Tues and Wed flying

Yesterday was fogless.  Flew the Toledo Special twice, and the Starstream 4 times.  Good day with wind slowly building.  Today I flew the Shoestring 60 once and the RV-4 twice.  Fogless at first, then light fog blew in from the East where the river is.  Still a good day of flying with wind again slowly building.  I like the bunch of nuts flying at the Dallas field.  They all fly glow and/or gas, very little electric, and they sure are a quick witted bunch.  They make me laugh a lot!

Fog lifted

It has been raining four days in a row, so my last flying was a full week ago!  Got to the field today to find Don and Walt still in their trucks.  It was foggy but not pea soup.  Plenty of room for my Starstream electric.  It is light and bright yellow, so it was plenty visible with close-in flying .  Ran four packs through it.  After just a little more bsing with Joe and Don, I got the Yak-54 out and ready to go.  Flew two flights with fog disappearing quick.  The OS120 Surpass III ran splendidly and powered the plane through the variety of aerobatics nicely.  A very good  flying day.  Not even cold by the way.  The other guys did not fly due to the fog and limited time they had.

Flight log: 10/16/2017

Forgot to post that I flew Monday.  Cold at the Dallas field but the guys got out five chairs in a circle and put a propane heater in the middle so we could stay warm as we waited for the fog to lift or blow away.  A couple hours later after solving all the worlds problems, we flew in very nice skies with little wind.  I flew my Giles 202 for 2.33 flights.  Well, the one third flight was about 2 or 3 minutes long before the fog set in, and I had to land early due to the quickly decreasing visibility!  The OS 160FX ran like a buzz saw and zipped that plane around effortlessly.  The hard part was starting the dang thing.  I had to use a high torque starter from Doug to get the engine to run twice.  On the third flight, due to only a brief period between flights, the engine started right up with the reverse finger twirl.  I sure hate to get that $150 starter just for this one stubborn plane.  My old starter works fine for all my other glow squadron.  Then again the Align starter is cordless and light, therefore safer to use.

Clear but cold

Funny how one day makes a difference...42F, clear skies, no fog.  With very light winds, the conditions were great for lots of flying at the krca field.  I got in two flights on the X5, two on the G500, three on the 7HV, and five on the Aerostar 40F.  Talk about fun!

Foggy Flying Again!

Well, tis the time of year again for fog, cold, grey skies, late starts, ie crap.  Had to go later to the field due to fog and cold temps.  I left the house at almost 9AM and 39F.  Got back home around 12:30 and 54F.  That just gives an idea about the temp and how it slowly increases to bearable.  Fog was still around when I came home but definitely much better than at 9AM.  I had to stay low and close on my first 5 flights.  Finally on the last two packs, I could air the G630 out safely.  Not all is lost on that closeby flying though...the stick time is still good, and it forces me to be in tighter control.  Also I practice more hovering orientations.  Got in four flights of the X5 and three of the G630.

Note the foggy background!

Followed the heli flying with three flights of the Aerostar 40F.  Always a joy to fly in any conditions.

Definitely better visibility now.

Today i flew the G500 three times, 7HV three times and the Starstream four times.  Felt apprehensive and scared really as i flew the helis because it just felt foreign...I simply am not flying helis enough to stay natural.  I depended on muscle memory but just didnt think it came too natural...like i needed to think, which is bad!  Was more relaxed by the last couple flight on the 7HV.  The Starstream felt good and i enjoyed flying it today.

Bravo Bravata and Bad Brain

Well, I had three great flights on the Bravata yesterday.  Needed to fly it because the XB wont be available to haul it for three or four weeks.  Jer will be using it while the CX-5 is undergoing repair.  I think maybe the Bravata is my fave plane.  It is just so pretty standing still on the ground and in flight, and it flies so gracefully and effortlessly.

Today I flew the Ministar four times.  Needs less down thrust because the plane pitches down with sudden application of full throttle.  Other than that it is flying great, like a little rocket.  I also had the Giles 202 with me but I brought the wrong wing tube...I had the Yak tube with me!  That was disappointing!

