VSC 2K4 The Stuka Stunters I

LAST EDITED ON Mar-21-04 AT 03:06 AM (CDT)
 
First things being first, here's the outcome of what is now (barely) an annual Stuka Stunt Works tradition--The VSC User's Group class photo. We got a few more Stuka Stunt Forum users but failed to match the prodigious turn out at last year's Brodak's.

It was easier for the old cat herder to recognize some of the ususal suspects, mostly because I had last year's experience to go on. (The Original SSWUG class photo.) That avoided the embarrassing situation where I can't recognize my own plan unfolding before my very eyes.

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The irrepressible Ty Marcucci  makes a point to Tools while De Hill looks out at the parking lot...

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The Secret Sign was pretty much useless, given that the only time it was used was once the whole gang was already together, mocking the photographer...

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Once we were all done, a late-comer rushed over, provoked by the sight of a batch of Stuka Stunters doing the secret sign to ask to get included.

And so here it is, the Class of '04, including (but no limited to), De Hill, BigIron13, Sholt, Ty, Elwyn, (Bearcat Keith) Trostle, Tools and an unidentified member of ZZTop.

Thanks to all the dedicated forum cats who showed up to carry on the tradition. Everyone introduced themselves, but I promptly forgot all the names.

You know who you are.

So, y'all introduce yourselves to the readers when you get back from Tucson.

We now pass the SSW Forum User's Group photo taking baton to the next contest willing to pick it up.

Cy

The unidented ZZtopper is Undone, aka Dave Courtney. I thought I was helping Dave by giving him a couple airline buddy passes (standby-and while a good deal, far from free)... He flew Charlotte to Atlanta with his son Alex, met up with Scott and I and we all got on the same flight to Tucson.

Dave thought it best (as did I) to head out Sat evening because of flight loads. Only flight he could get landed him in Salt Lake City. Couldn't get out that night, spent the night in the terminal, couldn't get out ALL of Sun, spent the night in a hotel, and didn't leave SLC till late afternoon. Even then it was a lark flight to San Francisco where there some 19 unclaimed seats. Did get one of them and called me 5 minutes ago that he was finally headed for Atlanta, and will hopefully make the connection for Charlotte.

It's always been tight getting out on Sun, but this year took the cake. Even Scott and I spent from 6am Sun to 5:30pm in the terminal in Tucson only to get to Dallas, I sat in the cockpit and Scott sat by himself in the back (in order to allow another standby passenger to make the flight, his decision, I was so proud). Got booted off the connecting flight after we got to the plane because of a jumpseater the gate didn't know about (we were going to have to split up again, but not by choice this time) at 10pm. Spent the night in that terminal and barely made the 5:45am flight to Atlanta where the two hour drive home seemed trivial by this point!

Despite all this and the controversy, had a great time and have never seen such nice wx during the contest. Of course I spent Sun in the terminal!

Tools

>The unidented ZZtopper is Undone, aka Dave Courtney.

Good to know.

If everyone in the shot will email me or post here when they get home, I'll edit the copy and put the names to the faces. Or do so in a second post on the same thread, which will leave a captioned version in the archives without costing another download.

Thanks all for showing up.

L.

I'm on the front bottom left.

Not what my wife used to call me! I love the side view, proves I've lost 23 pounds, but can't tell where!!

Okay I will admit it! I'm the guy who came in late, top left of the last picture....I was there early, just got carried away with the show at the other side of the pool! Lynn Nix is my name and I traveled from North Carolina to Tucson and witnessed the best control line event ever. Sunday's flights in the wind were truely unbelievable....my spirits have been renewed once again by the talent displayed and the genuinely great folks I met there. I for one will return, hopefully with a plane and the skills to compete.

Thanks guys for taking that last shot and including me!