ORIGINAL: MHester

But of course, NOTHING compared to the open FAI unknown on Sunday. I had a feeling if we had the right crowd, this would be a lot of fun....and for once I was right

When Melissa gets back if anyone is interested I'll post the pattern we flew....it was....umm...massochistic to say the least. It included such gems as an inverted figure M with half rolls, an inside loop with integrated roll from the top, a 2 turn then 2 turn opposite negative spin on the end of the box, a cuban 8 with 1 1/2 snaps on the 45s, well you get the idea. And it was open to anyone who had the guts...with one catch: Everyone had to fly it with Jason's prototype Era 50 in nats level winds!!!!!!!! Since Jon Lowe (the "hangin judge") and I judged it, and the rest of the pilots were required to stand there and heckle the pilot, I have to admit that was probably THE most fun time I have ever sat in a judges chair, with no close second. Heck it was raining during some of the flights and I didn't even care..... I'll put it this way, one pilot had straight zeroes, a 1, and a 2....that's it....LOLOL

The really cool thing is, nobody cared who really won or lost, we just did it and the guys did thier best under such extreme circumstances and it was like a trial by fire, a D3 "hazing" if you will. But if it matters, Ryan won, Joe Walker got 2nd, and Mikael Fedon got 3rd out of 7 pilots. (MIkael had the sweetest outside rolling loop from the top out of anyone! Kids....sheesh...LOL) our only real concern was not crashing the plane, and I am happy to report that it's not scratched, and is now enshrined as a D3 legend!!!!