Michael Heer
Apr 14, 2003, 02:00 PM
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#A0A0A0" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="5" ALIGN="center"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="100%" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
COLSPAN="2">
<BR>
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00025.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00025_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A><BR>
<BR>
Weston at Combat Wings booth
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<P>
Dick Andersen picked me up at 5:15 in the morning. It was cold,
wet and very foggy as we drove the 45 minutes from Stockton to
Modesto. There we met up with Bob Hoffman and transferred to
his car and we picked up Benard Simpier as we headed out of
town. It remained cold, wet and foggy most of the morning as we
cruised down I-5 on our way to the AMA show in Pasadena. The
fog got even thicker as we went further south but we continued
ever onward. Finally, as we started to climb the "Grape Vine"
stretch of I-5 (Takes you from the central valley over the hill
to LA area.) we came out of the cold fog and into the glorious
warmth and sunshine of Southern California. It actually felt
hot by the time we got to Pasadena. We had lunch a couple of
blocks from the Pasadena Civic Center where I paid $12.00 with
tax and tip for a cheeseburger patty, two tomato slices and a
glass of tap water. Nourished but poorer we arrived at the show
about 1:00 and found the underground parking garage was already
full so we parked at a lot a block away for $3.00.
</P>
<P>
The ride down had been enjoyable with discussion of
improvements to be made on our flying field and stories of
flying incidents in both the recent and long past. We were all
looking forward to seeing what was new and possibly finding a
bargain or two at the show. For information on electrics see my
companion article on the Ezone reviewing electrics and park
flyer items. Here I will try and cover gliders and booths with
construction materials. I also want to share a little about
Polk's new radio system, Tracker II, that requires no crystal.
There will be a little overlap but that's the nature of a
general show such as this. Vendors often have a variety of
items to sell.
</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00027.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00027_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00030.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00030_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
Alberto with molded Mustang at the Hobby Club
booth
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
Helmut Goestl at Dymond Modelsport
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<BR>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00032.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00032_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
More of Diamond Modelsport
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<P>
Alberto owner of Hobby Club had some nice looking gliders for
sale and a number of electrics including the very nice molded
Mustang he is holding in his picture. At last year's show I
bought a C Hawk from Alberto and it has molded wings and they
curve up at the tips somewhat like the wings in the old Hoby
Hawk did. It is a fun flier at slope or for thermal and he was
still selling those this year but I forgot to take a picture of
one. Assisting him at the show again this year was my friend,
Dave Darling, who is also a glider pilot but knows a lot about
all aspects of our hobby. Dave also has a C Hawk but this year
he went around the corner and bought a plane from Helmut
Goestl and his business Dymond Modelsport. This year Dave got
the very nice looking Sioux electric, which is a full
house glider that he may soon be flying around Modesto. Dymond
Modelsport had a number of other very nice gliders and electric
gliders on sale in various sizes and price ranges. I was most
tempted by the little red foam Me 163 electric speed 400 that
they were selling for under $30.00. This small electric is fast
and very colorful in the sky. I had one before and sold it, but
at this bargain price I was very tempted to get another, but I
resisted. In that same isle Merrill Brady had a booth for his
business, M & M glider Tech. He was selling a variety of planes
including the little Wedgie electric and the slope version. He
also makes and sells a foam Saber Jet for combat and a Mig to
oppose it and in a more traditional vein he has a nostalgia
class plane with rudder, elevator and spoiler for thermal
flying.
</P>
<P>
In related fields of interest, Jim Sophos who has a silkscreen
business had a number of nice aviation motif shirts with planes
and nose art on them. Being a fan of the Dr 1 I chose to take a
picture of that shirt. At another booth you could buy a clock
with a picture of any number of different types of planes on
them or once again you could buy a clock with nose art on it.
Some vendors were selling receivers and servos but the big
radio companies just had displays of their products and that
included Futaba, Airtronics and Hitec. Two of my friends got
free stuff from Hitec with one getting a T-shirt and the other
getting a hat. It will be interesting to see what they are
selling this summer when they add Multiplex products to their
line of goods.
