RCU Forums - Fun at a Rest Area

I got stuck in a traffic snarl driving up I-75 from Atlanta to Chattanooga this afternoon and happened upon a rest area where the traffic was crawling. When I drove in, I looked for a nice size patch of grass and found that the rest area had two tiers and a good size hill between the tiers. I parked the car on the upper level, opened the hatch and pulled out my Zagi. (I've learned that when I travel during the week, the Zagi can be flown when I'd otherwise be sitting in a hotel room.)

I tossed it up and started flying around the rest area, keeping the altitude at 100' or higher. I kept the flying rather mild with a few rolls, hard high banked turns, tip stalls/drops and an occasional loop. For safety, I kept it away from the parking lots and interstate for the most part.

Five minutes after I started flying, a gentleman from Michigan walked up the hill and struck up a conversation. It seems there was a buzz around the restrooms wondering who was flying the plane and how interesting it was to watch. They couldn't hear the electric motor whir due to the height and noise from the south-bound traffic so they weren't sure if it had a motor. I landed it about 6' from my feet :cool: little luck, little skill :cool: and showed him the plane. I tossed it back up and he asked if it could do a Cuban 8. I said sure and did two. We talked as I flew and another gentleman approached asking "Where'd you get that plane?" Told him at the LHS, but that he could see them on-line at Zagi.com. Cost came up, too.. :D

I landed again to show him the plane and change to my extra battery. With the two guys there, I flew a bit more adding a few low passes at 20' overhead and tight figure eights 30' away at eye level. The traffic started moving, the battery was just starting to show signs of getting low and I landed. Tossed the plane in the back of the car and finished my drive to Chattanooga.

Isn't this a fun hobby....... :p