Brendan Miller: Hey guys just got home and man what a day. I got to the field at about 1, and Art Nelson and the ever elusive Mark G were there getting set up. Art and Nelson had been there since 9am, soon Harold Dave M and Chris showed up and we got to flying. I started off with a decent launch and found lift right away I specked the plane out and soon Chris asked me if I started a timer, I said no and proceeded to do a speed run. I found something light a foolishly took it down wind and I ended up in the beans. I did a couple more launches and never really got above launch height. Finally on the last flight I found lift and it wasn't really strong, I heard Chris launch and he soon joined me. I was still circling in the weak part of the lift when I noticed Chris going up fast then me so I turned and burned down wind and found the same lift he was in. I was soon skied out and down wind, I then started to walk down the road in between the corn and the beans going to the north end of the sod farm so I could see my plan. I am not going to lie there were some scary moments where I lost the plane on was when I looked down at the stopwatch on the transmitter and looked up and couldn't see the plane! I pulled up twice and finally regained sight. I was standing there counting the beeps on the transmitter as they went past every minute, soon I found myself down and needing lift I looked at the string on the transmitter and went where it pointed and I was up and out again. Soon Mark G came over to help out in telling me how much time was left and helping me walk back to the field, which I was glad to get that help. Soon the hour mark pasted and I was happy that I could now look straight ahead instead of up to relax my neck, I cam in for a landing and I put it right at my feet.

Today was a good day to really see the lift cycle in action, first the wind would die down and it would get warm and then there would be a breeze. I must have worked 4-5 thermals but at a certain height the plane would not come down. I am really happy with this plane and may get another one for next season, I kept saying that if I would have flown my Espada I might not have made it. Don't get me wrong the Espada is a great plane but the Zenith just does some stuff better.

Thanks to all the people who helped and Chris for the pictures.

Brendan

Harold Mantz takes Art Frost’s Xplorer for a test spin.

Mark Gauding: Guys,

What a great day today!  I showed up about 1245 and Art and Nelson were already flying.  Dave McGwire and Brendan were just behind me along with Chris and Harold to make a nice group today. 

I have not flown in about 2 months so was anxious to fly the Pike ET today after doing some radio tweaking of my setup this morning.  Overall not too bag but need to work on the launch set up a bit more.  I had some good flight today with a couple of good skyouts but had a great time being with good people! 

I helped Dave with his SD10G program for his Pike Perfect with seemed to smooth things out for him and he had some really good flight today! 

As Brendan mentioned, he made his one hour flight today after a couple of tries.  On the flight that counted he was up flying with Chris and Chris came over to me while I was flying asking why is Brendan walking toward the corn?  I said jokingly that he is trying to be one with the corn but he was just trying to get closer to his plane since he was way up and downwind over the levee on the northwest side of the field.  I finally walked over to him with about 10 min to go and helped him walk out of the corn to the landing zone after he made sure he had made 1 hour of flying time!  I think he made out with about a 1:05 flying time!  I think the Corado aka Zenith is working out well for him!!  Congrats Brendan!

Nelson was flying his elusive Pike Perfect today!  I say look out!  He was getting the Zoom down on launch and with a few tweaks of his program from Chris he was doing all right!  Nelson was like awe shucks but we know how deadly he is with Daedalus,  his Pike will do the same for him!

Art was flying his red Zenith along with his Explorer.  Chris had his Explorer and Pike out and Harold had a old Sagitta 600 converted to electric that he was having fun with! 

Most of us packed up about 400 but Chris was still their working with his Explorer and Pike!  A great day wish more could have been their!!

Mark G.