</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="3" CELLPADDING="1" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00033.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00033_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD>
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00038.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00038_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top">
Another of Dymond Modelsport
</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
Merrill Brady of M & M Glider Tech
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD>
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00039.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00039_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD>
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00041.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00041_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top">
Jim Sophos of Sophos silkscreen and shirts
</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
Silkscreened Dr 1 on T-shirt
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD>
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00042.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00042_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD>
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00043.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00043_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top">
Display for Radio Controlled Models, Inc.
</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
The Composites store
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<BR>
<BR>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00046.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00046_t.jpg" WIDTH="100"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00049.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00049_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
Jeff at RC Trayman
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
Programing cutter at Flying foam
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<BR>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00050.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00050_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Flying Foam's banner
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<br>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BORDER="0" BGCOLOR=
"#666666">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00052.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00052_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00053.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00053_t.jpg" WIDTH="309"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
Carl Mass & Brian Laird at Inland Slope Rebels,
great planes!
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
B-29 PSS glider by Carl Mass and his dad
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<P>
</P>
<P>
If you are into slope flying there were a number of booths that
would interest you. Carl Mass and Brian Laird were present to
represent the Inland Slope Rebels and they had a variety of PSS
(power slope planes) on display. These are gliders that are
scale replicas of planes that in full size are powered planes.
Both of these gentlemen have well earned reputations as
excellent builders and are known by slope pilots nationally and
internationally, not just in their native Southern California.
This past year Carl and his dad finished a large B-29, which
was on static display at the show and the picture above gives
you a hint of the high quality construction. Although I didn't
ask Brian I suspect the beautiful forward swept fighter plane
shown lower in this article is one of his planes. It was on
display in the competition room and it is a beautiful PSS plane
who ever built it.<BR>
</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00056.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00056_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Aerospace Composite Products
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<P>
If purchasing a foam combat plane was what you came for you had
several to choose from at this years show. Although Trick was
displaying the slope and electric Zagi, on Friday they were
only selling the new Zagi Fixx. To bad, because Benard wanted
to buy three of the old Zagi design for himself and his friend
Arlie. Wing Warrior (pictured below) had some very nice flying
wings, as did Combat Wings (picture at start of article). If
you wanted a more traditional looking plane, Jack Cooper, at
Leading Edge Gliders (immediately below) had several nice
planes and lots of his kits for sale. As you can see in the
picture he beefs up the fuselage by installing carbon fiber
rods to give it greater strength. (Rumor has it he had a great
sale on Sunday.)
</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/LeadingEdge.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/LeadingEdge_t.jpg" WIDTH="200"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00061.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00061_t.jpg" WIDTH="99"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
Jack Cooper of Leading Edge Gliders
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
Carbon fiber in the fuselage at Leading Edge
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<BR>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00066.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00066_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Wing Warrior's
Booth
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<P>
There were a number of booths for the scratch builders out
there and as I arrived I saw people leaving with arms filled
with balsa wood from Superior Balsa and Hobby Supply. Flying
Foam was there displaying their foam cutter that is computer
controlled and if you needed composite material you could
choose from Aerospace Composite Products, The Composites Store
and several other booths that were selling carbon fiber as
well. Zap (pictured below) had a booth as did Bill Northrop
with his Plans Service. If you didn't want to hold your
transmitter you could buy a tray at RC Traymen and Jeff there
put on a good display. The vendor at Multi-Purpose Drill Bits
took me back to my youth when I heard pitch men at the
Minnesota State Fair. Cermark had a booth with a variety of
things, especially battery packs, but unfortunately not in the
size I wanted. Radio Controlled Models Inc. had a booth with a
number of displays for lighting mechanisms that were
interesting to look at but not really geared to my flying.
</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00070.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00070_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00078.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00078_t.jpg" WIDTH="266"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
Zap, what more is there to say?
