| Title: | Welcome To The Radio Control Conference |
| Notice: | dir's in 11, who's who in 4, sales in 6, auctions 19 |
| Moderator: | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS |
| Created: | Tue Jan 13 1987 |
| Last Modified: | Thu Jun 05 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 1706 |
| Total number of notes: | 27193 |
I just happened to be in Florida on vacation last week during Top Gun!
Corinne and I drove the 2 hours from Naples to West Palm on Friday to
watch a day of practice flights. I also got a number of good pictures
of the planes on the ground.
Awesome!
These models are unreal. I really wish I had the time, energy and
patience to put together something like these.
Since it was a flight practice day, we did not see everything fly. A
number of models were being static judged and some people were using
their backup ships to practice with.
For those that have not been there, the competition is held on the
primary polo field at the West Palm Beach polo club. They simply cut
the grass down as low as they can. This proves to be a bit of a
disadvantage to the jet jockeys as a number of them had a much harder
time taking off.
Although this was just a practice day, I could not believe the number
of people that were still doing serious debugging of their models. The
Beech Starship never did get off the ground, even though they tried for
over an hour. Chip Hyde (flying a ducted fan for the first time) had
a hard time getting the F-18 airborne. He finally did though. What
amazed me the most was his perfect landing. He *really* knows how to
fly.
There was a bit of death and destruction too though.. There was one
mid-air friday and from what I hear, a second one on saturday. An
L-4 also had either radio or control failure shortly before crashing.
A *big* DC-3 also crashed on takeoff. I suspect that he lost an
engine. The plane was taking off directly away from us when it
suddenly yawed hard in one direction (which I suspect was a gyro
kicking the rudder). The nose then pitched up slightly, airspeed
decreased and it stalled/cartwheeled in. Ouch!
There were not as many vendors there as I had expected. The only
money I spent was on some new decals called "Dry-Set". They have
everything from panel lines to WWI cross & cockades. They are an
epoxy based transfer that you rub on. Once in place, you use low heat
to set the decal. It is claimed to be fuel proof, will stick to paint
or plastic coverings and does not require a clear coat. They look
pretty good, so I am going to give them a try.
There was also a US distributor for these German, full fiberglass
planes. Very good detail is formed into the fuse and wings. A
Spitfire is like $2K (including retracts). They also had a DC-3 for
like $3K!
The other booth that is always fun to stop at is the butane welding
booth. This is rod that can be used to weld virtually any metal to any
metal. They even show how they repair a broken engine mounting hole!
Yes, it even works with pot metals. They also show a variety of
mufflers adn such that they build using the stuff to connect
dis-similar metals.
All in all a very enjoyable day!
In the next replies I will post the results and a trip report as
reported on the usenet...
cheers!
jeff
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1599.1 | another top gun trip report | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS | I'd rather be flying! | Fri May 06 1994 13:18 | 75 |
Article: 15809 Newsgroups: rec.models.rc Path: jac.zko.dec.com!crl.dec.com!crl.dec.com!decwrl!ames!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!darwin.sura.net!mlb.semi.harris.com!ms9.mis.semi.harris.com!mwp From: [email protected] (Mark W. Poole) Subject: Re: Who won at Top Gun?????? Date: Wed, 4 May 1994 14:35:14 GMT Nntp-Posting-Host: ms9.mis.semi.harris.com X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6] Reply-To: [email protected] Organization: Harris Semiconductor Sender: [email protected] Message-ID: <[email protected]> Lines: 61 Top Gun Report: I never heard who won, but attended on Saturday. The wind was 10-15 knots and greater at times, almost exactly cross-wind to the polo field. I think I