who's going to sig

I've got to be in Iowa to pick up more of my stuff in storage in Burlington and was wondering with both the bad weather and outragous gas prices if anyone from Kansas, MN or Illinois is going to be at SIG. I like to see what are good engine plane combinations. Thanks

I am goimg but I fly carrier. I hope to have my electric sky ray flight tested if I can get good weather this weekend. ART

Almost all of the people I talked to who have attended the SIG contest in the past also plan on being there this year. It is one really fun event.
DennisV

Wouldn't miss it-see ya there!

If the weather forcast is good to fair, Roger Wildman and I will be there. Probably arriving Fri. evening. Got a motel west on the interstate.

Blessings

So far this is a pretty small headcount. I hope more people are planning to go and they just haven't posted in this thread. I'm still kicking the idea around... I don't have anything ready right now, but should have a few planes done before SIG, but if there is this little interest, it'd be hard to justify the trip.

Drew,

The hobby shop trailer alone is worth the trip!!!!!
Getting to talk with Hazel, Max and the crew, is an honor.
Watch the weather of course, the flying will be second to none, the hospitality IS A-one.
Hope to see you there.

James Gifford

I'll be there, good Lord willin' and the Iowa River don't rise! This is 21 straight years for me I think. I almost broke the string in 1993, during the Great Flood. I usually ride up on Friday in order to get some practice Friday afternoon, but couldn't get off work that year. The Great Flood of 1993 was in progress that year, and that was a consideration. Friday night at around 10PM, I couldn't stand it any more and told my wife to pack my son Sean's stuff so I could be ready to leave at 4AM Saturday morning. I cross the Missouri/Iowa border at St. Francisville,MO and the river was lapping at the approach to the bridge when I got there, and I later heard I was one of the last to get across until Sunday night. Got there just in time for the start of things Saturday morning.
I've told Mike Gretz in the past, that even if they don't have the contest, he better have the grass cut 'cuz we're coming to fly! If it's late June, you just have to be in Montezuma, Iowa. It's almost like a right of summer. Lots and lots of great memories over the years. Great country side, great people, and great flying!
It's hard to believe how hard Iowa is getting hammered by weather the last few days. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and their families at the Scout Camp in Western Iowa. I hope all our modeling friends in the state are safe and well.
See you all there!
Dan McEntee

Been going for twenty five years or so, and will be there again..... Even if the weather forcast is not good, there will be a pretty sizeable group of flyers!! Seen some interesting Iowa weather over the years.. A thunderstorm sometime during the weekend is rather common... Come join us for some fun!!
Later
Jim

Will not be back from Church camp in time. As far as gas prices I quit worrying about that some time ago. I can still remember paying 35 cents a gallon when I was only making a $1.15 an hour. Was planning on flying Skyray Carrier, but, new kit put stop to that.
DOC Holliday

Alan Hahn and I plan to be there......arriving Friday.

Fred

Fred,
So the "One who must be obeyed" has ok'ed!

Hi there Richard. You think your gas prices are outrageous.

How about our prices in the U.K.

Around $9.50 per gallon and rising.

(I have converted to a U.S. gallon.)

I am not sure if Michigan counts in your request, but the rumor is that Team Paris (John, Grace and Michael) should be there. I am a bit concerned about what is happening that may slow us down on the way, but it is hard to miss the good time that is "The Sig Experience".
John "Pit-crew dad" Paris

I guess we should be happy that CL is next week at Sig! I just saw this in the Chicago Tribune!



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John Christensen and myself will be there. We will be coming from St. Paul MN.

Yup, the I-380 bridge over the Iowa River just closed. My 12 minute commute to work just turned into a 280 mile trip. IDOT suggests the route from Iowa City to Cedar Rapids is:

Go West on I-80 to Des Moines, North on I-35, East on SR 20 then South on I-380. About a 5 hour drive.

Too bad I-80 is closed on my way to my flying circle too.

