Canadair at the Big Lake

...on a warm windy day

Access to the lake is a bit restricted and, along with variables of weather thrown in, the opportunities of actually getting a plane on the lake are not brilliant. So, despite it being a warm and windy afternoon, I headed past the lake just in case.

It turned out that it wasn't that windy, although the lake surface was covered with ripples. In the end I opted for a partially sheltered spot between some willow trees and decided to give the Canadair a go. The rougher water caused some problems with the wing floats, as would be expected, and I had some issues with the Canadair turning because one float was still on the water.

Nevertheless, I still managed to get the Canadair airborne and flying without incident, although the strong wind made it more of a reactive flying session than anything else. Landings, however, were a breeze with the Canadair descending almost vertically to literally plop down onto the water.

Although slow and stable, the Canadair still needed careful watching in the wind, with its large wing area and so many winglets and stabilisers making crosswind effects more pronounced.

So a bit more experience with the Canadair, but the take-offs still need some work. But at least its fairly easy to fly. Next time, perhaps some aerobatics...

A Break in the Weather?

...I'm dreaming of a calm morning

Following a week of placid weather we're in the midst of a week of gusty change. There may be an opportunity, however, to sneak in an early fly here and there.

This evening the winds have moderated to the occasional slight breeze, portending well for prospects tomorrow morning.

The Walrus is all prepped and ready to go, with pre-installed 2200mAh battery with a reserve option of the proven 1800mAh unit if previously said battery proves excessively monolithic.

Ridge Flying

...but not terribly successfully

I tried out a bit of ridge flying this afternoon, hoping to get some lift from the gentle southerly blowing up the bank to the sports fields. It's not hugely elevated - perhaps fifteen metres or so, but I was hoping it might be sufficient to generate at least model-sized wave lift.

It was the first afternoon that I've flown the Walrus, in fact I think it's the first time I've flown anything in the afternoon, so I was a little nervous. Warm, breezy...

I launched the Walrus directly onto the ridge and it was immediately apparent that this wasn't going to be an afternoon in the park. Despite the breeze fairly smooth and gentle it still make flying conditions fairly challenging. It also didn't help that there was a large tree just at the edge of the field, in the middle of what would be the optimum ridge flying route.

So I flew the Walrus for a while trying to get some lift but eventually gave it up, any lift that might have been there certainly not compensating for the effort and risk. So I turned back over to the field to end the afternoon's flying in more gentle conditions...

A Bit Too Windy

...so we'll just have to think about flying for now

No flying today unfortunately as it was too windy. I stopped in at the field just to be sure, but one look at the treetops waving in the wind was enough to convince me to turn around!

I have reduced the flap travel from one hundred percent to sixty five. I haven't checked this on the Walrus yet as I reprogrammed it while I was waiting at a traffic light. Anyway, I'm very interested to try as I think this will give the best of both worlds at the flip of a switch! Well that's the theory anyway, hope to be able give it a try soon...

No-Fly Day

...but still lots of interest

No flying today unfortunately. The forecast was for 12 km/h winds but arriving at the field it to be gusting around 20 km/h, just a bit too much.

Still I did get to say hello to the kangaroos who’d ventured onto the field for the soft green grass. Also the cattle were in residence, the first time I’d seen them closeby in the morning for quite a while. Heavy rains over the weekend had swelled the pond to generous proportions but, oddly enough, there weren’t any ducks about. Perhaps the rains had produced enough ponds around for them to be spoilt for choice.

I took a drive around to another field, where I’d had my tree climbing sorties, but found the winds there much the same, the trees not providing much of a buffer. So flying was pretty much ruled out for the day. Some noise in the trees across the field attracted my attention so I took a walk across.

A flock of the large black cockatoos at work, stripping bark and looking for breakfast. They have long straight wings and fly with a curiously wooden action, like a wind-up bird might look. However, they have a remarkable ability to make very rapid changes in direction, seeming to stall one wing and then spin vigorously before flying again. This trick seems particularly useful when they’re playing with their mates in the boisterous manner characteristic of cockatoos.

On my way back I pulled up to watch some ducks, half a dozen very small brown ducks (I don't know what type, some homework for me to do) were standing near the roadside fence near a small pond. I had seen these ducks come flying at speed across the field I had just been at, before banking sharply and dropping out of sight behind the trees. Very impressive flying for such diminutive creatures.

Gusts & Showers

...from the desk of


A warm northerly followed in quick succession by a cold front had put paid to my aspirations for a flight this morning. I’d seen the forecast yesterday but was hoping I’d be able to beat the change. However in bed this morning I could hear the gusting through the trees and, as a bonus extra, by the time I neared the field there were showers as well.

Sitting at my desk I can see puffy Cumulus clouds, painted a warm pastel yellow, floating past at a rapid pace and the sun, not quite risen, is setting the cloudy horizon aglow. The tumultuous weather is still upon us, so the best is to enjoy the heavenly stage show...