FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

L o l!

mgnostic

"I was about to go home and had shaken hands with everyone else when I went up to Bruno who was talking to Roger Aubard, our club's president who used to be a nurse-manager. Perhaps they did not think that I could understand French so well or perhaps Bruno was not bothered, but I heard him say that he had been diagnosed with cancer. Roger was advising him as to what to do."

Time, indeed does come for us all. Our club president was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. So far, it is just a tremor in his left hand. He can still fly but he has backed off on the low level aerobatics.

flyboy2610

My Feedback: (1)

David John Davis

How unfortunate, I once bought a SLEC T240 from a man with the same condition. The worst effects of the disease were kept in check by medication and he was alright in the mornings. Things became more difficult in the evenings. This man also enjoyed playing the electric guitar but he was disposing of his guitars too.

Picture of the T240, Radio Queen and your humble servant below, apparently taken in 2007. How time flies!

Telemaster Sales UK

I flew the Radio Queen belonging to my Belgian mate and protegé Frans for the first time this afternoon. It was massively overpowered by its Pro Tronik DM2830 turning a 15 x 8 prop and it required some lead in the nose but once I'd calmed things down a bit it flew quite nicely and I flew for seven minutes before effecting a good landing on the glider strip. We chose to use that power train because it was what I had sculling about. Electric flight is not my main area of interest in aeromodelling, I'd have shoved a 40 four-stroke into it, and Frans has even less of an idea! Options are to keep the power train and fit a much smaller prop or to by a less powerful motor and ESC. At least we know that it will fly on a 3S LiPo.

The Radio Queen was the first model aeroplane to cross the English Channel between England and France in September 1955

Telemaster Sales UK

I took both of the Barons to the flying field today, not to fly, it was too windy, but to check the fuel consumption. The Ukrainian Baron was placed in the Best Mate stand and the engine, a Thunder Tiger 54, was started. Having adjusted the main needle for optimum rpm, the engine was stopped and the tank refilled. The tank is the smallest available here in France, 90cc or about 3 fluid ozs. The engine was left running continuously at maximum speed until it had exhausted all of the fuel and stopped. It had run flat out for 13 minutes and 58 seconds.



As each round of La Coupe Des Barons lasts for only five minutes, I have sufficient fuel in this little tank for each round. Only the pylon race requires continuous high speed running. I didn't bother checking the fuel consumption of the other Baron. It's Magnum 52 would have been similarly frugal!

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Famous last words!

ETpilot

Hello all. I haven’t posted here in a long time but have managed to read the thread from time to time. I’ve been involved in the mother of all homestead moves. MY LAST!!!

We started by selling a home in Florida. I moved all the contents to storage in Texas. Then the wife purchased a home in NE PA. Closer to kids and family. So I moved all the Florida Contents to PA. Then came the really bad scene. Dispose of things amassed over 33 years in Texas for that final trip to PA.

Getting rid of things is not that easy. The pandemic didn’t help nor our current economy. Selling is not as hot as it once was. I’m hoping to sell off the equipment I have. Home items and clothing I plan to donate to a church.

A Hitch in the Giddy-up. Back in March I set up for a farm equipment sale. I work alone with my tractor. The equipment was large, heavy and some required many moves on and off the tractor. The sale was a success but not known to me at the time I was injuring myself.

I had injured my shoulder muscles and developed a case of Bursitis. Painful and it sure put a dent in my progress. I just got back from PA. It was the worst trip so far, physically. I thought I’m sitting and just driving easy-peasy. Well no, you use a lot of your arms in driving. Shifting a manual tranny was painful. Starting the engine required use of a different hand. Then I had to unload, set things up and make the trip back. A trip to remember. Now I’m in Texas resting and slowly healing.

With Bursitis I couldn’t raise my arms above my shoulders. I learned new ways to dress, put on socks, tie shoelaces and how to reach things above my head. Much better today.

I just turned 80. This has gotten me thinking about my future plans. I had planned a shop to continue the things that I do. Now I’m rethinking all of that. RC IC engine flying will be on hold. Electric foam airplane flying will be the thing. I have a nice field to do foamy flying.

I’ve always been physically fit but I am, now, a member of the Walking Wounded. Thinking of the future. So much more to do.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Sorry to hear about the shoulder! My opinion has always been moving was a fate worse than death, I wish you would quit trying to prove me right! We have been in the same house for 40 years this August and I hope to be carried out rather than move. Good luck with getting the heck out of Texas for good.
Mike

Telemaster Sales UK

Mine is a relatively modern house, built in 1974. So far two men have died in it, the original owner and his son, who I believe had a bit of a drinking problem....

GallopingGhostler

I learned early on whilst in grade school, to properly, alphabetically catalogue name lists by LAST NAME first, followed by the FIRST NAME. As an adult, I organized my Rolodex of addresses and phone numbers (remember those?) of friends, family, associates, work contacts, stores, etc. the same way. Why does my Android phone catalogue this list by FIRST, then LAST NAME? It is counterintuitive as all git. I think we are truly living in Idiocrasy.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Mine is a little older built in 1964, we bought it in 1983. We are the the third owners, no one has died here yet however, my kids did tempt me at times.

GallopingGhostler

David, looking back, I've known a few in the community who could not give up the bottle, died prematurely of a diseased liver. The human body can only handle so much poison, then the vitals can't take it any more, something breaks prematurely. I sometimes hear from seniors, "If I had known I would live this long, I would have taken better care of myself."

