Flying with Fred - Volume III, No 6
The Ides Of
March are upon us (it’s March 15th for all you Younger
Generation types). It was a bad day for one J. Caesar
way back when, but a good day if you’re going flying-
at least through mid to late afternoon, before the
rain, snow, sleet, etc. arrives. Yesterday was actually
the better day. Temperature was in the mid to upper
60’s, partly sunny (or partly cloudy, depending on
where you were) and all of the snow from our last blast
was nowhere to be seen. The ground is a little soft,
but what the heck- it helps with hard landings. Can’t
beat late March and early April for weird weather. If
the newscasts are correct, we’re back to 3 or 4 inches
within 36 to 48 hours. As they say in Little Italy,
“youse gotta love it…”
Another WRAM show has come and gone- kudos to all those who manned our booth. In particular, many thanks to those who processed and kept track of membership renewals, etc. As of this writing, there are a few of you that have been caught up in the machinery of the process, and have not received your 2007 stickers. If this is you, send me an e-mail with details, and I will remedy your situation directly (or, at least, tell you what you have to do if there’s a problem).
I am sorry to report that my stealthy plan to pick up the new Hangar 9 Sopwith Camel at the show went out the window. I was on schedule to squeeze the old Visa card one more time, when, on the Wednesday before the show, my foot took the brake pedal to the floorboard on Mr.Astro, (my late model, recently discontinued Chevy van- currently on it’s third complete trip around its odometer) and I barely missed yet another validation of that famous law of Physics (“two bodies cannot occupy the same space at the same time”) along with the rear bumper of the shiny Lexus fate and the traffic patterns on 287 had placed in front of me.
My mechanic (the son of the mechanic my father did business with for almost 40 years) advised me that it would be a good idea to replace not only the brake line that went South, but given the condition of the REST of the (original) brake plumbing, to replace the rest of the lines as well. The Good News is that I can now go from 70 MPH to 0 MPH in half a second flat with complete confidence. The Bad News is that, for the price of the surgery, I could have purchased three Sopwiths with their complete electrical components, and a good crying towel. At least he doesn’t charge me interest on the house credit account…
The other good news is that my computer problem has been remedied. Since this is not a column about computers, all I will say is that all of the fixes suggested by the so-called experts were WRONG, and a suggestion by some guy in New Zealand (that’s right- from Kiwi-Land- as a result of my joining a number of PC on-line forums) and the judicial application of the Empirical Process (try A, then B, then C, etc.) did the trick. In summary, I attached a borrowed external CD-RW unit, which worked (after some of the experts said it wouldn’t) when I told the computer to “disregard” the internal one. I then replaced the internal one on a…whim? (instinct?). The computer burped three or four times, and presto!- back in business. Back to Little Italy: “ Sheesh- goh figure…”
Another WRAM show has come and gone- kudos to all those who manned our booth. In particular, many thanks to those who processed and kept track of membership renewals, etc. As of this writing, there are a few of you that have been caught up in the machinery of the process, and have not received your 2007 stickers. If this is you, send me an e-mail with details, and I will remedy your situation directly (or, at least, tell you what you have to do if there’s a problem).
I am sorry to report that my stealthy plan to pick up the new Hangar 9 Sopwith Camel at the show went out the window. I was on schedule to squeeze the old Visa card one more time, when, on the Wednesday before the show, my foot took the brake pedal to the floorboard on Mr.Astro, (my late model, recently discontinued Chevy van- currently on it’s third complete trip around its odometer) and I barely missed yet another validation of that famous law of Physics (“two bodies cannot occupy the same space at the same time”) along with the rear bumper of the shiny Lexus fate and the traffic patterns on 287 had placed in front of me.
My mechanic (the son of the mechanic my father did business with for almost 40 years) advised me that it would be a good idea to replace not only the brake line that went South, but given the condition of the REST of the (original) brake plumbing, to replace the rest of the lines as well. The Good News is that I can now go from 70 MPH to 0 MPH in half a second flat with complete confidence. The Bad News is that, for the price of the surgery, I could have purchased three Sopwiths with their complete electrical components, and a good crying towel. At least he doesn’t charge me interest on the house credit account…
The other good news is that my computer problem has been remedied. Since this is not a column about computers, all I will say is that all of the fixes suggested by the so-called experts were WRONG, and a suggestion by some guy in New Zealand (that’s right- from Kiwi-Land- as a result of my joining a number of PC on-line forums) and the judicial application of the Empirical Process (try A, then B, then C, etc.) did the trick. In summary, I attached a borrowed external CD-RW unit, which worked (after some of the experts said it wouldn’t) when I told the computer to “disregard” the internal one. I then replaced the internal one on a…whim? (instinct?). The computer burped three or four times, and presto!- back in business. Back to Little Italy: “ Sheesh- goh figure…”
I had
occasion to have dinner the Friday evening of the WRAM
show with Dave Platt- he of the video series and scale
kits and plans. I’ve been in contact and close
proximity with what can best be described as “living
history” (in human form) two or three times in my life.
You know- up close and personal with an individual
famous (or infamous) in one way, shape, form or
another- a person made extraordinary by and in their
experiences. Add the evening of the 23rd to this short
list. The amount of water under the bridge for this man
is something else altogether- from when he started in
Britain, through his experiences with some (if not
all?) of the early luminaries of the hobby in the 50’s
and 60’s, to his current collection of “How To”
offerings. We discussed just about everything there is
to discuss in the universe of RC flying- soup to nuts,
people and things, trends, laments, triumphs and
gaffes- all centered around true RC Scale Aircraft
Modeling. I don’t know if I will ever see the man
again- he lives in Florida now, and is starting to wear
around the edges. I was, nonetheless, fortunate to have
dipped a toe in the ocean of his life, if only for a
few hours- think I’ll pick up some of his videos.
Last, but not least- as you read this, you will probably have received a survey in the mail that the club has generated. The survey is trying to zero in on how we can get more folks to participate in the club (read: fly at the field, and attend meetings). Take a moment to fill it out and return it for processing. Be honest and REALISTIC in your selections and comments (no, engine size should NOT be increased). While I commend those who suggested and prepared same, the one selection missing- at least for me- from the reasons for non-participation is… TIME! I am happy for those who have it to spare, either by virtue of a well-deserved retirement, or as a result of hard work, luck, an inheritance, having married well, or whatever. For the rest of us who lead multiple lives (working stiffs, parents, caretakers, etc. etc.) there is simply not enough of the precious commodity to spare. I hope this changes (all other variables remaining positive) in the immediate future for Yours Truly, and others. There is a thin- just barely perceptible- layer of dust on my workbench these days…
Hope to see more of you at the meeting and the field- until then,
Fly safely, but… FLY!
Last, but not least- as you read this, you will probably have received a survey in the mail that the club has generated. The survey is trying to zero in on how we can get more folks to participate in the club (read: fly at the field, and attend meetings). Take a moment to fill it out and return it for processing. Be honest and REALISTIC in your selections and comments (no, engine size should NOT be increased). While I commend those who suggested and prepared same, the one selection missing- at least for me- from the reasons for non-participation is… TIME! I am happy for those who have it to spare, either by virtue of a well-deserved retirement, or as a result of hard work, luck, an inheritance, having married well, or whatever. For the rest of us who lead multiple lives (working stiffs, parents, caretakers, etc. etc.) there is simply not enough of the precious commodity to spare. I hope this changes (all other variables remaining positive) in the immediate future for Yours Truly, and others. There is a thin- just barely perceptible- layer of dust on my workbench these days…
Hope to see more of you at the meeting and the field- until then,
Fly safely, but… FLY!