• October 2009: Hangar 9 Extra 260 35%
We were able to put some flights on our new H9 Extra 260, powered by a DA-100 and 3W canisters. This airplane is very very good. Presents well for IMAC and has unlimited 3D potential. One special note on noise: these canisters are super quiet !!! Best so far.
• August 2009: Nick is the 2009 Unlimited Canadian Champion
We both competed at the Canadian Nats in Ottawa. Nicolas finished in 1st place and I finished in 2nd place in Advanced. This class was very competitive with only a 7 point difference between 1st and 3rd place.
Thanks to Isabel, Jim and the host club the Stetson Flyers for a great contest.
• July 2009: US Nats
Nicolas did a very good job at the Scale Aerobatics US Nats. He managed to make it into the finals and finished in 10th place. Congratulations again Nick !
This was a very competitive contest with just a few points separating the Unlimited pilots.
This is the motivation: knowing that you are at the same level as the top pilots where more practice and dedication could put you at the top.
We hope that next's year weather will help us get the practice we need in this short season. We'll try to do the rest.
As always, you have a chance to meet new pilots and sometimes you meet old friends you haven't seen in a while. This time I met Carlos Paez an old friend from Colombia which I haven't seen in 11 years.
Thanks to Don Hamilton and his crew for an amazing contest.
Check this edition of the "Nats News" and look for the "Father-Son Team" story:
Nats News
• June 2009: XFC Results
Nicolas did a very good job at this first XFC contest. He managed to make it into the finals and finished in 7th place. Congratulations Nick !
He flew the QQ Yak 102 (Gen 2) with a DA-100 and 3W canisters.
This show/contest is a must. Fun, amazing pilots, incredible routines. We really recommend you to add this event to your next year's calendar.
• May 2009: Carden Extra 300 40% first flight
We finally completed our new Extra. We tried to build it very light and I think we did a good job. We used JR-8711s, JR Rx-1222 / Tx 12x and for power we used a DA-150 with Greeves pipes. In short words, what a perfect combination. The airplane has more than enough power and because of the light weight/less inertia, snaps are predictable and the airplane just feels very precise.
• January 18 2009: XFC
Nicolas has been invited to participate to the 2009 XFC. This is one of the most amazing contests and some of the best pilots from around the world get invited. You can check their website:
XFC 2009
• December 15 2008: TEAM JR
We are proud to announce, that both of us, Nicolas and Ivan, have been selected as new TEAM JR members. We are very excited and looking forward to this extraordinary oportunity. We'll try to do our best.
So far, we've started setting up our brand new 12x Tx/ 1221 Rx system on the Carden Extra. It took us less than half an hour to copy our settings from our 14Mz thanks to the excellent JR manuals and ease of programming on the 12x.
We are already using it for flying foamies and the Spektrum technology is just amazing. We were having lots of glitches with an old 72Mhz system, flying in a gym with 5 or 6 other flyers. Now, that's a thing of the past.
The feeling of the Tx, the sticks, the springs, even the balance is just perfect. We felt very comfortable since the first flight. And this is with foamies. Can't wait to feel it with a "real" plane.
• September 1 2008: D.O.G.S., Dayton, OH
We attended the DOGS airshow at Dayton OH. What an incredible experience. I have to thank Jim Bisson who basically "convinced" us to go and took Nicolas with him so he could fly the first day of the show (friday).
I arrived friday afternoon and found out that Nicolas "landed" the Yak inverted over the asphalt runway. He went too low in one maneuver. Well, he got all the help in the world from many modelers. The airplane was basically fixed only missing a new canopy.
But then, Somenzini's headquarters are 30 minutes away !!! So we got there, bought a new canopy, came back and then when we were going to test the airplane to make sure it was fine for saturday's half time show, we discovered the nylon servo arms on the rudder servos were damaged. Guess what? Another modeler got us somehow 2 new arms the next day. With that, Nicolas was able to fly saturday and sunday at the half time show.
This is one if the great things about this hobby: fellow modelers. Many, many of them are always willing to help.
In summary, what a great show. Plus the museum as a bonus, it doesn't get any better. Mark it on your calendars.
Here are some pictures and a link to youtube where I uploaded a video of one of Nicolas' freestyle flights:
DOGS 2008 Pictures
DOGS 2008 Video
• August 4 2008: Canadian NATS: Nicolas 2nd place Unlimited, 1st place free style. Ivan, 1st place Advanced.
We had an excellent time at the Canadian Nats (Sudbury ON). Great organization, great people.
Nicolas flew the QQ Yak the first day and then decided to use the Extra on the second day, improving the scores substantially.
On the last day I had a mid air and unfortunately for the other pilot, he lost his airplane. Lucky me, I was able to land with minor damage, just a broken canopy and a few scratches here and there.
