Images From CVRC Fall Fest/Visalia CA

[webguyjv]

I just got back from my weekend in Visalia, and I'm here to tell you that even though I didn't fly at the contest (I don't have open class or TD planes), I had a GREAT time.

The ensuing posts present a summary of the photos that I took throughout the day.

Happy Flying ;-)

Webguyjv

[webguyjv]

More to come...

[webguyjv]

more to come...

[webguyjv]

more to come...

[webguyjv]

more to come...

[webguyjv]

more to come...

[evan_s]

here's one of mine from this morning

[webguyjv]

more to come...

[webguyjv]

more to come...

[webguyjv]

more to come...

[webguyjv]

more to come...

[webguyjv]

CVRC has a very nice flying site.

More to come...

[Kirkgh]

Well John, you ready to switch to TD? :D

[webguyjv]

more to come...

[webguyjv]

More to come...

[webguyjv]

The more serious of the day's events. Note the intense concentration on the pilots' faces.

More to come...

[webguyjv]

And they're off.

More to come...

[webguyjv]

more to come...

[webguyjv]

Along with some other forms of excitement. Look directly below the CVRC club logo (on the top of the impound shelter), and you may see a puff of blue smoke. I think that smoke was courtesy of a flyer that had a DAW Me-163 Komet with a rocket motor. He flew it several times before the sun set. Amazing little plane. Very cool.

More to come...

[webguyjv]

More to come...

[webguyjv]

So now the sun has set -- what's next, right?...

Well, several piltos brought out electric planes that had electroluminescent units wired on (Indiglo), some had cyalume lightsticks taped on. Bystanders used flashlights to illuminate the planes flying by. Some bottle rockets were fired at these planes, which deftly managed to avoid the AA fire :D

One of the vendors brought out a cooler full of beer and announced to the crowd "free beer".

We were all socializing in different areas, just enjoying the calm weather, and the lovely manicured lawn campsites provided for free to all.

Mehrdad told me that once I finished my beer that I had brought to the event, we should go visit a SoCal flyer at his campsite. I wish I wrote down his name - this guy was SO nice. He had a big pickup pulling a very nice camp trialer. Sitting next to the trailer was a 55-gallon drum with a pedestal atop, with five beer taps mounted to it. This gentleman has his own personal micro brewery at his home, and each year he brings his delicious beverages to the Visalia Fall Fest to share with others.

For me, visiting his campsite and sampling the seven (7) different beers he brews was the high point of the social time at Fall Fest. I even got to chat with Joe WUrts for a few minutes -- great guy.

One of the flyers brought Joe a newly bult depron 3-D plane and asked Joe to maiden it. Joe had a suspicoulsy short flight followed by an uneventful landing. He handed the TX back to the owner and said something like "you set me up - that battery pack was almost dead".

I met so many nice people while just hanging out at that campsite.

[webguyjv]

So this is the first Fall Fest I have attended, and I heard about it a few years ago and always wanted to come and check it out. I'm glad I did.

The CVRC club is a great bunch of guys and gals. They really throw a ncie event. Here are some if the things I really liked...
- Club members working hard to do all of the jobs requred to run the event
- Excellent announcers
- Beautiful flying site with all the amenities you could ask for
- Gorgeous free camping area
- Plenty of bathrooms
- Catering available the whole day
- Great social activities afterwards

Kirk asked me (in this thread) when I'm gonna get into TD. As much as I'd like to, as I was wadering around looking at the new and used planes for sale, I know that I cannot make any more plane purchases this year. It's gonna take awhile for me to get ready for $500 - $1000 just to get an open class plane, but I know that that will be something on my "Santa's List" for the years to come. Luckily I now have about 5 EPP slopers, a Hobie Hawk and an e-glider, so I can at least fly for a while, getting stick time, and then one day I'll get that plane. Maybe next year I'll fly in Fall Fest.

[webguyjv]

So I was a spectator during Fall Fest, but I left Visalia this morning with one destination in mind -- Los Banos Creek Reservoir.

As I drove up to the site where the SBSS has their aerotow event, Howard was waiting for me there. He had just returned from the Fall Fest, and like me, he didn't have any TD planes to fly.

We drove to the west face and parked under those small pine trees (easy to spot as they are about the only trees at the rim of the crater), and set up.

Howard flew his Shredair 2M glass e-glider while I flew the Hobie Hawk and VX-400 e-glider.

The lift was pretty nominal, but the Hobie Hawk flew like a champ. Howard's e-glider was amazing - it climbs out like a rocket.

When I flew the VX-400, it was really doing well, and I flew out the first pack. After loading the second pack, I launched it and noticed that the motor sounded unusually loud. I throttled it back and glided for a few minutes, specking out in some nice thermals. When I again powered up, the motor sounded really loud and had no thrust. It was sinking fast.

Untimately I flew al the way down to the valley on the bank of the lake and made a smooth landing way down there. I was amazed that I was completely unable to work my way back up in the lift -- I think the Hobie Hawk could have done it. The walk of shame was especially great excercise for me. When I reached the plane I found that one of the prop blades had come off -- OUCH! No other damage to the plane.