Windier day

Calm when i got to the dallas field, but the wind gradually rose to still a mild 5mph+, haha.  I took my SNAFU expressly for the wind, so it was no prob.  Got in three flights i think, maybe four.  I also had the Starstream but that is super light and would have been tossed around like a leaf.

 Sold my DX6 to Walt for just $50 at the field, but i sure don't need it now that i have the DX8 which has many more capabilities and can store 250 aircraft vs just 10 on the DX6!

Beat the RAIN

Rain forecasted but it looked good at my house, so I headed out to fly early.  Got to the field and it was overcast and a bit breezy but good enough for a try!  Got in three flights of the Gaui X5 first, then three on the Aerostar 40F.  Then it began to rain too much and I had to forego the other two battery packs for the Aerostar, shucks.  Flying the plane was easy but the grey overcast sky made it hard to see the heli easily.  Here comes the Fall and Winter where these conditions will exist more often than not.

BOTH FLEW WELL TODAY

Aloha T-28, boo hoo

Flew on Sept 26.  Had two flights almost.  First flight of the T-28 was nice and uneventful, just the same old reliable plane.  On the second flight, I was on the downwind leg for landing and lost all controls.  At the time, I had flaps deployed and was just puttering back with throttle for landing.  The plane just stopped responding, rolled slightly left and dove into the field.  Totaled in my book.  It lasted 8 years, a good life!  So at the crash site, I found the switch off on the plane because the crash took out the fuselage side and popped my switch to the off position.  This plane had the wire extension to the switch with pull off and push on.  Fuse side forced outwards took the switch to off.  I turned it back on and all controls responded.  I suspected battery but the servos were instantaneous and lively.  At home I ran the controls for a full seven minute flight with not a single weak or incorrect or lack of response.  No idea what happened.  My only guess is that usually crashes are pilot error and just maybe I did not realize the plane was going so slow at 200 yards out.  In the two seconds perhaps, before impact, I tried elevator, aileron, and throttle up.  I did not hear the engine sound increase nor see any responses to my inputs.   Well these planes all have an expiration date that is unknown when we build them.  I now know it for the T-28.  I don't feel so bad because it was old and fuel soaked.  I need a new warbird anyway!

Today is Sept 28.  I flew the Stinger II three times and the Intruder twice.  All good flights.  FAST!  Both planes like to whistle due to their speed, and maybe they just are dirty airframes, lol.  Had to fly today with rain forecasted for the next five days at least!  CRAP!

THE NEED FOR SPEED!

Flight log for week passed

Geez, getting so bad about posting the flight reports!  I know i flew on Sept 16 because that was the picnic fly in day at the krca field. i recall flyignonce with the Goblin 500 because some folks never saw a heli fly before.  I also flew the Yak 54 a few times .  It flew well and pleased the fams of the newb member pilots Dave and Jon.

After that i dont recall exact days because i have been under the weather.  I know i flew the Sbach a few times one day.  The engine ran well with the reattached clunk filter in the fuel tank.  And another day i flew the Bravata three times because we had a big bird day...might have been Saturday Sept 23. That flew fine too.  Both mufflers on those gassers seem to be staying attached well with the red liquid gasket and red thread lock.

I will report in advance that i am taking the T-28 and Stinger II to Dallas today!  Gotta fly if feeling well during the last good days of Summer.  Rain is already breaking up good weather several days in a row at times now.  Fall and Old Man Winter are on the horizon.

Bravo Bravata!

Oh yeah, great day of sun and light winds for flying the Bravata three times at Dallas.  The engine started and ran well, and the plane flew fine.  The guys loved it, and made my head bigger, lol.  For the first time I tried to do the rolling circle with this plane.  The plane just wouldnt get through the second roll both time I attempted it.  Could just be me and I will try again someday.  FUN!