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
The glider in the center is called a SIOUX and
this is at Dymond Modelsport
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<BR>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00090.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00090_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
I believe this beautiful glider belongs to Brian
Laird
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<P>
The most interesting item that I saw that wasn't a plane or
flying object was the new Tracker II radio system being sold by
Polk Hobby. It requires no crystals to operate in either the
transmitter or the receiver. This would be a great advantage to
the slope pilot especially. It is a real bummer to arrive at
the slope and want to fly and find out that there are already
one or two guys on your frequency. In the past you had to just
wait you turn or if possible change your crystal in your
transmitter and receiver or the module in your transmitter and
the crystal in your receiver. This required you to have the
extra crystals in the first place and to dig out your receiver
from the plane to swap the crystal if you had one for a
frequency not being used. Finally, there was a serious question
of how well your system would work after the change and if it
was "illegal" and a violation of FCC laws. As I understand the
Tracker II scans the airwaves and won't turn on if it would be
in conflict with another frequency. It can search for a clear
frequency and lock onto it and putting the transmitter near the
receiver, the receiver will go to that frequency as well.
Supposedly fifty people with Tracker IIs on the 72 band could
show up at the slope and all fifty could fly at the same time.
the radio sounds like a slopers dream!
</P>
<P>
The systems other features include that it has eight channels
and about all the bells and whistles you will need along with a
99 model memory. (I could really use that feature and I once
thought I would never need more then the 10 I have with my Jr.
8103.) For more information on the Tracker II contact Polk
Hobby. If you are in a registered AMA club ask about the
special deal they have for one unit to a member in each AMA
club to demonstrate it to his fellow club members.
</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0" WIDTH="475">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="2" CELLPADDING="2" BORDER="0" ALIGN=
"center" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00074.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00074_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00075.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00075_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Clocks with Air Art
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
More Air Art Clocks
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00083.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00083_t.jpg" WIDTH="227"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00085.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00085_t.jpg" WIDTH="234"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
RC Direct
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Molded Opus glider at RC Direct
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC01002.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC01002_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC01003.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC01003_t.jpg" WIDTH="99"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Dave Darling at Hobby Club
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Superior Balsa and Hobby Supply
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC01005.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC01005_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00065.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00065_t.jpg" WIDTH="100"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Multi-Purpose Drill Bits display reminded me of
my youth at the Minnesota State Fair
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Wing Warrior booth
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00092.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00092_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00093.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00093_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Airtronics booth
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Bill Northrop's Plans Service
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC01004.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC01004_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00098.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00098_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Polk's new Tracker II System
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
My road trip co-warriors, Dick Andersen, Bob
Hoffman and Benard Simpier enjoying dinner.
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<BR>
<BR>
<P>
Wandering around the corner of the isle I found RC Direct,
which had a number of helicopters on display. In fact from the
items in the picture it appears their main interest is
helicopters and Fred Bronk told me they are very knowledgeable
and helpful. But while I saw the helicoptes that Fred was
drooling over I hardly noticed them. My eyes were drawn to the
beautiful red, white and blue molded Opus glider standing proud
in the upper right corner of their display and pictured above.
The plane was selling for $429.99 and has a V-tail, ailerons
and flaps and the wing tips have a great looking curve to
them...what's not to like? That's part of the beauty of a show
like this, Fred sees the helicopters and I see the molded
glider.
</P>
<P>
After almost four hours at the show it was time to head home
but it took us awhile to find the fourth member of our crew and
head for home. We might have left him but he had the car
keys. We had a little trouble finding a gas station in Pasadena
and then we did a three stooges routine trying to find the
Hobby People Store in Pasadena from memory. Although it turns
out we got within a few blocks of the store we abandoned our
search and headed north on the 210 freeway, this was slow but
we eventually joined with I-5, which was also slow. The real
troubles came when we went back down the Grape Vine and into
the central valley and back into the fog that was now much
thicker then we experienced in the morning. With speeds in the
40s and low 50s for over an hour we stopped in Button Willow
and ate at a Carl's Junoir (pictured above) and fairly quickly
got back on the road. The fog let up a bit but stayed with us
all the way home. Dick and I left Bob and Benard in Modesto and
Dick dropped me off in Stockton at 12:45 a.m. on Saturday. Our
19 1/2 hour road trip was over and it had been a lot of fun. At
the show they announced that they are moving the event next
year and that will make the drive even longer. I will have to
think hard before I go on a 22 hour road trip next January.