enjoyed watching the takeoffs and landings as much as anything. The polo field had a single runway lengthwise, and two runways running across the field. The grass was cut shorter in these areas, but was pretty bumpy. Many planes had to abort takeoffs or landings due to the cross-wind problem. Dave Platt was the MC, and did a great job in my opinion. He's from England, I believe, and now lives in Palm Bay, Florida. He would relate the construction and historical information about the planes during their performance flights. Bob Violett crash-landed an F4 Phantom when he lost an engine, and it rolled into a nearby pond. Bob was holding the plane by the tail draining water out for quite a while. He actually flew it for 30-45 seconds on one engine, the plane really stuggled and he just couldn't keep altitude to make it back to the field. Chip Hyde flew a Lanier Laser 200 as part of the noon show. He went into a rolling circle immediately after takeoff, and did several hovering/torque-roll manuevers. Remember, the wind was 15 knots or greater. On one rolling circle, he would snap roll from knife-edge to opposite knife edge at each 90 degrees. I was amazed. Chip Hyde also flew a ducted Fan for someone, I believe it was an Bob Violett F-18, and crash-landed it when he lost an engine. He was also experiencing gear problems at the time. For the entire flight one of the main gears was stuck down. His crash-landing was downwind coming right at the spectators(me). Pretty exciting to say the least. Two TURBINE jets (propane fueled) flew during the day. They sound like a real jet, only smaller, of course. Bob Violett Models is now importing the engine (originates in France). It produces around 10lbs of thrust, and costs around US $4500. One one pass, one of the jets was radar-clocked at 214 mph. The best landing of the day: After seeing so many failed landing and takeoff attempts during the day, this one was amazing. One of the jets had finished his performance and was now approaching the main runway (crosswind), coming in really hot. At the absolutely very last minute, he turned the plane 90 degrees at about TEN FEET off the ground and set it down beautifully into the wind, right in the middle of the field. There was a mid-air collision early Saturday morning, but it happened just before I arrived. The Cloud Dancers RC demonstration team put on a show at noon. They are from Kissimmee, Florida, and fly at many of the airshows down here. Just before noon they let all the spectators onto the field to view the planes close-up. You can't really appreciate the detail of these Scale planes until you're right next to them. It was great, I'll be back next year. Mark. | |||||
| 1599.2 | Top Gun results | VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS | I'd rather be flying! | Fri May 06 1994 13:22 | 131 |
If for some reason you don't want to see the standings for Top Gun '94,
type "next unseen" now...
cheers,
jeff
Article: 15838
Path: jac.zko.dec.com!crl.dec.com!crl.dec.com!decwrl!ames!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!chpc.utexas.edu!news.utdallas.edu!rdxsunhost.aud.alcatel.com!aur.alcatel.com!news
From: [email protected] (R. M. Odom)
Newsgroups: rec.models.rc
Subject: Top Gun 1994 scores list!!
Date: 4 May 1994 21:36:02 GMT
Organization: Alcatel Network Systems Inc, Raleigh NC
Lines: 112
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
NNTP-Posting-Host: aurs2c.aur.alcatel.com
As promised, here are the Top Gun 1994 scores. Thanks go to David Hayes for
faxing the information to me for posting to rec.models.rc today. I offered
him $50 dollars for the new Saito 150 4c engine he won (didn't even ask if it
runs or not, of course) but he just wouldn't take my offer. Darn!
If any of the numbers are slightly wrong it's because the fax copy was not
clear in a few places.
Expert Scale
Place Total points Aircraft
1. Terry Nitsch 185.075 F-86F Sabre
2. Garland Hamilton 183.532 F-80
3. Jeff Foley 182.949 A6M3 Zero
4. Nicky Ziroli 181.325 F6F-3 Hellcat
5. Corvin Miller 100.783 Globe Swift
6. David Hayes 179.866 Ayres Thrush
7. Mike Barbee 179.783 Dehavilland OH-82
8. Bill McCallie 179.492 Curtis P-40E
