Ceiling is still below minimums next briefing is at 4:00PM
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Saturday, August 7, 2010
News from August 7th, 2010
The briefing for Day 2 started at 8:00am and the new starting procedures were briefed. Unfortunately the weather is not cooperating and we will have a second brief at 12:00 noon.
It appears like Reinaldo will now be flying in position 87 after the incident from yesterday. We are still awaiting a final decision from the Jury.
The next US Pilot to fly will be Rob Gibbs in position 19.
It appears like Reinaldo will now be flying in position 87 after the incident from yesterday. We are still awaiting a final decision from the Jury.
The next US Pilot to fly will be Rob Gibbs in position 19.
News from Friday August 6, 2010
The contest has started. The main briefing was yesterday and all 85 Pilots attended. The drawing for the order of flight in the Q was held. The first pilot to draw a number also drew position number 1. The odds of that happening are extremely rare. The US Team drew there slots in alphabetical order and are as follows:
Kelly Adams 9
Reinaldo Beyer 15
Robbie Gibbs 19
Doug Sowder 28
Ben Freelove 34
Mike Gallaway 51
Bryan Taylor 77
Bob Freeman drew the last position of 85
The flying got started and Kelly Adams was the first US Pilot in the box. He had a good flight and was the only pilot to fly without an optional weather break. You can see his scores are now up and he is currently in 8th place.
Reinaldo Beyer was the next pilot up, however he was unable to complete his flight due to a problem with the starter clearing him into an occupied box. Both pilots landed safely and I am sure that Reinaldo will give you the first hand account of the experience in a later post. The flying was then suspended for the day for a review of safety and an update of procedures.
The opening ceromonies were held inside due to the rain. The Contest Organizers did a first class job with entertainment from the local military band. The mayor of the town of Radom was present as well as other local dignitaries and the commander of the airbase where the contest is being held. After the ceremonies dinner was held oustide back at the contest hotel. Due to the rain most of the celebration was cut short and most of the team went to rest for Saturday's flying.
Kelly Adams 9
Reinaldo Beyer 15
Robbie Gibbs 19
Doug Sowder 28
Ben Freelove 34
Mike Gallaway 51
Bryan Taylor 77
Bob Freeman drew the last position of 85
The flying got started and Kelly Adams was the first US Pilot in the box. He had a good flight and was the only pilot to fly without an optional weather break. You can see his scores are now up and he is currently in 8th place.
Reinaldo Beyer was the next pilot up, however he was unable to complete his flight due to a problem with the starter clearing him into an occupied box. Both pilots landed safely and I am sure that Reinaldo will give you the first hand account of the experience in a later post. The flying was then suspended for the day for a review of safety and an update of procedures.
The opening ceromonies were held inside due to the rain. The Contest Organizers did a first class job with entertainment from the local military band. The mayor of the town of Radom was present as well as other local dignitaries and the commander of the airbase where the contest is being held. After the ceremonies dinner was held oustide back at the contest hotel. Due to the rain most of the celebration was cut short and most of the team went to rest for Saturday's flying.
Monday, August 2, 2010
greetings from Poland
So far , very good ! Me, Robbie Gibbs and Ben Freelove arrived Saturday evening with team manager Mike stevson. we are staying at the Marriott Warsaw - very nice place
We met our Polish connection and secured our plane Sunday morning , a very nice 2006 Extra 300/L
this plane is very good , only 300 Hrs TT and it is set up very well. We flew all day Sunday ...it is crazy , the guy that owns the plane bascially pitched us the keys and said "have fun " ..we literally come and go as we please , very unusual for rental planes.. we could not be more fortunate
There was one hurdle we had to cross - Polish medical and license - bascially , to fly in Poland you need a Polish license ..so we contacted Kelly adams ( he arrived Sunday night ) and all of us went to the local medical office to get our physicals ---JEEZ , you woulda thought we were trying out for the Polish Space program ---unbelievable the things we did --ever see the movie " The Right Stuff " ---well, you get the idea ...It was actually alot of fun , we were all cracking up at the crazy things we did --like blow into a tube and draw a character with our breath on this computer ---we had no idea what we were doing, but luckily we all passed !
Today ( Tuesday ) we fly all day in Warsaw , then join the rest of the team in Radom this evening - our first pratcice slot in the box is set for WED AM
wish us luck
Spanky
We met our Polish connection and secured our plane Sunday morning , a very nice 2006 Extra 300/L
this plane is very good , only 300 Hrs TT and it is set up very well. We flew all day Sunday ...it is crazy , the guy that owns the plane bascially pitched us the keys and said "have fun " ..we literally come and go as we please , very unusual for rental planes.. we could not be more fortunate
There was one hurdle we had to cross - Polish medical and license - bascially , to fly in Poland you need a Polish license ..so we contacted Kelly adams ( he arrived Sunday night ) and all of us went to the local medical office to get our physicals ---JEEZ , you woulda thought we were trying out for the Polish Space program ---unbelievable the things we did --ever see the movie " The Right Stuff " ---well, you get the idea ...It was actually alot of fun , we were all cracking up at the crazy things we did --like blow into a tube and draw a character with our breath on this computer ---we had no idea what we were doing, but luckily we all passed !
