Stunt Clinic Today, Arlington, Washington

Turnout was pretty light for the clinic, but the sideshow was excellent. A Mustang and Spitfire appeared and did some dandy close formation flying. I have many photos of the back of my lens cap, but I did get some of the airplanes:

It was way to hot to go. AND I had a wedding to go to this evening. To keep cool I'm finishing up my COBRA. Top block to go and then sand.

Wanted desperately to be there. However with temps near 110 yesterday and today in E.WA it looks like a couple of days to cover the F7F and think about the roundup, the Intergalactic thingy and the final meet in Salem.
Joe

But Joe, admit it. It's a dry heat, right?

Yea! Dry! Just like sticking your head in an oven! Yesterday I got up at 4AM and went Trout fishing on a local stream. Temp at 5 was about 60. At 7 about 90! The only good thing about our heat is lack of "blushing" when using clear dope over silkspan. But then again, I am not an expert.
Joe J

A huge thanks are due from me to Paul Walker for all the time he spent with my basket-case (repaired and overweight) .72 powered Whitely Shoestring. The plane went from zero (could barely complete the pattern) to rock solid over the course of a few hours. Variables changed included tip weight, flap sealing, leadout position, tank shims, venturi size, and prop selection (thanks for the loaner prop, Dirt).

It's too bad (or not?) that I was the only one there needing so much help, but here's my testimonial: the clinic was great and I learned a lot. (I even won Advanced today, who'd of thunk it? Okay, so there were only three of us and Mike Haverly doesn't count 'cus he holds his handle upside down... ha ha.)

And thanks to Steve, Chris and the other 'raiders for organizing the event. I would have pictures but some dummy (me) put a big oily smudge on the lens in the morning yesterday, then forgot the camera today.

Sorry I couldn't be there. Won't make the Vancouver contest next weekend either. Sigh...

LAST EDITED ON Jul-25-04 AT 10:54 PM (CDT)
 
This was the 3rd Spitfire I've ever seen, and first one flying. Oh, MY! It was so cool to see them both fly over in tight formation, gears up, roaring overhead. Probably not a bit over 250 knots, but pretty cool for a small town airport. Paul Allen (of MicroSoft fame) owns them, but apparently can't fly a lick. Hmmmmm.

Thanks for the kind words about the Clinic and Contest. Dave Pellerin's model was such a transformation, it was amazing. Paul should be proud of Dave's 1st place. It really was largely due to his help with trimming. First flight Saturday, I honestly thought Dave was going to crash, but come Sunday, it was a very solid performance. Mike Haverly's scratch-built Oriental/Magnum XLS .36 combo also was improved, tho not so dramatically.

Yes, Saturday was hot and sunny, strange tho it may sound. But Sunday was as perfect a day for stunt flying as you could ask for. Low overcast, no sun to blind the pilot or judges, with light breezes, steady from the SW.

To tell the truth, with only 9 flying in the contest, and fewer in the Clinic, I was very disappointed, and have no interest in doing it again. I'm hoping Nils will take the date back, and run the COLD contest again. Steve

Steve, don't give up yet, this year has been tough---I cant speak for everyone butI really regret not being able to be there-- new digs and way too many hours at work have put flying on the back burner this year-- I finally finished a plane today so maybe schedules will work so that I can get in a few flights this season before the rains come back--shooting for next weekend

>
>Yes, Saturday was hot and sunny, strange tho it may sound.
>But Sunday was as perfect a day for stunt flying as you
>could ask for. Low overcast, no sun to blind the pilot or
>judges, with light breezes, steady from the SW.
>
>To tell the truth, with only 9 flying in the contest, and
>fewer in the Clinic, I was very disappointed, and have no
>interest in doing it again. I'm hoping Nils will take
>the date back, and run the COLD contest again. Steve

I agree Steve. If no one wishes to support this effort, then it is time to stop. Steve went up days earlier and mowed three circles, and Chris supported by cooking a great lunch for everyone. Thanks for the great effort. I did my effort by working with the planes presented.

