Hey, Dennis here, the "webmaster" for the High Plains Squadron. I know 1's and 0's, not miniature aircraft and I want to express thanks to the Club for all of their assistance. I'm going to chronicle my experiences here as I learn about our sport.  This is my first plane, a trainer that needed a few repairs before I could fly it. Still haven't flown yet due to a "normal" Colorado spring, wild weather! Special thanks to Phil Pollock for the education and repair assistance. I don't know much about the plane other than it has a "Things With Wings" (Greeley) sticker on it.  Thanks to Harry too!

Wish me luck!

4/10/03
First Flight! - uhhh make that first crash..... :-)
Spent an hour and a half doing pre-flight checks, adjusted servo movements, did a field modification on the fuselage frame as it was binding the aileron linkage. Fueled up, adjusted the engine and ran it for several minutes.  Performed a radio distance check.  With the antenna collapsed I walked about 100 feet from the plane and ran thru the controls and the servos reacted properly.

My instructor taxied to the runway and took off, my plane flew great and looked good doing it, then... the engine died.  It's amazing how silently a plane will fall until it impacts with the ground. The only sound was other members reminding the instructor to watch the fence! In the defense of the instructor, there was a stiff breeze blowing but hey, no biggie I know the plane flies!  Sorry, no pictures, I was in a hurry and left the camera at home, let this be a lesson to me!

Another club member is repairing the damage as I type this so things will work out, thanks Larry... I really appreciate how everyone has jumped in to provide guidance, knowledge and a sense of humor.  Stay Tuned.....

4/13/03
First Flight - Actual
Thanks to Larry for damage repairs on the plane. A few more adjustments and fine tuning and it took to the air. (Root cause of the previous crash was estimated as too lean a mix causing engine failure) Larry took a few rounds and made some field modifications (the monokote covering was binding the ailerons). All of this was easily corrected, now my turn!

I enjoyed some very anticipated stick time and was thankful for my instructor's guidance and knowledge. I didn't crash so I guess my first flight was successful!

I haven't been back, that infamous Colorado spring weather (wind) has kept me grounded. Hopefully I'll be back in the air soon and on my way to first solo!

I've also got my first kit to put together but that's another story.... Stay tuned...

8/02/03

I crashed the plane after our June Combat event. Plane is repaired but I found it difficult to control. I am almost finished putting together a SIG LT 40 ARF, in my opinion this ARF should be called a NNRF or Not Nearly Ready To Fly!! Summer has been busy so construction time is limited but it's almost there. I've had several successful flights with my instructors LT 40 so hopefully that will get me to solo that much sooner.

Nothing can replace experience but I've found that the Real Flight Simulator to be an invaluable training tool. If your thinking about starting out perhaps you should look into this. 

The kit plane is slowly coming together, haven't spent much time on it, perhaps this winter?

I've also snagged a SPAD I'd like to have ready for our October Combat Event, too many irons in the fire???

9/01/03 - SOLO!!

I just returned from my son's Pass In Review at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Chicago (I'm so proud!) He's off to be a member of the sub service.

Anyway I was wondering how a good weekend could be made better so I went to our field to practice controlling my plane on the ground. After several laps on the runway... the wind was perfect the sky was perfect I thought what the heck....

I took off, made a few laps and began to land. I was shaking so bad I had to abort twice before I could relax and land the plane. I brought it around the 3rd time lined up perfect, reduced throttle trim and I'll be darned if the plane didn't land like it was supposed to!!!

I whooped and hollered and then called my wife, because I'm sure I broke a cardinal rule and I flew alone. It was like with Mars being so close, I just had to do it. I calmed down, refueled the plane and did a few more laps and landing was much easier this time, a lot less shakes! Not wanting to press my luck anymore for the day I cleaned up and headed home.

I could not have done it without the training and instructions from the guys in the club and I thank them all for their assistance and guidance. Great Plains Real Flight was a great training tool as well.

I've been working for this day since March and it's been a long time coming but man o' man was it worth it!

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