Awesome Thursday Flying

Gorgeous morning for flying!  Flew my Toledo Special twice, as well as my Stinger II twice.  Both engines ran flawlessly and the planes were a joy to fly all over the sky, especially low and fast strafing passes over the runway and field.  I was surprised the YS 63 in the Stinger ran so well and steady because it ran pretty good at home the other day, but it never keeps a good tune from day to day.  Hope it retains this for the next time!

Flight log: 09/12&13/2017

Flew yesterday...one flight on the Sbach 342 but i did not fly it again due to fuel feed issue at end of the flight!  Came home and pulled the tank out of the plane.  As suspected, the clunk with fuel line inside the tank had slipped off the tubing that runs through the tank stopper.  No barbs on the tubing but there was a zip tie cinching the tygon line to the stopper tubing.  With time the tygon compresses and stiffens, just slipping off.   I just replaced rhe tygon with a more flexible one and added a new zip tie.  It just needs to be checked annually.

I had my Aerostar 40F and knocked out five flights on it, playing with flaps all the time.  Just a relaxing aircraft!

TODAY,  i flew my P-47 twice.  The guys there absolutley loved the appearance, sound, and flight handling.  Landings were tail up main gear touchdowns, things of beauty.  Takeoffs were crap.  Too much torque causes the plane to veer left on takeoff.  I need to add tons of right rudder to counteract the veer.  Simply need to fly it more to get the blend of throttle and right rudder.  Not much of an issue at KRCA where the left veer is typically out over the sod farm.  At Dallas RC, the veer heads the plane into the pit area fencing!  It was a great morning of flying.

Ten flights today!  Five on the Compass 7HV followed by five on the Aerostar 40F.  Havent been flying helis much so it was a lil nervous time at first, but it felt better with each flight.  And then the flights with the plane were all just easy relaxation!

Ultimate day

Flew the good old Carl Goldberg Ultimate 10-300 today for the first time in likely a year.  Only took one flight as the OS 120FS sounded like a tractor.  The bearings must be worn out and need to be replaced.  Prolly could have flown again but I did not want to risk the engine seizing up or dying, then having to deadstick back with my oldest plane that is also my last kit built plane, 1992.  It flew nice though and tracked as great as ever.  I will get the bearings out and seek replacements soon.

Flight Log: 09/02/2017

The last few days have been very rough with a bad stomach virus caught from dear grandkids.  Both Sandy and I caught it and were rudely awakened in the dark hours of Thursday morning...her with vomiting and me with diahrea.  We were weak and exhausted and slept just about all of Thursday.  Then Friday we were still weak and took a couple naps each.  Finally woke up this morning with a bit of energy so I went to fly and almost regretted that, but I made it through.  I was not up to heli flying.   Got in five flights on the Aerostar 40F plus mowed.  Went home and laid myself down, lol.  Feeling better today as the time rolls along.

5 day flight log!

Lazy bones I am...forgot to record flights  for five days of flying!  I flew Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, and today Tuesday.  Today i flew the Bravata again, twice, at Dallas.  The DLE-30 ran well with the 1/8 turn of the high needle inwards to lean it.  Ran strong without the slight missing.  It also proved to be perfect for the idle and mid engine speeds with little to no missing that i can recall.  Yesterday I flew the Ministar four times and the Shoestring 60 twice.  The fix to the tank of the Shoe did the trick for obtaining full engine runs again.  On the weekend I flew the Goblin 500 about five times each day at the Keizer field with a couple flights of the X5 too on Saturday.  Both weekend days I also flew the Aerostar 40F five times.  And last Friday I flew the Intruder at Dallas for one flight, plus the SNAFU several times.  Hey, pretty good recollection after all!

Big Beautiful Bravata

Yay, the Bravata took to the air again!  It ran okay, not great, but never died in the air, so i was content.  Needs a lil leaning on high and low needles, but still flew nice.  The new Jtec muffler seems to still be attached securely.  Now that i think of it, the new muffler has a much skinnier can than the previous one from Valley View RC, so that likely caused the change in tuning.  I got in three nice long flights with the Bravata, with many loops, rolls, stall turns, low circles, and flap descents and landings.  Very fun flying plane, and i will take it to Dallas again soon so that Don can see it fly.