Today ( Tuesday ) we fly all day in Warsaw , then join the rest of the team in Radom this evening - our first pratcice slot in the box is set for WED AM
wish us luck
Spanky
Monday, July 26, 2010
Getting Close!
I've put my trusty Extra to bed for a month, and will be leaving for Brussels on July 28. That 6:00 AM departure seemed reasonable when I booked it, but now that the time is upon us, I'm not so sure! I wish that I could be joining my teammates for a week of practice, but I have to go where the plane is. I'll be practicing in St. Hubert, Belgium (SE of Brussels, near Luxemburg) with the Luxemburgian, Belgian, and Japanese teams, each of which consists of one pilot. We'll be coached by Catherine Manoury, ex French Team pilot, for four days. I have heard nothing but good things about Catherine; I look forward to meeting her.
On Aug. 4, the plane, a very nice Extra 300L, will fly to Radom, while Patty and I head for Warsaw by airline. I may get just one practice flight in the actual box on Aug. 5. At least I'll know the plane well by then. Patty will be recording for U.S. judge Tom Adams.
I've flown this year's Known a thousand times, I'm sure, and still don't like it much. My Free flies fast and is great fun, though it's hard physical work. I hope the judges like it as much as I do. I've been using a video camera in the cockpit for some self-critique. It's very useful, and I've put a video of my Free on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36kbyTfy4dI Watching the hands tells the story. There are no hard pushes in this Free. Most of the pulls are 7 to 8 g's. The music, by the way, is "Under Pressure."
Next post from Belgium!
Doug Sowder
On Aug. 4, the plane, a very nice Extra 300L, will fly to Radom, while Patty and I head for Warsaw by airline. I may get just one practice flight in the actual box on Aug. 5. At least I'll know the plane well by then. Patty will be recording for U.S. judge Tom Adams.
I've flown this year's Known a thousand times, I'm sure, and still don't like it much. My Free flies fast and is great fun, though it's hard physical work. I hope the judges like it as much as I do. I've been using a video camera in the cockpit for some self-critique. It's very useful, and I've put a video of my Free on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36kbyTfy4dI Watching the hands tells the story. There are no hard pushes in this Free. Most of the pulls are 7 to 8 g's. The music, by the way, is "Under Pressure."
Next post from Belgium!
Doug Sowder
Team Fund Raiser a HUGE Success
I want to thank everyone for making the USA Team fund raiser a HUGE success. Many of you followed the link on facebook " Send Spanky to Poland " and your contributions were very generous. The team will use the funds for Van rental , tools and supplies , Hotel rooms, and aircraft fuel while in Poland (just to name a few )....I can tell you from experience , the cost of this event is more today than when I went back in 2006. Most of you also know that every US team member is required to pay their own way ...your donations help defray this cost , and it is very much appreciated. thank you
The pressure is on to bring the gold back to USA !
The following were key contributors to the cause :
Lauire Ross - GES
Curt Richmond - Correctional Food Service
Paul Richmond , Maggie Richmond
Philip Blais - Blais Aviation Services
JT air shows
Randy Henderson
Mike Plyler
Patrick Clark
Mark and keighly Jacobson - Global Marc Aire, Inc
Craig Dobesh
Wingspread
Gulf Coast Pilot services
Heavy Ventures
Bradley Benski
Rick and Monica Nutt - FMI
Ben Morphew
BJ and Barbara Boyle - Boyle Aviation
FourWinds Aviation
Aerocountry EAST
Larry Gallaway
Mario Sinacola and sons
MOMO's Italian
EAA and AOPA
Mike Shell , Shannon Rodgers
Storrie Parachute Works
Friday, July 23, 2010
New Phase
Today ends ”W-2” week for me. During this period I flew Diana Towne’s Extra 300L- nice flying airplane! We had a camp with Ben. Gray and Tim also participated. Alan Geringer, as usual, provided expert coaching and wise advice. I had some mechanical problems, but thanks to help from my mechanic friends and luck it got solved quickly.
Less acro than what I would have chosen, what it was invaluable - and fun!
We got to visit famous Lycon in Visalia. As Gray put it we expected something like a sterile high-tech-shiny-rocketpowered-spaceship operation at Lycon,
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but then we found out no, no shiny floors or glass encased testing beds, just very competent, smart and dedicated people working with engines that did in fact look like pieces of modern art. It was very interesting.
Tomorrow off to Europe! Thank you Diana! Thank you Alan! Thank you Paul! Thank you to all the friends who have e-mailed and called from so many and far places.
Reinaldo
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