Return to Half Moon Bay

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

On a perfect day at Half Moon Bay, Matt Abrams works out with his Multiplex ParkMaster.

On a perfect day at Half Moon Bay, Matt Abrams works out with his Multiplex ParkMaster.


The Peninsula Channel Commanders opened its new Richardson Field for flying Feb. 1, but what with weather, remodeling and other distractions, I hadn’t had a chance to visit since a series of work parties in January.

Wednesday, Bruce Crawford, Larry Smith, Matt Abrams and I met at the new field for some serious flying.

The weather was perfect: cool but so sunny that I was quickly peeling off layers of clothes, shrinking from Michelin Man to more human proportions. This is a lovely flying site, just off of Highway 1 about 4 miles south of Highway 92.

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Flying in the Rain

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

Minsiu gets his yellow Slow Stick ready for a wet flight.

Minsiu gets his yellow Slow Stick ready for a wet flight.


This morning, I pulled up to Baylands just as the rain got serious.

The gathering clouds blotted out the sun and started spitting as I exited Highway 101 at Lawrence Expressway.

Driving the half mile to the park, I advanced the windshield wiper setting from intermittent to a slow steady pace.

When I arrived, Dave North was sitting in his black Honda Civic del Sol, waiting for the showers to clear.

He joined me in the front seat of my Prius and we watched as water splatted amoeba patterns on the windshield.

Amazingly, someone was flying a Stryker on the Great Meadow, ignoring the rain.

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Poll: Best Beginner’s Plane?

Saturday, February 28th, 2009

Each of these has very strong points as a beginner’s choice.

Each of these has very strong points as a beginner’s choice.


Three Maidens & a Dwarf

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

Harold’s handsome plane makes a low pass.

Harold’s handsome plane makes a low pass.


This poor blog has suffered from the dislocation and dust of our ongoing Bathroom Remodel, not to mention a run of bad weather which has kept me from flying.

Monday was glorious, though.

Our contractor and his crew, who are Vietnamese, observed Chinese New Year (Year of the Ox) Monday and Tuesday, so the house was quiet and I didn’t need to solve the Goat, Wolf, Cabbage, Boat problem.

The temperature was chilly (low 37°, high 60°) but the bright sun felt at least five degrees warmer. Winds were light.

Time to fly!

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Magic in the Air

Sunday, January 4th, 2009

The little helicopter is surprisingly easy to fly.

The little helicopter is surprisingly easy to fly.


When I was a child in New York City, I remember my fascination with sidewalk vendors who sold magical devices, crystals that would bloom underwater into fabulous alien shapes, wind-up tin toys that careened crazily across the concrete.

Sometimes my parents would indulge us, buying a tiny spring-powered dog or a tumbling acrobat or a monkey that climbed a string.

But when we got home, they lost their charm. They slowed down, they jammed, they didn’t work: they became normal, fallible and ordinary.

Twice last year I succumbed to the same sort of immediate enchantment, both times in AeroMicro, my favorite local radio-control goodies store.

The first spell was cast by the Vapor, a half-ounce wisp of an airplane designed for indoor flight.

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