Matt Chapman Airshows- Lazer Z230

[ferocious frankie]

Just too cool! Awesome! I definitely see the model airplane influence on Matt's flying. It's simple Matt, you're a bad-ass!

[66stang]

Dang Matt, when I was at Joe Nall and asked you for a Fataba hat. I knew I should have had you sign it. Dadgum#$@$

[Matt Chapman]

The Lazer first flew in 1987. It had a wing built by Wayne Barton in CO... It was built for a show pilot Joann Ostorude (sp?)... she ended up not using the wing. the fuse was built buy Ray Williams in TN back in the late 70s... he used the Stephens Acro plans, then he had a kid working for him...Richard Giles....yes... the G-200 guy and he welded up a tail design and changed the fuse from a concept that was the Z-200 series of Lazers. It all ended up out in Battle Ground Washington owned by a fellow named Rod Ross as I recall... He passed away and I ened up with the project. I finished it up and flew it for two years. At my last airshow of the season, rather large pieces of wood were falling into the cockpit from the wing root.... not good. The original Stephens design had major wing design problems... So... I begged Jon Staudacher to build me a wing. He really didnt want to as he was involved with other cool things at the time... Sooooo ... a really cool guy... Len Ruluson (sp?) now in the Tucson area and an RC'er was in the final stages of building a Lazer wing for his plane under Jon's watchful eyes... and he offered it to me! Put that wing on and flew it about 400 hours. AWSOME wing. Still looks like new. I sold the plane in 95 to a kid in Ohio. He only flew it about 5 hours over 3 years...He fell in love..... nuff said. He sold it to a guy in Sussex NJ.. My plane ended up in Leo Loudenslagers hanger at Sussex airport where the Laser was invented! How cool is that? Angelo sold the plane a few years later when he bought Mike Goulians Extra 300-S... a fellow in Saratoga Springs NY bought, Hilton Tollman. Hilton flew it for a long time in advanced. He ended up selling about a year and a half ago to a fellow in NH. I was at my airport one evening two years ago. A few people gathered and were waiting for a plane to come in. They asked me if I could contcat a plane they were waiting for. I told them no, but asked what it was... they said... A Bucker Jungmeister! WHAT? with that... this Jungmeister appeared and landed, taxied in and I knew the guy! Paul Russo... a really cool guy..he had flown the plane from south Florida that day. he was spending the night...so I offered to keep in my hager for the night with my stuff, including my Bucker Jungmann project. He was greatful.... hung out at our airshow the next day, and then off he went. turns out...Paul bought my Lazer. So, now the Lazer Z-230 in in NH, with that Bucker Jungmeister. Thats my story.... and I'm stickin to it!
Now, arnt you sorry you asked?

[Mitsu1]

Wow, that's some super flying. The plane really reminds me of Leo's Laser, but ... (The flying style reminds me of Leo even more than the plane!) I have several professional videos of Leo's airshows and he did a lot of very similar outside maneuvers as well. did Leo's style influence your flying style back then?

The plane ... How much did that Z230 weigh? I know Leo's Laser weighed about 850 lbs. That Z230 really appeared to be light as well. I've seen you in person flying the Cap and although an awesome performance, I don't recall it appearing as agile as that Z230 just looked. Was that a standard NACA airfoil or something custom? As seen several Lasers and Caps over the years, and although it I know it depends a lot on the pilot style, it seems to me that pilots feel more comfortable doing close to the ground work in Lasers than they do in Caps. I just don't recall seeing many Caps doing inverted ribbon cuts. Any thoughts, Matt?

[Mitsu1]

Most of my questions were just answered ...while I was typing them out ...

[66stang]

That's a cool story Matt, really cool that Leo Loudenslagers had it for awhile. Just kinda makes you think!.

[ULTIMATE1]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Mitsu1
	Wow, that's some super flying. The plane really reminds me of Leo's Laser, but ... (The flying style reminds me of Leo even more than the plane!) I have several professional videos of Leo's airshows and he did a lot of very similar outside maneuvers as well. did Leo's style influence your flying style back then? The plane ... How much did that Z230 weigh? I know Leo's Laser weighed about 850 lbs. That Z230 really appeared to be light as well. I've seen you in person flying the Cap and although an awesome performance, I don't recall it appearing as agile as that Z230 just looked. Was that a standard NACA airfoil or something custom? As seen several Lasers and Caps over the years, and although it I know it depends a lot on the pilot style, it seems to me that pilots feel more comfortable doing close to the ground work in Lasers than they do in Caps. I just don't recall seeing many Caps doing inverted ribbon cuts. Any thoughts, Matt?

Lets see some of these professional videos of LEO flying posted !!!!!!!!!!!

[RappyMan]

I'd like to see the routine sheet & give it a try with RC - maybe I can pause it at just the right time in the video. The zwobble turn is cool - sort of an upward blender that keeps the flat spin going?

Thanks
Terry

[Mitsu1]

	Quote: Originally Posted by ULTIMATE1
	Lets see some of these professional videos of LEO flying posted !!!!!!!!!!!

I'll try when I have time. They are all on VHS and will have to be transfered. He does an inverted ribbon cut and then an outside 1 1/4 negative snap to knife edge right on the deck. ... wicked!

[Matt Chapman]

No, Leo never owned it. It simpley ened up in his old hangar. Leo had already passed.

The plane came in at 930 lbs. Not too heavy, but then Leo was also obsessed with weight. He would drill holes in everything.

Yes...Leo was a huge influance on me. I still love the way he flew. His focus and intensity was unmatched. Hecalled me one night and we talked for a hour or so about how to approach competition flying. It was very cool. Leo's inverted ribbon cut and his outside snap after was a ball buster. That had to have been the hardest push I had ever seen at the time. And lowwwwwwwwwww.

Not sure why you have the impression that Lazers fly lower... most likely due to the fact the not too many CAPs here state side being flown by experianced show pilots. Some that have them are excellent pilots, just not 100% show guys/gals. Also, with me, I just have become....well.... older...I want to die in bed..with a hot babe next to me at the ripe old age of 85 plus. Not in some smoldering hole in the ground in front of thousands of people only to be forgotten the next week and played time and time again on CNN.

I will leave that really low flying to the new guys and the guys that are out there doing it all the time making a living at it. I no longer have anything to prove. I'm happy doing a good, safe demo without pushing the limits.

next question.

[ULTIMATE1]

Man I'm glad I dug up this old video of you matt and the story behind it? Here is a pic of Leo's Laser 200 with the original Ultimate 10-300s in the background that Joanne Osteraud set the world record for longest inverted flight leaving Abbottsford International Airshow flying to Prince Geoge Inverted!!

[Mitsu1]

Hey, I certainly understand leaving that dangerous on the deck stuff to the young guys, and I agree you've made your mark and have nothing to prove. A great guy and a super pilot for sure. I bow to any and all of you guys that go out and bring the thrills to all of us.

how much does the cap weigh? Is it truly more agile than the smaller and lighter lazer?