</P>
"#A0A0A0" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="5" ALIGN="center"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="100%" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
COLSPAN="2">
<BR>
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00025.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00025_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A><BR>
<BR>
Weston at Combat Wings booth
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<P>
Dick Andersen picked me up at 5:15 in the morning. It was cold,
wet and very foggy as we drove the 45 minutes from Stockton to
Modesto. There we met up with Bob Hoffman and transferred to
his car and we picked up Benard Simpier as we headed out of
town. It remained cold, wet and foggy most of the morning as we
cruised down I-5 on our way to the AMA show in Pasadena. The
fog got even thicker as we went further south but we continued
ever onward. Finally, as we started to climb the "Grape Vine"
stretch of I-5 (Takes you from the central valley over the hill
to LA area.) we came out of the cold fog and into the glorious
warmth and sunshine of Southern California. It actually felt
hot by the time we got to Pasadena. We had lunch a couple of
blocks from the Pasadena Civic Center where I paid $12.00 with
tax and tip for a cheeseburger patty, two tomato slices and a
glass of tap water. Nourished but poorer we arrived at the show
about 1:00 and found the underground parking garage was already
full so we parked at a lot a block away for $3.00.
</P>
<P>
The ride down had been enjoyable with discussion of
improvements to be made on our flying field and stories of
flying incidents in both the recent and long past. We were all
looking forward to seeing what was new and possibly finding a
bargain or two at the show. For information on electrics see my
companion article on the Ezone reviewing electrics and park
flyer items. Here I will try and cover gliders and booths with
construction materials. I also want to share a little about
Polk's new radio system, Tracker II, that requires no crystal.
There will be a little overlap but that's the nature of a
general show such as this. Vendors often have a variety of
items to sell.
</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00027.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00027_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00030.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00030_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
Alberto with molded Mustang at the Hobby Club
booth
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
Helmut Goestl at Dymond Modelsport
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<BR>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00032.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00032_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
More of Diamond Modelsport
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<P>
Alberto owner of Hobby Club had some nice looking gliders for
sale and a number of electrics including the very nice molded
Mustang he is holding in his picture. At last year's show I
bought a C Hawk from Alberto and it has molded wings and they
curve up at the tips somewhat like the wings in the old Hoby
Hawk did. It is a fun flier at slope or for thermal and he was
still selling those this year but I forgot to take a picture of
one. Assisting him at the show again this year was my friend,
Dave Darling, who is also a glider pilot but knows a lot about
all aspects of our hobby. Dave also has a C Hawk but this year
he went around the corner and bought a plane from Helmut
Goestl and his business Dymond Modelsport. This year Dave got
the very nice looking Sioux electric, which is a full
house glider that he may soon be flying around Modesto. Dymond
Modelsport had a number of other very nice gliders and electric
gliders on sale in various sizes and price ranges. I was most
tempted by the little red foam Me 163 electric speed 400 that
they were selling for under $30.00. This small electric is fast
and very colorful in the sky. I had one before and sold it, but
at this bargain price I was very tempted to get another, but I
resisted. In that same isle Merrill Brady had a booth for his
business, M & M glider Tech. He was selling a variety of planes
including the little Wedgie electric and the slope version. He
also makes and sells a foam Saber Jet for combat and a Mig to
oppose it and in a more traditional vein he has a nostalgia
class plane with rudder, elevator and spoiler for thermal
flying.
</P>
<P>
In related fields of interest, Jim Sophos who has a silkscreen
business had a number of nice aviation motif shirts with planes
and nose art on them. Being a fan of the Dr 1 I chose to take a
picture of that shirt. At another booth you could buy a clock
with a picture of any number of different types of planes on
them or once again you could buy a clock with nose art on it.
Some vendors were selling receivers and servos but the big
radio companies just had displays of their products and that
included Futaba, Airtronics and Hitec. Two of my friends got
free stuff from Hitec with one getting a T-shirt and the other
getting a hat. It will be interesting to see what they are
selling this summer when they add Multiplex products to their
line of goods.
</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="3" CELLPADDING="1" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00033.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00033_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD>
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00038.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00038_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top">
Another of Dymond Modelsport
</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
Merrill Brady of M & M Glider Tech
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD>
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00039.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00039_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD>
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00041.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00041_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top">
Jim Sophos of Sophos silkscreen and shirts
</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
Silkscreened Dr 1 on T-shirt
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD>
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00042.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00042_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD>
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00043.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00043_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top">
Display for Radio Controlled Models, Inc.
