Huh, Gary, some luck... right out the door--and ya can't beat the company, hm? [I would like to hear some of those conversations, though.] 25 yrs ago, when I was the only house on the road for a mile, I would take off the road with my Sig Kadet. I only had to avoid the wires to MY house and across the road. Now the trees have grown up and it would be a challenge to land--not for the Twist, of course, but for anything else.

Last winter I bought an expensive hi-start--and you walk 250 paces before letting go. That SHOULD get ya to 300 ft. I've had trouble finding durable thermals with the Hirundo at low altitude. But I have yet to try the Gentle Lady. She can rise on a long conversation from my wife--or Down. I'll have to look at those Fling things, too.

Now, think of this: the motor on the Hirundo (Thunder Tiger .15) uses a 2 oz tank. It takes me two minutes to get to altitude--so I can REALLY look around for thermals. The engine will idle and can be used for up to 6 minutes, depending on the wind. So, after that time, the engine is off and you are gliding. Yesterday I had one of the guys use his stop watch to see how far up the Rundo was. He started the watch when I hit the trottle, from idle to full, then he hit it again when he heard the engine. Sound travels at 1247 ft. per second. We worked this method 6 or 8 times--with the bird RIGHT over head: time averaged 1.54 seconds x 1247 =1920.38 feet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a really different style of flying--and great fun. The motor gets me there--and I suspect that's why the Gentle Lady hasn't see the air this summer, yet. The best I've ever done with her was a bit over 3 minutes--on my OLD hi-start. I've said here, and it pleases me not a whit [:-D] that I remind you, I got a 35 minute flight with the Rundo.

I always thought I was about a thousand feet high. Well! with that bird that high, you have time to look for thermals. Once I found one so strong I had to dive like heck to get OUT of it. I was afraid for the bird. When I turned the engine off--and I did that day--the plane went almost straight up, almost out of sight, a sparrow against a blue sky. Whew!

Adam, I have news. My Twist is a male bird, not female. As I went to charge the NiMH bat (1450 MaH) today, something whispered to me. I thought it was the dog, who often talks to me, but it was the Twist. "Psst, Dumbo, it's me! Please let me fly over the ridge again today."

"Ohmigod," says I, "you didn't land, huh? Ya caught those panties on the fly, huh?"

"Just let me fly over the ridge, please. Don't worry. All will be well. Just don't get me there with that inverted flat spin landing, okay?"

"No way, Jose," says I, "you'll get me in trouble! These are serious Christians at the farm."

Five minutes later, my Triton bell went off. The Twist's battery was ready. Huh, when I looked it said 5.12, NOT the 550 I expected. I put it back on auto charge and walked away, mumbling to Rick I better watch that battery. [Nothing was said by the Twist.] In another minute I went back to check it. Now THIS is the truth. The battery had fried, the canopy, from the heat, had a quarter inch hole in it. The rubber band HOLDING the bat was burnt, and the wires to the switch were also burnt, the 4 cell NiMH bat was in pieces, all leads bare copper, BARE, I tell ya. The plywood around the bat is blackened. When I looked about for a REASON for all this carnage, there was a burnt end of short, very short, curly, VERY curly, blonde hair between two poles of the now burnt off plastic FEMALE lead. I'll bet it was still wet with... well, never mind, and short-ciruited that darn lead!

Waldo told me once, don't piss off your Twist. She'll give ya payback. Well, HE gave me a payback, big time.

Oi, what a day. All birds home safe, but ONE is very horny--and ticked off at me.

J