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How to Build a Wild Wing

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

Wild Wing on picnic table

We have reached a peak in our pursuit of the perfect combat plane.

The perfect candidate can float slowly in the air, then zip forward, up or down for a lightning strike or getaway. It can loop in a heartbeat and speed straight to a target. It laughs at wind and spins in a tight victory roll after bashing an opponent.

Our quest has taken us through Mini SpeedWings, Boomers and hacked Wild Wings. We’ve looked at other wings, too, including HyperFleas and even Strykers.

The Great Meadow is our laboratory and we’ve had altogether too much fun conducting this research.

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Posted in Baylands | 5 Comments »

BBOB 2008: More Photos!

Sunday, June 22nd, 2008

Slow Sticks compete in Last Down event.

Here are a hundred or so more pictures from Saturday’s spectacular Baylands Battle of the Bay event.

See Slow Sticks of every hue, dramatic crashes, focused competitors and exotic contraptions.

I’ve posted brief captions which you’ll see in slideshow mode.

Not sure what this is all about? Read Saturday’s BBOB report, and enjoy even more pictures.

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BBOB 2008: Slow Sticks in the Sky

Saturday, June 21st, 2008

Slow Sticks rise into the air like balloons.

The longest day of the year was also one of the hottest: 101° at Sunnyvale.

But the heat didn’t deter determined flyers, who packed the two proximate Pickleweed Place parking bays by 8 a.m.

After all, today was the BBOB: Baylands Battle of the Bay, Pete Lane’s annual celebration of the Slow Stick.

Last year in The Baylands Battle Bash, I wondered why the word “Bay” occurs twice in the title of the event. This year I learned the reason: so Pete Lane can call it “BeeBob,” as he did several times during the day. I had thought it was “BeeBeeOhBee,” which is much less cool.

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Posted in Baylands | 6 Comments »

Slashed!

Monday, May 26th, 2008

Shredded Wing

When a 6-ounce foam wing runs into a 3 lb. 450-class helicopter, this is what happens.

Fortunately, Danh Le’s T-Rex helicopter survived the encounter and landed successfully, suffering only a nick in one blade.

The Mini SpeedWing lost its right elevon, about a third of its wing tip and some shreds of foam from the wing itself.

This little wing has proved itself in combat. I’d guess that it’s flown 70 or more combat sessions without suffering serious injury. I’ve rehinged the elevons, Gooped up rips in its foam and resoldered the motor leads. Otherwise, it seemed indestructible.

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Son of Symposium

Saturday, May 17th, 2008

Gary Glues a Wing

Saturday, Gary Morgan hosted his second Hammer Symposium.

People started cutting, gluing and building at about 9 a.m. The fresh park air was spiced with the hot-wax odor of hot glue.

The first Hammer Symposium was a big, fun, loosely organized social event.

This one was smaller and much better built, drawing a mix of veterans from Symposium 1 and newcomers.

Enjoy these pictures from today’s event.

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