Warmer weather.

The temps have been in the low 40's lately and that is melting the snow. It's down about 50% of what it was. I ordered a new friction wheel for the track blower as it has not been driving into the show like it should. While I'm in there it needs lube too. The part should be in this week. A rather simple drive system but not as good as belts. I am in contact with the graphics guy and hopefully I'll have them soon. I can't fly anything with all this snow anyway. I have a set of lines made for the StregA-36 in .018 diameter and if the pull isn't too much I'll make some .015 lines for it. The biggest difference is in the drag of the lines in flight.

The waiting game.

I see on FB that there is a French toast party in the making. I only got gas in case of power failure and for the snow blowers. I did manage to get to the field this noon. I put in 2 flights with 2 ounces of fuel each and did the maneuvers that need the most power and control deflection. I was satisfied with those flights so I put in a full load and did the entire pattern. I need to take some of the down out as it is too sensitive and the up is just right. At home I installed a longer control horn on the elevator and lengthened the horn arm a quarter of an inch.

Time and space.

I just spent the better part of 3 hours trying to get all my planes situated. With the addition of the StregA-36 and the P-39 I had run out of space to hang them around the basement. I moved cabinets and boxes and tried many combinations and finally hit the right one. I moved the Yak-9 to the rack in the furnace room,I relocated the Parallax to the left closer to Red Molly then hung the P-39 close to the end wall near the small window and moved the Guru across the room between the Parallax and P-39. Then I hung the StregA-36 where the Guru had been and everything is out of the way. As you may notice I finally settled on the name for the Strega/A-36. The graphics should be being made now as I communicated with the cutter a few days ago. With the storm coming it will be a while before I can fly it anyway. The temp is supposed to top out around 30 today with light winds so I may take the P-39 for another session before the snow.

Decals at 1315 hrs.

I couldn't stand it any longer and seeing that the weather was within specs i headed for the field with the P-39. I wrapped the fuselage where the star would go to keep the exhaust away from it. Two short flights and it really flys well. I made a few adjustments when I got home but nothing drastic.

First time outside.

The P-39 is waiting for decals. They should be here tomorrow, Wed.

Up to freezing.

The temp got to 32 by noon. I loaded a plane in the truck and went to the field. I got in 3 flights without getting frost bite. I set up the 'dark room' for a paint booth. i got the new plane painted without running everyone out of the house. It's drying now and I ordered some decals from Tower as the shipping is much less than gas even for the little car. I'm not sure that the hobby shop has what I want either. The decal company is closee by near Springfield Ma but they don't take orders except by mail. The temps are supposed to be near freezing for the week. If the winds are light like today that will be decent.

A North Easterner.

With the cold I've been able to get a lot of work done on the new plane. It's up to paint now. Yesterday the latest storm came through. The temp has been in the 50's so I don't mind the high winds. The weather man called for high winds up until 0600 this morning and the wind was slackening off at that time. It has changed direction by 90 degrees, from the Northeast to the Northwest. It's still blowing up to 30. I washed the car as the roads are drying off fast.