Lesson # 1 - Never leave plane unattended on rubber stand.

The canopy and belly pan.

The whole almost bigger enough to put you hand through.

After having not flown flown for nearly four weeks, yesterdays Xmas party at the flying field seemed like a good time to brush up on the P sequence.
Anyway, after unloading the car I had the Aries up on the rubber stand to strap in the lipo battery and bolt the wing on.
During this process, I walked a way for matter of only seconds when a wind gust came through, flipping the fuse onto the ground canopy first. I could hear a crack - it didn't sound good!!
After picking it back up and inspecting it, I was horrified to see the canopy had been badly broken.
The canopy area of the model actually fell onto the belly pan which was sitting near by. (see pictures above)

***UPDATE*** after the canopy damage, the plane was obviously un-flyable. I rushed home and did a patch job with hinging tape, then back to the field for some late afternoon practice.
All stayed in place - with no further damage apart from the canopy region resembling a mummy.

Clarkey at Oxai Australia has been informed, a new canopy has been ordered and will be installed upon arrival.
The tricky bit will be cutting out the old one and blending the new one in without it being obvious. I have two local club member's in mind for that job, one being a "Mr Fix it" and the other a "Hot shot" spray painter...

Out with the old, in with the new!!!

The old trailer - outgrown!!

3.6 metres long, with great rear excess and gas struts.

19mm form ply flooring, 1.4 high - 1.4 wide on the inside.

Commodore 16/7inc rims and stainless quarter gaurds.

Plenty of bling around the front, with aluminium checker plate.

I recently sold my trailer-boot trailer to a fellow F3A pilot as it was becoming to hard to transport
two 2 metre pattern planes and all the equipment necessary to the comps.
A good friend of mine built a magnificent trailer for himself to accommodate his rather large turbine powered F-16 jet, but he however decided to sell it soon after completion.

I decided that although rather large for only two pattern planes, I could also use it to transport my 3M Krill Katana - which was always going to be difficult to fit into the commodore wagon.
Those trips to Adelaide with Sparksey and others will be so much easier now - even the coffee machine will be hard to leave at home!

Tates Performance Hobbies 3D "Huckfest" held at Mildura.

Running repairs to the red bull yak.

Luke and Glen wrap up proceedings with the presentation of trophy's and prizes.

Rolling harrier down the strip!!

Luke from Tates backing down the Tates Performance Hobbies Ultimate, being watched closely by the boss - DON'T BREAK IT!!

"Cashy" enjoying the night time action.

GlennO's 50cc Carden yak well flown by Ryan Vu.

Glen, about to put on another awesome display.

Glen, doin his stuff!

Glen's 3M powered Austar's yak doing a rudder touch - well controlled of course.

Nice!! The yak just hanging in there.

Cashy, at it again with his DL powered extra 300. DL engines are sure good value for money.

Ryan, putting on a show with GlennO's Yak. You should have seen Ryan's face light up when
he found a plane on mode 2 he could fly.

Ryan, GlennO and Eddie enjoying the action.

Time to leave. Eddie and friends head home. Love the rego number ED!!

Mildura club Sunraysia Aeromodellers played host for it's first 3D Huckfest over the weekend of November 15th and 16th. Pilots from Melbourne and Sydney and even Broken Hill attended with most arriving Friday and some chose to even camp at the flying site. Eddie Edwards from Tates performance Hobbies not only supported the event, but flew up Saturday in his own Cessna to take a closer look at the action.

Glen Ure from Austars models www.austars-model.com flew his magnificent 3m yak with great skill and courage close to the ground which had the locals fascinated with his 3d demo's.
With strong and sometimes gusty winds prevailing for the entire weekend, this didn't deter Glen form performing rolling harriors, torque rolls and whatever else you could think of in a aggressive skillful manner. Glen took out the most entertaining award of course.

Luke from Tates put on a great display with his ultimate yak powered by an impressive Evo engine fitted with smoke. Luke even back the ultimate down to the ground in a cloud of smoke with his boss and actual owner of the plane Eddie Edwards watching over his shoulder..now that took guts!!!

"Cashy" from Melbourne also put on some nice 3D flying with his impressive looking DL50 powered Extra 300 from Extreme flight.

Saturday night saw a light tower arrive at the field with many pilots taking to the sky's with heli's, electric foamy's and profile fun fly's.

The one pleasing sight was the amount of locals that actually joined in and flew during the course of the weekend. There was only one major crash for the weekend when "Little John" from Broken Hill clipped the trees on Saturday, resulting in his father doing a 600km round trip back home to grab a back-up model..well done Dad!!!

Special thanks to The Sunraysia club for hosting the event, also Luke from Tates for all the behind the scenes stuff. A special mention to the sponsors, Tates performance Hobbies Geelong, Austar models Sydney and, Surf Crew Hobbies Mildura.

Cobram August 2008

Nine year old James Nugent couldn't believe his luck when he was offered a fly of Clarkey's new
electric bipe. Bill was there to lend a hand.

Roger from Oxai and Rob Clarke from Oxai Aust handed 0ver a new Beryll to young James.
He's still smiling!

Some scores after four rounds, click on picture to enlarge.

Darren Williams from RC Flyer
always busy helping others.

Clarkey decided that the Cobram comp was a good place to sell off some unwanted RC goods.

A popular meeting place on a cold day!

Rocky's never been one to enjoy having his picture taken!

Impressive line up of models as usual.

Some final memories from CAOCC 2008

When disaster hit, the Japan team were first to offer their help.
Click on the pictures to enlarge.

Some very friendly locals..

Where else do you go for a leak when there's no trees????
Not sure why Steve took the camera though...

The Aus team waiting for their turn.

That Taiwan beer sure tasted good after a long day of flying.

A very happy Australian team after receiving their second place medals.

More friendly locals..

I couldn't resist asking mum for a picture...how cute!

The Aussie judge enjoying himself as usual.

Bill and Steve in the ready box.

The designer of Glenn and Bill's Aries, former world champion and current Japan coach Mr Naruke..

It was a pleasure to meet Dragon Lee, he's a Television star in Hong Kong - I'm not kidding!!

Steve's not a television star, but certainly a F3A star!!!

Food, food and more food.

I'll never forget practicing at the local club, right on the edge of the city.

S.A State champs at Constellation.

Sixteen pilots from Adelaide and Victoria gathered at the magnificent Constellation flying site for the annual S.A state champs.

Sunday's weather forecast was not looking favourable, so all pilots flew four rounds Saturday in case of a premature end to the contest due to inclement weather.

Strong winds Saturday blew from the north east, however most pilot still managed to put together some nice flights. John Tonks returned to F3A after quite a number of years out, he's experience and skill certainly showed out in the conditions having put in some tidy flights with his electric powered Sebart angel.

Sunday morning after having early morning rain, the wind direction shifted to the west and the remaining flights were concluded by 2.00pm.
Thanks again to the connie club for the BBQ lunches, and thanks to Jeremy for another well run contest.

Click on the pictures to enlarge.

Winners are grinners!!

Jeff Boyd reliving the past.

What a day we all had!!

A proud time to be a Hawthorn supporter!!

Nice line up of models.

Love is in the air!!

Geez Clarkey, arn't you sick of judging yet?