So, the FMP was an idea I came up with a few weeks ago. One plane, 5 pilots. Each pilot gets one control on the plane. So, I designed and built this 52" span airplane from EPP, powered it by a Eflite Power 25, Castle Phoenix 80, and put in a Castle BEC Pro to power the 5 recievers necessary to make this happen.

With Crash Hancock on throttle, Bill Sorrell on ailerons, Mason Sorrell on rudder, Tim King on bomb drop and myself on elevator we did it! In fact, we did it so well, that we were asked to fly it in the noon demos at SEFF on Friday and Saturday! There are various videos and pictures of the flights around you tube and RCG.

Well, on Saturday during the demo, we added a loop, a roll, and a touch and go to the mix. All went off without a hitch. The plan was if the plane survived, we would call out Mac Hodges himself and a group of professionals to give it a go. So, we did just that. 3D Hobby Shop, Extreme Flight, Castle Creations and Futaba all sent out a professional to join Mac in flying th FMP in the demo.

They did an outstanding job of it too! Here is a video of thier flight.

The 5 man plane at SEFF 2013 (2 min 13 sec)

https://vimeo.com/64035955

This little 24" forward swept wing is a rocket! With a HET 4w I runner and 4s 3000s it zipping along at about 110mph. It's no light weight, at 2lbs AUW, but it flys great!

Laine

Making this Cuda for a customer in Florida. I think he will like it in red and blue with a little white in the nose and on the vert. stab. Obviously its not quite done yet, but with any luck, I'll finish it up for him tomorrow so I can get it shipped out this week.

Laine.

I designed this little twin awhile back. Finally got a video of it. Does some funky spins! Eventually I'll get used to it and see what else I can make it do. But, for now, its cool to see it spin like a top.

Laine.

The Twin (2 min 2 sec)

Been a long time (for me anyway) since I have flown or built anything. Felt a bit under the weather today so instead of working on my real cars, I put together a plane I had cut out a few months ago.

Introducing The Challenger.

41" span
Mega 16/15/3
3S 3300

About 100mph. Not insane fast, but still a lot of fun.

Laine.

Good old Fireman Bill wanted a Cuda, so I put one together for him and had a buddy airbrush it a bit for me. Turned out great and we had a ball flying them in combat out at Hodges.

Laine.

Built TWO of these over the last 3 weeks for HHAEFI! Cant wait to get them out there and get some flight time on them. 100" span, about 14lbs RTF and hand launched... yes, hand launched.

Laine.

Called up old Crash Hancock a few days ago asked him to cut me out a couple motor mount on his CNC for my two new projects.

I drew it up on a piece of paper, texted him the picture, and 5 days later I have two cnc cut adjustable motor mounts that will handle up to a 50cc size outrunner! Might need a bit of reinforcement to take that power, but its big enough that it would fit.

Anyway, it was here when I got home this evening. So, I threw it together, mounted an AXI 4120 and a 15" prop and its all ready to mount on my cool new planes. If all goes well, Fireman Bill and I will be flying two identical planes out at Hodges next weekend!

Laine.

The wife took a quick video of the Cuda for me yesterday. Such a fun little plane and tough as nails.

This one, original prototype, has been abused relentlessly. Round after round of full contact combat, multiple high speed crashes, mid airs, you name it. Its also the plane I hand to people who are interested in buying one from me. More than once its come back in more than one piece. A little hot glue and its back in the air in minutes.

Setup:
1800 kv outrunner, 7x4 APC prop, Castle Creations Thunderbird 18, 3S 1300 lipo and two 9 gram servos. 200 watts and 18 amps (static).

Lmopar69 24" EPP Cuda (3 min 46 sec)

Here is another one. This one is my night flyer with LED's
...Continue Reading

My DX-7 (original version) is getting a bit rough around the edges. Still works, most of the time, but, still rough.

Well, the wife decided that a DX7 wasnt good enough for me. Today, a big ol box sitting in my chair when I got home. Opened it up, and there was my new DX-18! Yes, 18 (and 9ch RX) This thing is friggin awesome!

Cant wait to try it out.

Thanks to my lovely wife... sure do love her!

Laine.

As of September 1st 2012 I officially have been Active Duty Army for 20 years! Its been a heck of a ride and I aint done yet. Wonder what will happen next. Only time will tell.

Laine.

Needs some cleaning still, but ya'll wanted to see the inside of my new motor home. Soooooo... here it is!

