With posting this now, it makes no excuses for lack of warning and allows plans to be made in time.

I'm planning to be there for 2-3 weeks at end of Apr./beginning of May 2019, and hiring one of the Sierra Cottages in Kernville, in hope of sharing with others from around the world.

With this much warning, Saving $50 a week will cover the trip PP.  From experience of two previous trips, $3500NZD will cover the trip costs at a minimum (Airfares, Accom, Rental-car).

So any of you NZers able to save $50 a week? Am thinking about doing a free RT30 GS "Weldon 2019 Special Edition" For each NZer who makes the effort to come....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAsuNKxs1Ko

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9UG4eOM3IQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Oy8AUt-aEs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pzmRh_cLvs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_xAqDk7APY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xSfiM8rm0Q

The air was rough and powerful, with several PBs.

My poor old JW was fluttering and I suspect it has reached its flutter limit.

Videos attached.

Best Regards

Peewee

IMG_3368.MOV

IMG_3369.MOV

IMG_3370.MOV

https://trademe.co.nz/1270512998

These things are wild little beasts on the back side! Def not a learner DS plane. They go well on slope too.

Bit on the pricey side but it does come with good mks servos ($300 worth)

I would like to watch some DS flying this week, never done it myself, where I fly no sharp ridges. 

Do you post where you are flying or just phone each other up. I notice NW Monday and Tuesday does that mean you will be flying on John Britten. 

Brian ( Over from England )

https://vimeo.com/105724503

https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/53mucs/xprize_ama_i_am_burt_rutan_designer_of_the_worlds/d7v4cej?context=3

SOunds like we have a few aussies coming over with at least 3 already having booked their trips. ALso about 3 others from that side planning on making the trip.

More info on the RC Groups thread: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2174849&page=31

https://alofthobbies.com/dynamic-80.html

Apparently this batch has some cosmetic blems, so Wayne has dropped the price

Fastest NZ Home-Brews -            1) 280mph Crack Waxa 60 Alex Hewson

                                                        2) 255mph AFP70 Tekapo Jono Ashton

                                                        3) 243mph PMS 2.5 Ngaio Jono Ashton

                                                        4) 242mph, DS8, Camerons Track, Neal Moss

NZ Top 5 Fastest Pilots (NZ BIG DOGS!)       -  1) Alex Hewson 456 mph

                                                                               2) Neal Moss 256 mph

                                                                              3=) Jono Ashton 255mph

                                                                                     Glenn Couper 255mph

                                                                               5) Kerry Surgison 254 mph

120"- 456mph, K130, Tekapo

100" - 380mph, K100, Wainui

80" - 373mph, K2M, Tekapo

60" - 318mph, Dynamic 60, Wainui

48" - 317mph, Windburner, Tekapo

30" - 89mph, Wee Bee, = Jono Ashton/Gareth Trubshaw

20"?? - Unclaimed

NZ Homebrew Foam - Alex's Smack 60 172mph

NZ Homebrew plank - Jono's  AFP 70 255mph


Foam - 1) Alex 244mph, JW60, Camerons Track (Foam WR)

             2) Alex 211mph Reaper R60, Tekapo (Airframe WR)

             3) Joe Wurts 178mph Reaper R60


Wing - 1) Alex 317mph, Windburner, Tekapo

             2) Jono Ashton 255mph AFP70

             3) Gareth Trubshaw 203mph AFP70

Chevron - 164mph, Beevolution, Dilmah Ridge


Hybrid - 139mph, The RAVEN, Tekapo Jono Ashton


Glass only (no carbon allowed) - 214mph, RT42, Camerons track


3D Printed - unclaimed


Most laps in 2min] - Unclaimed


http://rcspeeds.com/aircraftspeeds.aspx?c=5

Just putting the word out there for possible interest....

Light lay-up (have done over 300mph) $1250US

Heavy lay-up (has done 433mph!) $1500US

Alex

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2290442

https://vimeo.com/102484421

http://www.youtube.com/embed/J1nBEm7XpL8?rel=0&wmode=transparent

http://www.youtube.com/embed/f-FLOrQs70o?rel=0&wmode=transparent

http://www.youtube.com/embed/rJBk7DKLczs?rel=0&wmode=transparent

A big thank you to Pete Glassy and Eben, they took me to Pukerua Bay for my first DS session in many years and I had a blast.

I had finally finished my R60 and it was groovey and fun, just now ripping into my old JW that needs a new spar and needs to be recovered.

Is the covering material from HobbyKing ok for foamies, was planning on four layers of filament tape first.

