My first flight report as a Congaree Flyer

Daaaang, it's been a long time since I had a day like today.
Wayne has taken a liking for late afternoon flying. I gotta say, it was a stunt paradise under the overcast sky. Probably about 88* at first, just enough to work up a healthy sweat, but not blinding you with salt in your eyes... ahhh, South Carolina with its summer Gulf breeze.

Ever since last October, it's like something's always been wrong. A deflicted elbow, or hip, or neck, or geezz gimme a freakin' break already! Not to be ungrateful, I did get 5 flights during a 4 week window of opportunity back in the May contest season. And I had a great time doing it with an old club Tutor. And won some stuff. But I Miss My Fun Flying! Yeah, my idea of fun flying is flying pattern after pattern. Some call it practice, but I don't concentrate hard enough all the time, I prefer to relax and save the intensity for contests. That's surely why I've been slow to conquer the pattern. I can live with that. I can dream about being great without buying the lottery ticket, Lol. Hope I'm not disappointing my wonderful fans... Ha! I kill me... (Alf; 1980something)

Okay, if I'm acting goofy it's because I'm high on life. This was a great flying expedition from 5:30 till dusk. A light steady soothing breeze blew straight off the flats and down the RC runway. This is at my new Congaree Flyers club field. With Fort Jax being such a PITA with security, it's still lovingly maintained. And vacant. I feel sad that it happened on my watch too, it's an old club. I got there first and a fellow was flying a big gasoline engined RC Extra, and flying it very well. He was doing some 3-d at first. But then after we chatted and Wayne arrived he flew while we were staging our CL planes. He watched and listened to the pattern details as Wayne and I each took a turn flying, and then he fired up the extra and flew an official RC pattern. That was a real treat to watch, and I told him so. Today's planes with their huge power to weight ratio can flat out bust some spectacular moves. Looks like I could strap a saddle on that Extra and he could fly me over to the Subway for a snack.

Wayne brought a sweet little Ringmaster with an LA.25. I doubt if there's a better sport .25 ever made. What a snappy plane, and he can fly a respectable pattern with it. I've never flown a Ringmaster 'cept the micro once. Sorry I'm lazy, the camera stayed in the car.

Ol' Tazz is lookin' good in the sunlight. I haven't flown it since I busted the wing last fall. Wayne flew it at Bob's, but I couldn't fly that day. And I was dubious about flying today. I was a little unsure if I could handle it, but what the hell, let's find out.  Tazz has a nice "tuned"  FP.40 and it gives a good classic stunt run. I played it conservatively on the first flight for both the aforementioned reasons, plus Wayne needed to get eyes on the wing upright and inverted. No more trim was needed, just a light flap tweak back at Bob's had leveled it both ways. And the engine was on song, we were off and flying. I had cringingly left the lanyard off in case I needed a relief pilot. I had made a radical handle adjustment, and will tell about the what and why later... My typing finger is cramping, Lol.

So loops and level flight, 8s, squares, triangles, all the 45* maneuvers flown right at 5 seconds. I did some screaming yankouts to check for hinging with no bad habits and rolled ol' Tazz in for a landing. Balance- adequate; hips- cooperating, everything else- likewise. Boy, it feels good to fly my own plane again.

Next turn, I topped off the tank with a full load. It cranked leaner but would still break. Waved it off and intended to see how much of a pattern I could fly. It broke 2 and never looked back! I don't know how fast it was moving, but we were clipping along pretty good. And damned if I didn't bust out a whole pattern without botching a stunt or even stumbling once. When I got to the hourglass, she was screaming and pulling like a horse... well if I survive that I like it fast for the OH8s. That's also my most likely stumble and it didn't happen. Flew out the clover and proceeded to fly a hundred twenty seven laps with it pulling like it was angry. I tried a lazy 8 and it almost walked me like a dog, so I gave that up and flew level and a few loops until it was almost dark... juuust kidding. It finally gave up. I jokingly asked Wayne if that was about 3 second laps. All he said is, "You looked really solid out there." He also said it looked like an Advanced level pattern... other than the overrun. I'm calling this expedition a success. I'd forgotten how good it feels to get out and do this. I remember now. 11 Weeks till Stuntersville. Can I keep my body working... no idea, but I'll take it when I get it and see where it goes.

I'll write about that handle adjustment later.
Same Bat channel, Some bat time.
Rusty