Fyling Field Discussion

[atjurhs]

Well folks, some bad news. I just drove by the NG field and the big earth moving machines were busily at work. I think the days (if not hours) of our favored flying field are comming to a quick end :(

From the NG field, I drove West on Explorer and also checked out Jan Davis Rd. (the road that parallels Voyage Dr. on the West). There were plenty of mowed cotton fields, that are easily flyable, but would play havoc on a nice covering job should one need to land in it on both Explorer and Jan Davis.

Over just North of the COLSA Bldg. there is a nice mowed grass field that we could access from COLSA and/or Boeing.

There is of course the Quality Dr. field that could get us through the Winter/Spring till the cotton starts growing again.

There is the Discovery Field just West of the CAS Bldg. It is smaller but has a very wide open lake that you could fly over (got floats) :p

And there is another field Just North of 565 accessed by Wynn Drive by the old SMDC Bldg.

Finally in my initial list, there is also the North end of the NG field, but it is surrounded by trees, got a chain saw :confused:

Drive around. Check 'em out. Let's chat about it.

[dee-grose]

I think we should all just quit "fyling" anyway... :)

[ghee-grose]

Those sound like some good sites... but I will keep my eyes peeled. :rolleyes:

[ghee-grose]

HE he, I didn't even realize that! :D

[Mars Flyer]

I've got another one for consideration, Explorer drive just east of Jan Davis. See the picture. I flew my Firebird Commander there a couple of years ago. There is a little grass between the road and the cotton patch. There is a driveway stub like we used at Moquin Drive.

I've also marked the Northrup Grumman North end of the field. There are trees but a short walk gets clear of those. I haven't tried to fly there but plan to. I guess we'll just have to try these and see how we like them. Both have limited parking compared to the NG gravel patch.

Rob

[GLIDERGIDER]

I've got another one for consideration, Explorer drive just east of Jan Davis. See the picture. There is a little grass between the road and the cotton patch. There is a driveway stub like we used at Moquin Drive.

I've also marked the Northrup Grumman North end of the field. There are trees but a short walk gets clear of those. I haven't tried to fly there but plan to. I guess we'll just have to try these and see how we like them. Both have limited parking compared to the NG gravel patch.

Rob

Rob, Thanks for doing the recon mission. All those spots look flyable.

[Miderror]

I've got another one for consideration, Explorer drive just east of Jan Davis. See the picture. I flew my Firebird Commander there a couple of years ago. There is a little grass between the road and the cotton patch. There is a driveway stub like we used at Moquin Drive.

I've also marked the Northrup Grumman North end of the field. There are trees but a short walk gets clear of those. I haven't tried to fly there but plan to. I guess we'll just have to try these and see how we like them. Both have limited parking compared to the NG gravel patch.

Rob

The Explorer site is where I use to flight before I started flying with the group. Like this spot very much.

[atjurhs]

Well I drove by the NG field this morning, and it is history. It's all dug up and the big construction equipment are busily at work.

So I drove over to the North end of the NG field and drove out onto the field as well, and as Rob mentioned there are trees. Big trees line the perimeter, but small saplings are over a good portion of the rest of the field. I stopped my truck in the most open area and noticed that the morning sun is right in our eyes when looking twoards where we would fly. Of course the direction twoards the water would not place the morning sun in our eyes. So I really think the NG field is, at least for morning flying.

I did not go by where Rob and Don mentioned, but I can't imagine that the geometry of that site (very close proximity to where I parked my truck) would yield any different results relative to the morning sun issue. Perhaps Rob or Don can tell us different.

I'm thinking that our best option is the field sandwiched between the COLSA bldg. and the Boeing Bldg. just off of West of Explorer and North of Odyssey.

[nuevo]

Several months ago, Andy pointed out a field on the north side of Adtran on Discovery Dr. I thought it would be too small for big gliders, but just right for this group.

[nuevo]

Guys, what about these sites? I used to work at Time Domain, and the three dots on the right have parking lot access. I doubt the right field gets mowed, or is cotton now?

[atjurhs]

Jon and others,

I had checked out the Time Domain field earlier in the year and thought that it would be a possibility.

BUT the "North Discovery" site looks like a winner! Frank had also suggested it as a possibility. I'll drive by there later today, and would ask that others do the same so that each of us can give their input as to this possible site. It does appear to have several advantages over other fields; namely, the access road and the unlikelihood that construction will occur on it as it already has a power station. Hopefully there won't be any EMI issues related to flying there - Rob?

[dee-grose]

One advantage of that field off of Discovery is that there is a small slope on the west side up against the cotton fields. Would probably work with some good east winds.

A side note about Moquin Drive. I've been told by some co-workers here that used to cut thru the high school parking lot that cutting-thru has been put to a stop by posting some signs. That should cut down on the after-work non-school traffic. MDA might still work!

