Alvin's Mini ACMA Field Report.

Sunday April 15, 2007 - ACMA Monthly RC Combat Day - As I was driving to field, I could tell it might be too windy as I was having trouble keeping my truck between the ditches and figured that the gate might not even be open. But, it was and several folks were present and yes, it was indeed windy, about twenty MPH steady with 30 + MPH gusts.
ACMA RC Combat Event Director Don Koval said that the event was still on and signed me up. Andrew was in the air pulling a streamer around praticing in the wind. Johnny and Robert were also signed up, making four of us to combat. The rest of the usual combating "Weather Woosies" did not show up. Andy Anderson was showing his new turbine powered jet that is ready for it's maiden flight when proper weather permits, looked real nice.
Justin fired up the grill and cooked up some hot dogs and hamburgers. I nuked some Zeigler Red Hots in the microwave and Robert Sanderson made a run to corner store for some fried chicken, chicken livers, tater logs, and rolls.
David Lanzo droped by and we pointed out that one of his truck tires was about half flat. I called Tony Farmer on the cell phone to try to get David some road hazard service, but all Tony said was "Do I Look Like A Tow Truck?". Billy Frost came to rescue with a plug kit and they got it fixed and aired back up.

Now to the combat. Forgive me for some incomplete blow by blow details because I was very busy/active in this event.
First Round - I forget just what happened but it was mostly just Johnny and me combating, I think the other two were late getting in the air or something, anyways it wound up with Johnny with one cut and me none.

Second Round - I think all four got up and soon I had a cut on someone and Johnny and Robert midaired and went down in flames. I suffered a cartwheel landing due to wind shear and turbalations which damaged one half of horizontal stab. I borrowed some CA glue, CA kicker, and tape to do quick field repair. I was putting what I thought was thin CA on broke wood and spraying with kicker, nothing was happening, glue would not set, I was fussing to Don about his defective kicker, someone read on bottle that it was not CA glue, but was CA debonder, dumb me, I got some real CA glue and soon had the Sonic all patched back up.

Third Round - Seems like it was just me and Andrew going at it. I was two points in the lead and if I had just followed my plan to just finish out the round without getting close enough to Andrew for him to get a cut, easy win. But his steamer was tempting target and I would try for a cut and duck back out. Well, I fugged up and got too close to Andrew and he not only got a cut on me, but took off the good side of my horizontal stab, I mean took the whole half off clean. No damage to his tuff corrogated plastic plane and my Sonic was sill able to sort of fly to my amazment so we finished out the six minute round.
I had a handfull trying to land my damaged Sonic in the gusting wind and managed to knock off the landing gears on the crippled duck landing.

After Don figured up all the various ways that we combaters could get points and get points taken away, Alvin came out on top by one point.
Alvin recieved the twenty dollars cash prize, a very nice custom framed original drawing of a "P-40 Warhawk Flying Tiger" WW II fighter plane donated by artist Johnny Jones, and a carton of Jack Daniels Cola Malt Liquor donated by Robert Sanderson. Thanks to Don Koval for running another nice combat event, to my helper/spotter Jake Wiggins, and to James Sansing for holding parts while I fixed my Sonic, and to Don and Andy for loaning me glue and tape.

The fire was enjoyed by Robert, Russell, Billy, and Don



Kenny was visited by his daughter Angel and her new boyfriend. I also spotted Kenny emptying the field trash barrels, thanks Kenny.



Robert is showing David Lanzo his crash bag full of combat plane remains.



Alvin's Sonic with just half a stab managed to keep flying on to victory.



Always finding time to chow down, we have Billy, Don, and Kenny. I would like to think that Mr. Billy was pushing his glasses back up on his nose.



Alvin with his Twenty Dollar and Art Work prizes for first place in combat.



For those who stayed late, the wind calmed down and Robert attached several glo sticks to his plane and did several very good night flights. Way to go Robert.



It turned out to be a nice day, too bad the "Weather Woosies" missed out and one notable absence was Tony Farmer who had worked so feverishly to get his combat airplane ready and had bragged about how they were going to eat some Sonic meat. Tony's sidekick, team member, and building materials scrounger Frits was also absent.
And did I forget to mention that Alvin has won his fourth combat victory in this current combat season and is the undisputed season points leader. (:-D)

Is the Sonic done for? Or will it be repaired?

The Sonic will be repaired.
I bought all the stuff to fix it for $18.00.
I am still two dollars ahead after the $20.00 cash combat prize we won for first place.