Siloam Springs RC Modelers

I got out to the field about 10:45 to deliver the 2009-dated membership applications and other updated documents. I also needed to make sure I knew how to change the combination on the gate lock, since I only had instructions for a lock similar to the one on the gate. Bergen gave me the instructions for that lock, but I couldn’t find them. It turned out okay, though, as all the Master locks have very much the same procedure.
Anyhow…
I was surprised to see Roger Youmans at the field already. He had gotten there early and had gotten the first flight of 2009 with his 40-sized Ultra Stick. Unfortunately, Roger went up again just as I was leaving, and he told me later that his engine locked up mid-flight. He packed up his stuff and went home after that, so we didn’t get to see him the rest of the day.
I got back out to the field about noon, and Dan Stelljes and his wife, Linda Sue, were there. They had made enough chili to feed an army, and they got out early to set up the grill to keep it warm. Everybody had at least one bowl of the chili, and it the warm food was greatly appreciated. Thanks Dan & Linda!
Tony Fox and Mike Lavey showed up just a bit after I did. Tony had an electric X-Ray powered by a Hacker A30-28, and he got the second flight of 2009 with that. Tony also had his OS 40-FP World Models Cub, and he flew that many times throughout the day. I can’t remember that he flew the X-Ray a second time, but that Cub seemed to be in the air all day.
I had my Piedmont Models YS 110-powered Focus Sport, and I got the third flight of 2009. I flew twice during the day. I piddled with various parts of the NSRCA Sportsman sequence, but there were enough other flyers that I didn’t want to cause problems by doing a bunch of turnaround maneuvers while everyone else was flying circuits.
Mike had his Saito 100-powered Ultra Stick, and he got the fourth flight of 2009. The engine on that plane started to sound sicker as the day wore on, and there was an awful lot of gray/black gunk in the exhaust residue. Mike had a bad feeling that engine was history.
Tony had the fifth flight of 2009 with his Cub.
Many members began showing up about that time. Jeremy and Abe Schrock, Bill Bergen, Dave Husher, Tim Eubanks and his son Brian, Ed Jordan, Mark Labadie, and Max Freeman all came out between 1 and 1:30. Arley Schrock came out a bit later, and I saw the Amoth brothers around 3pm. There were several visitors throughout the day, too, so there was a lot of activity.
Dan Stelljes got out his Seagull Models Yak, and he got the sixth flight of 2009 with it. That airplane flies really nice, even though Dan complains about it all the time I think it’s much like my Pacific Aeromodels Edge 540-T: it flies well, but it’s not as precise as you’d like in all orientations. Dan says the Yak is good in most orientations with it trimmed and balanced the way he has it, but it’s not very good inverted. My Edge is like that; it’s like it needs a whole different setup for inverted flight.
Jeremy had his Funtana X with the rebuilt Saito 125. He had a front bearing go out on it, but he got that replaced, and it ran just fine during the seventh flight of 2009. Jeremy put on quite a show with all the 3D maneuvers he did. Jeremy was involved in the first incident of 2009, though. He was taxiing back into the pits when he came up on Dan’s Yak and couldn’t get stopped or get out of the way before he clipped the elevator and horizontal stabilizer with his prop. It cut up Dan’s plane pretty good, but it was definitely repairable. It was a good reminder that we really shouldn’t be taxiing in the pits.
Bergen was up next with his ElectriFly Yak. He learned a few tricks from his grandson, and he was trying some of those out on the eighth flight of 2009
Abe Schrock got in the ninth flight of 2009 with his Tower Hobbies Kaos. Abe powers that plane with a Thunder Tiger 46, and that engine really pulls that plane through the sky. I tried to get several pictures of it, but when I looked at them later they were all blurs.
Dave Husher got in the tenth flight of 2009 with his Piper Pawnee. Dave has been flying that plane really well although you’d be tempted to say otherwise if you saw his landings. Dave has been setting that plane down nicely for the most part, but for some reason the landing gear rips out no matter how gently Dave lands. Luckily Dave has nylon bolts on the landing gear, so there’s no real damage.
Tim Eubanks and his son, Brian, had their 40-sized Ultra Stick out, and Brian was flying on the buddy box. Their plane is powered by a Saito 72, which is a terrific engine for that plane. Bergen uses the same combination, and it really works well. Brian did a great job of flying, and he and his dad had smiles on their faces all day.
Ed Jordan brought out his JK AeroTech P-51 Mustang with the Norvel 25 powerplant. It’s been great to see Ed back at the field the past few months, and he’s really been tearing up the sky with that airplane. It didn’t go so well this day, however. Ed hand-launched the Mustang, and it was wobbly from the git-go. It finally caught a wing-tip on the far side of the runway, cartwheeled about 5′ in the air, and crashed hard in the field. From my vantage point, I gave it 9.0 for style and a 7.5 on the Richter scale. Tony Fox asked me what it would have taken to get a 10.0 Luckily, the damage wasn’t as bad as it first looked. The firewall was knocked askew, and the fuselage was split in two all along the vertical stabilizer. Ed didn’t seem too concerned, and sure enough he had it back together and flew it the next day! That and Jeremy and Dan’s minor accident was all the excitement we had for the day.
Mark was next with his 40-sized Ultra Stick. Mark’s been trying to get his thumbs back under his after missing several weeks due to bad weather. Mark has always had a bit of troubles with landings, but the more he practices the better he gets. He made a couple of good landings this day.
Max then went up with his 60-sized Ultra Stick. He’s using a Thunder Tiger 61 for power, and it’s well matched to that airplane. Max was in the sky with a couple of other planes, but he had plenty of spotters to help him. Ed was out there the whole time, and Bergen went out to help when Arley went up. Arley had his Gee Bee Dreamer biplane. It’s powered by an OS 55AX, and it’s a rocket.
One flyer who was sorely missed was Marvin Hendrix. His mother passed away Christmas Eve, so we didn’t really expect him to be at the event. Out thoughts and prayers are with you, Marvin.
There was plenty of good flying and lots of good fellowship. This has always been the best attended event every year, and we’ve been blessed with good weather for many years. Who’d have guessed that a New Year’s Day event could turn out so well year after year.