abufletcher

Let's face it, 90% of all the posts on RCU, RC Groups, and RCSB come from or are related to builders, flyers, or contests, in the US (and once in a while the UK). So I thought it might be nice to have a place to post RC happenings in other countries. RC is RC and I can tell you from experience that the camaraderie among RC flyers is just the same no matter where in the world you are…or what languages are spoken.

So if you have one photo or many of RC contests, or RC flying, or RC enthusiasts doing what we love to do from any far-flung region of the world…which of course is not at all far-flung for the people who live there…post them here for all the world to see!

abufletcher

I thought I'd start with some photos from the 10th annual Shimanto RC Seaplane Festa, which was held this weekend. The Shimanto River is located on the southern side of the island of Shikoku, Japan. This is a couple hundred kilometers away from where I happen to live on the north side of the island. This event is all about fun. Fun in the sun and fun playing along what the tourist brochures hype as “The Cleanest River in Japan.� The seaplane flying takes place about a kilometer up from where the river runs into the ocean…an ocean that stretches south as far as the Antarctic.

abufletcher

There were several very nice multi-engine models...which when you remember than the water is a mix of fresh and salt water...is very brave indeed.

abufletcher

There were big models and small models...all on floats. And of course, being Japan, there's bound to be a Zero or two.

abufletcher

And there was something for us WWI guys as well. Particularly stunning was a Hanriot HD2 covered with silk and dope.

abufletcher

Then there was the Savoia S21, Porco Rosso ("Red Pig") that tried its best in the choppy afternoon waters...but ended up going submarine. We also had a visit and fly-bys by a full-scale Cessna seaplane.

abufletcher

And finally some odds and ends. No Japanese event is complete without a bizarre mascot. And just behind the RC flying a group was doing paragliding and one guy had the idea of tying a Japanese coy kite to his ankle. This almost ended in disaster when, in a turn, the chute deflated and started to tangle with the kite. It looked like he was going to drop out of the sky, but a bust of throttle and a lucky gust of wind got the chute flying again and he was able to land. And there were the real flying aces, the kite hunting birds, who were showing everyone how it's really done.

The last two photos show that where there's RC you'll always find COWBOYS.

bogbeagle

Various photos of our crowd.

TBH, I don't have many photos, 'cos I'm usually flying and can't be bothered with photography.


This pic shows the organised chaos which I like so much. Taken at a place called Cocklebarrow, which is down Oxford-way. Many of the flyers are well past their "use-by" dates; but they seem to have the most fun.

abufletcher

So that's it from Shikoku, Japan. Let's see what's happening in your corner of the world!

((Joke: God promised women they would find good, honest men in all corners of the world. Then, he made the world round.))

abufletcher

Oh, how I envy you Brits your lovely grass fields!!! Bob, by the way, I did my D.Phil at the University of York.

bogbeagle

York is a bit topical at the moment. The body of Richard 111 was recently discovered under a car-park in Leicester ... and the Yorkists want him back ... "son of York" and all that.

Awfully careless to have left him in Leicester, though.




The grass is fine ... 'til you have to mow it with this thing. Ably assisted by my old Spaniel, clutching one of her many soft toys. (poor old dog has gone the way of all good animals).