Also the fuse is shot who has blocks of EPP or perhaps a complete fuselage in EPP for this old machine???

best regards

Peewee

Scratcho

Stratos DS

I think we're very fortunate that not many people know about DS. You can easily imagine how someone could think that a 6kg missile hurtling around at over 200 mph in close proximity to the ground could be a potentially risky situation. It could be a short step from there to thinking that this sort of activity needs to be regulated or banned.

I think it's up to us to behave as though we were responsible adults who take safety seriously, firstly so that no one gets injured or worse, and secondly so that if anyone does start making noises about regulation etc we can point to the precautions that we take and show that what we do is no danger to anyone else or even ourselves.

Here in Wellington our best DS sites are located in areas frequented by the public. On the Skyline Walkway at Ngaio in particular there are many walkers and cyclists passing by, and they can appear over the hill quite suddenly and be in the flight line before you realise it. Long Gully has the same issue although to a lesser extent. I've also flown at Mt Mangere and there also there are frequent passers by, both on the ridge track and through the bowl behind.

It seems to me that the potential for injury to a member of the public is very real, and I would suggest that we need to take more account of it than perhaps we do at the moment.

We can use this thread to discuss the best way to ensure safety and preserve our ability to engage in our chosen activity. I don't think any of us are keen on rules of any kind, but perhaps a few guidelines would not go amiss. I'd like to start the ball rolling with a couple of suggestions:

• When flying in an area frequented by the public there should always be a designated lookout to warn of people approaching. It would be up to the pilot to make sure the plane is kept a safe distance away from the public. (This would mean we should not fly alone at these sites.)

• Before launching the model should be checked to ensure that it is in full working order, and it should not be flown if there is any defect. This may seem obvious, but it has been known to happen that models  have been launched and then found to be defective. A simple pre-flight check takes only a few seconds and should be second nature.

As far as I know nobody has been injured by a DS model yet, so we can't be doing too badly. But the potential is there and I think needs to be acknowledged.

Feel free to rubbish this if you think I'm being overcautious, or add your own suggestions as to how to maintain a reasonable level of safety.

Jason

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2074751

The auzzies are all over us when it comes to DS, and we get three times the wind and have ten times the sites they have!

Now we have beaten them in the Rugby, lets get some more DS class speeds over them.

I've done my bit, time to stand up and do yours!

Hows that for a motivational speech? May need a little work yet...

I've got my DS Quiver:

I would be keen for a road trip down to give it a go......

Sent from my iPhone

Show us your carnage, maybe we can all learn something

Sent from my iPhone

DS'ing is what I enjoy and from memory I think my old PB was 178 mph with a Destiny.

Whats the current best/fastest DS foamie plane?

The property is in a remote area and access is not straight forward but would be a great adventure for those who have the time up their sleeves to go exploring. I have copied a bit of info from the site posted below.

Port Ligar is at the northern most extremity of the peninsula forming the western boundary of Pelorus Sound.

Whilst the homestead and accommodation is in Port Ligar bay itself, the farm also has several kilometres of coastline on the open sea or Admiralty Bay/D'Urville Island side.

Waterfall Bay is situated in a secluded south western corner of Port Ligar.

How To Get Here

By road Turn off State highway 6 just to the Nelson side of Rai Valley. The 78 km journey will take you approximately 2 hours. Follow the road over the Ronga Saddle through Okiwi Bay. The seal ends at the Elaine Bay turn off. Take the Port Ligar/Bulwer turnoff at the top of the hill 12 kms before French Pass (a red Post Office box marks the turn off!) and follow the road out to the end of the peninsula for another hour or 20 kms.

To access the Port Ligar Homestead or The Cottage - the turn off is labelled clearly by a sign which reads Port Ligar, T&R Shand, Private Road. Rapid number 1777. From the gate you drive 3 kms downhill on a winding bush clad farm road to your destination.

Waterfall Bay Lodge is reached by travelling a further 1.5 km on the Bulwer road and then down a fairly steep private road which is accessible by prior arrangement only. Rapid number 1933.

By boat

Port Ligar is 33 nautical miles from Havelock.

There are water taxis and fishing charter boats available from there and Elaine Bay.

The Havelock Mail boat departs from Havelock every Friday at 9:30 am. It arrives at Port Ligar at approximately 1 pm.

This regular service is the only constant feature of our otherwise timeless existence.

By air

For the courageous or foolhardy, the farm has its own airstrip which is easily negotiated by top dressing or stunt pilots!

There are other great potential flying sites on the property so would be worth a look if anyones keen. They also offer a host of outdoor activitys like tramping, hunting, fishing etc.