Yesterday before the grandkids came over, i went to krca to fly.  Got in five flights on the Aerostar 40F and two on the Starstream... all good!  The 40F is just a pussycat to fly.  Mowed the runway afterwards.

Flight Log: 08/17/2017

Mowed the field first, then flew the SNAFU twice in winds near 10mph.  Kinda rusty landing that thing but all went well.  Tuned the OS52FS on it a little bit.  Nobody else there in such conditions.

Where does the time go!

Geez i flew saturday and forgot to post.  I kinda recall taking two flights of the G500, two of the X5, then five with the Aerostar 40F.  On a couple Aerostar flights, Dave flew my old Aerostar 40 at the same time...cool to see both in the air together!  I flew again this morning before the kids came over for babysitting.  Today i got in five flights of the Aerostar 40F and four of the Ministar.  For both planes, I am dialing in some down elevator to reduce tucking to the canopy in knife edge.  For the Aerostar 40F, I also am mixing in aileron to reduce rollout when top rudder is applied for knife edge.  Just trying to make knife, four point tolls, and slow rolls look a little better, but high wing planes just dont knife edge well naturally.  All done for fun and some performance improvement.

Flight log: 08/10/2017

Flew at the Dallas field today, getting to know the field and guys better.  It's a good combo!  Took the RV-8 up twice, getting the Saito 82 dialed in closer and closer.  I have been richening the high needle to get a decent smoke trail without dropping off power, and then leaning or closing the low end to get a good idle and transition from low to full throttle.  I never really understood too much of tuning these four stroke engines, but I am improving slowly.  Flew the new Aerostar 40F four times today.  Nice plane, getting lots of fun with it, but kinda hate the caster tail wheel.  It is not positive and therefore not as safe in my opinion.  Too lazy to make a mod at this time.

Flight log: 08/09/2017

Went to the Dallas club this morning and had a nice time.  Only Doug T was there, later replaced by Joe.  I got in two flights on the RV-8 as i tuned in the Saito 82a on it better.  At least it stayed running in the air, but it sounded like it was hunting, and there was no smoke trail.  Concluded the high needle is too lean so i richened the high and screwed in the low needle.  The saito ran better the second flight but still hunted a wee bit and left no smoke trail.  So i opened the high needle another couple clicks, and turned in the low needle.  Ran fine on the bench and I taxied around for a few minutes.  The engine did not load up and die, and seemed to have a little bit of smoke trail, so I will see next time if it is dialed in or not.

The Aerostar 40F is growing more and more on me!  I think the right thrust issue is not bad now, so i am going to do some mixing of rudder and aileron/elevator to improve knife edge.

Catchup catchup catchup!

Been a lazy man and haven't been posting my flight days.  So many days have gone by that I cannot recount exactly, but this will have to serve as a catchup to fill the time between July 14 and today, August 8!  I have been flying lots.  Cousin Ron visited July 21-31 and I was flying helis lots in prep for that visit.  Then he came and we flew for 8 out of the 9 mornings available to us for flying.  Up at dawn, out at the field by 7:15 every day!  Kinda grueling at first but then just lots of fun, lol!  Then after he left, I was in the habit of getting out there so early and here we are over a week later, and I have gone to fly probably everyday but two since he left.  Been doing much with helis, flying all of my heli fleet while Ron visited.  Typically I flew about 5 or 6 heli flights everyday, and then another few plane flights.  Tad came out two days of Ron's visit, Jer two too, and Quang also two, but not all the same two days for each of them, except once.  Those days when the boys played with us, we flew Battle Wings like crazy and just had a ball.  Many midairs were experienced, and some videoed by Jer!  Nothing was damaged beyond repair.

