Kris^
Posts: 1222
Score: 100
Joined: 1/16/2002
Last Login: 6/13/2004
From: concord, NC, USA
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I just got back from my 4th Joe Nall. Some Impressions:
First off. . Safety Issues. After a lot of bitter complaints, broken planes and near-misses, the staff at Joe Nall knuckled down on the "Knuckle Heads" and FORCED these Ya-Hoos to take their little torque-rolling fun flies OUT!!! No more hovering in front of the flight stations, no more gaggles of buzzing funflies near mid-flightline obstructing the airspace from 100 feet all the way down to the runway, and no more collisions, heart attacks, or scowls because 5-10 irresponsible people can't play nicely or have respect for the $15,000 turbine planes or $3-8000 Giant Scale planes (from Cubs to Camels to IMAC birds) that NEED that airspace. After several incidents on Wednesday and Thursday (Including a 33% Composite-Arf {$3500. . . .} that was already landed and on landing rollout cutting one of these funflies {$250} in half with a wing panel) the after-hours madness was addressed. As well, all the guys with the big stuff who like to TR and flip and flop in mid-flight pattern, as well as the "Lake Torque Rollers" were told NO MORE!!! MC Bob did a GREAT job of clearing the air over the runway for the last two days of the event, and the entire staff at Joe Nall should be applauded for stepping forward and addressing the concerns of the majority over the bad behaviour of a few.
Second. .Weather. . Except for a brief cloudburst on Wednesday, the skies were about the BEST you could have asked for. Light wind, good conditions, partly coudy-sunny, and not too hot. . Another GREAT week for flying (I'm beginnning to think they have connections "up top").
Third. . Airplanes. My GOD!!! there were so many beautiful and unique planes there this year. People are starting to branch away from the "IMAC" Influence (though it was still very heavily represented) and a lot of one-off models were present. The care and details on the majority of planes was just fantastic!!!
Fourth. . Innovation. From the "Flying Guppy" FRENZY funfly, to Karl-Heinz Ruf's new plane (They built a model, than built a full-scale just like it. . ) to the Hartness Crews 40% Electric Extra, Mac Hodges B-29, Radial and 4-cylinder engines (in greater numbers than ever), new gadgets and interesting power and control systems, the level of expertise, technology and new thinking has just taken another step forward this year. Techno-fanatics were in heaven.
Fifth . . Full Scale. . You want BIG Airplanes. . get the real things into the act!!! 3 Full Scale acts were on hand, and the Chapman Cap, Mancuso Extra, and Johnson T-6 gave the crowd the full spectrum of Aerobatic performance and showmanship. Everyone loved them and we hope they will return next year.
Last. . Comaraderie. . Everyone made friends. . Everyone pitched in to help if things went wrong. . you needed something, all you had to do was ask and SOMEONE on that flight line had it. . the Triple Tree crew were always there to answer questions and set things right, and the Hangar was used many times to get a slightly damaged plane repaired and back into the air the next day. I cannot thank the people at Triple Tree enough for their help and expertise and for getting things done in such a professional, yet fun manner.
This hobby cuts right across every social barrier we have. There is no stigma for race, color, creed, background, or education. We ALL fly, build, enjoy, and help eachother. The Joe Nall fly-in exemplified this better than any place else I've ever flown. To Pat Hartness, the Members of the Confederate Air Farce, and ALL those volunteers who put on such a great event, I can only say. . THANKS. .
Let's do it again next year.
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Kris^
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Joe Nall Commentary - 