Nicolas then flew his new free style routine with the QQ Yak and the almost new DA-100.
• July 26 2008: Rudder Servo Failure
So 1 week before the Canadian Nats we finally find out that one of the rudder servos (we use 2) was dead and the other one was doing all the work !!!
So bingo, we now knew what happened with the plane before the US Nats. Big lesson learned. Keep an eye on those multi servo installations.
Meanwhile Nicolas started to practice with the QQ Yak because of the way the Extra was flying and he decided to give it a try a the Canadian Nats.
• July 11 2008: US NATS: Nicolas 3rd place free style
Nicolas competed for the first time at the US Nats. We changed many things in the airplane in preparation, including the landing gear (switched to a carbon fiber one). Well, suddenly before the contest, the plane started to behave strange. Snaps were different and wouldn't hold on knife edge. I checked the rudder and it seemed to hold fine, so then we started playing with the CG assuming the new landing gear had changed it. Tried many things but couldn't figure out what was wrong.
Anyway, Nicolas flew and he had to adjust his flying style so that his snaps were closer to what the judges wanted to see and scores improved a lot that but not enough to make it into the finals. Our goal was to finish in the first top 10 but unfortunately it didn't happen. Next year !!!
He then competed in the free style and got 3rd place.
US Nats Pictures
• June 7 2008: Nicolas on YouTube
Short video flying the Carden 40 % Extra 330.
Nicolas on YouTube Video (Extra 330)
• May 29 2008: Nicolas on YouTube
Flying some free style with the Hangar 9 Ultimate 46% / 3W-150QS. Windy? You can tell. Most of the weekends have been like this. Very good for practicing !
Nicolas on YouTube Video (Ultimate)
• March 5 2008: Carden Extra 300 40% update
We got the new Carden motor box kit. What can I say, Perfect !!! Light, precisely cut, perfect matching. Fuse is 60% done now.
Extra 300 Pictures
• February 4 2008: Nicolas on RC-TV (2)
Nicolas and a few other excellent pilots flying their free style routine during the 2007 Canadian Nats at the RC-400 club. You can check the video at:
2007 Canadian Nats (Feb 2 2008)
• January 28 2008: Nicolas on RC-TV
Nicolas was interviewed by the RC-TV crew during the 2007 Canadian Nats at the RC-400 club. You can check the video at:
2007 Canadian Nats (Jan 19 2008)
RC-TV is going to show Nicolas flying his 3D routine next weekend.
• December 2007: Next Project
We decided with Nicolas to start a new project: Carden Extra 300 40%.
With a 1 month trip to Colombia during the winter, things haven't progressed as fast as we would like. So far wings, stab and rudder are ready. Starting to work on the fuse right now.
• September 16 2007: Nicolas 1st place in Unlimited at Chatham
We went to Chatham, ON, to compete in the last contest of this season. Great contest, a little bit cold the first day, but a beatiful day on Sunday. Thanks to Don McLellan and his team.
Both Nicolas and I managed to win our respective categories Unlimited and Advanced, with our extraordinary Carden Extra 330S.
Nicolas couldn't fly his free style, because we are having radio problems with the YAK. Still investigating why it goes on hold.
• August 26 2007: Nicolas wins the free style at Lansing. 2nd place in Unlimited
We went to Lansing, MI, to compete in the Great Lakes IMAC Challenge, at the CARDS field. What a nice field. The weather didn't help saturday morning, but after that we got clear skies. Nicolas won the free style with the QS Yak 102 and placed 2nd in the unlimited category with the Carden Extra 330S 40%, very close to our friend Cam McCausey.
• August 21 2007: Nicolas wins the free style at the Nats. 4th place in Unlimited
the contest is over and Nicolas won the free style with the QS Yak 102 and placed 4th in the unlimited category with the Carden Extra 330S 40%, very close to three of the top pilots in North America: Kurt Koelling, Ivan Kristensen, Frank Noll JR. Very good result considering also this is his first year competing in unlimited.
Thanks to Dave, Sam, Bob and Al Walker for making this contest possible (and of course everyone behind them). It was an amazing contest in every aspect. Well done !!!
• July 2007: Practice, practice, practice
we are both practicing for the Canadian Nats, flying during the week with the Yak and on the weekend with the Carden Extra 330S 40%
http://www.scaleaerobatics.ca
• July 2007: Otterville IMAC contest
• June 2 2007: Stoney Creek IMAC contest
• May 19 2007: "Bush Pilot" QQ Yak 54 maiden flight
We got a QQ Yak 54 Gen II and flew it for the first time last weekend. Amazing plane so far. Lots of power with the 3W-106 and a 27x10, though still adjusting the needles. But then, after only 5 flights, I ran out of fuel and didn't make it back to the field, landing on some trees with NO damage. Lucky, YES !
