sleep4
Oct 21, 2007, 05:45 PM
Yesterday we had our last soaring contest of the season in Huntsville, AL. It was a great day with great weather and great soaring friends. One memory I will always chuckle about happened as I was at the car taking my planes apart for the trip home. An older gentleman appeared from the campground next to our field and walked over to talk. He said he and his family had been watching the planes soar around all afternoon. I explained that they were RC sailplanes with no motor and that we soared around after launching looking for themals similar to Buzzards and Hawks. About this time Jon Stone was preparing to winch launch his Icon and I told the man to watch Jon as he launched. Now we were a bit away from the launch area, but the man focused on Jon as he went into his prethrow crouch. Then came the usual massive heave-ho and the Icon shot into the air like a rocket. The gentleman stood speechless for a second then turned to me with eyes big as saucers, and said, "Man, did you see how far he just threw that glider?" It was all I could do to keep my composure. Then after an explanation that we were using a winch, and that there was a line attachment to the sailplane, and the footpedal etc. he decided to walk over to the launch area to get a better look before returning to the camping area.
Great memories.
Great memories.