Slope Soaring PSS B-52 Project - page 4

All dressed up and ready for the 2005 PSS Fest. I did a “weigh in” via bathroom scale, and came up with 33 lbs Not sure how accurate that is.

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At the Judging area.

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Last minute control check.

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Once again, my trusty ground crew gives it a big "heave ho" to get 33 lbs moving.

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This time there is enough of a breeze for adequate lift!!!

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Did I mention I get nervous in front of crowds?  My finger was shaking on the stick for the first 1/3 of the flight!

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Got a bit daring and even did a roll.

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At some point during the flight, it looks like the wing rods were bent, probably that time I made a low pass and almost hit the ridge line on the left. The the landing just bent them some more. But considering the landing involved falling down the hill on to the road, I am amazed this is all the damage.
Notice the slight "gull wing" look from the bent wing rods.

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Nathan Woods got a great sequence of the landing. I can watch it again, in painful slow motion, as the engines rip off (and the Velcro holds fast, breaking at the glue joint instead). I need to crank up the control throw on the Crow. It was not nearly as effective as I had hoped it would be. But then again, it is putting the brakes on 33 lbs of mass has it’s limits. I guess it would help if I flew at Cajon more than once a year, and had more experience on landing there.

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Good enough for Fist place this year!

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The brass tubes with stainless steel tubes inside for the wing joiner were not quite up to the task.

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