Event Report
Corona RC Club Float-Fly
September 29-30, Lake Perris
by Oscar Weingart
(Please note that these event reports were originally prepared for use in the Riverside RC Club monthly newsletter, Prop Talk, and are not intended to be comprehensive coverage of the event. Rather they are reports, for our club members, of my personal experiences and perceptions. Nothing in this report or on this website represents the official policy of the Riverside RC Club.)
Introduction and Bitching
This event was held at Lake Perris on September 29-30. The weather was beautiful, but only a few flyers registered, because there was almost no advance publicity. I apologize for not getting the word out to our own club members, once I found out about it, by chance, only 2 days before the meet. I emailed the contact on the Corona Club’s website for confirmation, but never received an answer. This was typical of the neglect and laziness of whoever was handling the advance publicity for the club. There was nothing in the AMA Contest Calendar or the Riverside newspaper. There was nothing about the Float-Fly in the Corona RC Club's own website, which had not been updated since April. There were no handouts or posters in the hobby shops. I was told that there was something on the RC Universe website. Big deal!
This really makes me angry! Some Corona Club members obviously worked quite hard on the event. There were really nice raffle prizes and really good food for sale, and they got the AMA sanction and Lake Perris park permit. But some irresponsible club members or officers just fell asleep on the job, so there was almost nobody there to enjoy the event, because they didn't tell anyone about it! So the club and the park were deprived of a lot of revenue, and a lot of float flyers lost the chance to take advantage of the beautiful weather and a fine flying site. All because of some lazy individuals, who ought to be drummed out of their club.
I initiated and ran the Riverside Club's Lake Perris Float Fly for nine years, with the help of a small group of dedicated club members, so I know what's involved in putting on a successful Float Fly. I helped the Corona Club with their first Float Fly, giving them copies of all the forms, letters, publicity items, etc., involved, taking them to the site and generally showing them the ropes. Twice they lost all this material by their next float fly, so I was asked for it all over again. Something is wrong there, and it needs to be fixed. But enough of this venting, on with the report.
Event Report
I flew my old reliable Hanger 9 Ultra-Stik 120 Lite, powered by a Saito 150; with 43 inch Canadian Slocan Fiberglass/Foam Floats. This rig continues to be the best float plane I have ever owned, and I have owned many. Carl Lindou flew the Ultra Stik for half of each flight and I flew it for the other half. Carl was doing rolling circles, tail slides, stall turns, 8 point rolls, and other exotic maneuvers, putting on a fine show for spectators on the beach and in boats out on the lake. It looked like a different airplane when he flew it. I managed lots of touch and goes without dunking it.
Oscar's favorite floatplane waits it's turn
Two pilots brought the beautiful little Great Planes twin-engine electric PBY ARF’s, which were very light and flew beautifully. Note the beautiful sunny weather and calm water in the lake.
This beautiful electric PBY ARF flew great
A Hanger 9, 81 inch electric Cub ARF on ARF floats was also a fine flyer, although it made some weird noises. This Cub dunked its nose during a takeoff run, re-surfaced, resumed its run, and flew. Part submarine, I guess!
An electric Cub/submarine