9. Charlie Nelson 178.949 Waco VKS-7F
10.Kim Foster 178.908 Nieuport 28
11.Chuck Fuller 176.324 Ryan PT-22
12.Dave Voglund 176.283 SNJ-5
13.Russell Lepre 175.991 A6M5 Zero
14.Bud Roane 174.533 Sopwith Pup
15.Tom Polapink 174.532 Albatross DVA
16.Ray LaBonte 173.866 A6M5 Zero
17.Dave Ribbe 173.126 F-16E
18.Joe Denicola 172.825 Spitfire
19.Brian O'Meara 172.534 A6M5 Zero
20.Roy Vaillancourt 172.326 Seafury
21.Wayne Siewert 171.033 KI-84 Frank
22.Nick Ziroli 170.534 P-47N
23.Art Johnsen 166.825 Republic P-35
24.Jim Wilkinson 165.742 Ju-87B
25.Skip Mast 163.783 Piper J-3
26.Steve Sauger 154.825 Vultee BT-13
27.Mike Kulczyk 135.491 Republic F-84G
28.Cliff Tacie 128.741 SM-61
29.Kent Nogy 124.450 T-33
30.Ray Torres 119.575 Cessna 02-A
31.Bob Hanft 110.991 Fokker D8
32.David Toyer 109.908 Hawker Tempest
33.Dick Hansen 109.242 Albatross DVA
34.Dennis Crooks 94.491 Lear 35
35.Irv Searl 93.700 Ryan STA
36.Dave Platt 93.658 Mohawk OV1D
37.Kerry Sterner 91.491 Beech Starship
38.Mel Whitley 91.408 SBD-5
39.Bill Steffes 90.158 Cessna L-19
40.Pat Rogers 89.075 Stinson SE8
41.Stephan DurrStein 87.492 DC-3
42.George Rose 87.242 Lockheed P-38
43.Bill Carper 87.158 P-47B
44.Richard Crapp 87.075 Zlin 626
Team Scale
1. Dino Digiorgio [pilot]
Bob Pickney [builder] 181.824 Twin Beech D-18
2. Patty Generali
Tom Robertson 180.616 F-80
3. Bruce Tharpe
Claude McCullough 179.741 Waco D
4. Dave Malchione
Tony Malchione 179.366 T-33
5. Lee Rice
Ed Newman 177.450 KI-61 Tony
6. Jim Sandquist
Jess Larsen 177.033 Super Stearman
7. Chip Hyde
Don Kanak 175.950 F-18
8. Pat McCurry
Len Bechtold 170.866 Super Decathlon
9. Bob Fiorenze
Mark Frankel 164.949 F4D-1 Skyray
10.Bill Fuori
John Tozser 159.532 Fleet
11.Bob Violett
Jerry Caudle 100.658 F-4
12.Tom Cook
Paul McCaulley 93.658 T-33
R. M. Odom - Alcatel Network Systems - Raleigh, N.C. - [email protected]
No, I DON'T speak for the company! Who said that anyway?
Michelob ads say - "Some days are better than others."
Maybe the hard liquor ads could say something like:
Jim Beam - Some days are better than NOTHING. (Substitute your favorite vendor)
| |||||
| 1599.3 | Missed again | CSTEAM::HENDERSON | Competition is Fun: Dtn 297-6180, MRO4 | Fri May 06 1994 15:22 | 17 |
Chip Hyde flying in scale. I guess I left it too late again? :-)
Thanx for the report. I remembered, half way though the Wil~. show that
I was not there last year due to a trip to Top Gun. Not that I could
have swung it this year but I didn't even think about it.
I Think that the flyers do a great job in that site. It is not
conducive to scale flying but they handle it well. It's always windy.
the sun is in your face and the they fly four planes at once.
Looks like the jets have it this year.
Maybe I'll be there one year. All I have to do is build a scale plane
and win somethin'? :-)
E.
| |||||
| 1599.4 | Gyro | LEDS::WATT | Thu May 12 1994 08:44 | 5 | |
I'm not sure about Top Gun, but Gyros are not allowed in Scale Masters
Comps. What a foolish rule!
Charlie
| |||||
| 1599.5 | SMALL MINDS BIG IDEAS. | CSTEAM::HENDERSON | Competition is Fun: Dtn 297-6180, MRO4 | Thu May 12 1994 11:05 | 8 |
The rule was aimed at contestants with, and I quote, "Too much money"
What a joke!.
I agree it is a foolish rule.
E.
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| 1599.6 | Top Gun Deli? | USCTR1::GHIGGINS | Oh Whoa Is Moe | Thu May 12 1994 12:29 | 6 |
What no gyros's ? I prefer them over a hot dog or burger on some
occasions. Nice little sandwich all rolled up in soft pita bread
and all. 8-)
/George
| |||||
| 1599.7 | No hope... | CSTEAM::HENDERSON | Competition is Fun: Dtn 297-6180, MRO4 | Thu May 12 1994 12:35 | 1 |
keep taking the pills George and call me in the morning...... | |||||
| 1599.8 | Size problem | SNAX::SMITH | I FEEL THE NEED | Thu May 12 1994 16:28 | 4 |
How do you fit a Gyro into a scale plane??????? Can't possibly.
Jim Reith, what's the wing span on your Gyro???????? Even if you took
the OS32 and prop off, it still wouldn'tj fit. 8^)
| |||||
| 1599.9 | It never gets better. | CSTEAM::HENDERSON | Competition is Fun: Dtn 297-6180, MRO4 | Thu May 12 1994 16:30 | 1 |
Steve, get some of George's pills quick!. :-) | |||||