Before Ron came, I bought another Aerostar 40 from Dick, this one with flaps.  Very cool plane.  I let Jer fly it and for some reason the plane became unresponsive on final about 30' high.  It just nosed over into a dive and crunched resoundingly.  The motor nose housing area completely came off the fuselage, and the structure between there and the forward wing bulkhead was obliterated.  Jer and Ron retrieved the plane and brought back every piece of wood they could find.  I did my forensic post crash analyses and guessed that there were elements of a perfect storm that caused the crash.
1.  Plane head on to pilot where receiver was blocked by large airborne battery pack.
2.  Large sprinkler system down runway edge, the one on wheels, running from pilot to past the plane.
3.  Steel fence posts and rails running in front of pilot towards the plane.
4.  Pilot holds xmitter with arms hanging low and xmitter pointing down and out.
Altogether, this led to blackout to the receiver.   Jer said there was full control of every surface and the motor at the crash site.

After a few days I decided to start repairs and see if I finished or just would give up on the plane.  I got her done, and it looks better than new, lol!  And today I flew it with the same receiver because I figured the same four conditions would not ever occur again, mostly because I don't hold my xmitter low like Jer.  As added precaution, I relocated the receiver up higher in the fuselage.  Due to one or both changes, there was no issue today with reception.  The plane flew fine...actually better because during the repair, I added a couple washers under the right side of the engine mount to reduce the right thrust built into the firewall by Dick.  It was too much, causing right turns under power.  Glad to have the new Aerostar 40 repaired and flyable again because it is a beauty and flies well.

For planes during the delinquent period, I flew the Battlewing, Aerostar 40F (flaps), Mini Aerostar, StarStream, Star, RV-8, Toledo Special, maybe something else!  And finally, I sold the Aerostar 40 to new guy at the field who could use it.  I don't need it now with the new Aerostar 40F in the fleet.

That will have to do as catchup for the several weeks of failing to report the flight log!

Flight Log: 07/12-14/2017

Three days in a row flying, some kinda recent record.  Seem to have got bit to fly again, both heli and planes.  The planes enthusiasm comes from flying with the Dallas Wingdingers club, to which I now belong as a paying member.  I flew there Wed and Thurs, with my T-28 first, then the MiniStar.  Actually had my Toledo Special to fly on Thurs, but it would not run so I flew the MiniStar.  Took the TS home and it ran fine the next day without any work to it or the fuel system.  I think I simply flooded it at the field.  Been having fun at the Dallas field with the many retired flyers there.  They are very funny guys, cordial, welcoming.  It is easy to fit into that environment.  Plus I love that they are still glow and gas guys, not a lot of foam toys.

Today I went to KRCA because I wanted to mow first, then fly a heli plus a plane.  Got in four flights on the X5 then one on the Shoestring 60.  I was real happy the Shoe ran and flew well.  Just a couple weeks ago I was twirling the prop in the garage, and there was no compression due to a sticky lifter.  I opened the valve covers on  the Saito 100 and worked in WD40 to turn the valves loose.  Today the engine ran like a top.  I didnt have to touch the needle valve at all!   The Shoe flew so well, better than I recall it did.  Its ready for the Dallas field now.

No pics because my iphone was out of memory.  I have deleted some older pics so I can use the camera again!

Flight Log: 07/01/2017

For the first time in many months, Tad and Quang came out to fly helis!  It was good fun like the old days.  I got in 4 flights on the G500, 2 on the G630, and 2 on the 690SX.  Felt nerves but did not do any dumb thumbing, and everything is still in one piece.  For some reason, my nose in hovers are getting very iffy and making me nervous.  Gonna have to practice those up high and bring the heli lower and get comfortable again, or maybe I never was!  Tad had four flights on his G570, getting smoother with each flight after the long layoff since last September!  Quang was crazy man as usual, and flew his G770 stretched to 800, and his nitro T-Rex 700.

Flight Log: 06/26/2017 and 06/29/2017

I flew on Monday with the Dallas club.  Took the Yak 54 up for a couple flights.  Spent more time watching and fraternizing than flying, but the guys are nice, and I am trying to learn the customs there.  They seem to like my flying, and I think its a good fit for me!  Good fun.

