To confirm rumors heard at the field over this past weekend, I can confirm that
Ballastic and Hairyballs attempted control line flight with a nitro powered helicopter early Saturday morning, or maybe it was late Friday night. :huh:

As you can imagine, it is hard to remember the exact details. The manuvers (sp?) were performed with a Raptor V1, a deep-sea fishing rod with 100 pound test line. If y'all were out late Friday night, you may remember that the temperatures were quite mild. This made for a pleasant flying experience.

Anyway, we attached the 100 # test line to the head, using a heavy-duty spinner-bait swivel and a sky-hook. We then started the helicopter. We then tested all servo controls with the new Fewtawba 9-BR549 control line transmitter. After confirming that all servos were working properly, we prepared for the maiden flight.

There was a very heated discussion as to who should be the pilot for this maiden flight. By the time this issue was resolved, we had to re-fuel the helicopter. While refueling the helicopter, it was decided that the muffler bearing needed to be re-greased, due to the helicopter idling on the deck for about 15-20 minutes. If any of you have ever wondered about greasing the muffler bearing, and how to do it, you use a standard grease gun and the pressure nipple on the muffler. But, you have to used the proper grease. The grease is a combination of unobtainium, Saskatchewan Seal Skin, silicone nodules. I believe it was ordered from www.kalecoauto.com.

We got the helicopter re-started for a test flight and I meant to flip the auto hover switch and accidently hit my new "Cloaking" switch. (Available only on the new Fewtawba 9-BR549). Luckily we had not disconnected the 100# test. We could hear the Raptor, but just could not see it. It was a hoot, watching Ballistic chasing a deep-sea fishing rod down the street. With his leg still healing from his skating accident he was hobbling around, skipping, cussin' and having a big old time trying to catch the rod. Well, as luck would have it, one of the neighborhood cats heard all of the commotion. As you may or may not know, a cat's night vision is much better than ours. The cat pounced on the neon-green monofilament and was immediately launched on a light pole. This is where Ballistic finally caught a break. Evidentally, the tension provided by the cat pouncing on the 100# test created just enough reduction in speed for Ballistic to dive and grab the fishing rod.

Unfortunately, our luck did not last long. When Ballistic dove for the rod, he slid on the asphalt, and this resulted in his shorts being around his ankles. About this time, the cat was finally coming down the light pole. In your mind's eye, you need to imaging Ballistic on his hands and knees, holding on to a deep-sea fishing rod, shorts around his ankles and a very pissed-off cat walking up behind him. Yup, you guessed it! The cat spotted two new cat "toys' right between Ballistic's legs. :blink:
When I realized what was about to happen, I dropped the transmitter and started running. But I couldn't remember where we put the video camera. I few seconds later I head the most gosh-awful noise coming from up the street. There was screaming, sceeching, cussin' kicking, spitting, and howling going on, neighbors coming out of their houses and dogs barking.

I finally made it up to Ballistic to check on him. By now, he was REALLY walking funny. I thought it was funny, but I could tell my the look in hie eye that our frindship was on the verge of disappearing. Speaking of disappearing, in all of the chaos with the cat, Ballsitic let go of the fishing rod. We will be checking the trees around his house this week for a deep sea fishing pole.

All things considered, we would have to conclude that our first test of control line flight with a rc helicopter was only a partial success. Apparantly, we had the right idea because all worked well except for the cloaking switch and that strongexplative cat.

Many of you may have seen us Saturday working on a Raptor at the field on Saturday. We are down, but not out.

We will keep everyone closely posted...

Hairyballs and Ballistic

hehe HAHA

That was a funny story and I could just picture it all in my mind. :roflmao:

You know...I think that I believe most of it...That bunch would just maybe try something like that under the right conditions.

A "hey yall, watch this" moment. :ouch:

Enjoyed the read and please keep us updated with any more developements Rob "hairyballs"

Auh, I think we might wait a few weeks for my privates to heal before trying again. We are also going to make a few programing changes in the radio.

We will post pictures as soon as a successful flight is made.

I need to get more fishing line as the spool got kinda tangled up on the first attempt.


Scott

Is all this for real?

Yall have me about half way believing it. :yes:

Sounds like it should be possible to get one going around in a circle hooked to some lines. :unsure:

Well...Anyway...Keep up the good work and keep us all updated on results and number of stiches. ;)

Regards,
Mr. Butternuts

Well if you would have adjusted the Wobbleginkanock !!!! :banghead: you would not have had all that trouble.... :P I fly mine in my back yard, and it flys vary well :dance: I can even have two up at a time :thumbup:

Well, today was not a very good day to try our control line setup. After having our reel respooled with some new 100# test line, we started the chopper and got ready to really see if we could make it work. Hairyballs and I got out to the top secret testing ground just as the weather turned a little south. We started with some very small orbits around us and right off the bat, a problem. Two people cannot stand in the center of the circle. Hairyballs got all tangled up in the line and nearly cut off a very important piece of anatomy, his index finger. Well, we were able to land, but Haryballs had to run very fast to keep up with the chopper. Once I got it back to a hover, he almost fell down, but was able to maintain his balance, so I landed.

