Team Trials Update

Today was the first day of practice for the Team Trials. Bob Hunt and I were the first two flyers to begin practice. Bob has his new Genesis with him, and I am flying my Satona. The Genesis only has about 10 flights on it, so it is too early to form any opinions on its performance. It is powered by a RO-Jet 40 and the model weighs 47 ounces. Bob chose the Ro-Jet and a plastic tank for the weight savings. I picked it up, and it is an honest weight.

In the afternoon, Frank McMillan and Paul Walker showed up, but Paul did not fly (he had just finished driving from Seattle). The Bear is expected tomorrow, along with Randy Smith. Rumor also has it that Gordy is making the trip.

I will try to keep everyone up to date.

Curt,
Please do keep us informed. I wish all the very best. Thanks for your posts.

I know that Winfred left this a.m. with Ms. Ashcan...Kent Tysor is on the way, too.

See Ya

Today saw more wind, and lots more fliers. Stan Powell, Dave Hemstrought, and Randy Smith all flew today and were added to the list of fliers. Later in the day, the Bear, Windy, Kent Tysor, and Mike Scott all rolled in, but none of them flew. Ted and David are expected tomorrow, along with Bill Rich. It is still not for sure if Billy is going to make it, we are hoping to see him here.

The wind has been driving pretty hard, and those of us who chose to fly have gotten some great windy weather practice. In the evening, it finally laid down and we were able to put in four flights on each circle in Stunt Heaven air before sunset.

Good luck to you all!!!!!!!!!!! I look forward to the time when I fly well enough to compete at a team trails. Larry, NorCal Circle Jerks.

Good luck to all! Everyone is rooting for you back here father!

Yeah! What Kristen said! GO PW! Good luck to all.... Steve

What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?

LAST EDITED ON Aug-28-03 AT 06:08 AM (CDT)
 
I will be rolling in around 2:30 this afternoon...looking forward to seeing everyone and a great weekend of CLPA FAI style!

The wind continued on Wednesday, and approaching dark skies sent all of us to breakfast at the 12th Street Diner at around 9:30. When we got back to the field, the winds had laid down and there was good air for the rest of the day.

Bob Hunt continues to sort out his Genesis/Ro-Jet, and may be in the lead for the most flights flown this week. His camp is a bit private, all we really know is that he is trying every possible combination and broke in a second motor.

Billy arrived in the afternoon with Bob McDonald. Billy is flying his FAI P-47, and Bob is back to a 6 year old Apogee due to the restrictions in FAI for engine size.

Windy and Kent were working together, with Windy flying more than I ever remember seeing him fly. He is flying his Miss Ashley with a Piped motor, but I do not know what he has on the other end of the pipe at this time.

Paul Walker is off on the racing circles and flying quite a bit as well. His new Miss America P-51 is flying well, and his 200 pound stooge is a sight to see.

Frank McMillan has been flying with Randy and I, and is looking better than at the Nats. Sorting out props during the day, and adding a tank shim last night, he should really have things working today. He is flying an older Caudron, the one he placed second at the Nationals with a few years back. Randy is flying his Katana, but this time with a PA51 in the nose. He has been sorting out props and making trim changes the past few days, and the model is flying much cleaner than it did a month ago at the Nationals.

As for me, I am very pleased with my Satona and the fact that my hand is not giving me any trouble. At the end of the day, I had everything working extremely well. Today should be a get serious day for everyone as tomorrow is the weigh-in and pilots’ meeting.

>Windy and Kent were working together, with Windy flying more
>than I ever remember seeing him fly. He is flying his Miss
>Ashley with a Piped motor, but I do not know what he has on
>the other end of the pipe at this time.

I was working a bit with Windy before he left for the Team Trials. Unless something changed radically in the past few days, there should be a piped RO-Jett .61 in the nose of Miss Ashley.

Good luck to everyone competing at this year's Team Trials!

"...his 200 pound stooge is a sight to see."

Thanks, I guess, but he must be using another one there. I couldn't attend.

Paul Walker is off on the racing circles and flying quite a bit as well. His new Miss America P-51 is flying well, and his 200 pound stooge is a sight to see.

IS DON, or HOWEY, or DAN, or DAVE, or BOB there?

Scott(204)Riese

Scott,

Must be Don. I'm here, so is Rush. In fact, other than PW and Don, the whole exclusive clique is in town; of course we would never let you know that, what with you being in a clique which is permanently at odds with our clique. (Plug in semi-stupid smiling face as a sop to those who don't get the joke.)

Dan Rutherford

Dan,

Will you be attending the Portland bash?

Good question. Will be working Saturday. Sunday? No work. But don't look forward to a blast down and back up I-5 on the same day.

We'll see.

LAST EDITED ON Aug-29-03 AT 06:23 PM (CDT)
 
>What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?

Haha, my grandma told me about it. She likes to see how her little boy is doing. Sounds like all is going well so far?

>>What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?
>
>Haha, my grandma told me about it. She likes to see how her
>little boy is doing. Sounds like all is going well so far?

I had dinner with your dad tonight - seems to be doing great. I passed along your best wishes.
He's probably gonna grind us all to a pulp as usual - flying pretty darn good.

> He's probably gonna grind us all to a pulp as usual -
>flying pretty darn good.
>
> Brett

That's good to hear! Use The Force, Bretthopper! Confuse-us say: "Perfect concentration yeild perfect pattern." Steve

From yesterday...

The judges showed up today and everyone is a bit more serious since their arrival. Those who have things working are in good spirits, with the rest in various degrees of frustration.

Ted, David, Brett, and Richard Oliver all got in the air today, as did Bill Rich. Bill is looking better than we have ever seen him fly. His shapes are good, bottoms are all there, and is hitting his intersections. What else could one ask for? He and Randy are both flying Katana’s, and they are in excellent trim.

Rumor has it that Phil Granderson is on his way, along with Matt Neuman. Unless there are other surprises, that should complete the list. Everyone keeps asking about Wynn Paul, but no one seems to know if he is planning to come.

Walking the field, it is like the “who’s who” in the world of stunt. Pretty exciting to be here, it is going to be a very close race to pick the best three.

Today we saw more wind and rain, which forced another early lunch break. After pie, we returned to the field for some very nice cool air and the final practice session before the weigh-in.

The morning began with a very frustrated Bob Hunt, still sorting out engine trouble. At one point, he was ready to throw in the towel, but kept on trying. He has finally gotten a set-up that he feels is marginal enough to get by in good air.

Bob Hunt had the lightest model, with mine just a few grams over his. Paul had the heaviest, with Windy just under Paul’s.

The entry is now closed and there are 24 contestants, with no Gordy. Tomorrow’s forecast is for more rain and wind, with the same for Sunday, with rain expected on our rain day as well.