Then today I went to the old KRCA field and flew my helis.  Four flights on the G500, 3 on the G630, and 2 on the Logo 690SX.  All flew well and came home in one piece, yay!  I was relieved to get the 690 back successfully just because i have not flown it in a very long time, since Sept 2016! I got in a zillion flips to inverted and built more comfort with bailing out of inverted with side, back, and forward flips.  All good!  Breeze was 5mph+, which was not an issue at all.

Fathers Day flying

Nice weather for fathers day!  Nobody there even today, lol.  Took all 14 of my 4000mAh packs.  Took 4 flights on the G500, 3 on the G630, and 2 on the 7HV.  Lots of flips, loops, and rolls.  Many times flipped into inverted.  Getting more comfy.  Coordinated turns while inverted coming soon!

Flight Log: 06/17/2017

Hey twice in a week flying!  Got out early and as usual nobody else was at the field, lol.  Flew my X5 twice, G500 twice, and 7HV thrice.  Then followed on with the Aerostar 40 electric plane twice.  With the runway still off limits, I flew it off the heli pad and road.  No issues with helis or plane today.  No miscues or misorientations on the helis, yay.  Felt good and positive and confident.

Flag Day flying

Flew at the KRCA old field on June 14, Flag Day, all alone, just the way I like it, lol.  Got in 2 flights on the X5, 2 on the G500, and 3 on the G630.  All went well enough since they all came back to terra firma in one piece, LG on the bottom.  Had a very nervous moment or two when I flipped the 630 to inverted a little low, and went brain dead.  Had to think fast and remember to hit full negative pitch to gain altitude, and push forward on the right stick to get the nose up.  That zipped it up to 100' quickly where I flipped upright and stabilized the heli and my brain, lol.  I just am not flying enough to reflexively correct properly.  Thinking takes too long and begets crashes.  Oh well, still a success, and still fun.

Pre bday flying!

The nice weather finally allowed some decent flying conditions!  It was comfy flying with just a vest so musta been around 60F.  Went out early at 8:30 risking the Wallace Rd traffic.  Was ok enough.  Got in two flights on the X5, two on the G500, then three on the 7HV.   All good flights with much flipping and looping.  No mishaps.  Nobody else flying.

Three Heli Day

Got out for some fun flying to get through my damn root canal postop recovery, so I call it.  Anyway flew the X5 twice, the G500 twice, and the G630 thrice.  FUN, FUN, FUN seven flights.  All well, all ended in one piece.  Only one brain fart or two where my heart shuddered, lol.  Got in lots of flips, loops, and inverted straight plus hovering.  Getting more stick time to be able to makes some turns soon.

Neat jet trails to the north, showing approach to PDX from the south.  Must be a wind change up there!

Flight Log: April 28-29, 2017

Finally got out to fly again, and managed two days in a row!  Both times were at the KRCA field.   Nobody was there either day, prolly due to the poor condition of the runway...all mud and moss, lol.  I got to fly my X5 four times and 7HV three times yesterday.  Today it was again four flights on the X5, but three on the G630, followed with two flights of the Aerostar 40 electric.  Conditions both days were primo, with very light to no wind, sunny skies, and cool 50F temps.  And I liked having nobody there to take turns with, haha.  Here are some pics:

The good outcome is that I did not crash anything, lol.  Loved being able to fly the helis again with pretty good level of comfort, even inverted.  This is the year I swear I will do inverted circuits.  Last year I had good progress, being able to fly straight inverted, stop, pyro 180, and fly straight again.  This year I will make forward inverted flight with banking a reality.

Helis

Flew again finally...too much ugly weather this Winter and Spring!  Decided to go to KRCA since helipad is good, and the flying area faces away from the sun.  Not so at Dallas.  Took the X5 and the 7HV.  Very good flying day!  4 packs through the X5, 6 packs for 3 flights through the 7HV.  Felt like normal but a lil brain dead at times, lol.  No crashes is most important.  Runway looks pitiful.  Nobody else came.

