Firstar V2. Sunrise Series II.

...sunrise and mist

Going into autumn I again have the opportunity to enjoy sunrises at the field as they coincide with my journey to work. On this particular occasion there was the extra bonus of mist covering the outer fields.

In the suburbs mist is a rare visitor, so I feel especially to spent time with this ethereal visitor, so quickly dispelled with the approach of the sun's rays.

The window of sunrise was quite small, one of those where the light squeezes between horizon and clouds for a few minutes, blossoming brightness growing again quickly dull as the sun heads into the clouds.

Nevertheless, it was a beautifully tranquil morning, with a mix of clouds, mist and sun...

Turbo Porter. S.T.O.L. Fun.

...windy-day fun

Having just successfully flown the Stinger jet after its repair, I headed down the road for a chill-out session with the Turbo Porter.

As it turned out, the wind had freshened considerably to the degree that I had initial trouble getting a stable take-off run. However, having banished those gremlins, I settled into enjoying the PC-6's thoroughbred characteristics.

Despite the breezy and gusty conditions, the PC-6 was always stable and, with flaps fully deployed, could almost be landed vertically. And, one the one touch and go, the PC-6 appeared to bounce leisurely into a near vertical climb with ease.

So a fun end to an action-packed afternoon's flying...

Stinger 64 EDF. Repair Flight.

...back in the air!

It was months ago when, having too much fun with the Stinger, I inadvertently sent it speeding into the swampy paddock grass, where it half its nose and my near-new nanotech battery disappeared into the mud.

Since then I have agonised over how I was to replicate the tapering form of the nose, which also accommodates the canopy magnet and terminates into the join with the nosecone.

Eventually I used rear sections of the original fuselage (funny how you never crash backwards), although this wasn't quite right and had to be cut, and then added onto, and then filled, and sanded, and painted.

However, after this unnecessarily protracted affair, the Stinger was again airworthy and looking pretty good. However, the proof of the pudding if in how well it flies.

Fortunately, in this case, it flew as well as ever, and I was gifted with a good launch as well. So back to enjoying a few run-filled, adrenalin rushing minutes screeching the Stinger around the paddocks...