I would sugest that IF we were to try again next year, that we request a written confirmation from those who would like to have this trimming help. Unless enough sign up at least several months ahead, the event would be cancelled. There are people out there who could benefit from this help.

What do you Northwest people say? Do you want to continue?

>
>>
>>Yes, Saturday was hot and sunny, strange tho it may sound.
>>But Sunday was as perfect a day for stunt flying as you
>>could ask for. Low overcast, no sun to blind the pilot or
>>judges, with light breezes, steady from the SW.
>>
>>To tell the truth, with only 9 flying in the contest, and
>>fewer in the Clinic, I was very disappointed, and have no
>>interest in doing it again. I'm hoping Nils will take
>>the date back, and run the COLD contest again. Steve
>
>I agree Steve. If no one wishes to support this effort,
>then it is time to stop. Steve went up days earlier and
>mowed three circles, and Chris supported by cooking a great
>lunch for everyone. Thanks for the great effort. I did my
>effort by working with the planes presented.
>
>I would sugest that IF we were to try again next year, that
>we request a written confirmation from those who would like
>to have this trimming help. Unless enough sign up at least
>several months ahead, the event would be cancelled. There
>are people out there who could benefit from this help.
>
>What do you Northwest people say? Do you want to continue?

That sounds GOOD Paul. I knew I couldn't make it back in March. AN RSVP would be good.

LAST EDITED ON Jul-26-04 AT 09:45 AM (CDT)
 
>I even won Advanced today, who'd
>of thunk it? Okay, so there were only three of us and Mike
>Haverly doesn't count 'cus he holds his handle upside
>down... ha ha.)
>
>- Dave

Ok Dave, I give up! I'll start practicing today and learn how to fly with my hand in the "accepted" poition. I've only been doing it this way for fourty-some years, but I'd do 'bout anything to make up that ONE point by which you beat me.... naw, changed my mind.

Same thanks from me to Paul for the help one my Oriental and to those spent hours in the hot weather to put this thing on. I know Steve was there for some, (many, me thinks) hours on Thursday mowing three circles. The turnout was light, but good company, the great fly-over and Cris's chow made for a nice weekend.

Are those Al Rabe's planes? (Just kidding)! Put some lines on them.LOL

I will agree that it was more than a little disappointing to see Paul, such a strong supporter of Stunt in the NW, and a man who is so supremely capable of (almost) instantly elevating the capabilities of a great many models, simply standing around talking to the likes of me.

Steve made some good points, there was some conversation at the end of the awards ceremony.

I tend to take a different point of view. It was really hot on Saturday, and it was pretty well known in advance this was going to be the case. This simply had to have scared off some potential participants.

We had *fabulous* weather on Sunday, even if it was a surprise to not see a repeat of Saturday's temps. Had this kind of weather been forecase for the weekend the turn-out would have been much higher.

Don't forget, a lot of us are planning on going to Vancouver, B.C. this coming weekend. I can see where the drive from Portland, Oregon to sweat out copious amounts of fluids, this followed by an even longer trek to B.C. a few days later might be a conflict not easily dealt with.

I had a great time, everybody else looked as they were enjoying themselves, particularly on Sunday. The only negative--and it is a big one--is that it takes about the same amount of work to put on a small contest as it does a bigger one. Thus those doing the work--we didn't even use one of the *three* circles Steve and Gary cut--feel let down. And I don't blame them one bit.

Steve . So sorry to hear that you are despondent re the low turnout, I completely understand that and it is understandable that you dont want to do that again,however before throwing in the towel please consider Pauls suggestion,Must have the promise of a certain number of people declaring their intention of participating before making the fateful decision to bail out. And once again, THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH for this years event, that scored big in the pleasure dept with Chris and I.Keith V

I wanted to appear as well and also help out but the paint job on my new plane was calling me to finish the job to prepare for Canada and on Sunday I had a church obligation that required my presence.

Next time you do this event I promise to help out.

Bob Smiley