Andy

[nuevo]

Moquin. They are errecting gates to the school access on Farrow Rd side of the school. I have no idea when they will be open/closed.

[dleviner]

I like that "North Discovery" site. Drove by there this am and it seems open enough for most flying.

[dleviner]

Can somebody update the "Essentials" thread with the latest flying field and sloping location maps.

Come on slave boys... Oh, I mean "moderators". Get to work.

:)

[dee-grose]

Another thing about the Discovery Field site...the north end is a big electrical substation. A couple of things come to mind about that: possible interference and chances of a plane crashing into the substation. The latter would definitely be bad news!

[atjurhs]

Andy, the "E" in EMI stands for electric, and the "I" in EMI stands for interference.

[dee-grose]

More accurately, the "E" stands for "electro-" as in electromagnetic interference. :)

But seeing how most of us in this group are engineers, we probably already knew that, right? :rolleyes:

[dee-grose]

I'm sure Rob and others can chime in here, but are EMI and RFI the same thing here?

[nuevo]

If you lose control of your plane, you won't care which. :D

There will be a lot of "energy" over the substation, but I doubt it will be in our frequency band. Now, who volunteered for the first test-flight? ;)

[SYAWLA INVERTED]

I have flown my heli and striker there on more than one occation, there was not any interference to really speak of. My striker seems to glitch no mater where I fly it so I can not blame the sub station on that. On the same note, a few of us just got back from the Moquin site, and we were all getting interference. Some even "blamed" there agressive landings on it. Between the interference and the cotton sticks (a.k.a barb-wire-patch) think were taking it off the good flying sites list.

[SYAWLA INVERTED]

The last street on the right Old Madison Pike, not sure of the address is probably a better place to fly, as far as landing is concerned (lower left of attached picture)

[SYAWLA INVERTED]

Opps, last file was too large, here is the compressed

[dleviner]

You know, come to think of it. There was an area of the cotton field I could always fly over and get glitching. Didn't matter if I was using an FMA Rx or a Berg or a Hitec.

David

[atjurhs]

Yes. RFI is actually a subset of EMI, but in our particular case they are the same thing. RFI stands for Radio Frequency Interference. There is another whole category of EMI that deals with electromagnetic interference between componets of equipment, like between your motor and your ESC and your Rx. There's also another category of EMI called EMC that is highly related, but yet slightly different. None of these is of course what we are concerned about with the substation. It is the RFI that is primarily of concern to us. If someone in the group has a frequency spectrum analyzer and can measure the RF output in both Frequency and field strength, then I have the computational tool set that the govt. use to compute EMI between multiple sources. I'd love to do the analysis.

[Mars Flyer]

Guys,

I don't know for sure if the substation would cause glitches but doubt it. The AC does its thing at 60 Hz and our stuff works at 72 MHz, about 6 orders of magnitude above the power system fundamental. I wouldn't get too close to the high voltage wires for other compelling reasons. I suppose there could be some glitching induced in the wiring between the receiver and servo or ESC since those pulses are at a much lower frequency and the wires are unshielded. Except that those cheap little GWS Pico servos have twisted wires which are better self-shielding than those flat cables guys like Hitec use.

As to nomenclature - my buds who do EMI/EMC for spaceships like to be called Electromagnetic Environmental Effects guys. I've never understood the distinction but I believe EMC is good (compatibility) and EMI (interference) is bad. They measure the emissions from a widget across a large frequency range and the susceptibility of its neighbor to make sure the two are compatible. They do this for radiated emissions as well as conducted (through the wire) emissions. When there is enough dB of difference between emissions and susceptibility you are ready to launch. There are all kinds of specifications and fancy measurement equipment but it is still a black art.

I've noticed glitches in certain areas of the Moquin field as well but can't figure what could be out there causing the problem. I couldn't hear anything on my little general coverage receiver. Don has a nice one of those as well. I attributed the glitches to multipath reflections off my car which I was either standing beside or leaning against. The location of the glitch area seemed to depend on where I was standing. I never saw such glitches with decent dual conversion receivers which should have been susceptible to multipath as well so that may not be it.

I have eyed that Discovery North site as well. Parking looks to be a problem there and there is no ROG area but hand launches and grass belly landings should work. I have also thought about the fields south of Time Domain. As long as the tenants wouldn't be disturbed I think we might want to give that a shot sometime.

