Well the weather was halfway decent and I FINALLY remembered to FULLY charge the transmitter and the receiver packs.

Took the SIG Rascal and the Bingo to the field. Wind about 8 - 10 mph, sunny, temperature about 60 degrees.

Decided to fly the Rascal. Finally got the engine started (I really do hate inverted engines [:'(] ) and adjusted. Off we go. 2 clicks right aileron (don't ask me what happened to my saved settings ) and we were flying great. Did a couple of loops and a barrel roll, then came in for a landing. Thank God for the wind - now about 10 - 12 mph. That plane just does not want to land. Did a touch and go, then came around and did one of the most beutiful 3 pointers I have done in a long time. Taxied back to the pits.

By this time the knees were really shaking (not to mention the sweaty palms and hands). Decided to calm down a little before doing this again. 10 minutes later, back up again. Now the wind is 12 - 14 mph. The Rascal was starting to get knocked around a little from the gusts - nothing major, but still a little unnerving. Did a few more simple aerobatics when I saw the windsock - it was straight out. Took me 3 attempts to get it down. When she finally landed I was using 1/4 throttle - on a plane that normally uses 2/3 of the runway at idle !! I got it back to the pits and called it a day. Wind was now up aound 18 - 20 mph with some really dark clouds coming my way.

Got everything packed up just as the heavens opened up.

All in all a VERY GOOD first flight of the year.

Been very fortunate here, probably only lost about a half dozen full weekends this winter due to weather. It's a shame everyone can't have better weather. Supposed to be mid-upper 70's here this weekend and sunny. Hope you have good weather also. [sm=sunsmiley.gif]

Campy,

That sorta sounded like me on the first flight right after my solo and also when I flew for the first time the other week after 2 months of snow and rain and going through withdrawl...[]

Very cool to hear that everything went home in the same amount of pieces that went out to the field

First flights are exciting. I've been flying on-&-off all winter, but I maidened a new Florio Flyer 60 yesterday. This one was actually 90% built from one of the last kits available at the time that John Florio died & it sat around for many years, but never got finished. I finally re-engineered it & finished it. I love the old Florio Flyers & this one isn't a disappointment -- these birds are just born to howl. It is currently wearing a LEO .61, but I'll replace that with a GMS .76 as soon as it's broken in.

Glad that you got you first flight of the year, but sorry to hear that it was hard on your nerves. We're lucky here in SW Okahoma that we never really shut down for winter. In fact, we got our first flight this year on New Year's Day.

This weekend is looking good for us here. Upper 70's with a mild wind (for Oklahoma a mild wind is 10-20!!).

Hope everybody gets to fly this weekend

Sounds like my flight last week. It was my first after i crashed without my instructor there. I forced my landings too much and ended up rippin off the gear. (oops!) and the ripping of the gear cause the antenna wire to break. So now i need to remount that wire. Which i already have it ready, Just need to find a place where it doesnt interferer with my skydivers

You really don't beleive in easing back into it.... a Rascal.... for your first flight in a while. Living on the edge.....



Andy

If you use reduced throws (75%) the SIG Rascal can be used as a taildragger trainer. Granted, it is a "bit more spirited" than a regular trainer, however, I have been told that I am "qualified" to fly without a buddy box.

Next time out (now that I have gotten the "shakes" over with) I will be flying my Bingo with a Saito 72 and also getting the cobwebs off the Freedom 3D (electric with a Mega 20/22/2, 5:1 gear box and a 10 cell 3300 pack). The Freedom 3D is in the same category as a fun fly 3D with comparable performance, sensitivity and speed.