Saturday, July 19, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Just an absolutly enjoyable day
Well for some reason we thought it would be great to take leave and go on a big trip this summer. So I took 4 days leave over this past week, combined with the 4 day weekend. Then we realized that big trips cost big bucks and the truck need new tires N's teeth need allot of work, A's braces are still being paid for, J and I are needing book money and gas is out of the roof!
So we just settled with relaxing at home and doing day trips. So on a Wednesday we headed to Sea World. I figured it would be a 1 day place with not much to do but a good distraction for the week. How wrong I was! I had a great time, being with my wife and enjoying my childhood with my kids. The best moment was when we all were on the big tube ride floating down the shoots and I was funning with J about the last theme park ride we were all on (the Tower of Terror at Disney). As I was funning we approached the water fall and the tube spun so that N and I went directly under the water fall. It was too funny. J and A came through virtually un-touched but N and I were soaked! The sharks were great and the dolphins were by far the best creatures to see. J and I walked the kids into the ground and they begged to go home at 1700. All in all, a great day.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Sunday Blue Sky
Happy Sunday! This morning the wind was at a low 3 MPH from the North, North East; Perfect! With the wind in this direction the airstrip is towards the field instead of the tall fence. hat is always a plus. Then to top it off my wife and the dogs came to enjoy the flight with me. I was very happy to have someone to share my enjoyment with. The first taxi and take off was awesome. The engine buzzed smooth and loud and the plane picked up to take off speed faster then I had expected. Exhilarating is the word that comes to mind. I almost drove the Raptor nose first into the dirt and at one moment I though I had turned it around to come back but because it was so far away I didn't notice it had done a 360. So as I turned right it would go further left so instinct was to turn more. luckily it came to me that since that course was not working to try the opposite. Often the normal reaction is to just keep pushing hard and you crash with a sudden quiet. I owe the fast thinking to good hand eye coordination and that cup of orange juice I had earlier. The first landing took two tries but the second attempt was picture perfect. The second flight was going smooth till, while banking over the soccer field the nose cone flew off and the propeller started to Free spin. After a hair raising emergency landing the plane once again skid off the runway into the weeds. This broke the landing gear free on the front end. Back to the hanger for repairs. All I can say is 'If you have reservations to fly through Antny Air, then I would really think about your choices'.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Air Time
3.....2....1, That is usually the numbers you hear before a take off. In this case though it is the numbers representing the flight attempts of the Raptor 22 Remote control plane I received for Christmas....... 3 attempts, 2 take offs and 1 successful landing.
This is how my first RC flight attempts went. I finally, after months of putting it off purchased the last part needed that till now was keeping me grounded, the glow plug adaptor that heats the plug to start the engine. With this piece of the puzzle in hand there was no reason not to attempt what the wright brothers achieved years ago. I was to achieve flight. So after checking the weather on Sunday I decided if the winds were right that Monday morning would be the big day. Then my mother called and for ten minutes talked about how how the Family flights had gone in the past and how likely it would be that the plane would suffer great damages the first time I fly. So then the evil fear crept in. My 550$ plane was too nice to just fly into the dirt.
Well you only live once right? So this morning I went to the runway (the back lot of the high school). I prep the plane, did the flight checks blessed it and kissed it goodbye. Then with the sound and smell of two stroke it came to life. I had decided the runway flight path was safer if I went with the wind because of fewer obstacles at the end of the runway, (I know a cardinal sin for flight). Well low and behold there is a reason we fly into the wind. The plane could not get enough lift and I crashed it into the weeds at the end of the runway. So 1 attempt.
After some repairs, (thanks to the packing tape in the cabinet). I decided to go at it again. This time though against the wind even though the end of the runway ends with an eight foot fence. As the plane sped it began to lift into the sky and then I saw the wires. Two telephone wires were directly in my flight path......CRAP! At risk of stalling I pulled up and the plane labored into the sky. Clear of the wires we were safe and sound, but like all things....what goes up must come down. Landing against the wind I miss judged the runway angle and the plane slid of the edge of the runway and into the weeds. I dreaded the worst but found the plan was no worse for the wear. 2 attempts and 1 take off. SOOOO......Why not try again right.
This time I compiled all the data gained from the first two attempts and mustered up my nerve. Now at risk was, pride and plane. The flight was rough. I almost stalled and then just before colliding into the hillside I was able to wobble it up and into the air it went. 10 minutes went by in a blink and it was landing time... After adjusting the landing path to not slide of the edge we began the decent. All was well till the breeze picked up and rocked the 4 footer hard. Abort! Abort! Full throttle and lift we escaped with our skins. On the next attempt the wind was steady and the landing was only slightly bouncy. After taxing to the truck I exhaled. That was 3 attempts, 2 take offs and yes, 1 successful landing. WooHoo! I am hooked!!
This is how my first RC flight attempts went. I finally, after months of putting it off purchased the last part needed that till now was keeping me grounded, the glow plug adaptor that heats the plug to start the engine. With this piece of the puzzle in hand there was no reason not to attempt what the wright brothers achieved years ago. I was to achieve flight. So after checking the weather on Sunday I decided if the winds were right that Monday morning would be the big day. Then my mother called and for ten minutes talked about how how the Family flights had gone in the past and how likely it would be that the plane would suffer great damages the first time I fly. So then the evil fear crept in. My 550$ plane was too nice to just fly into the dirt.
Well you only live once right? So this morning I went to the runway (the back lot of the high school). I prep the plane, did the flight checks blessed it and kissed it goodbye. Then with the sound and smell of two stroke it came to life. I had decided the runway flight path was safer if I went with the wind because of fewer obstacles at the end of the runway, (I know a cardinal sin for flight). Well low and behold there is a reason we fly into the wind. The plane could not get enough lift and I crashed it into the weeds at the end of the runway. So 1 attempt.
After some repairs, (thanks to the packing tape in the cabinet). I decided to go at it again. This time though against the wind even though the end of the runway ends with an eight foot fence. As the plane sped it began to lift into the sky and then I saw the wires. Two telephone wires were directly in my flight path......CRAP! At risk of stalling I pulled up and the plane labored into the sky. Clear of the wires we were safe and sound, but like all things....what goes up must come down. Landing against the wind I miss judged the runway angle and the plane slid of the edge of the runway and into the weeds. I dreaded the worst but found the plan was no worse for the wear. 2 attempts and 1 take off. SOOOO......Why not try again right.
This time I compiled all the data gained from the first two attempts and mustered up my nerve. Now at risk was, pride and plane. The flight was rough. I almost stalled and then just before colliding into the hillside I was able to wobble it up and into the air it went. 10 minutes went by in a blink and it was landing time... After adjusting the landing path to not slide of the edge we began the decent. All was well till the breeze picked up and rocked the 4 footer hard. Abort! Abort! Full throttle and lift we escaped with our skins. On the next attempt the wind was steady and the landing was only slightly bouncy. After taxing to the truck I exhaled. That was 3 attempts, 2 take offs and yes, 1 successful landing. WooHoo! I am hooked!!
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