WHAT A HIKE back to the top! Sheesh!

I managed to fly the Moth and the Gulp for a few minutes. It was getting late (around 4:30PM) and I still had about 90 minutes of drive ahead of me. The slope lift was getting better, so I flew both slopers for 5 minutes or so.

Howard and I packed up and drove off. This was a fun afternoon of flying.

All in all, and excellent weekend.

Happy Flying ;-)

Webguyjv

[torcgolf]

hi john! thanks for the pics. even though i wasnt there... man, do i have a mental picture of what the fall fest is all about! hey i bet you can histart that hobie hawk!

[ClayH]

Lot's of guys were practicing with their DLGs on Friday before the contest. I guess Joe decided not to put a wing peg in his Icon. ;) Actually he was seeing how many times he could break the line on the bungee. This was after doing a half dozen hand launches of his Icon to practice spot landings like the one in the next pick. Man these guys are good!

[ClayH]

On the money! Think these two guys make a decent team(Perkins/Wurts)?

[ClayH]

Although most wouldn't be that excited after finishing behind half the field in a contest, this was Visalia, and he was smiling because he won the Middle of the Pack flyoff and and the new JR 9303 radio system for doing so! I don't know your name, but I know that one less missed landing would have put me in that flyoff. Practice,practice, practice!

[hbielich]

Just so everyone knows... John (webguyjv) also retrieved my Hoot after it took a dive in one of the gullies half way down the slope. So he got more of a workout than he talks about. Thanks for the help John! It was a great weekend of observing at the Fall Fest and then flying at Los Banos.

[webguyjv]

Clay - those photos are excellent. That Joe Wurts is definitely a skilled pilot. I was delighted to finally get to see him fly in person, after hearing al lof those contest stories (he seems to place pretty highly in lots of glider events - lucky like that I guess). Your camera does nice work, Clay.

Howard, if you feel like a drive tomorrow, Jeff Charlot is in from Alaska (on a business trip), so I'm taking him up to Coyote Hills after work. Anybody else wanna go sloping tomorrow afternoon (~5:00PM), we'd love to see you there.

Howard, I hope to see you soon at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds. I wanna learn to winch launch. I wonder if my Hobie Hawk can handle a winch launch? Hmmm...

Happy Flying ;-)

Webguyjv

[evan_s]

(photo by Bruce Allport)

[planekrazy]

John, thanks for the great pics and report of the event. It was great hanging out with you. And what do you mean "maybe" you'll fly at Visalia Fall Fest next year? It was Craig and Richard that had the high-octane homebrew ;)
Becareful, going to Visalia last year resulted in me getting into thermal soaring and having to go this year. I already know I will be there again next year, and really hope to see you and other bay area folks there flying.
Paul, Kasra and I stopped by the Los Banos on our way back home Sunday. We got there a little before 6PM and were able to fly for about an hour. There was very light wind but good thermals all over the place. Kasra flew his XP-4, Paul flew his Space Pro and I flew the Tragi 701 -- too bad we didn't get to meet up there as well.

Clay, those are nice pics and it was great meeting you :)

Btw, John if you wouldn't mind getting a well used full-house TD ship, talk to Clay about the sweetheart deal on the used Psyko.

Regards,
Mehrdad

[hbielich]

John, I wish I could go, but I don't get off work until 6:30 - 7:00 pm so by the time I got there it would be dark! Weekends or holidays are the only time I can fly. Hope to see you at the Fairgrounds. Does your Hobbie Hawk have a tow-hook?

[SoCalGliderFlyr]

Evan, What plane is that?

[ClayH]

Mehrdad,

Sold that Psycho before I could get it put together to display on Sat. morning.
Sold my Graphite after my last flight of the contest. Together they almost covered 75% of the new NYX :D. Hope to see you guys in Phoenix in Feb. Can't possibly wait a whole year to get togther again!

Clay

[Thomas Wang]

Although most wouldn't be that excited after finishing behind half the field in a contest, this was Visalia, and he was smiling because he won the Middle of the Pack flyoff and and the new JR 9303 radio system for doing so! I don't know your name, but I know that one less missed landing would have put me in that flyoff. Practice,practice, practice!


:rolleyes: It looks nice, anyone know it's name and manufacture? :rolleyes:

[evan_s]

SoCalGliderFlyr:
It's a Paragon.
Evan

[capt soap]

It's no paragon!!! Thats a dodson Saber! I use to have one. It's a full house ship 7037 airfoil. Dodson is out of business. Maybe you can find a kit somewhere. Great plane---glider. Lee P.s. it say's saber on the wing also.

[evan_s]

No, I was answering SoCalGliderFlyr's question (above) about my plane - the Paragon.

[SoCalGliderFlyr]

It's no paragon!!! Thats a dodson Saber! I use to have one. It's a full house ship 7037 airfoil. Dodson is out of business. Maybe you can find a kit somewhere. Great plane---glider. Lee P.s. it say's saber on the wing also.


Sorry for confusing things. When was the Saber last produced? What makes it a good full house? Foam wings or build up? What happened to yours?