I remember friends who were superstitious. In high school, there was a legend of someone who died on the old Pali Highway, that crossed the mountain range from Honolulu to Kailua on Oahu. Legend was that he after his death still haunts that old, winding highway. (It was replaced later in the 1960's by a more direct route through a tunnel into the mountain to the other side, but still accessible in portions like a frontage road.) Drove that road at night with some high school friends, none of us noticed anything spooky about it. Was disappointed that Harold, a happy go lucky, big brother type of friend that always was full of hope and encouragement around us with many friends, died may be 10 years ago. Of Hawaiian and Chinese ancestry, he suscumbed to I guess cancer (didn't have a drinking problem), that finally took him. Only the Good Die Young as the song goes.

donnyman

I was reminded of David's incident with his GUFF burning up when we had a thunderstorm pass by and I made it my business to unplug as much stuff as I could, well too late lightning had already struck, two tv's (33" an 65") Two dvd players, washer and dryer, lounge chair (electric foot rest) and two garage door openers. fortunately I received my compensation from the veterans administration and my pocket was spared somewhat, we are waiting for the new tv to be delivered today, but now I have a lounger blocking my hallway and I am too weak to move it. they no longer will take your old furniture when they deliver the new stuff. I think my wife paid to have the damaged 63" tv removed and the new one installed, I sure can't do it. I figured since we are spend our bucks we may as well enjoy it so we got and 83" tv just for grins. Speaking of televisions, we saw a very vivid screen on one that was outstanding It only cost $7500+ (they gotta be kidding)

I haven't visited my shop in quite sometime and I noticed the electric circuit breaker was popped so I'm guessing my battery chargers are fried. I will check them out as soon as I feel safe to do so. got to get mommas new washer and dryer.

GallopingGhostler

Donny, have you had a competent electrician give you a price yet on possibly upgrading your incoming power (panels) to surge protection? It could clamp the damaging spikes plus trip if needed to cut power from doing such damage. Also, installing surge protecting devices before your electronics and proper ones sized for your appliances (they have single and dual outlet ones to handle the amperages) would also provide protection. I have one such on my garage door opener.

mgnostic

That's pretty much life on the plains of the central U.S. Anything with a chip in it gets its power through a surge protector or it gets fried. As a youngster I can remember running around disconnecting the TV antenna and unplugging appliances whenever a storm came through. You must have had a fairly direct strike if it took out analog devices.

Telemaster Sales UK

L'Équipe Étrangere, ( the Foreigners' Team) is ready for La Coupe Des Barons!

British pilot, Belgian mechanic, Ukrainian Baron and Swiss Shepherd dog! The British RNAS Baron is the reserve Baron, it's not quite so pleasant to fly as the other one.

We are running Hispano Suiza engines this year.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Nice!

flyboy2610

My Feedback: (1)

I learned about surge protectors back in the early 90's when I lived in an apartment. I had a Commodore 128 computer (remember those?) plugged into the wall, and a lightning strike hit the transformer feeding our building. The monitor screen got real bright for about 1/2 second, then went black. The 'puter was all done!

donnyman

Surge protectors, I have heard much on that subject but nothing solid, some say they work others say they don't. I have been told by the time the protector kicks in it's already too late in any case for now It's too late for me and this residence is on the market and a upgrade doesn't seem wise. I will definitely check into the protectors for my next residence.

We need to get a washer and dryer set so we will be back in business. The new TV arrived and was installed yesterday, I am delighted with the larger screen size (83") so much more detail is visible.

The weather (rain) has prevented us from cutting the grass and it is knee high the soil here is like quicksand when wet it also stick to your shoes, but I am trying to get the mower ready.

mgnostic

Surge protector is a phrase that covers a wide range of things. They can range from glorified extension cords up to big industrial units. Voltage clamping time ( the surge protectors response time) can be in the nanoseconds. Surge protectors have their limitations. They eventually wear out and generally can't handle a sustained surge. A really close lightning strike is still going to toast things including the surge suppressor. A direct lightning strike can melt household wiring. I keep a lot of stuff on surge protectors because out here in the oil patch our line voltage isn't exactly stable. You can occasionally hear the fans in the house slow down and speed up as the local voltage drops. The bottom line is a surge suppressor wont stop a really close lightning strike. They mostly push back the damage threshold of a near miss or voltage spikes that occur for other reasons.

Flite-Metal

If scale r/c is your thing...grab a BIG MAC...

David John Davis

We lost Tina Turner last week and another icon of popular music in 2016, seven years ago. Seize the time gentlemen, seize the time.

donnyman

Now that sounds more like the truth and is about what I understood about surge protectors.

David John Davis

Hot News!

I sold a kit to another expatriate Englishman on Sunday. His name is Mike, he is a retired mechanical engineer. He and his wife stopped at my place on the way back to their home. They had been to England visiting their children. He said that if I had a problem with a model aeroplane engine, he could probably repair it.

Then this morning I bought an old Laser 50 from "A Plane Old Bargain." With import duties it cost me more than I was anticipating. Thanks Brexit!! But next year I'll have the chance to fly a British four-stroke in la Coupe Des Barons. This year's competition is only twelve days away so even if the engine were to arrive this week, it's too late to start swapping things around.

I'm quite excited though!