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Milwaukee Slope Flying 03-20-07
Posted by Greg Smith on Mar 20, 2007, 21:52
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Today was the last day of winter and we got some slope flying in at a few spots around Milwaukee.
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| Greg's Ellipse 2V |
We started the day about 11AM at Sheridan Park. I had my new to me Ellipse 2V ready to go and I like Sheridan for test flights especially of a bigger plane like the Ellipse 2. It is 2.86 meters or about 112 inches. That is actually about a medium sized plane but I still like the slope at Sheridan for test flights. The Ellipse 2 is pretty much a brand new plane. Jim Porter had flown the wing a few times with the Ellipse 2T Electric fuse (which I also got and am setting up) but had never flown the slope version. I set the plane up in the shop and put the CG 98mm back from the LE. After a range check at the slope, no problem there, I walked to the edge of the slope, about 50 feet above Lake Michigan at this point, and tossed the Ellipse into the lift. It flew perfectly right from the get go. I just cruised around getting a feel for the plane and quickly gaining confidence in its flying abilities. I was cruising the lip only a couple of feet high almost immediately. The Ellipse 2 is a very solid flying and confidence inspiring plane. I started to work some turns and after a few thought I may have dialed in a bit too much differential but the plane turns hard and I was having fun despite the light air. After about 20 minutes my hands were getting cold so, after testing the flap response in the air I made an approach and landed at my feet. A successful first flight and I look forward to a lot more flights with this plane When Jim set it up he made it all plug and play so it is easy to get it in the sir fast. This will make the difference between it sitting in the car and getting flown a bunch. i tend to love lanes I can set up in a minute or two and this is one of those.
While I was flying the Ellipse 2 Mirko was flying his Fitness. No problems for that little 2-meter job. I have mine sitting ready to go but didn't bring it on this trip.
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| Mirko and Fitness |
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| Mirko launching the Fitness |
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| Mirko's Airtech Fitness at Atwater Beach |
After the flight at Sheridan we rolled north to Atwater Beach. Mirko flew his Fitness at Atwater and I tried the 70-200/2.8 on my new Nikon D50 body that I got for AP work. Seemed kinda strange not shooting with the D200 but the D50 was component if quite a bit slower than the D200. The lens makes the rig!
I was going to fly at Atwater but was feeling pretty run down. This was actually the first day out since I got the Chicken Pox 7 days ago. Been feeling better but I still get tired real easily.
We took a lunch break and then headed up to Concordia.
The win d had swung around nicely and was pretty much straight in at Concordia. There are still access issues at Concordia due to the big construction project and we respected the fence which meant that we ended up on the south end where the fence is right on the slope lip.
I flew my Pica which flew well even thought the wind was about 8mph at this point. Mirko had his Pixel out at the same time and while the Pixel climbed a bit better in the light air the Pica was sure faster!
Finally I threw the Weasel Pro out. A day without a Weasel flight just isn't a complete day. In the light air the Weasel was a blast. rolling looping and cavorting.
About 2:30 we called it a day.
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