Three particularly memorable events:
- Flying the 1/4-scale 17m Kestrel in very strong lift to 1500-1600' only to be joined by six (yes 6) wedgies, probably Mum, Dad and the kids - all of whom seemed particularly territorial judging by the noise and the intimidatory flying tactics.� The problem then was to escape without damage - unsuccessfully, as it turned out, as the Kestrel sustained a broken canopy during one strike, but landed OK.
- Two days later flying the 1/5-scale T53B in the same area, but in marginal lift.� At around 100 feet directly over the ridge the model was "shadowed" (literally) by a humungous wedgie who flew some 10-12 feet above the model for about 5 minutes.� The T53B span was 11 feet exactly and we could see the eagle's tip feathers extending beyond the models span by some 3-4 inches on each side.� This put the eagle's span at about 11' 6" - no guessing this one, we had the tape-measure right there!� The books list maximum span for Aquila Audax at around 2.5 m (a touch over 8 feet).
- Watching free-style impromptu aerobatics performed by a pair of larrikin wedgies at our local slope near Tyers.� Perfect stall turns at each end of the ridge plus one or two beautiful slow axial rolls in between ......magic to watch.
Surrey Hills
Victoria
(Former Blanik novice pilot, former modeller, lurker in the newsgroup and now about to give the real thing a go again!)
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