C5 + CR = CF (Cruzn Fun)

Holy Moly the weather was totally sunny, dry, and warm as forecasted, so Tad and I took out the Corvette and the Cayman R for a run up to the Evergreen Air Museum.  It's just a nice drive up there, and a good place to park, rest, and use the facilities.  They tricked us today though, and there is construction that blocks off the restroom in the airplane building.  The IMAX building was closed after we got inside, and the space building was locked up.  The museum was being set up for a wine tasting event called "the SIP", and there was also filming in the parking lot for a TV show called "Leverage".

There were some neat planes and choppers at the east end of the parking lot behind the space building, so we mosied over and Tad got some pics.  Here's a F-4 Phantom in Oregon National Guard scheme, and a  F-104 Starfighter in NASA scheme!  SWEET planes, and the Phantom is HUGE.

We had a good drive up via Brush College, Spring Hill, 221, and the road past the Monrovia nursery farm.  We drove back by way of 99W and Brush College Rd.  It was 56+ miles RT, and well worth the perhaps 2.5 gallons of gas.  Vroom vroom, no radio needed at all when you have a Corvette and Corsa exhaust to make sweet music.  Once in awhile I heard this German music faintly, lol.  Just kidding Tad, I love the sound of  your CR!

Flight Log: 03/08/2012

Wowser what a gorgeous day!  Between 50F and 60F with little to no wind, it was just fine for flying.  I had 3 good flights with the P-47.  Unfortunately takeoffs still suck, and landings always end in a nose over.  The plane lifts off sooner than I would like...I need to ease off the up elevator sooner while on the takeoff run.  On landings, I think a little tail weight is in order to prevent the nose overs.  The plane is not sensitive to elevator while in the air, so I am going to add 1/4oz of stick on lead to see if it helps and if the plane gets too touchy.  When it gets too touchy, I will back off the lead.

I crunched the Citabria pretty good on a hand toss takeoff.  I did not get my right hand back to the xmitter fast enough as the plane glanced off some slight wind and headed to the turf.  Oh well, the plane was much too fragile and somewhat touchy in the air, so I won't miss it.  I will get the Tensor ready to replace it.  BTW next time I will take off from the dirt road till completely comfortable with one of these light electric airframes.

Flight Log: 03/07/2012

VERY NICE weather today, near 40F when I went out, but around 50F when I flew.  Mowed the field first, then took the Imagine 50 up for a couple flights.  Quit on the 2nd flight when I saw a big bird near my plane and realized it was a BALD EAGLE!!  Huge thing with a long wingspan, white head and tail.  Much different shape than a turkey buzzard or hawk.  I landed and just watched the eagle thermal higher and then dart off to the north.  The Imagine flew well today, but does sound like the OS 70 Surpass II is developing a tractor like sound.  I think a bearing is wearing out in it.  Mike was there and he divulged his secret project to me, finally, haha.  Gonna be a winner for sure!

Viva Las Vegas!

From Feb 26, 2012 to March 2, 2012, we had a grand reunion with Mom, Sue, Chuck, Tad, Becky, Jeremy, Rachel, Sandy and myself in the adult Disneyland called Las Vegas.  Since my mom is 91 and it's hard to walk far for her, we all stayed near the California Hotel where she, Sue, and Chuck resided.  Jer, Rachel, San, and I stayed at the Fremont, while Tad and Becky stayed at the highest class hotel they could find in downtown, the Golden Nugget.  Indeed their suite was gorgeous and one night there costed about the same as my 5 nights in the Fremont, LOL.  All were just a couple blocks from each other, making it real easy logistically.

On Thursday, Chuck and I walked to the pawn shop that is home to the Pawn Stars TV show.  He really wanted to see it in person and to see if he could get a deal on some bullion.  (He did not, the prices were high.)  The TV show makes that shop look big, but it consists of just one main aisle with a little butt out to the left of the shop entrance, to make a L shape, backwards.  The shop was nothing special, but there were LOTS of tourists inside gawking the same as we were.  A cab driver later told me that the place averages $20 per tourist, which amounts to the cost of the t-shirts they sell.  On the walk back to downtown, we took a few pics of interesting sights/sites.  BTW the walk was 20 minutes each way, just about a mile, and easily accomplished.

It was a great trip to LV to meet up with family, play the slots, eat lots, see the crazy sights like the Fremont Street Experience and freaky people, and just relax.  All travel to and from went smooth as can be.  Oh, the kids won a few bucks, but the rest of us supported the Nevada economy with our donations.  Nobody lost much, and we enjoyed the entertainment we bought!

Flight Log: 03/04/2012

Back from LV and needing to fly, the weather was good on Sunday, so I headed to the field with the Stinger II and the Toledo Special.  Jeremy joined me at the field with his kit built Stinger 40, and we had a ball buzzing the runway with this twosome and with Joe's Zlin and Dave's Extra.  Great fun strafing the runway and doing furballs trying to get behind each other.  I usually gave up and went out in front since I was fastest anyhow, hyuk hyuk.  Joe got the award for lowest passes over the runway though, flying just a foot off the deck.  I came down to about 3' several times but was not as crazy as Joe!  I had two flights each with the Stinger II and the Toledo Special.  Lots of folks like the Toledo Special and comment on how pretty it is.  I guess it just looks like a classic.

Two Man Cruise

Tad and I decided on a little romp through the countryside before the next rain comes, so off we went for a short cruise this morning.  It was just 16 miles but pretty spirited and lots of grins.  He led this time, winding out on Eola Hgts, west onto 22, north on the next road beyond the cemetery, looping east then south to turn left on Orchard Hgts, and whizzing down that road to my house.  It was nice to see the back end of the Cayman R and to hear it when my own engine was not roaring, haha.  Tad likes to drive a little energetic, so it was fun reining him in.  Very FUN outing today!!!  While the pic is from our 4 car cruise a couple weeks ago, it shows today's participants.  I  ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE C5 and CR!

Flight Log: 02/23/2012

Bummer, it was a great day weatherwise, but my T-28's muffler loosened up at the field after one flight.  On the second flight, I got a dead stick and discovered the issue.  With so many things to remove before getting the cowl off, I opted to do it at home.  At home, I tried the easy fix with wrenches through the cowl openings, and it worked.  I did not have these wrenches at the field, so could not have fixed it at the field.  Anyhow, the day was successful  because I got to mow the field, did get 1.5 flights of relaxation, and got to shoot the breeze with Mike, Rudy, and Shane.  :)