planedriver_2

Well, I arrived this morning to find a beautiful day beginning at one of the worlds most famous and premier events.

I am proud to say that I have also been reinvited to compete here at TOP GUN 2012, My Teammate, builder of the plane and I will be getting our Balsa USA Nieuport 28 judged in
the static portion of the event tomorrow afternoon.

Then flying for Team scale begins saturday morning, two rounds and then sunday two rounds. I am proud to say with support from HITEC my airplane
is ready to go. On board is an Optima 7 channel reciever sending back vital information and in my hands will be the Aurora 9 transmitter. This system has been flawless and has taken me to several wins in competition, I recently placed First in team scale at an event in my home town that qualified us for US Scale Masters for the upcoming year. This is really looking to be a fun event and with some luck and a little skill i am going to shoot for top ten. Also I am onsite to fly and assist and or discuss anything with you concerning the Hitec brand and my setup.

I have some catalogs to hand out and a HITEC banner flying to let you know my location. I am posting a few photos of my friends and our airplanes during the event. I will try to keep up for you as best as I can.

Thanks for looking, If you get a chance to come here to Lakeland florida or are in the area you should stop in and check out some of the worlds finest model aircraft flying here.

Frank Tiano and his people put on one heck of a show here for everyone, spectators included. So COME ON OUT. There are many vendors onsite and many tents full of planes to see. Up close and personal. You can talk with pilots and builders, get some information, perhaps for your build or flying, Hope to see you here at TOP GUN.............Be sure to visit
http://www.hitecrcd.com/ for more information on all the Hitec products.


Planedriver
Team Hitec Pilot

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Such shameless plugging of your sponsor!

But it did work, I went to the Hitec site to research some new equipment I intend to purchase. Thanks!

planedriver_2

Thanks for looking into Hitec and considering the products they have. And thanks for looking into my Top Gun thread. Shame on me for having some of the best equipment in r/c, I hope you find it is as good for you as it has been for me.

Please Note, I am not paid to say or do this i just believe in it and enjoy promoting it, but most of all i enjoy the flying and the friendly people i get to associate with in this hobby.

If you are a new Hitec user WELCOME to Hitec and if you have had Hitec products prior to this welcome back.


Thanks again for looking in on this and keep in touch, if you need any assistance please contact me or the fine Hitec service dept via the website or by phone.

Planedirver

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

I'm not new to Hitec I started using the Hitec Neutrons first came out in place of the stock 72mhz receivers like the one that came with my radio. I found them bulletproof and extremely reliable and was heartbroken when they went out of production. The Freedom 9 and Fusion 9 look like good substitutes if I choose to stay in 72 mhz for a time. I keep my airplanes and generally leave the radio equipment installed so I can fly on a whim. The reasonable Hitec pricing of recievers has been help in this area.

I am considering making the switch to 2.4 ghz and have been looking at the Eclipse 7, Aurora 9, Futaba 7C and 8FG. The deciding factor will be in what direction I see my future modeling going. I love lesser know aircraft with a degree of wow factor, you don't find ARFs in the aircraft I choose. My avatar is a good example not many people have identified this plane. I have a ton of projects planned and generally don't build above 1/5th scale for easier transport to the field with a few 1/4 scale exceptions when the wingspan stays at or near 84". I have one 1/4 scale project planned at a 86" span. I have no interest in large scale or large pattern planes but I am still looking into have a few options above what my current 6 channel system offers. But without breaking my modeling budget. I do use flaps/air brakes, retracts, and lighting (landing and navigational) options on my models so an extra switch or two would be nice in case I need to add a sliding canopy or what have you.

Good luck at Top Gun and don't spare the photos!

Opps! I forgot to mention I like the Hitec servos as well and have used them in several sizes. I have find them to be of the same high quality as the Hitec receivers.

planedriver_2

Thanks for the good luck gesture, I have an eclipse 7 but i love my Aurora 9 more. I have the eclipse 7 with both 72 and 2.4. the A-9 is strickly 2.4

I will keep posting as time allows. I am flying two rounds tomorrow and two sunday so i will be busy.


