E-Combat in Tulsa

[Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by smokejohnson

Check out the new bird.

That looks really nice James. A little too pristine though. Hopefully it will get some character knocked in to it soon.

[tiger86]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

That looks really nice James. A little too pristine though. Hopefully it will get some character knocked in to it soon.

Nice looking P-47 James. I will be happy to oblige adding a little "character" to your new plane. That is, if I can catch it.

So it sounds like James and Tom are out for this weekend's combat action??

[Grasshopper]

Yep, I'm out. I also forgot that this weekend is our City's fall festival and parade. So just a little too much happening for me to break loose. Sorry.

[smokejohnson]

Yeah I went ahead and told the old lady I would go with her so I'm committed now.

Where else could we meet in the middle other than Joplin?

[gregore2992]

Grasshopper,

My wife grew up in Joplin and said that we might could fly around/near the OCC campus out on north Main Street. Was this where you flew before? Are there some places out at Shifferdecker(sp) Park that we could fly? Tiger86 and another guy are still planning to "meet in the middle" on Saturday for some combat.

Greg

[Grasshopper]

There is a nice place on the north end of OCC with a really long straight paved drive running next to it. The drive runs east to west. I've never flown there but I know of some that have. I don't know if the campus has security or not or if they would say anything. I can't think of a field large enough at Schifferdecker other than the golf course.

If you guys are on 2.4, the practice soccer fields on the south side of Missouri Southern State University campus is great. There's a really nice parking lot that runs right up to a wide open field and there is rarely ever anyone there. I know my neighbor has flown his Parkzone radios there with no problems as well. James was taking some pretty good hits on his when we were there.

Other than that, a lot of the places I fly are pretty busy with soccer and football practices and games.

Hope that helps a little.

[smokejohnson]

Well let's here about the carnage in Joplin yesterday .

[gregore2992]

OK here we go,

Tiger86 (Tim) flying a ME-109, Larry Taylor (our friend) flying a P-51, my son and I flying a P-47 met on the northside of the OCC Campus (by the soccer field) about 10:30. We all completed some test flights to get the thumbs warmed up for the main event. Larry and I were flying (no streamers) and decided to "just get close" with the planes. Well... we got close alright and wound up hitting and he tore the LE of my planes' wing about 2" deep. It was flyable but with only full right aileron, so I had to come in for repairs (think tape). We continued flying with numerous sorties being had. Several streamers were cut and a few more plane to plane hits. Larry and I tangled again hard and I wound up taping the other wing and the rear horizontal fuse joints at the TE of the wing! He had to tape and epoxy his damage. We had some spectators who stayed for about an hour. They were then hyped to go to the hobby shop to build there own combat planes. We were there until about 1:30 and then the "MAN" showed up and asked us nicely to wrap it up, something about having a permit to use the field?? Oh, did I mention that we parked next to the sign that spoke of a permit required? We'll try that route next time. We went to Babe's and got a burger and then across the street to Dover Hill Park (no permit required) and found a good place to finish out the day. The malay continued with streamer and plane on plane strikes. I hit Larry's plane hard with my prop and broke the tail section clean off! He was done for the day! Sweet Victory!! His plane was made of Depron foam, it is more stiff but will break instead of bending like the fan fold Lowe's foam will. I flew the P-47 (thanks James) all day, it is truly a beast! By this time it was getting late and we finished up about 6:30, truly a full day of combat!! It was a great time, we wish more could have made it.

Let's all think about another date we can set for a combat session, before the 2nd WOOF event.

Greg

[smokejohnson]

Man it sounds like you guys had fun, I wish I could have been there. So is Dover Hill Park gonna be "The Spot" for Joplin combat?

[gregore2992]

Well, it would depend on how many show up to "fight". The OCC site would hold more people, but I don't know how much a permit would cost, if it they would even charge us and we would have to work around their schedule. The Dover Park site would definitely help us keep it "mixed up". I'm for going anywhere as long as we combat! I'm hooked!

Greg

[tiger86]

Yesterday's combat sessions were a lot of fun. Wish you guys could have been there. The first field we flew at was definitely the place to fly. We'll just have to figure out how much a permit costs and when it can be used. The 2nd field was nice too but felt a little confined by railroad tracks and a creek on one side and a busy street on the other side. As Greg mentioned, a couple of guys stopped by to watch us fly over at OCC. One car even stopped and watched us at the other park too.

There was quite a bit of mid-air contact and streamer cutting going on most of the day. Greg and Larry helped me repair my Me-109 after a flying mishap caused by pilot error. (thanks guys) That FFF sure is tough! Thank goodness we didn't find out just how tough the top of Larry's head was! That was too close for comfort. :o

Larry and I were very impressed with Greg's combat flying skills. You have taught him well James. By the end of the day, we all had some "kills" to our credit. It was a good time and I'm ready for more. Here are a few pics I took.

[gregore2992]

Great pics Tim!! Can't wait to do it again!

[Grasshopper]

Sounds like you guys had a blast. If you want, I can contact OCC and see what a permit costs. I would think it would be pretty easy to book now since most all soccer and football is wrapping up this week around here.

[gregore2992]

Tom,

That would be great. I have the number but it is on my phone at home. We can then shoot for a date to have the 2nd combat fly-in.

Greg

[Grasshopper]

I'll give them a call today and see what they say.

[Grasshopper]

I talked to "The Man" at OCC. It's not problem using it and the permits are free. If you guys want to plan another one, let me know when and I can swing buy and get the permit. I live about 10 minutes from OCC. He said about the only time it's ever used is around graduation and the 4th of July so we should be good. It would have to be limited to electric only though since I doubt they would want the noise from slimers.

[gfdengine204]

Tom, you could be on your way to starting a park pilot location.....
Posted via Mobile Device

[Grasshopper]

Just what I need........more stuff to do.

[gfdengine204]

I'm sure someone else could do the leg work.....it was just a dumb suggestion.....sorry.

[gregore2992]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

I talked to "The Man" at OCC. It's not problem using it and the permits are free. If you guys want to plan another one, let me know when and I can swing buy and get the permit. I live about 10 minutes from OCC. He said about the only time it's ever used is around graduation and the 4th of July so we should be good. It would have to be limited to electric only though since I doubt they would want the noise from slimers.

Let the "Unclub North" be born!! Just kidding!! Great work Tom! Now the hard part, getting all of us to agree on a day to fly!

Greg

[Grasshopper]

I would love to get together sometime before mid November while the weather is still nice. I think there would be a few guys from here that would participate as well. Guess I better slap together another plane now huh?

[gfdengine204]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

I would love to get together sometime before mid November while the weather is still nice. I think there would be a few guys from here that would participate as well. Guess I better slap together another plane now huh?

Would you be willing to do a videotaped build?

[Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by gfdengine204

Would you be willing to do a videotaped build?

As much time as you've had, you should have 20 of them built. It's 6 pieces of flat foam and a stick.

[gfdengine204]

Yeah, as much time as I've had......

[gfdengine204]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

As much time as you've had, you should have 20 of them built. It's 6 pieces of flat foam and a stick.

I take it that was a no......