, a 60-size one that used to be Al’s.
Yep, it’s the same one Al chased all the way into a tree across
Half Mile Road in 1997! Paul flew it on Friday too. Successfully,
I should add.
Roger Geil showed up with his Katana.
I didn’t watch him fly it, because I had to leave earlier than
usual, but he told me that it’s for sale. It is a 33% Aeroworks
Katana, with a strong 3W-100 engine. Comes with digital servos, two
2700mAh batteries, a JR receiver, and comes with a complete extra
airframe. It’s never been crashed. Excellent 3D or pattern airplane.
Can easily be flown as a sport aircraft. Roger is asking $1,500. Contact
him directly > 342-9296, 753-8586, or e-mail him > RGeil80733@aol.com.
Robert Sanderson is firming up plans for his upcoming night fly-in,
combined with a fish fry. He is calling it the SPRING BREAK
NITE- FRY, a name Mike McLaughlin had come up with. It’s
scheduled for March 14. Anyone wishing to participate is asked to
contribute a dish and $3.00 to offset the cost of the fish, which
is provided by Ben McGee. E-mail Frits, who will post periodic updates
of the food contributions on the Forum. Send to fjetten@aol.com.
Just in case you’re thinking this report is a bit on the dull
side, here’s something to perk you up. And it should remind
you that “STUFF” can happen anytime. And “stuff”
CAN hurt you! Watch this…
I’ll see you at the field. Fly safe! Always!
==== March 10 Deadline For Paying ACMA Dues Before Being
Dropped ===
It’s getting down to the wire. Fir some of you that is. After
the March 10 meeting, if you have not paid your 2009 club dues PLUS
the $5.00 late charge, you will be dropped from the Azalea City Model
Aeronautics membership roster. Restoring your membership after March
10 means that you will have to pay that $50 initiation fee a second
time, and you will have to be voted on again.
If you intend to remain an ACMA member in good standing, please renew
your AMA license (required before we can accept your club dues) and
renew your club dues, OR request to be placed on INACTIVE STATUS.
The latter option will save you $50 when you rejoin our club in the
future…
If you wish to go on INACTIVE STATUS, simply send me an e-mail message
with a brief reason. No gory details necessary… > fjetten@aol.com..
Do it before the March 10 meeting.
========= Upcoming Flying Events ===============================
Mar. 6/7 (Fri/Sat) — Swap
Meet & Model Show. Perry, Georgia.
Mar. 7 (Sat) — Annual
Swap Meet, Capital City Radio Control club, Jackson, MS.
March 14/15 (Sat/Sun) — Spring Fun Fly, West
Alabama Aeromodelers. North of Tuscaloosa, AL. Website > http://www.waam.us/
Mar. 14 (Sat) — Fish Fly & Nite Fry-in.
ACMA. Irvington Field, Irvington, AL.
Apr. 4/5 (Sat/Sun) — Air
Show. This is a FULL-SCALE event. Tuscaloosa, AL.
Apr. 18 (Sat) — 3D Competition Fly-in —
Eglin Aero Modellers, Fort Walton Beach, FL. (Not sure of the event’s
name.)
April 18/19 (Sat/Sun) — Warbirds over BAMA,
West Alabama Aeromodelers. North of Tuscaloosa, AL. Website > http://www.waam.us/
Apr. 25 (Sat) — Spring Scale Fly-in. ACMA.
Irvington Field, Irvington, AL.
*Cancelled* May 9 (Sat) — Fly-in.
Pine Belt R/C club. Hattiesburg, MS. I got word from Jeff Williams,
Secretary of PBRC that the event is suspended until further notice.
*Cancelled*
May 16 (Sat) — Warbirds Fly-in, Eglin Aero
Modelers, Fort Walton Beach, FL.
You can check for more details about these events by clicking on
Events Calendar on the main menu
shown on the left of this report.
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 on 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 have questions or need help with
this just e-mail me > fjetten@aol.com..
======== If You Have Any Comments About These Pits Reports…
======
I welcome any comments regarding these Pits Reports — good
or bad.
E-mail me > fjetten@aol.com.
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