See ya all

Planedriver'
Hitec Team Pilot

Team Scale class Top Gun 2012

planedriver_2

A couple more photos, will try to take more of the other competitors if time permits.

Planedriver
Team Hitec Pilot

hosertoo

Good luck Roger hope you have a sucessfull weekend. The plane looks great. Go team Hitec! Rick

SunDevilPilot

Looking good Planedriver!

planedriver_2

Thank you all for the well wishes. Looking forward to the morning, It's looking to be a fantastic weekend here west wind, right down the east/west runway less than 10, calm in the morning. I will be flying right hand traffic pattern 5th up on flight line #4 early am.

I have had a fair amount of communication in the last few days here with many different Hitec product users and prospective Hitec owners and I have enjoyed every minute of it. I have had several people come by our tent seeing the Hitec banner hanging insided and asking for someone or just walking up seeing the Hitec shirt and hat on me and coming over and talking with me. Several have had the chance to grab a 2012 product catalog and take it home with them, Mostly I feel that they have been very happy to see and get to talk with someone representing Hitec in this area at an event such as Top Gun.

I had Nick Ziroli spending time with us today also, he is a huge name and very popular at an event like this, it's always a pleasure sitting and chatting with him. Although business didn't allow him to compete here this year he manage to make it for one day. It's off to work for him and hopefully we will see him soon at our field. Yes i get the chance to fly along side of one of the greats in the hobby at my home field and other places as well.

This whole event is just awsome..........the people here are the most respected top radio controlled flyers around.

Take a break from your regular flying and come on over to Lakeland, Florida this saturday and sunday, join us at Paradise Field, stop by and say hello if you make it here. Your admission allows pit access to mix right in with the builders and pilots to see and feel the experience we get to be involved in. I have all my Hitec equipment available most all day long to assist anybody with questions and those who just want to feel the Aurora 9 in their hands before perhaps an online or hobby shop oder purchase. The only exception being the times that I am competiting with the equipment i have.

I have to say i am very lucky to have the friends and support i have to help me fly in this highly competative event. I can promise all you well wishers i will try my best to do well.

Thanks again to all who support my effort and to all those who support Hitec also.

Be back soon...........

Planedriver
Team Hitec Pilot Go TEAM HITEC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

David Bathe

Great thread, but please mention Hitec some more.

planedriver_2

Saturday morning, Lakeland Florida. It's time to shake off the cob webs and get ready to go to Paradise field. I have seen a new forcast for the winds. we may have a bit more wind and a change in direction today. I'm hoping it's not going to effect my biplane and my flying. Yesterday was nearly perfect for most flyers. I am hoping for some miracle for us to have the same.

Yesterday after the static portion on the event for the Balsa USA Nieuport 28, SKS Video had as come over and they recorded a short segment to add to the 2012 Top Gun DVD.

I was a bit nervous doing the interview as i am not generally a very good public speaker but i did my best to not look foolish. I am looking forward to seeing it.

Did i mention I am having way too much fun doing this ???

Oh yeah by the way, GO TEAM HITEC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Good weekend everyone.

Planedriver

Team Hitec Pilot

planedriver_2

Top Gun Pilots meeting over and my First Round Complete, I think i did ok will take shots later of the scores.

Enclosed are some early am photos for you all.

Thanks so much for looking in, Tell all your friends help me get my top gun thread on the top forum list in the last 24 hours.


Planedriver
Team Hitec Pilot GO TEAM HITEC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

planedriver_2

photos

planedriver_2

Afternoon round for the Team Hitect with the Nieuport 28. photos enclosed.

Winds were shifting east to west but light. had a great flight with a few brain fades in between i think what was a 10 take off and 10 landing.

earlier today we scored a 91.75 static and an 89.5 flight score.

At least this year we have made it thru to complete rounds and we are half way thru to what could be a fair showing.

planedriver_2

Score for the second round as of just a while ago, 91.75, Nailed 10 landing, Some noise from a very loud run up right next to my flight box distracted me and i brain faded and nearly blew one manuver, i called the power off stall and nearly by saying loop begining now did it out of sequence but my caller Dave, gave me the stall stall stall, shout and of i went power off and did a fair job on it. then the loop a vintage old war plane dive for airspeed and then an egg shape loop, then off i went to much in a hurry, rattled a bit i really did terrible in my descending 360. but recovered well with a nice touch and go and perfect landing.

