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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This episode we find our fearless leader at his
shop doing paper work.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As the scene opens there's a huge Explosion in
Timmy T's waiting room. Sheetrock and glass and wood everywhere! Seems this
S-10 has a remote starter hooked to a manual trans truck and the starter key fob
looks just like the door lock button which my tech pressed. Yup it started
with no one in it and ran thru the wall. Oh well there's a few grand out
of the airplane fund.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fast forward to that afternoon TImmy decides to go
flying to relieve the stress only to find the combo is changed on the flying
field lock! &#^)*#&^%)*#$^&!* so much for some practice.
I wanna strangle that Col out at the base right about now. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ok next day looks better almost perfect flying
weather but no field. So much for any practice. Ok will stay at work today and
see what happens. Well another tech tests drives a pickup after replacing the
fuel pump and the hood flies open from a miss-aligned latch. Ok send the truck
to the paint shop to be fixed. No need to scold the techs as this has never
happened before and they're normally really carefull.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>*^%*(%$(<A
href="mailto:*^@!#^&$">*^@!#^&$</A>^# what the heck is
next?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fast forward to this weekend for the contest,
Hmmmmm the weather report doesn't look good 20-30 mph winds and rain, ok it's
only 100 miles so we load up Friday around noon and head to the contest
site. At the site the weather is calm but over cast and looks like
rain, get one quick flight in before the rain starts. Flight looks about as well
as one can expect with no practice and being off for ten years. Ok we're ready
for the contest.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sat morning opens to cloudy skies which the
weatherman says will clear soon which it does but those 20-30 mph winds turn
into 25-35 with gusts to 46 hmmmmmm Better take the tent down. As Timmy T walks
over to the trailer and looks for NFB (New Flying Buddy) (Old Flying buddy has
been retired but you knew that) There's a strong gust of wind that just takes
the canopy and rolls it across the cars parked in the pits!!!!!!!!
)(&^!)(&#%&%@~* people running over to help be get the canopy off
Gary Harris van and we survey the damage. A few scratches to Gary's van and a
broken tail light, one broken windshield to Don Szczur's station wagon and one
small dent in Joey Hayes truck. Oh man this sucks. Gary tells me he has a tail
lamp lenses for his van so don't worry about it and Don says the windshield was
already cracked and he was planning on getting a new one anyway. Joey is getting
his fixed and sending me the bill. Damn this is getting to be an expensive
week!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ok the pilots meeting takes place and after Gary
did a test flight everyone decided to not fly in this wind. I think it was Eric
that properly stated "It took a pair to fly in that wind on the first
flight and brains to not fly the second flight!" Well contrary to popular belief
Gary has a brain. Being the first contest of the season we all stand around
and BS the day away. Next day the wind has let up a bit and the CD says "Let's
FLY"!!!! if you can call 20-30 a bit less.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ok go to start the airplane up and find a blown
plug....... Hmm ok change the plug and start the engine for the first round ,
man that engine sounds funny" Seems to run ok though, let's go. Take off is
decent and about the end of the procedure turn it doesn't seem to have near the
power it had last night. Ok press on and do about 1/2 the flight and it is
losing even more power, ok earn a few zero's for flopping around in that 25 mph
wind and about this time the 4 point is coming up and I'm still in a turn around
at the center of the box!!!!!!! Seems our fearless leader needs A LOT more
practice. Ok so much for this round and this contest as I've had enough of this
wind. So our fearless leader isn't so fearless after all as he bails on the last
few maneuvers and lands only to find the engine hanging loose in the motor
mount! No wonder I didn't have any power. Ok that's enough fun for this weekend
so we pack up and head home. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Welcome back to the contest trail! I dunno how much
more we can stand of this. :)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And the sun sets on the back of the trailer as our
not so fearless leader makes his escape.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>