Southern Dawn Patrol (R/C)

[Bookmaker]

Mac Hodges has arranged for a private room at one of the local restaurants for Friday evening Dec 4. We are inviting all attendees to an off the menu, dutch treat dinner starting at 7pm. During dinner we will play a classic WW I era flying movie. If you would like to join in, please e-mail me the number in your group who plan to attend so that we can get a general head count.

dcavin@earthlink.net

Thanks to Horizon Hobby for joining our sponsors of this event.

Dale

[Lucky Dog]

Hello Dale,
This is sounding like it's already become a great event. Perhaps I'll get to join the fun someday. Being in a retail business for nearly 30 years (well, for now anyway), December is an impossible time to get away. It would be like you trying to make it up this way for an event in early April. I'll be looking forward to some great photos!

[Bookmaker]

I sure understand, that's why I can't attend the Blue Max in March

Dale

[Bookmaker]

It looks like the weather for this weekend's event will be cool, but otherwise great weather.

After 11:30 am (cst) Wednesday, 12/2, Rose and I will be away from computers. If you need to contact me after then about SDP, call me on my cell. 850-209-7058

Drive careful.

Dale

[Lyle]

Hi Dale,
Already getting good reports back about the event! Looking forward to your take on it, and every photo you took.
Best, Lyle
Here's a line up photo from Peyroplane:

[Lyle]

And another shot:

[Bookmaker]

Nice photos.We're unpacking now. I'll post more later.

Yes, we had a great time.

Ask Peyroplane if he left his AMA card at Mac's?

Dale

[Bookmaker]

I did some summarizing and noted there were 37 registered pilots, about 60 models from park flyers to a 1/2 scale Fokker D VI. There were about 150 sorties logged in a day and a half of flying.

The weather forecast was all over the map prior to the event and several pilots decided not to risk the travel. However, Friday, while pretty cool presented absolutely wonderful flying conditions. Almost NO WIND AT ALL, clouds blocked the sun and the field was in great condition. As of Friday evening, Saturday's forecast was for rain in the morning, cold and wind.
Again, many decided to pack up. Well, the rain, what little there was, passed through over night, it was cooler, and the wind picked up. However, flying started with me putting up my Fokker D VIII at about 7:30 am and there were several flights until just before noon. The wind was was getting interesting about then.

We decided to hold the awards presentations and drawings at noon.

Here is a summary of the awards and major prizes given out at the event:

The first award was voted on by the pilots and while there were several nominations, the winner received the most votes by far.

Pilot's Choice - Best Overall
Rich Feroldi's 1/3 scale DH2
Rich won a plaque and a $200 certificate from Glenn Torrance Models.

The following awards were selected by the "Event Committee" present at the event and were really tough decisions as there were several deserving models in most categories.

Committee's Choice - Central Powers Aircraft
Paul Westrich's 1/2 (yes 1/2) scale Fokker D VI
Paul won a plaque and a Balsa USA Bristol M1 kit donated by RCScalebuilder.com.

Committee’s Choice – Entente Forces Aircraft
Steve Thomas’ Nieuport 17 “gunship” in Italian markings.
Steve won a plaque and a Nieuport 17 park flyer donated by Horizon Hobbies.

Committee’s Choice – Realistic Flight
Randy Smith flying his scratch built 1/3 scale Fokker DR I
Randy won a plaque and a hand made WW I airplane wind vane donated by Murray Denney.

Committee’s Choice– “Creative” Flight
Goetz Vogelsang flying his 1/3 scale Sopwith Pup in maneuvers Tommie Sopwith never even dreamed of.
Goetz won a plaque and a hand made WW I airplane wind vane donated by Murray Denney.

Farthest Distance Traveled
Ray Willliams who traveled over 1100 miles from Chadwicks, NY
Ray won a plaque and a matted print of Werner Voss shooting down a N17 donatedby artist Steve Anderson.

A drawing for pilots was held for a certificate provided by Balsa USA for ANY WW I aircraft kit they sell. Tickets for this drawing were placed in the barrel for each pilot when they turned in their aircraft information form, and again for each time they flew. There were some light hearted rivalries among some of the pilots to see who could deposit the most tickets. I know some had 10 or more flights. However, in the end, the winner based on a random drawing from the tickets, was a young man, Aaron Flowers, who as far as we know had 2 tickets in the pot. After the event, I was speaking with Bill at Hodges Hobbies and apparently Aaron had been previously talking with them about a BUSA Nieuport. Congratulations Aaron, we hope to see you with a BUSA Nieuport at future events.

A special random drawing was made from names of pilots flying models with a XOAR Propeller. The prize was a beautiful 30” XOAR Propeller Clock donated by Bob’s Hobby Center importer for XOAR Propellers. He probably doesn’t know it yet, but this was won by Chris Wieland. Chris had to leave Friday evening and was not present at the awards ceremonies.

We also had a raffle for a $300 shopping spree at Hodges Hobbies that was provided to us by Mac at a very good cost. I do not know the winner’s name, but I do know that he spent it before he left the field.

Thanks to our sponsors we were able to give out awards, prizes and pilot give aways valued at well over $1,000.

Here is a list of the sponsors, please support them and when you do, tell them thanks for supporting Southern Dawn Patrol.

Balsa USA, Bob’s Hobby Center/ XOAR Propellers, Glenn Torrance Models, Hodges Hobbies, Tower Hobbies, Murray Denny, Dynamic Balsa, Warbird Colors Paints, Willaims Brothers Model Products, artist Steve Anderson, RCScalebuilder.com and my home club Chipola R/C Aviators.

In addition, thanks to our sponsors, EVERY pilot's number was drawn for some sort of gift.

[Bookmaker]

I have been dragging and not getting any photos posted. But in the mean time, Glenn Torrance posted some real nice photos and a nice little summary on his website GLENN TORRANCE MODELS "QUALITY WITHOUT QUESTION".

While you are there, I am sure he would appreciate you placing an order for something.

[Bookmaker]

Here are a few more photos.