Sunday, several of us went to North Olmstead to the model swap meet. We had planned to meet up with Phil Spillman there and go flying afterwards. However we had not planned on the 40 mph winds. Well,,, The Rainman and Phil started,, "You call this wind?" So off to the field we went
.
I asked the Rainman if he was sure he wanted to fly in this wind, his answer was "definitely, definitely". Rainman insisted on being first up. "Why the hurry?" I questioned, he mumbled something about Judge Wopner and proceeded to get out his "Galaxy" profile with the old Fox .29. Rainman informed me it was a old 1956 Fox with a point 29 cubic inch displacement, cast iron piston, blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yadda.
I was his pit man and after some coaxing the Fox roared to life. Rainman went out to the handle and I noticed that the rudder was about to fall off so I shut the engine down. I asked him if he wanted to take time to reglue it. He mumbled the thing about Wopner again, tore the rudder off, restarted the engine, and took off. The rest of us looked on in amazement as the Galaxy hauled anywhere he pointed it, for about four laps.
As the Rainman started a square corner the stab and elevator assembly relocated itself, 90 degrees to the right and 2 inches rearward. Not a good thing..Straight over the top and down the other side with the Fox just screamin'. Divot Dick would have been proud of the Rainman, it was buried half way past the fuel tank.
I told Rainman that I figured the Fox was running about 10 grand when it hit, he corrected me by saying it as actually turning 10,876 rpm He could tell by the exhaust pitch. I asked him where he got the glue used on the rudder and stab, all he did was say something like "K Mart sucks, definitely, definitely".
.
I asked the Rainman if he was sure he wanted to fly in this wind, his answer was "definitely, definitely". Rainman insisted on being first up. "Why the hurry?" I questioned, he mumbled something about Judge Wopner and proceeded to get out his "Galaxy" profile with the old Fox .29. Rainman informed me it was a old 1956 Fox with a point 29 cubic inch displacement, cast iron piston, blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yadda.
I was his pit man and after some coaxing the Fox roared to life. Rainman went out to the handle and I noticed that the rudder was about to fall off so I shut the engine down. I asked him if he wanted to take time to reglue it. He mumbled the thing about Wopner again, tore the rudder off, restarted the engine, and took off. The rest of us looked on in amazement as the Galaxy hauled anywhere he pointed it, for about four laps.
As the Rainman started a square corner the stab and elevator assembly relocated itself, 90 degrees to the right and 2 inches rearward. Not a good thing..Straight over the top and down the other side with the Fox just screamin'. Divot Dick would have been proud of the Rainman, it was buried half way past the fuel tank.
I told Rainman that I figured the Fox was running about 10 grand when it hit, he corrected me by saying it as actually turning 10,876 rpm He could tell by the exhaust pitch. I asked him where he got the glue used on the rudder and stab, all he did was say something like "K Mart sucks, definitely, definitely".
On the brighter side of things, Spillman took to the air in his Sterling P-51 powered by an O.S. .20 and amazed us with it's ability to fly in that wind. He also completed the full pattern and had enough fuel left for us to go have lunch and return to see him land. Well not exactly, but pretty close..When Phil landed, he said he didn't think he had ever flown in that much wind. AND then he did it again!!! OUTSTANDING
This has been another chapter in the ever entertaining adventures "The Gray Eagles"
"Straighten up and fly right"
Rog