Top Gun 2008 here we go

[dave_shulman]

Top Gun 2008 is going to get started in 2 days (23rd of April) and should be a great event considering it's the 20th anniversary! For the 1st time invited pilots can return with aircraft that have flown in 3 previous TG's, the rules state after 3 years, the model can no longer compete, but it's been lifted this year for the 20th anniversary.

A good friend from England, Ali Machinchy has come over early and is flying my friends big F-86 Sabre jet and my brother and I are both flying 1/5th scale F-16's. Over the weekend we practiced quite a bit and critiqued each others flying.

Here's a few photos, and there should be some neat aircraft as usual at TG '08.

[Kevin Y]

Good luck Dave and Jason. The pics Jason sent of the test flight on your F-16 were awesome. I wish I could see the plane in person because it looks so good.

[yakwrecker]

Good luck all, I hope to see my buddies Jim Hiller and Gerry Kerr to be on top. Good luck guys! Bring it home

[Gordito Volador]

David,

Good luck to you and Jason, oh yeah, and Ali too. Kay and I will see you there in a few days.

Best Regards, Bill

[JAS]

Day 1 is in the books. I don't have my camera cord right now, but when I get back I'll flood some pics. The weather is almost perfect down here. Mid-80's and not many clouds. Only thing is there is a 10-15 crosswind, but those that are familiar with Top Gun know... that's normal.

In Pro-Am pro, Brian O'Meara is 1st (Sea Fury) and Dino DiGiorgio is in 2nd (ME-109). I didn't look at the scoreboard as I knew that last is last and that's the place I'm holding down. I'll get pics of it for tonight after we get back. Incredible aircraft out there yesterday and this isn't even when the most detailed planes are out. I've got some pics of a P-47 with the gun's and ammo in the wing panel, a P-51 with "people" hanging out around it and of course a few jets here and there. But it looks like the WW2 planes are winning Pro right now. More later, time to go enjoy Top Gun again.

[Chris Puckett]

Good Luck Shulmans and Dino

[jtec/radiowave]

Uncle JAS,

Good luck as if you need it although David is flying right!! Hey if you get a chance let me know How Danny C is doing with the laser

Have fun
Al

[VKGT]

Found this video today:

http://gizmodo.com/382748/top-gun-20...n-in-the-world

[Bamm-o]

The Combat team and I are leaving tomorrow to head on out to Top Gun. For those of you who want to see some team do combat testing, we will be the Mulberry field testing the planes friday afternoon. We will be putting some demos on in Top Gun around noon. look for us! you will probably see some mid air collisions and some crashes so, it was pretty good last year lol

[JAS]

http://www.franktiano.com/TopGunFrameset.htm for those who want to check out past results, current rules (including the point deductions or bonus rules) and pics from last year.

Back from another sunburned day of flying. The winds were a bit nicer as they have crept to almost down the runway for us, still at the 10-15. More sun, and much more fun. I've personally moved from last to next to last by almost a point.

Brian O'Meara is clearly going to be the one to beat as he has the 2 highest scores so far. Dino DiGiorgio, Marco Benincasa (Italy) and Jason Somes are duking it out for 2nd, 3rd and 4th, with about 6 more gathered tightly to finish out the top 10 in the Pro portion.

In the Am portion, John Boyko is picking up where he left off from last year and leading, with about 3 guys all hinting that they are ready to challenge his scores, Danny C one of them.

There were a few more of the Expert/Team/Masters pilots taking to the air this afternoon after the Pro-Am flights were done. Tomorrow should be another great weather day and the last of the planes arriving ready for static judging and more flying. Off to dinner and if back early enough, I'll try and post some pics.

[50%plane]

Anyone flying an F-105?

[Wild Thang]

I'll be there.