We have been dealing with some rain each day, but the flying has been happening and there have been lots of smiles!
OK, I am hooked on scale aerotow X/C, this is soooo much fun. I had more than my fill of flying and crewing both days. I flew my DG 800 for 2.6 miles on the on property lap course on Saturday, I am new to this game and asked Johhny Berlin to be easy on the tows, with the wind he was taking me up on about an 80 degree climb, no downwind turns. I was releasing at about 1,200 to 1,500 on my attempts. The third tow Johnny rolled the tow plane up the tow to cheers, really cool. People were yelling for me to roll the opposite way, but I am too new with all this and just played safe.
On Sunday afternoon when the weather opened up Peter Goldsmith offered his ASK18(?) to me and it felt so good I took it on course, and ended up with my weekend best of 3.3 miles. I really like the feel of the even larger model, I think I towed over 2,000 on that attempt. After I landed, Peter was looking to go on course again, so Sheldon Smith (driver), Ben Meyer (Steve's son), observer, and myself in the back of the pickup truck went on course with Peter, after a very nice tow (Peter's model did not have a Picalario, so I don't know the exact tow height). 37 minutes and 9.7 miles later Peter won the event. It was big smiles all around. I really can't express in words how much fun we were all having with this, and we did plenty of fun flying too. I saw Johhny and Dr. Dan do opposing rolls into a inverted tow, it was freekin' awesome. Skip, Danny and myself were ripping high speed runs. John Derstine was doing marvelous aerobatic routines. I have lots of pictures and video!
Congrats to team Bubba and Marc Gellart for winning the winch launch X/C, he was very patient and played the course extremely well.
I went over and watched F3B for awhile, they were getting monster launches in the wind. More people flying F3B at Nats then I have ever seen, they looked like they were having a bunch of fun. Unofficially, Daryl placed 1st but the scores are not posted as of yet.
Today in Handlaunch it was real wet, but they got 8 rounds in! I was just soaked taking pictures and timing for Steve Meyer. Joe Wurts broke his main model (broke the boom launching it) and dropped 500 points early on. Bruce Davidson (another lefty) lent him a model and Joe went on to capture 3rd place. Mike Smith placed 2nd and Bruce Davidson did it again!!! Congrats Bruce!
Tomorrow starts two days of 2M, I will report more. 8-)
Jim
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