You know, all that water up there has to run down hill, and go through here, the St. Louis area. No body on the news or weather has brought up the similariries to the 1993 floods, brought on by heavy spring rain and winter snow melt in the upper Mississippi Valley. The confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri River was about 5 to 8 miles wide at that time, and all sorts of land was under lots of water in the St.Charles County and St.Louis County areas. The Chesterfield Valley area near Buder Park flooded, closing the Spirit of St. Louis Airport, and closing Interstate 40/64. All that area has been rebuilt and built up more, putting faith in a new levee. We've had a much wetter spring than normal here, so this could get very interesting.
Hydraulics can be a very powerful force, especially when it's being controlled by Mother Nature!
Best of luck to all!
Dan McEntee

This years flooding is not just breaking the 93's records it's smashing them. In some places up to 12' yes feet higher. I made it through Iowa City and Cedar Rapids friday morning but had to take the eastern detour to get back to western Illinois today. The Wapsi is getting close on hwy 61 north of Davenport, don't want to imagine if that gets closed.

I'll be at Sig, flying my usual garbage. (But then, I'm a combat flier.)

I borrowed a 5-person tent from my daughter and son-in-law. Hope it doesn't blow away at Sig! Last year, a couple of canopies blew down during the Friday evening thunderstorms.

(This will be the tent's shake-down trial, before 8-9 days of camping at EAA.)

Have received a few inquiries about the SIG Contest and the Iowa flooding.

The SIG C/L CONTEST is still on. Conditions are good in Montezuma. There are no rivers, or even sizeable creeks, that to threaten Montezuma or SIG Field. As you regular attendees know, SIG Field is on top of a hill. While I have had difficulty keeping up with the mowing due in the past 3 weeks due to the heavy persistant rain, the current forecast is for a very nice and DRY week ahead! WhooHooo!

As of last friday (the last time I checked the airport) there were a couple small puddles on the runway in the north stunt circle. Hopefully I will find those puddles pretty much dried up when I get out there tonight to mow.

The PLAN is to mow everything to Maxey's normal runway height in the next two days. Then layout the circles on wednesday and cut the grass inside the circles to contest height (short!!!), and pick up the grass clippings. Friday morning the circles will get mowed short again.

With good weather promised all week, it's nice to finally be able to plan ahead on the mowing for a change. I am confident everything will be in tip top shape for the contest!

Re: travel to the contest .. most of the rivers in Iowa are starting to receed slowly. Current DOT prediction is that I-80 will reopen mid-week. That's good news for the Chicago and Michigan folks coming to the contest.

Dan .. since the water IS traveling your direction, I don't know what you will run into. I guess you could always come up via Columbia!?

You guys get here and we'll have a great time.

See ya soon,
Mike Gretz
SIG Contest Director

Mike,
Thanks for the update. While the I-80 route is less than scenic, it is the most direct.
See you in a few days.
John

Best bet would be to call AAA before leaving for Iowa.

or - Iowa State Patrol to check on road conditions / bridges open.

Iowa DOT also has a web site which has traveller info:
http://hb.511ia.org/main.jsf

Pretty ugly mess in all of eastern Iowa...

I-80 IA OPEN.

us 30 is not.

Dan 61 is closed, but the 218 is open.

see you all soon
James.

P.S. Sean can jump in!

I'll be there from ND to fly carrier yet again.
MrMotor AKA Paul Kegel

I talked to Mal Fawley of Des Moines on Sunday. He's originally from Illinois, and travels back and forth, a few times a year.

He suggested that if I-80 is impassable in eastern Iowa, to use US 20 in Illinois, get on Iowa Rte. 150 at Dubuque, and take it to I-380 in Cedar Rapids. Take I-380 south, about 20 miles to I-80.

He does not recommend using Rte 150 past Cedar Rapids, because it often floods in the Amana Colonies area.

Mal mentioned that only one neighborhood was flooded when a levy failed on the Des Moines river. Everyone in the Des Moines club is fine.

Hope to see you all at Sig!

Well, I knew it would happen, all the bridges over the Mississippi in Southeastern Iowa are closed, and there is no way to know when they will reopen, and what condition roads will be in in IL when they finally do. Since I need to get to Burlington to pick up planes in storage, and see friends in Lomax, and Dallas City across the river from Burlington I wount be at SIG. Have fun guys, maybe next year unless a hurricane gets me down here

Buzz Paricka and I will be coming from Wisconsin.

Peter Mick