On The Road To TOP GUN
04-22-2005, 02:03 PM
#1
On The Road To TOP GUN
Well the Ampbomber and Teamscalepilot leave for Top Gun today!!! Yep a week ahead of the event. we'll spend the next week testing and tuning the Tu-4 AEW. for me it"s 8hr days of practice trying to get it right!!
If it's possible i will try to give daily updates of our endevors. but here are pictures of the mini-van almost packed for the 1200 mile drive. 6 airplanes 5 gal of fuel 50 lipos and 2 fire bottles. (a must)
If it's possible i will try to give daily updates of our endevors. but here are pictures of the mini-van almost packed for the 1200 mile drive. 6 airplanes 5 gal of fuel 50 lipos and 2 fire bottles. (a must)
04-22-2005, 08:54 PM
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RE: On The Road To TOP GUN
Hi Dave
Looks like you are getting an early start.
We are planning on leaving Tuesday and arriving at Lakeland by Noon Wednesday.
I want to do some practice flying on Thursday, but where do you fly at other than at the airport?
Larry
The "Top Cub" with the Tu-4 AEW
Looks like you are getting an early start.
We are planning on leaving Tuesday and arriving at Lakeland by Noon Wednesday.
I want to do some practice flying on Thursday, but where do you fly at other than at the airport?
Larry
The "Top Cub" with the Tu-4 AEW
04-24-2005, 11:40 AM
#8
RE: On The Road To TOP GUN
HI ALL just got done cutting grass.The wind is blowing today.talked with our friends at the airpark . one neighbor's has a RR Merlin on a test stand he ran for us!!@ WAY COOL!! AND you thought you had a good leaf blower. Will have pictures latter.
04-25-2005, 08:40 PM
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RE: On The Road To TOP GUN
Day 1. Pratice at the TRAX field in Snefner Florida Bright sunny day. With Our good friends Dave Patrick and Gram Mears. It was a grulling day 9:00 to 5:00 getting a/c setup, got some good flights in on the 14mz in the Lancair. Tu-4 AEW TF Piper ARROW. A big thanks to the guys at the TRAX club for letting us use their field this week!!
04-25-2005, 10:09 PM
#11
RE: On The Road To TOP GUN
Is that a "whip antenna" sticking out of the top of that cub? If so, what brand? Do you use it in many of your planes. Ever have any problems?
04-26-2005, 03:56 PM
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RE: On The Road To TOP GUN
OPPS the spelling is TRAC R/C field (to much sun).
WELL today we setup the tent at the Top Gun site at Lakeland Linder Airport. To windy to fly so it was spent getting aquainted with old friends. (Greg Hann and Suzie, Wayne and his wife,, Nancy, from Aero Tech Models. Currently it's raining, a good day to go to the Fantacy of flight museum. More tomorrow!! Dave & George......
WELL today we setup the tent at the Top Gun site at Lakeland Linder Airport. To windy to fly so it was spent getting aquainted with old friends. (Greg Hann and Suzie, Wayne and his wife,, Nancy, from Aero Tech Models. Currently it's raining, a good day to go to the Fantacy of flight museum. More tomorrow!! Dave & George......
04-28-2005, 05:22 AM
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RE: On The Road To TOP GUN
sebo,
The antenna you see is a scale antenna on the cub. They use the long wire antenna out the bottom of the cub for flying. They did range checks with different antennas and because of all the steel tubing in the fuse they found the long wire to be best.
Dave and I use a Hayes (?) stubby on the electric AEW and the electric Lancair. When we range checked we found that we had (20%) better range with the Hayes stubby than with the long wire. The AEW is covered with FliteMetal and the Lancair is a Great Planes ARF with a glass fuse.
The antenna you see is a scale antenna on the cub. They use the long wire antenna out the bottom of the cub for flying. They did range checks with different antennas and because of all the steel tubing in the fuse they found the long wire to be best.
Dave and I use a Hayes (?) stubby on the electric AEW and the electric Lancair. When we range checked we found that we had (20%) better range with the Hayes stubby than with the long wire. The AEW is covered with FliteMetal and the Lancair is a Great Planes ARF with a glass fuse.