</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
The Composites store
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<BR>
<BR>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00046.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00046_t.jpg" WIDTH="100"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00049.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00049_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
Jeff at RC Trayman
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
Programing cutter at Flying foam
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<BR>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00050.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00050_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Flying Foam's banner
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<br>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BORDER="0" BGCOLOR=
"#666666">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00052.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00052_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00053.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00053_t.jpg" WIDTH="309"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
Carl Mass & Brian Laird at Inland Slope Rebels,
great planes!
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
B-29 PSS glider by Carl Mass and his dad
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<P>
</P>
<P>
If you are into slope flying there were a number of booths that
would interest you. Carl Mass and Brian Laird were present to
represent the Inland Slope Rebels and they had a variety of PSS
(power slope planes) on display. These are gliders that are
scale replicas of planes that in full size are powered planes.
Both of these gentlemen have well earned reputations as
excellent builders and are known by slope pilots nationally and
internationally, not just in their native Southern California.
This past year Carl and his dad finished a large B-29, which
was on static display at the show and the picture above gives
you a hint of the high quality construction. Although I didn't
ask Brian I suspect the beautiful forward swept fighter plane
shown lower in this article is one of his planes. It was on
display in the competition room and it is a beautiful PSS plane
who ever built it.<BR>
</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00056.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00056_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Aerospace Composite Products
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<P>
If purchasing a foam combat plane was what you came for you had
several to choose from at this years show. Although Trick was
displaying the slope and electric Zagi, on Friday they were
only selling the new Zagi Fixx. To bad, because Benard wanted
to buy three of the old Zagi design for himself and his friend
Arlie. Wing Warrior (pictured below) had some very nice flying
wings, as did Combat Wings (picture at start of article). If
you wanted a more traditional looking plane, Jack Cooper, at
Leading Edge Gliders (immediately below) had several nice
planes and lots of his kits for sale. As you can see in the
picture he beefs up the fuselage by installing carbon fiber
rods to give it greater strength. (Rumor has it he had a great
sale on Sunday.)
</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/LeadingEdge.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/LeadingEdge_t.jpg" WIDTH="200"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00061.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00061_t.jpg" WIDTH="99"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
Jack Cooper of Leading Edge Gliders
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
Carbon fiber in the fuselage at Leading Edge
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<BR>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00066.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00066_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Wing Warrior's
Booth
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<P>
There were a number of booths for the scratch builders out
there and as I arrived I saw people leaving with arms filled
with balsa wood from Superior Balsa and Hobby Supply. Flying
Foam was there displaying their foam cutter that is computer
controlled and if you needed composite material you could
choose from Aerospace Composite Products, The Composites Store
and several other booths that were selling carbon fiber as
well. Zap (pictured below) had a booth as did Bill Northrop
with his Plans Service. If you didn't want to hold your
transmitter you could buy a tray at RC Traymen and Jeff there
put on a good display. The vendor at Multi-Purpose Drill Bits
took me back to my youth when I heard pitch men at the
Minnesota State Fair. Cermark had a booth with a variety of
things, especially battery packs, but unfortunately not in the
size I wanted. Radio Controlled Models Inc. had a booth with a
number of displays for lighting mechanisms that were
interesting to look at but not really geared to my flying.
</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00070.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00070_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00078.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00078_t.jpg" WIDTH="266"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
Zap, what more is there to say?
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%">
The glider in the center is called a SIOUX and
this is at Dymond Modelsport
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<BR>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="10" CELLPADDING="4" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6"
BORDER="0">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00090.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00090_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
I believe this beautiful glider belongs to Brian
Laird
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<P>
The most interesting item that I saw that wasn't a plane or
flying object was the new Tracker II radio system being sold by
Polk Hobby. It requires no crystals to operate in either the
transmitter or the receiver. This would be a great advantage to
the slope pilot especially. It is a real bummer to arrive at
the slope and want to fly and find out that there are already
one or two guys on your frequency. In the past you had to just
wait you turn or if possible change your crystal in your
transmitter and receiver or the module in your transmitter and
the crystal in your receiver. This required you to have the
extra crystals in the first place and to dig out your receiver
from the plane to swap the crystal if you had one for a
frequency not being used. Finally, there was a serious question
of how well your system would work after the change and if it
was "illegal" and a violation of FCC laws. As I understand the
Tracker II scans the airwaves and won't turn on if it would be
in conflict with another frequency. It can search for a clear
frequency and lock onto it and putting the transmitter near the
receiver, the receiver will go to that frequency as well.