Rob

[GLIDERGIDER]

Guys,

I don't know for sure if the substation would cause glitches but doubt it. The AC does its thing at 60 Hz and our stuff works at 72 MHz, about 6 orders of magnitude above the power system fundamental. I wouldn't get too close to the high voltage wires for other compelling reasons.
<snip>
Rob

My limited experience with power wires deals mainly with slope flying. There is a mountian in SE Huntsville that is flyable in a SW wind. Its a long hike, but I've done it. I guess you might know where this is leading. Yes the slope is actually a High Tension power line cut over the mountain. A beautiful rock face that falls 75 feet straight down, but now I'm drifting from my story. The remaining mountion continues to fall 600 ft more. Anyway, I've flown there and I've spun and swirled all around those giant towers and wires. I never saw a single glitch, and I was running a single conversion Rx. Incidently, I fly slope exclusively on single conversion rx.
I'm just that cheap.
Hope this helps. Where is this power station, I'm going to fly it.

Oh yes one more story. Also in SE Huntsville is a field where I formally flew my electric zagi. They built a Publics on it. I think Andy has flown there. That field is bordered by a electrical power substation. Andy, you can jump in here and confirm that. I've flown above and around that station many times, and never a glitch.

Now I have been glitched flying on the north end of NG. Go figure.


I have also thought about the fields south of Time Domain. As long as the tenants wouldn't be disturbed I think we might want to give that a shot sometime.

I have flown the fields south east of Time Domain. There is some parking. It would work.
Dave
PS to Mars Flyer, You have 190 posts and I have 191. How about that?

[dee-grose]

Dave, the only field I've flown in SE Huntsville is just south of the new Whitesburg Baptist complex. It's been about a year and a half ago, so I'm not sure if there's a Publix there now or not.

[Tram]

Wow.. some of you guys are even bigger dorks than I am.. :D

[ghee-grose]

Trust me... I'm no dork... I didn't understand much of that rambling! :D

[GLIDERGIDER]

Wow.. some of you guys are even bigger dorks than I am.. :D
I prefer geeks.

Dave, the only field I've flown in SE Huntsville is just south of the new Whitesburg Baptist complex. It's been about a year and a half ago, so I'm not sure if there's a Publix there now or not.
If it wasn't you, who was it. When the NASF was looking for a field last spring and summer, a comment was made about the field at the corner of BailyCove and MtGap Rd. Oh well, there is a power substation there, and its never affected my flying.
Dave

[atjurhs]

Guys,

This morning after the rain went away, I took my MiniWing out to the Discovery Field site for a lap or two or threee.

I did get glitched several times during my 3 flights, but I also got glitched when I flew the plane last Wednesday morning. So I can't really say that the glitching was due to the power station on the field. We should do a bit more of EEE (to quote Rob) investigating on this field

Other than that, I can say that the field is GREAT! I really liked it a lot. There is plenty of open sky and you can easily stay away from the power station. Even when cotton season comes back there is still plenty of open sky.

The only other potential problem that I saw would be parking. There is only one gravel road in and I'm sure certain flyers would like to use this for touch-n-go's. But I think this too can be easily managed.

[Jim_Marconnet]

Guys,
.... I can say that the field is GREAT! I really liked it a lot. There is plenty of open sky and you can easily stay away from the power station. Even when cotton season comes back there is still plenty of open sky.

The only other potential problem that I saw would be parking. There is only one gravel road in and I'm sure certain flyers would like to use this for touch-n-go's. But I think this too can be easily managed.

I drove by that site on my way back home from R/C Hobbies. From another post here, guess I need to start price-comparing between there and HobbyTownUSA. On small items I'd just buy closer to home anyway.

Can you believe that both Pat and I have won a door prize already! Guess I'll HAVE to go back tomorrow to get the second prize and look around some more. But my Christmas $$ is tapped out and I will have to wait a while for that Spektrum DX6 radio I had intended to buy real soon now, when it came in. I'm sure someone else will be glad to be the first-adopter in the neighborhood.

Meanwhile back in the real world -- About the North Discovery site -- looks great to me. Just pull into the gravel road to the substation, probably park just off the road to the right (east). That leaves that whole beautiful field and the sky above it available for flying! And the road for touch and goes if you wish.

I saw the little slopes along the west side. They are a looooooong walk from the gravel road. And I don't know enough about sloping to know if they are tall enough to do much lift. But certainly worth checking out when the wind is right. How do you test for slope lift, anyway?

Anyway hope we can do some more reconoitering and test-flying there and perhaps some radio surveying and share what we learn.

Anyone have a better name for this site than the North Discovery Site?
Let's see, "Electric Park?", "Discovery Power & Light".

[UAGrad2001]

Well Jason and I opted to skip lunch and fly instead. I know, I know. But we couldn't help it. We flew over at the North Discovery site. I think this will be my new field for now (at least until someone decides to erect another building). None the less, I really like the field. Dave, Jim, and Tom stopped by after lunch for a few minutes as well (I think I got everyone's name right, correct me if I'm wrong). I'm hoping Thursday will turn out to be another good day to fly. We'll see.