04-28-2005, 05:42 AM
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RE: On The Road To TOP GUN
Day 3 began at the TRAC club field. After a night of thunder storms the morning was calm and sunny. We got the to the field at 8 and setup the planes, as Dave turned on his transmitter Mother Nature showed up with increasing winds (90 degree cross). Dave flew a few flights until it became increasingly clear that MN was going to stay as she began to add a bit of horizontal water to the cross wind.
At this point we packed up and went to the TG field to register and gab with other contestants. The rain had stopped but winds remained. There was some flying going on and Dave got in a flight on his Top Flight Arrow II. More chit chat followed and about 4 we parked the planes in the "over night" tent and departed.
It is now 7 am Thursday and the skies are clear. Hope Mother Nature stays in the good mood she has waken up to.
Will keep you informed.
At this point we packed up and went to the TG field to register and gab with other contestants. The rain had stopped but winds remained. There was some flying going on and Dave got in a flight on his Top Flight Arrow II. More chit chat followed and about 4 we parked the planes in the "over night" tent and departed.
It is now 7 am Thursday and the skies are clear. Hope Mother Nature stays in the good mood she has waken up to.
Will keep you informed.
04-28-2005, 06:08 AM
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RE: On The Road To TOP GUN
That squeegie fits Dave's hands very well. Have him stop by here on the way home, I have a broom that will fit his hands well too. 
Hope you guys get some practice in today.
Hope you guys get some practice in today.
04-28-2005, 03:48 PM
#19
RE: On The Road To TOP GUN
Thanks for the reply. I'm glad you mentioned FliteMetal because that is where my concern is. I am covering a Pica P51 with FliteMetal and was considering using a whip antenna. I've been having concerns about puting an antenna inside of an aircraft covered with FliteMetal. Where and how would you install the whip antenna on a P51. After going thru the trouble to hide the control horns and covering with aluminum I would still like to have that scale appearance.
I wish you the best at Top Gun.
Thanks again.
Sebo
I wish you the best at Top Gun.
Thanks again.
Sebo
04-28-2005, 06:34 PM
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RE: On The Road To TOP GUN
No problem all the BVM guys use the short ant, Lots of action today with the first round of Pro-AM today, more static judging and practice flying today. The winds were better more down the runway. Heres some pictures of Justin and crew, Frank Knoll and crew, and last but not least OUR crew taking there afternoon NAP.!!!! Friday we static the AEW and had a chance to fly it also. Things were getting pretty busy on the flight line after the Pro-AM round with 5 a/c in the air at once. A mix of jets, bipes and everythong else. More later!! DAVE
04-30-2005, 04:18 AM
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RE: On The Road To TOP GUN
Day 4. Lots of sun and fair winds. Pro-Am flew their rounds and practice continued for the rest. Absoultely a beautiful day! We got thru static with the AEW. Static scores will be posted after round one is flown Saturday.
There are usually a lot of postings of final results at Frank's site on Monday. Many others post them also. We will try to post pictures of the "boards" for the first two rounds tonight if we have the energy. After 8 hours in the sun we are a little wilted and our "fluid" recovery takes time :-)
Will check on Steve and Ian and let you know.
Time to go to work.
There are usually a lot of postings of final results at Frank's site on Monday. Many others post them also. We will try to post pictures of the "boards" for the first two rounds tonight if we have the energy. After 8 hours in the sun we are a little wilted and our "fluid" recovery takes time :-)
Will check on Steve and Ian and let you know.
Time to go to work.
04-30-2005, 04:59 PM
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RE: On The Road To TOP GUN
Quick update. Extremely windy this morning. Afternoon flights were to gentler winds. Thunder storms tonight.
Sorry to say thet Ian and Steve lost their plane due to radio failure.
Out of time to chat. Time to get to the Banquet.
Sorry to say thet Ian and Steve lost their plane due to radio failure.
Out of time to chat. Time to get to the Banquet.