Friday, June 8, 2012
SCRC's 5th annual pattern classic
My RC club's 5th annual Spring pattern event held May 5th-6th was a huge success. We had 31 competitors in all. Click "Results" to view standings.
"Event Photos"
"Event Photos"
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Wind S Pro
Latest project Wind S Pro all composite version
Hacker C50 Comp 14XL
Castle ICE HV80 V2
Futaba 14 MZ
Futaba BLS servos all surfaces
Tru-Turn Turbo cool spinner
F3A Power Unlimited 4900mah
Test Flight 3/31/12
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Royal Coachman
Recently completed project. A scratch-built Royal Coachman, a Don Dewey design from 1965. Modified for E-power, added ailerons, carbon landing gear plus pull-pull rudder control. My brother and I logged many flight hours on this design back in the late sixties early seventies at the local football field, courtesy of the University of Pittsburgh. Then outfitted with a Bonner RC system (rudder, elevator) and a OS Max 15 (no throttle). Now Futaba 14MZ RC system, mini servos thru-out powered by a Rimfire .10 electric motor using 3SP 2200 mAh batteries. RTF weight is 2lbs 4ozs.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Thursday, November 17, 2011
2012 Wish list
CITRIN Biplane from W. Matt (EP)
Splendor from Quique (EP)
ZN line CAELESTIA FC
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Visa by CA Models designer Chip Hyde
Pics from Oct 15th 2011 flying session with the CA Models Visa.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
2011 US Nationals Re-cap
It's now late August and I'm just getting caught up on work and personal stuff from being away for 12 days attending the F3A WCs and US Nationals. My 2008 Honda Odyssey LX van equipped with aftermarket XM radio and GPS navigation made the trip comfortable and affordable. How many vehicles on the market can haul two 2-meter pattern planes with support equipment at an average of 75mph on the highway and get 26 mpg? Not many I'm sure.
I departed Houston the morning of July 27th. First stop was Southern Indiana to practice about 100 miles south of Muncie, IN. I arrived on schedule late morning of the 28th and put in several flights. Retired around 4pm to the hotel to regroup, rest and return the next morning for more practice. The next morning I was pleasantly surprised to find Mike Harrison already practicing at the southern IN super secret practice site. Mike decided to leave early to view some P-11 fights at the worlds. I stayed to practice the remainder of the day. My original goal was stay an additional day in Southern IN however I was contacted by a good friend which said there was a unanimous vote for me to join him and other D6 pilots who for years had been practicing at a super duper secret practice site nearer to Muncie. I headed that way the next morning and was blown away by the facility first, then by the land owner's hospitality second. Let me just say, how would you like to practice pattern on a 2500 ft north-south and east-west full scale runway with a flat (no trees) over fly area. The owners even went out of their way to provide a buffet style country lunch one afternoon. All dishes were made from scratch i.e. bread, pasta, deserts to name a few items. Truly pattern practice heaven.
This year I chose to fly a recently completed CARF Integral powered by a Hacker C50 comp 14xl. This is my first season flying ePower. There's a lot to learn regarding how to manage and fly with ePower equipment. I must say tho ePower does make it easier to schedule practice sessions around a busy work schedule. I'm looking forward to being better prepared and more efficient with ePower next season.
The 2011 Masters class participant list read like a who's who list. Four returning Masters champions, two former US F3A team members, and a former TOC competitor. Goes without saying it was tough going this year making it to the finals. Given the amount of practice I had before the Nats and flying a plane which only had 50 flights I feel pretty good finishing in 6th place this year.
Here are a few pictures from the finals.
I departed Houston the morning of July 27th. First stop was Southern Indiana to practice about 100 miles south of Muncie, IN. I arrived on schedule late morning of the 28th and put in several flights. Retired around 4pm to the hotel to regroup, rest and return the next morning for more practice. The next morning I was pleasantly surprised to find Mike Harrison already practicing at the southern IN super secret practice site. Mike decided to leave early to view some P-11 fights at the worlds. I stayed to practice the remainder of the day. My original goal was stay an additional day in Southern IN however I was contacted by a good friend which said there was a unanimous vote for me to join him and other D6 pilots who for years had been practicing at a super duper secret practice site nearer to Muncie. I headed that way the next morning and was blown away by the facility first, then by the land owner's hospitality second. Let me just say, how would you like to practice pattern on a 2500 ft north-south and east-west full scale runway with a flat (no trees) over fly area. The owners even went out of their way to provide a buffet style country lunch one afternoon. All dishes were made from scratch i.e. bread, pasta, deserts to name a few items. Truly pattern practice heaven.
This year I chose to fly a recently completed CARF Integral powered by a Hacker C50 comp 14xl. This is my first season flying ePower. There's a lot to learn regarding how to manage and fly with ePower equipment. I must say tho ePower does make it easier to schedule practice sessions around a busy work schedule. I'm looking forward to being better prepared and more efficient with ePower next season.
The 2011 Masters class participant list read like a who's who list. Four returning Masters champions, two former US F3A team members, and a former TOC competitor. Goes without saying it was tough going this year making it to the finals. Given the amount of practice I had before the Nats and flying a plane which only had 50 flights I feel pretty good finishing in 6th place this year.
Here are a few pictures from the finals.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Brother's RV-10
My brother, Bill Watson is all smiles following successful test flight on 8/26/11 of his recently completed RV-10.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
E_Integral 2011
Latest Build Comp-ARF Integral, test flown 7/2/2011
6th place 2011 US Nationals in Masters
Motor - Hacker C50 14XL
ESC - Castle HV 80
Batteries - TP 5000
Radio - Futaba 14MZ
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