Fun with airplanes and their people. A great day.

I was on such a roll in the shop for the last couple of days, getting the Yak finished, the Reed Speed and new Skyray started, I was getting sore from standing on the concrete floor. I figured more of the same for today until Wayne called late yesterday afternoon. He and Watt Moore are building a plane called a Fanfare, designed by Allen Brickhaus and Watt, and kitted by Tom Morris. Tom sent them one to convert to electric. At least I think that's how the story goes. Anyway, Watt is building the wing and Wayne is outfitting the fuse with the electrics. The plane is a full fuse with a Teosawki wing(The End Of Stunt As We Know It). So I figured I'd go watch someone else work and maybe learn something, and take my Skyray to fix, since it's still needing the stab glued and the wing covered. I'm surrounded by great modelers these days.

Wayne said to bring something to fly, so I loaded up the Shoestring and the Li'l Satan along with the ailing Skyray, and headed on up the highway to Watt's. We played in the shop all morning and W and W disappeared to drink coffee while I was waiting for epoxy to harden. I'd had enough fun with balsa and glue, so I drove on down to the field, I'm too creaky today to lug everything, and set up my 1/2A stooge and rigged up the Li'l Satan. I lit off a full ounce of 35% and was tearing it up when the other old boys appeared on the sidelines with planes. I got a great flight with the Satan, but it's tail booms and control linkage are going to let go on some flight really soon if I don't do some work... about like the rest of my sadly neglected 1/2A fleet.

I reeled it in and got the ol' Shoestring out of the car while they rigged up their planes. Wayne's eSmoothie and Watt's eLightening Streak. I swear a Skyray and a Flite Streak had sex to produce the Lightening. I'm pretty sure it's a Streak wing with a Skyray tail. I have no idea what the measurements are for what everyone calls moment arms.

I got some pictures of Wayne flying the Bast... uh, Lightening Streak.


It didn't occur to me to get a picture of the Smoothie in action... the one with the dummy engine I showed y'all last week with the 35mm film canister cylinder.

Now the Shoestring hasn't been flown since the contest in October, relegated to the shadow of the ugly old Skyray that flies so nicely. As you may recall, I bemoaned and whined about the fact that I learned too late that the SS is not a good pattern flyer. And it would always cut out when I turned too tightly... which I always did. But it's still a raving beauty with it's red and black scheme and silver canopy. While it was hanging in the shop, I had changed one thing that I had learned works so well on the Ray... I plugged the muffler into the uniflow vent.

Of course that meant it would run richer with pressurized fuel. It took me three tries to get it leaned out enough. It was so rich I couldn't come close to a wingover without chasing the line tension, very scary. Finally I cranked the needle in enough and the Thunder Tiger was singing and I began to remember how hard this plane pulls. With its short tail it snaps corners like I never do with the Ray. I also tried mark Boesen's handle that I had found fits my hand really well, but had never actually flown with. It has very narrow line spacing, just what the SS needs. The elevator throws were badly out of trim on those first over-rich flights. But all in one swoop, I fixed the throws with handle adjustments, and the needle setting fell into place, and I promptly knocked down the best beginner pattern I've ever flown with this plane. The engine never coughed in a turn. I should have hooked up that pressure line long long ago. Live and learn.

Speaking of learning... though the SS may not be an ultimate stunt configuration, a little practice with the Ray on my part, and the improved skills I have acquired since October, the pressurized tank, and the right handle combined for a Whole different show. I take back all the B&W I did as an excuse for my poor performance. I'm downright embarrassed for myself for going on like that. I turned better corners in squares and flat pullouts like I still can't do with the Skyray. Maybe the Ray (here I go again) is loosening up and getting mushier with all of its pre-existing repairs. I found cracks and fuel soaking that I think have been spreading for a while. I don't think my one wheel-hop last Thursday did all of that. The wing root is a soft mess. Hopefully the new Ray, on the table now, will bring me back to the quality of the first time I flew a Skyray. I seem to have been getting worse every time out lately. But the Shoestring was a shining success today and I left the field with confidence again. Something I've been losing lately and feeling very not so good about.

Here are my geezers  
Me, Watt and Sonny Williams. Wayne is manning the camera.


So that wraps up my fun with airplanes and their people for this weekend. Lots of fun, and lots of learning from some true experts.
See y'all in the funny papers.
Rusty