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This year I did not take many photos because I am retired and just did
not feel like it. I did not fly in 2M or F3B or CC but used that time to
write some scoring programs for the upcoming E-NAT's. Also you will
notice that I did not take a lot of plane shots because I think people
pictures are more interesting to the public. Hope you find some of the
commentary interesting and get inspired to come down to Muncie next
year. Just being a spectator there is fun, ask Wolf.
Jack |
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It was a real problem getting nine planes in the 97X but I did it by
taking out the rear seats. |
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Nostalgia |
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Looking down the launch line early in the morning before everything was
set up and running. |
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Old GDSHS member and famous kit designer and producer, Ray Hayes. |
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I do not know who this was but the build on the Otto Heidecker
"Challenger" was just great. A lot of these flew at this years event.
Ray has a kit for you if you have the time and skill to build one of
these beauties. |
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Sanford Searl, one of the nicest guys you will run across at the NAT's.
We have known each other for years now. |
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Jim Deck (LSF Secretary) talking it over with Steve Siebenaler. Steve is
an OVSS major player and organizer. |
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Mike McGowan the CD for Nostalgia called a old fashion call up with
in-or-out landings on a 25 foot tape. |
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Don Harris took first place. Don is a master of woodie's and is a two or
three time Level V. The man never quits. |
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RES (Photos by Wolf) |
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I am timing Jim Deck our LSF secretary and all around good guy. |
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Hutch flew Ed Cenkner's donated RES ship. So in memory of ED! Of
course that is Mike Wade timing. |
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When one of the JR team goes out to fly, they have a lot of help.
Really a bunch of great flyers and friendly guys. Always willing to help
anyone. |
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Bob Burson launching. Bob is a very good reader of air and fellow
electric sailplane nut. |
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Ken Bates blew off both wingtips on launch and still landed well. |
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Cross Country |
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Hutch and Roy Schooler relaxing and talking to Johnny Berlin about today's
activities. |
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Harry DeBoer about to get a plane ready for action. Harry is one of the
Grand Rapids area flyers and is quite active. Too bad he is moving to PA
to work with Troy, we will miss him. |
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Our old club member and flying buddy, Troy Lawicki, father of the Duck
and one of the hottest flyers at the NAT's. He and his son Adam took 1st
and 2nd in 2M.
A first for the NAT's to have a father and son team pull off that
level of flying together. Troy's daughter, Lacey, has come to the NAT's
for two years to be a turn-around-troll.
Troy flew Mike Wade's plane for three plus loops of the closed
circuit course for 56 miles without landing. The Wade team took third
this year because Saturday was spent trimming and not much time on
course. I think they would have come in first if Saturday was as
productive as Sunday. |
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A shot of the large field we used for take-off on the cross country
event. You really have to come and see the facility to believe it.
Lacey and Adam helping Harry get ready. |
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Wolf and Roy were there to help Mike Wade's team keep on track be
generally helpful but making sure Hutch drove down the right country
roads. Hutch did need help on directions because his left and right keep
getting messed up. |
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Unlimited (Photos by Wolf) |
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The Weather in Muncie |
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For most to the two weeks I was there, the weather was typical Muncie,
hot and humid.
I do not think winch launch had any weather problem other than wind
for RES, seemed like 30mph but it was probably only 20-25. Not fun for
RES and there was a bunch of carnage that day.
Electrics were another matter. One day this storm rolled through and
we called the contest for an hour while it zipped by at about 40 mph.
After that, it was back to flying in much different air than before the
front. One day got rained out and the wind was really high one of the
other days so we got to see it all. |
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Electric NAT's |
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From Lt. to Rt. Tom Kallevang, Mark Gellart and Jim Cherry. Tom is
past President of the LSF and the event director for Electric NATS and
Mark is Event Director of the Winch Launched NATS and Jim Cherry is the
Executive Director of the AMA. The neat thing about Jim is, he is a
flyer and was to the field most days and sport flew with us several
times.
Jim is the only AMA official I can remember that comes out to the
field and socializes almost every day. I sure hope he sticks around a
long time. |
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Bob Burson and Ed Franz under the tent at the end of the day. Both are
great competitors and took wood in a couple of events. They both CD'ed
one event each. These two gentlemen are also helping to get the Electric
Sailplane events remodeled to increase competition. |
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George Parks drove up from Texas to participate and did quite well until
his plane exploded in Class B. George is the Chairman of the
Electric Contest Board for AMA. He is going to help us get board members
that are in fact competitors in the sport and not just general flyers. |
