Sharon Pro maiden flight yields LSF goal

[aussief3b]

I maidened my new/used Sharon Pro 3.7 yesterday. Bought from Jack Strother - originally built for DP for the Masters - she is a beauty. (Thanks Jack for sending me a fine airplane.) Rich Kubiris of the Buzzards gave her a first trim toss for me yesterday afternoon. I didn't touch the elevator except for a gentle down nudge as she climbed about 10 feet from his toss. After flying hands off about 50 yards I figured it would be a long walk so I nudged her around for a 180 and flew her all the way back to my feet! Not often you can make a first flight with zero trim changes required!
What a beautiful bird. We put her straight on the winch and Rich drove
her up for me while I concentrated on steering my new baby. Fairly gentle
zoom found the Sharon in good lift immediately, so I set my Talking timer for an attempt at my 30 minute LSF TD task. 31:54 later she was once again at my feet. An LSF Task accomplished on the Sharon's maiden voyage. I am in love with her.
It's an awesome hobby where you can dunk an out of control expensive DLG contest plane in the pond in the morning. (Win the Rubber Ducky award. :)) Strip off and crawl through 2 foot deep Florida mud to recover it while being bitten by chiggers and becoming filthy dirty. Miss the rest of the DLG contest because none of my Rx's would work - but finish the day as above and be as happy and satisfied as one can possibly be. Achieving goals every time one goes flying makes for an extremely good feeling of accomplishment no matter what. That's what makes the anticipation of the next days flying and then the execution so worthwhile. A very exciting day on Saturday - You?
Gordon

[Hossfly72]

Congrats Gordon. That must have been an INCREDIBLE feeling! Keep up the great work and keep finding those thermals!

[aussief3b]

Today we went to Cocoa/Indian River to get my Level 3 Goal and Return with Kris Van Nostran. We intended to both launch and hop in a truck to head off
for the required 1 km out and back. Kris who is also an LSF Level 2 needed the 1km Goal and Return as well. He brought Steve Formanek with him as a helper and witness. Steve was fabulous as he helped set up winch and worked as a spotter in his car at each end of our 1KM course.
I was ready to launch at 1:15pm and I had Kris drive the winch for me as this was only my Sharon's second flight and I am still getting used to her. Did a great zoom off the top straight into lift. Worked it for a few hundred feet and set out towards the start of the journey. As I flew beyond the starting point at one end Steve called me on the cell phone to say I was beyond his position. Kris wasn't quite ready to fly yet so I set off down the course on my own. My son Nathan drove my pickup while I sat on the tailgate with my other son Jamie trying to hang on. I had to get him to hurry along at over 30mph to keep up with the Sharon and we were at the 1 km mark in less than 6 minutes after launch. Nathan turned the truck around while I grabbed a few more turns to gain height before the trip back. We were back at the other end in no time with Steve buzzing me on the phone again and it was simply a matter of landing the Sharon for the second LSF task accomplished in 2 days and both tasks done with her 1st 2 flights.
The only mishap occurred as I was running toward the launch point to set up for landing with my tranny in hand and eyes on the bird and I stepped in a giant hog hole and twisted my ankle, Not to worry - the adrenalin killed the pain as I turned her into the wind and flew her to my hand for an easy catch at 1:26pm. This bird is a keeper. 11 minutes 1km Goal and return. What a great weekend. Two flights - two LSF tasks accomplished - One beautiful bird all nice and cozy in her quiver till next time.
We made several attempts to get Kris through the course with his Pike Perfect but the wind had increased and lift was lighter so we will have better success with his ship next time. I thank Kris Van Nostran and Steve Formanek for their help and support. They have an awesome facility at the Indian River Radio Kontrol Society in Cocoa. If any others are wanting to complete LSF tasks in the Florida area, we are planning a regular LSF goal and practice day. Let us know if you also want to complete any levels and we may be able to help you get there.
Sunday was a great day!
You?
Gordon

[ACooper]

Awesome...30 minutes on a maiden,wow :D

[Tappet]

Aussie,

Sorry to see you're struggling with the Sharon. Check the CG, I think it's supposed to be between the nose and the tail :p

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