Flew today - Wow! It's soggy!

Michael · March 14, 2012, 06:20:20 PM

Well, I left work early and went out to fly at TEMAC.

There were 4 or 5 others there, and we all had to park right at the entrance.

(We can't park on the road; we have to park on our driveway.)

The driveway was full of mud, and the entire pits and field is very soggy.

Anyway, I had a couple flights with my brushless Twinstar, sharing controls with Jack; I flew my Habu including a take off from the soggy grass, and I maindened my micro F-86.
Jack had 2 really nice flights with his foamy jet.

The weather was too nice to stay away.

We really need a couple weeks of warm and dry weather for the field to be in better shape.

Papa · March 14, 2012, 10:06:02 PM

It was very bad. Even standing at the tables sucked up water to the surface and it became very sticky and acted like glue. Really it will be close to the end of March before it will be safe. All we are doing now is causing damage to the grass and the driveway.

Jack.

thehaze · March 15, 2012, 12:12:34 AM

It was a nice day. The condition of the field is no surprise (except we are usually having this discussion a month from now!) with the frost coming out of the ground and the way that field drains it going to be a mess.

I hope everyone heeds Michael and Jacks advice and keeps their cars off the field for little while. Or at least volunteers to repair the damage they cause. Be patient boys, lots of flying ahead soon!

battlestu · March 15, 2012, 10:18:12 AM

...what no pictures for those of us stuck inside solving the worlds computer problems??

Gregor77 · March 16, 2012, 08:58:24 AM

The planes wheels just get stuck.

I tried to fly at the park and they just dig in. I would not even consider the field right now. I am going to wait for a bit...

i

thehaze · March 17, 2012, 05:00:49 PM

Went by the field today. The parking area and the lower part of the driveway are really quite bad. Lot's of people have been driving on it and are making a giant mess. Greg and I put up a road block at the end of the end of the road at near the parking area to try to encourage people to stay off with their cars. Hopefully that will discourage some folks from continuing their quest to get their cars stuck and from destroying the parking area. However I'm not certain that it will work, sadly.

Oh and no I did not drive onto the field. I parked near the road and walked in. Rubber boots are essential...

battlestu · March 17, 2012, 07:08:53 PM

here are some washed out images of the field

Ededge2002 · March 17, 2012, 09:56:53 PM

ICK! Well despite the fact I want to fly I'm going to stay away from the field for a bit. The warm temperatures predicted for next week should dry that up if we stay off of it. Making ruts and spinning up the grass will just prolong the pain. Let's all try to finish up some crap our wives have us to do making more time for when the field is better!

Michael · March 17, 2012, 10:56:11 PM

...

pmackenzie · March 18, 2012, 03:48:09 PM

With the weather today it is very hard not to make the trip out there to get in some flights, but those pictures convinced me.

Got some heli flying in locally though, about 20 flights (so far)

12 on my MCPx, 4 on my just completed HK450TT Pro, and 3 on my Maxir. Did a bunch of inverted hovering with the MCPx and Maxir.
Too small a field, new a heli and not enough guts to do it with the 450

The MCPx is great for learning this since it is almost indestructible and not very intimidating, but it tends to blow out the tail very easily when it flips.
Then you are faced with figuring out which way it is pointing while trying to get it stabilized inverted.

Much easier to flip the bigger Maxir to inverted, the driven tail stays nicely locked and there is much more reserve power.
The 450 will probably be even better.

Pat MacKenzie

Tomahawk · March 19, 2012, 01:15:42 AM

Wow that is a mess.
I would hope those individuals have their names at the top of the list for the work crew to repair the ruts when the time comes.

Chris

Ededge2002 · March 22, 2012, 08:59:01 AM

Any noted improvement? How far are we walking? Considering popping in today but if conditions haven't improved I will stay away

Michael · March 22, 2012, 09:42:52 AM

I flew yesterday afternoon.

I was able to drive almost all the way in, and the pits and field were dry.
(I have a big 4 wheel drive SUV.)

The parking area is a lake.

You will have to walk through some wet mud between the driveway and the field.

Ededge2002 · March 22, 2012, 10:27:59 AM

Thanks for the update Michael. I going to an alternate site till it's solid. Don't want to do more damage