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Jets, Jets, Jets (and Skis)

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

Larry Smith’s 10-year-old F-16.

Larry Smith’s 10-year-old F-16.

Seemed like Wednesday was Jet Day at Baylands.

Larry Smith showed up with an F-16 by Kyosho, a 10-year-old classic model.

He checked it out, then launched it into a smooth takeoff. Unfortunately, the elevator malfunctioned about 15 seconds into the flight and the plane crashed at the far side of the Great Meadow.

Meanwhile, Anh was working on his big F-5E, powered by a non-stock brushless mini fan and a 3300mAH 4S LiPo pack.

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Posted in Baylands | 3 Comments »

A Cold Day in September

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

Brian’s Photoshop tribute to the ski craze.

Brian’s Photoshop tribute to the ski craze.

Brian Chan writes:

You know what they say about idle minds…

Posted in Baylands | 2 Comments »

Ski Season

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

Gary’s E-Starter cavorts in the air with a pair of skis.

Gary’s E-Starter cavorts in the air with a pair of skis.

Mike Nadler writes:

Pete, looks like snow AGAIN is forecast for Baylands. We are putting skis on our planes. Could be a good story for your blog. Maybe “Photoshopping” snow and a snow man on the Great Meadow.
See you tomorrow. Better bring your parka.
Mike of the North

Mike vastly overestimates my Photoshop skills and the amount of energy I’m willing to expend to bring his image to life.

Besides, the temperature hovered near 100° degrees Wednesday.

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Posted in Baylands | 7 Comments »

UFO Floats Over Baylands

Wednesday, August 20th, 2008

This strange flying object appeared at Baylands Wednesday lunchtime.

This strange flying object appeared at Baylands Wednesday lunchtime.

The breeze was coming up midday, but that didn’t deter an odd horseshoe-shaped blue aircraft.

It looked a bit like an IFO, but bigger, buffer, bolder.

Mehmet was flying this strange craft.

“What is it?” I asked Mehmet.

Mehmet said he wasn’t sure what it was called.

Standing next to him, Rick Carmichael said that it was a VTOT: Vertical Takeoff Thing. I believe that they succeeded in a vertical takeoff, even in the brisk wind.

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Posted in Baylands | 1 Comment »

Spares to Spare

Thursday, August 14th, 2008

The first ones were black & white, then we found color!

A Feast for the Eyes. The first ones were black & white, then we found color!

Combat flying is a rush, but it’s hard on the planes.

Props break, motor mounts rip off, elevons get chewed, wings get gashed and sometimes they split apart from the rigors of multiple impacts and hard landings.

Dave North now flies with a spare prop or two in his pocket and an extra O-ring on his finger. (We use O-rings to secure the props to the prop saver.)

He and I regularly bring an extra Wild Wing to the combat scene. When one steed goes down, we swap the battery into a new mount and charge back into battle.

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Posted in Baylands | 3 Comments »

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