Merry Christmas to Me!!!!

Paul Tjaden · Post by **Paul Tjaden** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 10:07 pm

Hi Everyone,

Hope y'all are having a great holiday up there in the frozen tundra. It's been terribly cold here lately. Only expected to reach the low 60's tomorrow. Actually, it has been a bit below normal lately and the soaring has been less than stellar. Mitch Shipley joined us for a couple of flights on Thursday and Friday. I held my own with him on Thursday logging 50 minutes but he thoroughly kicked my ass on Friday. Climbed right thru me and then enjoyed a 45 minute flight while I could only squeak out 25 or so.

The reason he was able to whip me was partly due to the fact that I was not cheating. (That's what Kevin calls it when I fly my ATOS.) Instead I was flying my new xmas present to myself. Yep....couldn't stand all the talk about how I was flying an "old man glider" so I bought Kevin's T2 (he just got a new one from WW). As I mentioned in previous posts, I have been flying flex wings the last couple of weeks in preparation for the FAUX comp that was cancelled due to bad weather. Kevin had told me I could fly his wing for the comp and of course I got to fly it a couple of times before then to get used to it. Well, I've flown quite a few topless wings including Moyes, Icaro, and WW. I've even flown other T2s but Kevin's blue glider flys way better than any I've flown before. Probably due to Kevin's tuning skills, handling is quite light but it's stable on tow and lands great. Haven't had a chance to really test the glide yet but Kevin has done well on it so I guess It's probably up to me with that.

Not sure yet about the future. I'll keep my ATOS now so that I'll hopefully be able to compete in the Rigid Worlds this spring but I may try to compete in the flex wing class at some of the comps. I'll probably get my butt kicked so thoroughly that I'll be sorry. But it might be fun to compete in a larger group with more people to pimp off of and maybe Pete Lehmann will get off my case about the cheater wing.

Hope to see some of you soon,

Paul

P.S. Lauren is flying her new wing AND her new harness with confidence now. Kari better watch out!

mikel · Post by **mikel** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 10:18 pm

hey Paul, Miss the mountains ???????

Later, M

Paul Tjaden · Post by **Paul Tjaden** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 8:30 am

In a message dated 12/25/2005 10:18:42 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, mlee1968@netscape.com writes:

hey Paul, Miss the mountains ???????

Not in the winter!!!!
?
If things work out we may?buy a small travel trailer next spring and spend a little time there after the Ridgely comp so we can catch up with some of our friends and perhaps fly the mountains a bit.
?
Paul

Post by **mcelrah** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 8:59 pm

Congratulations, Paul, on your new wing! My partner and I have a bid
in on a trike. The guy is still emotionally attached to it, so we
may dodge the bullet... - Hugh

Post by **mcelrah** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 9:00 pm

I always saw you as trailer trash. I hope to join you! - Hugh

Marco Zee · Post by **Marco Zee** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 3:46 am

Hugh,
What kind and size trike are you bidding on? One seat or two seat? I've been thinking of buying a trike.
Marco

Post by **mcelrah** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 1:00 pm

It's an Airtrike (South African design) 2-seat, but no fairing/
windshield, powered by an HKS 4-stroke engine which we hope will be
more reliable than a 2-stroke and have a little longer time-between-
overhauls. It has a LaMouette double-surface wing, so goes maybe
60-65 mph. May go for a ride with the owner this weekend. As I say,
he is still "emotionally involved", so may not sell at any price... -
Hugh

Marco Zee · Post by **Marco Zee** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 2:34 am

Hugh,

That trike is sounding very very tempting......best don't bring cash or your checkbook.....you might buy it on the spot LOL.
Let me know how it flies....

Marco

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