Henry111

Will any of you seaplane people be attending the 24th Annual Float Fly in Lake Havasu--London Bridge. Or do you know of any electric flyers who plan to participate in that event?

crxmanpat

When is it Henry? I've been dying to go up there for the float fly. I also need to make a side trip to XPS. But it will all depend on other commitments.

Henry111

Official Name: 24th Annual London Bridge Seaplane Classic.
November 5 - 7.
You can find details and contacts here:
http://www.electricflyermagazine.com...ubs-page2.html
It's worth the trip just to see the London Bridge. Take the family.

crxmanpat

I just might be able to make that, at least for Saturday. Setting up a day trip for the family as we speak.

Henry111

If you go please let me know ahead of time. I will be very curious as to whether any electics participate. Have you got a camera?

crxmanpat

Yes, I have a camera, and I'm certain there will be electrics there. If I go I'll be happy to take some hi-res pics for you.

Henry111

Pat, we might be able to make it, but doubt it due to other commitments, probably not, but time will tell. If we make it we will see you there. Your offer to provide pics sure would be appreciated. Don't want to impose on you but airplane specifications, motors, ESCs, and batteries used on any airplane you photograph sure would be helpful to our readers.

bylouddessign

I am hopeing to have my Dornier Do-24T ready! She is electric!

crxmanpat

Oh wow, I was not even thinking about the Do-24T when discussing this event with Henry. It would be awesome to see it fly there!

hillbille

Would anyone be interested in pictures from the "First" Lake Havasu float fly? I believe there was a scheduled re-enactment of the Schneider Cup Race for the event. I was there. I am not sure of the particular date but it was a long time ago!! LOL!! Had to be mid 70's!!

I had just received a new 35mm Pentax and took a "lot" of pictures. I still have some of them somewhere out in the rafters of my garage but more importantly I scanned them into the computer when I "found" them last year so I can post a few if anyone is interested.

Pat - I have one shot that I will post now as it is just for you!! LOL!! Please note the terrible framing of the picture - or ignore that and look at the center floats on those WARBIRDS!!

I have more - but mostly of the "racers".

Hillbille

Don Sims

Hillbille, please post some of those photos for us!

hillbille

I posted quite a few of the ones I had back in 2008 when I first discovered them and that was when I had scanned them. I unfortunately did not find the negatives so having them done professionally is out of the question. They were pretty washed out as they had been in another storage that was in the sun and had little light protection.

Here are a some - in no particular order.


Hillbille

hillbille

Here are 7 shots of the Supermarine. The event was a pretty big deal back then as entrants came from all over the county. Most came in travel trailers or motor homes as if you check the pictures you can get an idea of the "scale" of these planes.

I was quite an event. I believe the local (Havasu) boating club furnished the recovery boats ( as I recall it was a pontoon boat made to straddle) as well as the "emergency" rescue including a scuba diver!


Hillbille

hillbille

I have just a few left. These were mostly shots taken in the "pits". I can't remember how or why I was allowed in so close to these. I had very little knowledge of the camera - barely knew how to put film in it - and film was pretty expensive then!!


Hillbille

hillbille

These unfortunately are the last that I have. They are all of the race participants in flight. The only other thing I remember is that it seems to me that no planes were lost during this event and that was quitw an accomplishment!!


Hillbille

crxmanpat

Hillbillie,

Very nice pics! Warbirds on floats! Those were great.

Based on the number of shoulder mounted video cameras in your pics, I'd have to say this was more likely very early '80s. I remember getting my first shoulder mounted cam in 1985.

crxmanpat

I just looked on the Desert Hawks RC Club website (host of the float fly). This is the 24th year, so the first one would have been 1987.

And the best line from their website: "Dues are cheap, and the donuts are warm . So why don't you join us?"

Don Sims

Hillbille
Thanks for posting the great shots. That Spruce Goose is something else!

hillbille

Were the 24 CONSECUTIVE events? I was in Needles, CA. working for the old ATSF RR as a welder headquartered at Needles. I departed Needles because of a job change to Barstow in May of 1979. I believe these were taken in that year - possibly sometime from January to April as I got a job as a Fireman in May and left then.

Perhaps this was a one-of-a-kind event not associated with the current one. I don't know. I am pretty certain these were taken then though as I would think a drive with my wife of over 200 miles would have been a memory I would not forget easily and had I gone to Havasu from Barstow I would remember that!! LOL!! No, these had to have been taken in either '78 or '79.

I do not believe that the "Spruce Goose" actually flew at the event. I think it was placed in the water and did some "taxi" tests but got no where near take off speed.

These were all nitro of course but the Sopwith was VERY quiet in flight and as I recall it yielded mostly prop wash noise and hardly any engine sound at all. Most of the others had straight exhaust of one fashion or another to accommodate their cowls. I think these were 1/4 scale replicas of the Schneider Cup racers. At that time they seemed very big to me!!LOL!!

I still have quite a few friends in Needles so I will see if I can get the skinny on it - and I'll report back just how far off my memory is!! LOL!! You know how it is - the older I get the better I WAS!

Hillbille

hillbille

Also I seem to recall that those huge "shoulder" camaras were not "video" cams at all but were FILM as in Himat 8 and such of the day. Larger than a 35mm but not a large as a "format" camera.

Just goes to show how my memory works - or doesn't work!! LOL!!


Hillbille

hillbille

It appears as though my memory is just about as bad as it gets!! LOL!! The actual date these races were held looks to be closer to 1990 - and those ARE video (VHS) cameras people are lugging around!! Good thing you guys can't see me now as my face is as red as a fire engine!! LOL!!

My wife says it's my natural color from memory!!


Hillbille

crxmanpat

Ha ha! Yeah, I lugged one of those VHS cams around Germany during my tour 85-89. I knew they weren't the old 8mm stuff. We had one of those too when I was growing up. My mom still has a box full of metal canisters up in the attic.

hillbille

Here:

http://www.schneider-cup.com/index.html

The wife says I full of it!! LOL!! She said that we DID go to the FIRST Re-enactment and it WAS a separate event from the float fly - at least the first one was.

She also says there is ANOTHER set of pictures from that event somewhere around here WITH all the negatives. I guess the hunt is on for those!!

I still do not remember the trip - I remember the event - the day - and taking all those pictures but not the drive. Isn't that funny. I guess I am just getting too old!! They say the second thing that goes is your memory and I just cannot remember what the first is!!

I was only off by 12 years or so!! LOL!!


Hillbille

Jim Casey

Anybody got a link to the Lake Havasu club website? I had linked to them for years in MY website, and now the link is invalid.

Henry111

Yes. Go here http://www.electricflyermagazine.com...ubs-page2.html
and look under "November in Arizona" and you will find both the website link and an email link to the CD and phone number.