Supposedly fifty people with Tracker IIs on the 72 band could
show up at the slope and all fifty could fly at the same time.
the radio sounds like a slopers dream!
</P>
<P>
The systems other features include that it has eight channels
and about all the bells and whistles you will need along with a
99 model memory. (I could really use that feature and I once
thought I would never need more then the 10 I have with my Jr.
8103.) For more information on the Tracker II contact Polk
Hobby. If you are in a registered AMA club ask about the
special deal they have for one unit to a member in each AMA
club to demonstrate it to his fellow club members.
</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="1" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="center" BGCOLOR=
"#666666" BORDER="0" WIDTH="475">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="2" CELLPADDING="2" BORDER="0" ALIGN=
"center" BGCOLOR="#E6E6E6">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00074.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00074_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00075.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00075_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Clocks with Air Art
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
More Air Art Clocks
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00083.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00083_t.jpg" WIDTH="227"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00085.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00085_t.jpg" WIDTH="234"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
RC Direct
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Molded Opus glider at RC Direct
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC01002.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC01002_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC01003.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC01003_t.jpg" WIDTH="99"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Dave Darling at Hobby Club
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Superior Balsa and Hobby Supply
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC01005.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC01005_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00065.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00065_t.jpg" WIDTH="100"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Multi-Purpose Drill Bits display reminded me of
my youth at the Minnesota State Fair
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Wing Warrior booth
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00092.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00092_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00093.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00093_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Airtronics booth
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Bill Northrop's Plans Service
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC01004.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC01004_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
<A href="/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00098.jpg"><IMG HEIGHT="150" src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/liftzone/2003/apr/ama/DSC00098_t.jpg" WIDTH="226"></A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD ALIGN="center">
Polk's new Tracker II System
</TD>
<TD ALIGN="center">
My road trip co-warriors, Dick Andersen, Bob
Hoffman and Benard Simpier enjoying dinner.
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<BR>
<BR>
<P>
Wandering around the corner of the isle I found RC Direct,
which had a number of helicopters on display. In fact from the
items in the picture it appears their main interest is
helicopters and Fred Bronk told me they are very knowledgeable
and helpful. But while I saw the helicoptes that Fred was
drooling over I hardly noticed them. My eyes were drawn to the
beautiful red, white and blue molded Opus glider standing proud
in the upper right corner of their display and pictured above.
The plane was selling for $429.99 and has a V-tail, ailerons
and flaps and the wing tips have a great looking curve to
them...what's not to like? That's part of the beauty of a show
like this, Fred sees the helicopters and I see the molded
glider.
</P>
<P>
After almost four hours at the show it was time to head home
but it took us awhile to find the fourth member of our crew and
head for home. We might have left him but he had the car
keys. We had a little trouble finding a gas station in Pasadena
and then we did a three stooges routine trying to find the
Hobby People Store in Pasadena from memory. Although it turns
out we got within a few blocks of the store we abandoned our
search and headed north on the 210 freeway, this was slow but
we eventually joined with I-5, which was also slow. The real
troubles came when we went back down the Grape Vine and into
the central valley and back into the fog that was now much
thicker then we experienced in the morning. With speeds in the
40s and low 50s for over an hour we stopped in Button Willow
and ate at a Carl's Junoir (pictured above) and fairly quickly
got back on the road. The fog let up a bit but stayed with us
all the way home. Dick and I left Bob and Benard in Modesto and
Dick dropped me off in Stockton at 12:45 a.m. on Saturday. Our
19 1/2 hour road trip was over and it had been a lot of fun. At
the show they announced that they are moving the event next
year and that will make the drive even longer. I will have to
think hard before I go on a 22 hour road trip next January.
</P>