This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Watts Over Owatonna


Hobbico was one of the primary sponsors and both Chris Sydor and Greg Meyer (above left) were available to answer questions. Hobbico brought models from Great Planes, Top Flite, Electrifly and Flyzone. The new Great Planes SR22T(above right) performs a picture perfect pass. The model, which had just


been released, was a hit with most of the modelers in attendance. This Goldberg Gentle Lady (below, at left) was built by Ross Baughmen in the 1980s. Now modified for electric, he flew it frequently all weekend. Ross says he still flies the Gentle Ladywith an older 72 MHz radio and has never had any trouble.


I arrived at the field a little bit after 8:00 a.m. on Friday, August 2. As I got out of my Jeep my initial thoughts were, “Wow, this is a large field.” As a native New Englan- der, I still haven’t gotten used to this sight. Growing up fields like this with a horizon that stretches for miles were only seen in magazines. Here was a wide-open area with only a few trees in sight a quarter mile away.


The club field is set up with a safety fence for spectators, power drops in strategic loca- tions and a large 700-foot fabric runway that runs east to west. Perfectly manicured grass surrounds the necessary barrier between the runway and soybeans and provides a nice grass strip for tail draggers. The club also has a small building on site that is used for meetings, storage and for this weekend, headquarters.


None of this would be possible were it not for the efforts of fellow club member, Tim Johnson. Tim owns and farms the land on which the facilities are located, as well as around it, and it wasn’t that long ago that


corn and beans were growing where models are now.


After conferring with Watts Over Owaton- na CD, Steve Mills, and locating Chris, who had the rest of my equipment, it was time to set up. At 9:00 a.m. the pilot meeting took place and the rules were explained. There were two flight lines—the main fabric run- way for open flying and a smaller grass north/south runway for micro and park flier sized models.


The park flier area was self monitored, something that is easier now with 2.4 GHz technology.


The main area had six pilot stations. The flow of traffic was excellent and the wait line to go up to fly was usually only three planes long. While Watts Over Owatonna is strictly electric airplanes, the range of models is no different than any other fly-in. Just about every kind of model aircraft would take to the skies. Viewing this line through the lens of my camera, I could see everything from the most simple scratchbuilt foamy to an ad- vanced 35% Extra 300.


FLYING MODELS was a sponsor of Watts Over Owatonna for the first time this year. The high wing trainer just off the right of the tent (above left) is the Flyzone Sensei, which was the prize dropper throughout the weekend. Pilot stations


34


were run so well that even during the day the waiting line (above left) usually had just a few pilots awaiting their turn. The small building in the background doubled as the event headquarters as well as the concession stand.


OCTOBER 2013


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68