[GLIDERGIDER]

I'm hoping Thursday will turn out to be another good day to fly. We'll see.
Thursday at noon, theres a 50% chance of precips. Snow type of precips.
dave c

[Tram]

If several of you guys get together and I am out from under the weather, I may try and ride out to HSV...

[ChromeDome]

Well Jason and I opted to skip lunch and fly instead. I know, I know. But we couldn't help it. We flew over at the North Discovery site. I think this will be my new field for now (at least until someone decides to erect another building). None the less, I really like the field. Dave, Jim, and Tom stopped by after lunch for a few minutes as well (I think I got everyone's name right, correct me if I'm wrong). I'm hoping Thursday will turn out to be another good day to fly. We'll see.

These are pics of Dave's wing over north Discovery field. It was a fine afternon and flying area.

[atjurhs]

Was there any "glitchin" going on?

[GLIDERGIDER]

Was there any "glitchin" going on?

Nope, none of either, except, for my desire to walk out to the large manmade slope across the field and do some slope soaring. {twitch}

[dleviner]

Dave, you know you guys are supposed to call us here at Adtran if your gonna fly that close.

:)

Let's see...
Andy Grose
Chris Blaylock
David Ewing
David Leviner
Fred Thomas
Joe McFarland
Mike Thompson

is that all???

[dee-grose]

So, Dave, whatcha think the possibilities are for that slope? Big enough for some ENE winds?

[Ultralight]

Dave, you know you guys are supposed to call us here at Adtran if your gonna fly that close.

:)

Let's see...
Andy Grose
Chris Blaylock
David Ewing
David Leviner
Fred Thomas
Joe McFarland
Mike Thompson

is that all???


Me too...Jason Talley

[SYAWLA INVERTED]

I may try to maiden my electrojet today at lunch. It was only $30 at Ricks and it came with motor, gear box, speed controller, servo mixer. It seems a little under powered but that sould be easy enought to fix with a different motor, and or battery.
Either way, its a cool looking plane. Here is the review.

http://h1072147.hobbyshopnow.com/Products/Article.asp?file=1208-ART.xml

[atjurhs]

David,

What's your list for? I'd want to know before you add me to it?

[dleviner]

Mike, what time???

[SYAWLA INVERTED]

Around 11:30 or 11:45

[dleviner]

i'm there -- although I didn't bring a plane today.

[SYAWLA INVERTED]

Well note to self, always check servo direction after build and before first lauch. It flew great for about 40 or 50 inches and then I pulled back on elevator and zipp... bang...crunch. Yep, had them reversed. The plane is going to be renamed from electojet to buzzard nose. Little tape, and few laughs later I got the servos reversed (in the radio) and flew a couple of laps. Between the battery and weight of the motor, it just didn't have enough. I will be replacing the motor soon. I'll see what is around the house. The speed controller is 16 amps so I should be able to zipp around pretty good soon. I will post pics soon. I also broke out the striker and got some shots with it and Freds new Huey Helecopter. Man he is a quick learner. From the Freedom to Helecopters in one week. :)

[SYAWLA INVERTED]

I left out the pictures of Jasons walk of shame after his wing decided the load was just too much.

[ghee-grose]

Dang, that huey looks scale! It would have looked nice flying along side the real huey I saw flying over that area around lunch time. :p

[UAGrad2001]

ghee, I think you were mistaken. That was Fred's new Huey. His attention to detail is amazing as he is building his aircraft.

[GLIDERGIDER]

Dave, you know you guys are supposed to call us here at Adtran if your gonna fly that close. Let's see...
Andy Grose,Chris Blaylock,David Ewing,David Leviner,Fred Thomas,Joe ,cFarland,Mike Thompson, Todd, UHGrad2001
is that all???

I was just leaving our Adtran lunch, and Gee told me to drive by the slope, I saw chromedome, UHgrad2001 and Jason were flying their electrics. I just stopped to say hey, and the call to fly was to strong.
Dave Cousins

[Ultralight]

I left out the pictures of Jasons walk of shame after his wing decided the load was just too much.

Lesson learned: Too steep a dive/Too fast=Folded wing :)

[Jim_Marconnet]

Dave, you know you guys are supposed to call us here at Adtran if your gonna fly that close.

:)

Let's see...
Andy Grose
Chris Blaylock
David Ewing
David Leviner
Fred Thomas
Joe McFarland
Mike Thompson
Jason....

We may need to set up a "flash lunch time flight at Discovery Drive North" alert email list or something similar. We'd quickly clobber this discussion list with such alerts and the resultant multiple "I'll be there"s.

[ghee-grose]

that's what the monthly thread is for!