Well crap. The links to the USAF web site aren't working today.
Originally Posted by
Steve Percifield
I just checked them, all are working now
Swell - links worked fine yesterday . . . wonder what we did for raw aggravation prior to the internet and computers . . .
I'll be working on email mailings tonight and tomorrow night, which will have the forms attached (in case the Museum's website doesn't cooperate again). Suspect either an update taking place, or heavy traffic.
Meanwhile, questions have been asked, and as always, Art nailed the answers (he is the wise King, is Arthur).
Billy, most definitely we want to see your 1/2 scale Camel at DPR'14 - with all the 1/2 Triplanes being built (according to all the coorespondence I've been seeing) it's gonna be a target-rich environment. You just might want to consider painting your Sopwith in the markings of W.G. Barker (
http://www.cbrnp.com/profiles/quarte...kers-camel.htm ).
JeffEE, fear not - we have plenty of need for quarter scales (all scales, really) - aside from escorting (or harrassing, depending upon your markings) Jim's fabulous Gotha, we also like the 1/4 and 1/5th scales to be used during the dread barrage balloon mission (weather and balloon pending, or course).
I'm actually hoping to have several themed sessions (at least the start of the session) with groups of like planes during the event - an obvious one being Half Time (for the 1/2 scale models). Typical scheduled flying slots are an hour and a half for the full-scale planes, then 45 minutes for the R/C models. My plan would be to dedicate the first 15-20 minutes to a theme several times per day, with the rest of the time slot open - we did that in 2009 with the Threes (1/3 scale models).
This of course is all predicated on the schedule going smoothly, which due to weather in 2009 and 2011 it didn't - the flying schedule those DPRs went right in the trashbin almost from gitgo, and R/C ended up filling in almost every morning until the ceiling was high enough for the full-scales to do their thing.
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NEW FOR 2014
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Veterans of previous Dawn Patrols will note a definitely different schedule, particularly nightly, for 2014. Highlights of the significant changes are:
a) Thursday is the first offical arrival day for all participants (full-scale, R/C, reenactors, etc). We're planning on being there already to get registration and such going as quickly as possible. There will definitely be flying opportunities on Thursday, spread around full-scale arrivals and any last minute field maintenance, etc.
b) We will NOT be doing the "Meet and Greet" in the Museum on Thurday night, as there is another group (bunch of WWI historians, apparently) occupying that space. Instead, the "WWI Hangar Party" will take place on Friday night.
c) Friday afternoon is going to feature a "Dress Rehearsal" as well as a "Media Op" with ALL participants. We'll do what we can to hide Paul during all this . . .
d) The Banquet will not be on Saturday night this year - instead there is going to be an on-field dinner - no details just yet, but it does mean we won't need to leave the field (and flying) Saturday until dark.
e) The Banquet will be Sunday night in the Museum - one of the Museum's primary goals for DPR'14 is that Sunday be as active for visitors as Friday or Saturday. In past years almost everyone used Sunday as a travel home day, meaning visitors mid-afternoon got to see pretty much nothing. They've therefore moved the event ending Banquet to Sunday night, with a request that everyone use Monday as their travel home day.
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And finally, when you fill out the entry form, you'll notice the "Entente or Central Powers" selection. This is how we split the field up when selecting the Best Ofs. So if you're aircraft is modeled after one of the nations who supported the Triple Entente (Great Britain, France and Russia), you're Entente. If your one of the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria), then that's what you circle. Neutral and non-committed parties will need to declare which side they're on - so if you're bringing a Swedish Thulin, a Swiss Hanriot, or a Polish Nieuport you've gotta make a decision. Remember, if you're not with us, your against us!! (we just ain't saying which is us is all!!!).
Very best regards,
Lee McDuffee