[planekrazy]

Clay, I'm not surprised someone snatched up that Psyko :p
Btw, congrats on your shiny new red/black Nyx, it is beautiful. I look forward to hanging out SWC :)

Mehrdad

[D_Ryan]

Somewhat difficult to recall exact production run, but I believe that the Sabers were produced by Dodgson Designs from the late 80's to the early 90's. It was one of the first commercially available sailplanes with the SD-7037 airfoil if I remember right, 120" span. Construction was obechi over white foam cores for the wings, balsa, spruce and carbon in the spar. Fuselages were a composite of fiberglass and a balsa turtle deck I think. Like most all Dodgson kits, they were "builder's kits", but the finished product was very rewarding.

Dodgson later went on to offer a re-kitted Windsong/Lovesong with the SD-7037 airfoil, calling it the Anthem (132" span).

He ceased production in the early-mid 90's if memory serves, went back to work at Boeing. A gentleman names Shawn Lenci (sp?) acquired the rights to most all his designs I think.

All this retrospective has me itching to get back in the workshop and resume construction on a Lovesong which has layed dormant for years.

r/
Dave

[SoCalGliderFlyr]

Do it Dave! Think Thermals!

[D_Ryan]

I'm already flying in them... When I retired from the Air Force and relocated back to America, the Lovesong project was shelved. Didn't have a workshop, so purchased a used Sapphire clone RTF and another radio (Airtronics Infinity 1000, my Vision was in storage).

After the Sapphire then a DJ Aerotech Spectre 120 (irreparably damaged on tow) followed by a NE Sail Psyko. The last is still my current ship, and is flown in monthly club contests as well as occasional weekends.

The Lovesong will just be another addition to the hanger...

[DLD]

Thanks for bringing back some memories. I used to go to Visalia.

Thanks,

David Layne
(used to be) David Layne Designs

[DLD]

:rolleyes: It looks nice, anyone know it's name and manufacture? :rolleyes:


Who put the photo of Shawn Lenci on? I used to fly with him and his father in Modesto, Ca. If I'm not mistaken, they've had that Saber forever. They had a personal friendship with Bob Dodgsen of dodgsen Designs, and flew his designs mostly.

David Layne

[DLD]

DRYAN,

The photo of the Saber is Shawn Lenci. I don't know if he has rights to Dodgsens stuff or not, but they are friends, so it's certainly possible. Shawn and his dad, Ron, have flown Dodgsen planes for many years. I used to fly with them when I lived in Modesto. Shawn is a very accomplished contest pilot.

David Layne

[webguyjv]

Darn! I wish I knew that before I drove down to Visalia. I would have brought my Dodgson Camano kit with me.

I exchanged e-mail with Shawn about a year ago, seeing if he were interested in puchasing this kit.

What a small world. Please say "hi" to Shawn for me if you see him.

Happy Flying ;-)

Webguyjv

[Thomas Wang]

:) I like these model so want to get them! Anyone would like to sell them?

Thks, :)

Thomas

[DLD]

I just found out from a mutual friend that Shawn Lenci did indeed get Bob Dodgson's designs a while back. I'm not sure if he plans to produce anything or not. If I find out, I'll post it here.

David Layne

[hbielich]

David - If you are interested, you might want to come to the Saturday morning DVSS sailplane area at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds say about 10:00 - 12:00. No gas or electric allowed, just non-powered sailplanes. Anything from HLG to ~3.2 meter. As long as there isn't some big event at the Fairgrounds going on...

[hbielich]

John - You should come on out too!

[DLD]

I didn't know the DVSS still flew at the fairgrounds. A couple of years ago, when I lived in Pleasanton, I came out and flew with you guys. Don't know if I can make it Saturday, but it's good to know you're still there. Maybe sometime soon I can get out and fly with you. This has always been my favorite time of year to fly.

Does Bob McGowan still fly with you guys sometimes?

David Layne

[hbielich]

Yes... with his kids too. They are all very skilled flyers. All the people out there are great.
Sorry I missed this weekend at Fairgrounds (visiting daughter - freshman at Chico State).

[ClayH]

I thought it might be an Eraser Xtreme, but does anyone know for sure?

Clay

[cody303]

I am almost sure it was an eraser xtreme it won both the junior and senior for Visalia.

Cody

[Goinav8n]

We know how all the old guys did how about the Juniors. Im sure there were some of them there

Jeff

[cody303]

I was first, Casey Adamczyk was second, Manny Gomez
was third.


cody remington

[capt soap]

Went to the wet TNT , and found a lot of great looking sailplanes,,,Yal were talking about a saber,,,, this saber has the best Paint job if seen. Its that kind of paint that changes with the angle you look at it. Lee :) Darn pic's are to Big 300mg's limit is 100,,,still dont know how to reduce. RATS :(

[Goinav8n]

Congrats Cody I wasnt sure that was you or not but Im glad to hear your doing so well.

I was one of Jim Monacos team members that helpedyou at the F3J last year. Say Hi to your Dad

Jeff Carr

[cody303]

jeff thanks for all the help last year. i hope to see you at the next team selections hopfully they will be in colorado again.

cody