Saturday, October 10, 2009
There was a flurry of activity on the second Saturday in October and not just because it was another fine day, something we were not used to! This again brought a few of the boys out to play. Not only us with our models but a Cessna 188 Ag Wagon. The fine weather had brought out the crop duster.
Around lunch time we were all milling around the pits when a loud engine noise could be heard and it wasn’t from one of Kevin Hay’s monsters. A quick scan around and a white aircraft was approaching the strip and he was quite low. Another check confirmed there were no models in the air. Was he going to land on the main airstrip, we thought? No he buzzed overhead and we concluded this was to let us know he was in the area. All models remained grounded as we watched and sure enough he could be heard coming over the southern side of the carpark and pits. Didn’t someone tell him that was a no fly zone? Well the flying was spectacular – low passes that were lower than some modellers were preapred to fly! Over the fence heading West he flew. He was so close to the pine trees opposite the strip that they waved wildly in his wash! A few more passes and it looked like he had finished. So I put the camera down, only to find he returned and flew directly over the pits – we could have counted the bolts on the wheels! There were some cries from the women and young Taylor Hay came running over to her dad Kevin, with the words “that scared me!”
On a sadder note, the day should be a day of remembrance for there were a few casualties this day.
- The early morning saw the first casualty of the day, with Greg R losing his Katana in a low pass that went wrong.
- Later Andrew M and yours truly were on the flightline, me with my Magister and Andrew with his recent purchase from Merv C, a Cap. Andrew signalled to me he was about to land, however his words were a little less convincing. “Landing George! Well I’m going to try anyway” he said. I replied “Why the uncertainty Andrew?” To which he replied “It’s very twitchy and it will be interesting”. The model approaches the strip and looks a little offline and about to touchdown in the long grass. Then Andrew calls “I’ll go round again” but sadly the model rolled left, right and then in it went. Fortunately not to much damage and it is repairable.You know what they say about self fullfilling prophecies Andrew?
- Next Terry was having some Pattern practice with his Extra when something parted from the rear of the model. All eyes to the sky and we could see the left hand stabilizer was missing! Calmly Terry brought the model around and a safe landing ensued. Good flying and very lucky it was the LH side as the RH side had the elevator control which meant he still had some elevator available. You might have to use more glue Terry, the wheels fell off last week!
- Lastly, Kevin was flying his identical Extra when he suddenly lost signal way over the Northern pine trees. This all yellow model sank rapidly behind the trees and crashed in a canola paddock! A few of the guys then headed off to the area to see if it could be retrieved. About 50m into the paddock in a clearing, the model was spotted. Sadly very little was left. except the tail area. On return to the pits, a glum crew were confronted by an upbeat Merv C who called out “At least one person will be happy out of this!” “Terry P can now get a transplant for his model that lost its stabilizer!” A bit of laughter ensued and being a good sport Kevin H handed over the remains to a smiling Terry P. So the moral is one persons misfortune may well be someone else’s good luck!
Some photos below.
