Yo Everette!

yeah ya jinxed me dude LOL

Nahh it was just lack of maintenance. After close inspection, the tube had a lot of indentions and grooves and broke fairly clean right where it goes through the fuse side. It COULD have broken and then popped the bolt.

The bolt was tight prior to takeoff, but wasn't broken, laying in the plane intact. The threads in the root had gotten pretty worn. So it could have popped during the snaps etc.

Either way, it was lack of maintenance. I should have replaced the tube and redone the wing bolt and threads about a year ago. but, I have been a little distracted with other stuff.....so it was inevitable. After over 150 gallons of fuel it was pretty tired. if you have a carbon tube, check it occasionally and if it has grooves etc......replace it for safety.

However, I sold the wreckage to a sportsman pilot for $20 and he swears it will fly again soon so....it was a ho to the last!!!!!! I wouldn't try and repair it and fly it in anything higher than intermediate though personally. but then, I DO have the kits for new ones right here.....just gotta do some glueing....

Back on topic, Larry did a great job this weekend. Lakeland is a great place for a contest. The field works, the club is great, and it was beautiful all weekend with challenging winds. oh did we mention it was WINDY????

Sportsman class: was awesome as usual. Tom Stennis is returning to pattern after a long hiatus and flew his new VF3 to victory (Loctite Tom!). Second place went to a local club member who had never flown pattern before and just decided to give it a try with Uncle Larry's Focus, and he flew very well.

Intermediate was closer than it looked, Dean was just flying very solid. Austin blinked slightly more than Dean and that was that. Both are looking REALLY good and the nats should be interesting.

Advanced.....well, Gary is just that good. Chris was flying lights out stuff but Gary's experience and coolness won out on Sunday. Chris is making solid progress though, and so once again those 2 are going to be quite a show come July.

Masters continues to be a really fun and competetive class down here. Humberto won by less than half a point in the last round. I would have loved to play in that field ya know but...well, dookie happens. I'm probably done until the nats, or Arch's contest if all goes well. I intend to make it go well..... [8D]

FAI, well Jim was the class of the field. Ron flew well and Bill did the best he could with what he had to fly. That wind made a hard pattern REALLY hard. But I'm impressed with the way they handled it.

All in all it was a lot of fun and a total don't miss for next year. Although I was technically the CD, Larry and melissa did the lion's share of the work and made it a cool contest for all of us.

I'll see you all in Muncie.....I won't be at any of the may contests but will probably be at Andersonville to help out, and most likely Arch's contest in late June.

-Mike