Next try...

With a couple of modifications to the radio setup and an 8oz lead weight tied to each side of the skids; weights added to make up for weght difference of the 100# test line, we were off again. Hairyballs stood back about 50 feet and things were going very well. I asked Haryballs if he wanted to try and he said sure, so I swaped him the pole for the transmitter. It was going fine until BAM!! a blinding light, then BOOM!!!, the crank of thunder. The next thing I know, Hairyballs was laying on the ground...The chopper was out of control and nearly crashed, but the lead weights coupled with the 100# test line must have saved it and it settled in without any input...


Oops, I have to go wash Chris's hair, I'll be back to finish shortly...

Well, it is 10:20 a.m. and I just got back from the E.R. I just want y'all to know that lightning really hurts. My finger has a big bandage on it, and I have some sort of nervous twitch. I think my synapses are firing at random now due to the lightening strike.

I had a bad feeling before we tried our second and third attempts yesterday. I knew that we should have gone to the club meeting last night. I hope everyone had a good time at the meeting.

Ballistic and I know that this will work and hopefully will advance our hobby to the next dimension. We will try again this afternoon at the secret test sight, and will report again tomorrow morning.

We are trying to anticipate what may go wrong next. As you remember, first it was the cloaking switch (which has now been disabled), the cat, Ballistic's privates, my finger, and now lightning.

Back in college I learned fencing. No I am not talking about chain-link stuff, but the sword fighting type of fencing. I think that my fencing uniform will or should provide some type of additional protection. I do not know why I didn't think of this earlier. Plus, I think I look good in it, and it makes me look about 25 pounds lighter. I think I'll bring my foil (technical name for the sword) in case I get tangled up in that 100# test again.

Since this is such a learning experience for us, we could always use more advice or assistance. We would be happy to buddy-box someone on the transmitter. We could always use another set of eyes and ears.

However, there is a very intensive background and I.Q. test. If you think you may be interested in this endeavor, please make a post and we will contact you for testing.

Rob

a.k.a. "Hairyballs"

Pictures, pictures, pictures.
This all sounds so good...Must see some picture documentation of happenings.
I am a believer now. :yes:

Regards,
Mr. Butternuts

We did not attempt a control line flight Wednesday
afternoon as I had to go to church. We will try again
this afternoon and if all goes well, we will try and post
some pictures.

Have not heard anything. <_<

Must not have worked out too well. :huh:

Where do we send flowers? :(

Things just did not work out Thursday afternoon with Ballistic's schedule
and mine. Hopefully, (but no promises) we will try and get some pictures
of the fiasco this afternoon and post them tonight.

I will be at the field this weekend. Unfortunately, due to A.M.A. rules
and regulations, we will not have a flight demonstration at the field.

Or, maybe we will....

Wherez the pictures...Wherez the pictures?? :unsure:

I remember takeing a second set of pictures of the U-control chopper flying.
Had to, because I was useing Robert's digital camera and the first group of pictures I took did not take because I was doing it all wrong...DHUHHH!! :no:

I remember one time that Robert was holding the deep sea fishing reel with the chopper out on the line and it tried to get away with about 300 feet of line zizzing out and smokeing the drag and Robert's finger that he was bearing down on the line reel with. :fuming:

Scott G. was on the sticks and did a great job of keeping the chopper rotors out of the line.

Finally got it stopped with a few feet of line left and reeled it back in. :yes:

You should have seen that chopper jumping and trying to throw the hook. :fishing:

Well, with the u-control chopper boys takeing it easy from all the stress of that new style of flying and some of the big name chopper pilots licking wounds from a couple of nasty crashes the other day. :(

I decided to try flying my Raptor once again. :unsure:
Took it out of mothballs and down from the top shelf.
Checked out how the battery pacs would hold a charge and see if the engine would crank or if some mud-dobber nests might have to be dug out of muffler.
Rinsed out fuel tank system, filled her with some nice fresh CP 15% and that OS .32 H came right to life.

A few little twikes to needle settings and a few minutes on sticks to calm my nerves and she was flying pretty good.
Have to admit, felt good :yes: and got back to doing most of my manuevers, but no autos yet. Maybe next weekend.
Justin came by field after he got off work at Hobbytown and I let him fly it some.
As you may remember, Justin had sworn off choppers awhile back, but now says he is gonna get him another Raptor. :)

Thanks again to Scott, Robert, and Evon for rebuilding my Raptor :wub: many months ago after my last crash and I was so pi$$ed at it and me.
They have been very patient waiting for me to try it again. :sleeping:

Things B)