Hello all, Just wanted to report on today's flying. Windspeed: 35 solid gusting to 50+ mph. From the NW. Location: Bluffs that overlook the Pacific Ocean from 1200 feet, straight up. It is between Fort Funston and Pacifica, just south of downtown San Francisco, positioned to face the NW. With these extreme conditions, the wind sensing tape strip (tied to a stick at the edge of the cliff face) acutally blows UP. We are talking extreme updrafts here. Airplanes: Myself, I had one of Mickey Crawley's hollow molded "Velocity" ships (an exquisitely executed design....tail cone and all), 64" span V-tail jammer, that I had fitted with THREE POUNDS of lead.....much over FAI safety limits.....the lead ingots were purchased from the back of a guy's car's trunk....$3 per pound.....good deal! (I stocked-up). The Flying: Well, launch out into this rising column of air (think of a reverse waterfall...) and up it goes. Acheiving 1000+ feet in just a few moments, peel off right and dive down, down, down, and at maximum velocity, pull out (gently!) and SCREAM across the cliff face, just a few feet from you (the operator), then ZOOM back up to 1200 feet. Maximum speeds? Didn't have a radar gun, but I know fast when I see (feel) it. We judge speed by the sound created. Something between a howling banshee and a GE jet turbine engine best describes the sound. After repeating "Frequently and Often" until all adrenaline is totaly expended, the landing seems a great relief. Oh, landing? Try a from the wave-top height downwind run, the UP the cliff for 1200 feet, timed perfectly to turn and stall upwind into the nice inviting ice-plant back. Don't even think about the penalties for failure. (Personal or Property Injury the nearby houses.....) I survived the day, and just wanted to share, that I have never before flown that much lead so fast for so long at such a high speed. Screaming! Rippin' is the word! The best to everyone. Rick Powers RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