These little buggers are soooo much fun, I figured I'd build a dozen of them. Gonna take a bunch to Tullahoma in early Sep, and some more to Hodges for HHAEFI! So, save some money and buy one or two from me guys!

Planes are built and include:
Castle Creations Thunderbird 18
Suppo 1800kv motor
APC 7x4E prop
prop adapter
9 gram servos
Dubro 2/56 kwik links
Deans connectors

Just add your RX and 1300mah lipo.

I made a couple new ones. The little green forward swept wing I cut the same day I left for SEFF then built it at Hodges. I love that little green bugger! So fun to fly and looks cool in the air.

The little 29" twin I made yesterday. It flies pretty darn good too. Should be better once I get the right props on it. Then I gotta dial in some differential thrust. Should be pretty funky then.

Both run on 3S lipos, and 2208 / 12 1800kv outrunner(s) from Lukes Rc, Castle T-bird 18s and 7x4 apc E props. Awesome vertical performance and great flight times too. Speeds are probably 50-60mph ish.

Laine.

On August 9th at 0630 in the morning the Chief Warrant Officer 3 promotion list will be published. My records were reviewed and I had my "first look" for CW3. I REALLY hope my name is on that list. If for no other reason, the pay increase is significant!

This Saturday I start an "add on" to my pilots license. Im adding a private, single engine land and tail dragger to my commercial rotary wing and instrument endorsements. I figure I better get it done since my buddy (a CFII) is gonna fly me for free, and my other buddy is going to let me use his 150hp fuel injected Decathalon for free.

Next week I will move to a different job also. Leaving Headquarters, 110th Brigade and going to A Company, 212th Battalion. Instead of flying UH-60s, I have been flying OH-58s. So, I am going to the OH-58 instructor pilots course in September-November. New job will be training flight school students on warfighting skills. REALLY looking forward to that.

Oh yeah, and on Sep 1st, I will have been in the Army for exactly 20 years. Its taken its toll on me with 5 combat deployments, moving the family a dozen times, several overseas assignments and multiple other things. But, I still love it!

Laine.

Had an opportunity to go fly with the local sheriffs office this past week. We took the Ximango up for about an hour. 100hp Rotax, 57' span. Really cool side by side motor glider.

Anyway, about 7 miles from the airport at about 3500 feet, Larry (sheriffs office pilot) shuts down the engine, and feathers the prop to, well, flat I guess. Silence fell as I putted this thing through the sky at about 55 knots. A look over at the VSI showed a 100 FPM rate of decent. On occasion, we'd find some lift and climb just a bit, and of course, we found a little sink too. But, not much compares to flying this thing. I was simply awesome! Anyway, we dead sticked it into the airport from 7 miles out. I had to do some S turns to lose a bit of altitude along the way. Then, after a long downwind, base and final leg, Larry set it down on the numbers with judicious use of spoilers. All in dead silence.

AWESOME day. And THANK YOU to the Henry County Sheriffs Office for letting me get some time in the Ximango.

By the way, they run the plane off of sponsors/donations etc... Nothing in the budget for it as of yet. But, the primary use is looking for drugs, people running from the law and things like that. So, if you happen to feel the urge to give some of your hard earned money to a worthy cause, let me know and I'll get you their info. Good way to get your name/business on the plane! Yeah, they will be putting the sponsors on it.

Laine.

I saw this 1972 motorhome for sale while I was back in Nebraska and just couldnt pass it up. Dodge M350 chassis with a 413 big block.

So, it looks like I'll be putting my 78 Cobra motorhome (The Dodge Mahal) up for sale and my "new" Rectrans Discoverer 25 is gonna be my trailer hauler/SEFF ride.

Laine.

Well folks, we kinda came up with an idea. Just want to get anyone/everyone's input.

Im sure many of you remember the SRT/10 and a few of my other projects. Well, its time for me to do a new "something big".

A couple folks and me thought it might be cool to involve all of you. Something to the effect of paypal donations. $1 each (or more if you want). Then and a "cut off date". We see how much we have, and build the biggest, baddest, meanest electric airplane that we can with that amount of money.

There are already a few BIG BIG companies that have offered sponsorship for this one. So, just want to know what you all think? Can we spread the word good enough to collect enough to build something rediculous?

Laine.

Well, here is Norman! He's about 50" span, all EPP, with only elevator, rudder, throttle. I put a bomb drop door on it and we drop black and white easter eggs with streamers from him. We call them "Cow balls".

Everyone who flys Norman falls in love. I need to cut about a dozen more of them. Just hard to find the time.

Enjoy!

Laine.