Very disappointed i went back to the tent to lick my wounds, and a while later Dave went off to find the score sheet for round two, he came back with a funny look and said you got a 10 on landing. Thinking that was good it was no conselation for messing up our chances so i thought, then a bit of a smirk came on his face, he shouldn't play poker by the way
said take a look. I did and whao.........I got excited again and felt very good that we managed to squeak out a 91. 75, an improvement from this morning. I call that a win in my book.

Remember all, last year it was four rounds four dead stick landing with less or half of my manuvers completed....... That was tough for a first time Top Gunner.


Again one more time ...........YES ........Did i mention i am having a blast !!!

Go TEAM HITEC !!!!!!!!!!!!

Planedriver
Team Hitec Pilot

planedriver_2

Few more pics of the site and the crowd of spectators and crews. There were lots of people here...... It has been very warm today with close to 93 degrees and winds light and variable this afternoon. What a day for event. If anyone doesn't know about the love bugs in florida, we were lucky to not see very many at all. In the past it was sworming with them. I'm glad for everyone we have dodged that this year. Sam Wright has been great on the Microphone all day, keeping those spectators well informend about who and what is flying. He makes the trip all the way from california. If you run in to him tell him thanks for the great job.


Here are the early scores I didn't get a chance to see the late postings.

Tonight were are off to the Awards Dinner

Have a great evening and hope to see you at the field.

Planedriver
Team Hitec Pilot

GO TEAM HITEC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

N11

My Feedback: (10)

Thanks Roger for Pics/Current Scores - Good Luck with the Nieuport

Jim

Tango Juliet

Great report. Did anyone get photos of the Gotha flying?

planedriver_2

I am looking for some if i find them i will get them on.........It's not flying today i don't think it made the cut today.

Photos are NAP Time at Top Gun and ...............Big FOOT was sited........ Well really it's only Don J. a friend of mine with my camera smapping pictures at will.

Oh yeah......He is bigger than the real big foot....... That shoe you see is i believe a 15.


And he fly's a big plane too........BUSA Fokker D-7

dorjes

My Feedback: (19)

Thanks much for the picture of the scoreboards. Kinda keeps those of us out who aren't there in the loop. If you can snap a current pic of the boards we'd all appreciate it.

Best of luck with the Nieuport - nice bird!

Dorin Luck

planedriver_2

Well Top Gun is over, my friends Sea Fury did not fair so well, in the last round he had a mishap and ended up on the pilot/judges station on take off roll. He felt terrible it happened and so many Times apologized to all of effected. Good News nobody got a scratch. I was up shortly after in 5th on the same line, a bit rattled for my friend I had a tough time concentrating but managed I think a fairly good round. It seemed to take forever. The NIEUPORT 28 did its job and got me thru all four rounds. I was whipped and needed to head for home so I still don't know my final score. I hope the remaining friends got my last score for me. Tom so kindly talked to me and calmed me for my final few maneuvers and I think it helped. Thank you David for calling and Tom making it great too.

Planedriver. More later

planedriver_2

Thank you HITEC for GREAT equipment that got my NIEUPORT 28 thru the whole competition,
And many thanks. For their support on my attempt to go for moon in what is a major event.

I am already looking forward to next year. THANK YOU Frank for a great event.

We all had a great time.

Planedriver

planedriver_2

Well got the final round score for sunday in finally, 91.175 and with the others 89.5 and 91.125 with my loosy math and a caculator i end up with 90.60 and with my static score of 91.833 this totals 182.433. Right now i'm not sure where in Team Scale class that puts me right now. I'm just glad i placed better than last year and finished all four rounds.

Planedriver

planedriver_2

Pictures and more to come.......


Planedriver

smithcreek

My Feedback: (25)

What exactly do they judge on at Top Gun? I mean, those BUSA kits are nice and all, but contenders for a scale championship?