Wing Dinger!

That is what Tad and I will be called soon...instead of Krosswinds!   We are going to join the Dallas Oregon RC club called the Wing Dingers for obvious reasons....dinging wings!  We wanted a new field due to the continual threat of losing the KRCA field to the owners JB Sod.  They are escalating their types of complaints for us to be unhappy there.  Reasons now include not just the risk to their workers of getting hit by one of our aircraft, but not liking to drive around the corners of our runway, and the presence of obnoxious weeds on our runway.  Bob says JB has been asking how we are doing on locating a new place to fly, lol.  He says it is a matter of when and not if we wll be kicked out.  I feel they are just manufacturing complaints now  and voicing them often to build the case to get rid of us.

So we always knew about the Dallas club but never had a real need for it till now.  I flew there today and met lots of the regular flyers, including Doug and Cliff who were recent members of KRCA.  Good news is that the distance to Dallas is longer but the travel time is about the same because of no traffic lights and higher speeds.  And best of all, I liked the field and members there today.

 I got in 3 flights on the Aerostar 40 and one on the SNAFU.  Everyone left or i would have flown longer!  Some pics follow.

Looking east from west end of pits

Looking east from west end of runway

Straight east from west end of runway

Real nice shed

Looking west from east end of pits

Short North South runway looking southeast from shed

Doug on taxiway to main runway

Dougs Falcon 56 on runway

My SNAFU and Aerostar 40

The club regular flyers!

View to the southwest.

The tall grain elevator is gone, just a pile of rubble now.

Gone in Sixty Minutes

Finally the weather cooperated and I made it to the field on Sunday morning!  Not a soul was there, weirdness!  So I got seven flights done in sixty minutes and was outta there that fast!  Three flights on the 7HV after four flights on the X5.  All good but sometimes I felt a little brain dead since my last flying was over 6 weeks ago!  Still, no boo boos that caused my heart to race out of control, and I brought both helis home in one piece.  Started out slow to get my feel, then threw in some back, forward, and side flips. plus a little inverted hovering.  Felt great to fly again.

Happy Hour

Had a very pleasant hour, if even that much, at the field today.  Nobody was there so it was up and down and repeat six times with hardly a rest.  Didn't even go in the truck to run the heater today.  Temp was about 46F and felt cool but not frigid with the very light wind from the North.  Got the X5 up four times and the 7HV twice.  All good, no panic feelings.  Did a few more flips and inverted straight lines today.  Getting the feel back slowly.

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Flew today, just 5 days after the last time, and 2nd time this year, yay!  Flew ok, but not instinctively on some hover attitudes.  Ten weeks off is way too long.  Right side facing me seems to be the toughest one, and nose in again.  Forward flight is fine in all attitudes.  Oh well, need stick time to get it back.  Still, I managed a few flips and stayed inverted in hover without crashing, so that is positive.  Flew the Goblin 500 four times today.  Followed that with the Aerostar 40 for three flights.  No crashes, no repairs, no dumb thumbs.  All is well!

NOTE the crappy sod farm that is pure humps of mud, all 80 acres of it!

NOTE the crappy runway that is pure mud and moss, all 250' of it!

Didn't CRASH!

Helluva  long layoff due to crap wind, temps, rain, snow, babysitting, etc.  Finally got over 40F with light winds today and I went out for a try.  10 weeks without flying is a long time.  Expected to crash.  BUT DID NOT!  I got the X5 out for four flights and then the G500 out for just one.  Drizzled the whole time I was there, but I had to fly!  Finally the drizzle got heavy enough to make me quit and go home with 3 unused packs.  I had only one moment of fright when I did not reflexively act, but I got my brain in gear and continued in one piece.  Even got in a few flips after the first couple packs.  It was good to see if I could still fly and not crash, and to test whether my eyes are still good to fly.  All seems AOK!