I know I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but it's been another busy month. I've been really busy organising the JR Challenge which was held last weekend and was very successful and everyone had a great time, even those who had repairs to do when they got home... Read more about this exciting new event below. Next month our second F3C round for the year is being held so now I have to drop 3D flying for a bit and dust off the FAI skills again which have got very dusty...

OS 91 C Spec
My new C Spec engine arrived on Tuesday and is now sitting on the desk waiting for me to get another heli to put it in. It looks like a very nice engine with a MUCH bigger cooling head than the SX-H which I have in my CS. I'm very happy with how the SX-H is going in the CS so I'm going to keep it in that heli and install the C-Spec into whatever heli I get next.

The Plank Project
You may recall in my last newsletter I said that I was going to get a plank to play with for something different after seeing Frazer Briggs fly. Sure enough, I picked up an already built Seagull Models 66 inch Edge 540 ARTF and Darryll and I spent pretty much all night getting the engine and radio gear mounted. The engine is a OS 91 SX-H and we put a Perry Pump on it and rigged up an intricate fuel supply system so it would NEVER be scavenging for fuel in hard maneuvers and had Futaba 9202 servos on all surfaces.
It was a very pretty little plank covered in red and white trim and I was immensely proud of it. Darryll and I got to the field early Sunday morning to have it's maiden flights. Double checked everything and Darryll took it up first since he's more experienced with fixed wing than I was. Everything seemed to be going great, it lifted off and was making it's way round the circuit when all of sudden while doing a gentle turn onto the downwind leg one of the elevators fell off followed shortly after by the right wing snaping clean off. We both stood there in disbelief as my pride and joy came crashing to the ground.
The old hands at the field examined the damage and weren't at all impressed with the build quality of the model or the materials used, apparently it wasn't at all strong enough. The wreckage went back to the guy I brought it off who has now fixed it up and is going to test fly it for me before giving it back. Here's hoping for a better result this time!

Market
The Buy/Sell Market has been growing also. It should be noted that this section will accept postings from all over the world, not just New Zealand. List your items free of charge! See the market at www.littlerotors.com/market/

Articles this issue are:

Pilot Profile: Curtis Youngblood
Current World F3C Champion and 3D legend Curtis Younglood answers a few questions. Click here

JR Challenge 2003
Review on an exciting new event we ran recently that allowed people of all skills to compete together to win the JR Challenge Shield! Click here

Feel free to contact me at simon@littlerotors.com at any time.

Si