From: "William G. Swingle II" <72674.2502@CompuServe.COM>
Date: 23 Jul 96 14:43:51 EDT
Subject: [RCSE] Flying others planes part 2.

<another story about flying others' planes>
I was at the slope on a hot summer day. It was about 95 deg. with nearly zero
wind and I was just sitting around pondering the meaning of life. I'd made a
 few
single lap flights but that was all. Then Roger arrives. Roger has a van and
always seems to have a great selection of planes in back. Today was no
exception. He had a 1/4 scale gas, 60"sloper, HLG and a few others. He sets out
a folding chair and chucks his HLG. Poof he's soaring around with no problem.
Sufficient lift is everywhere. Turns out the plane is a Monarch which, if
 memory
serves, weighed 11oz. I was impressed but too far out of my league to fully
appreciate the quality of the plane. 

"Ring", he gets a cellular phone call. So Roger says to me "Here, fly this". It
is important to note that I did NOT even know this Roger's name at this point.
And to my knowledge he HAD NEVER SEEN ME FLY BEFORE! I ASSUME that he must have
at some point witnessed me flying but I couldn't think of a single instance.
Still can't.

"Are you sure?" I asked and luckily he was more responsive than the other
gentleman I mentioned in a previous post. "yeah, no problem, just fly lazy
circles, there's enough lift" he responded. Well, my first thought was
 bull%$#%.
I had flown out there and was positive that there was no appreciable lift to be
found. Nada. Oh well, It's an clear ridge. If I have to land fine. Then I
remembered that all important question "Hey, is this mode II??". He replied
 with
"Yep". I breathed a huge sign of relief. 

Ok, let's see, plane is level. Flying right to left at eye level about 75ft
 out.
Good.  It's rudder/elev so I prepare myself for glacially slow control response
and I gently move a stick.  -Did I mention that the plane was a Monarch?-  HEY!
This thing's responsive. Now we're talkin'. I proceded to get an education in
real, honest to goodness floating. The plane proved to be a terrific teacher.
 It
was like magic. I've never seen a sink rate so low and yet it moved. Wow. Once
the phone call was over I was reluctant to give the tx back. That plane was
 like
cheating.  It gave me a completely different definition of lift. Thank you Mr.
 D
and Mr. J for a wonderful experience. 

Bill Swingle
Pleasanton,CA
72674.2502

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