Mint Julep 2009 Scale Meet Review

[pitviper51]

Hi everyone,

As everyone knows this past week all the hype has been on Joe Nall, we also know not everyone gets the privilege to go. For those of us in Kentucky and surrounding states there is another option for scale flying event. Every year for the past 30+ years Rough River State Park Kentucky Airport has hosted an event called the Mint Julep Scale Meet.
Since I live only about an hour away, many of my club members have told me of this event but I wasn’t able to go, until today. The weather has been a mess lately and today was no different, the day started with major thunderstorms early clearing just long enough for the first round of flights to begin. Late morning we where greeted by yet more rain, thankfully did not last long and flying resumed under clouds and windy conditions. This event is focused on mostly kit or scratch built airplanes to be flown to scale, but there was a few aerobatic aircraft as well. Though they had to fly ‘scale’ aerobatics it was still fun. Over all I would say 40+ participants flew today 2 rounds each. Very few mishaps occurred, but not to say there weren’t any close calls. (See photos) One competitor I talked with told me how the past few years the size of this event has dropped, as very few new pilots are getting into building their aircraft and favor the ARFs. It was also a common subject on how few younger pilots are not more interested in scale competition; being an aerobatic and 3d nut myself I kept my mouth shut. That goes to say however the time and skill needed to fly either style correctly and make it look good takes a lot of work and gas burned. All together it was a fun day and lots of great airplanes were flown and I will make it back next year and perhaps fly something in the event. Here are a few of the many photos I took today, a lot more to come soon on my own gallery.
mike
ps I will update with more details, to late to contine. enjoy

[ken6881]

The wind set apart the men from the boys. I got in all 4 Rounds which not many could say. This was my first competition I flew an extra 260 Hangar 9 27% There Totaled 78 airplanes with around 60 is h pilots

[flyjay77]

I was flying the pitts 12 35% , the wind did not bother me at all , although I onlky got in 2 rounds on saturday ,. Got up to the flight line on sunday and had left my tx on all night and that was it for me ,,

Ken6881 , we have a scale fun fly in Mcleansboro IL May 30 , flyer is on the event page of flying giants , would like to have you come fly with us .

[wizard]

I have been to this event twice. Both times were many years ago. I was impressed by the quality of the workmanship and the skill of the builders/pilots there. Thanks Mike for covering this event. I was driving all day Saturday and sleeping most of the day Sunday.

[ken6881]

I am going to try to make it but three weekends in a row might be a little tuff to do. I am going to columbus ohio IMAC event this weekend. I graduate may 29 which will not be over until 4 am saterday morning. But that said i might bring the trailer with me and drive up and sleep in the truck until 8 or so. Your Pitts was a very good looking plane and everone liked the smoke show after landing.

[pitviper51]

flyjay i did talk to you for a short while saturday i have alot of cool shots of the pitts, would have liked to see you ring it out hahah. same for you ken it was good seeing a few aerobats on the flight line,, tho that awsome 1/3 D-7 is just amazing. i got half of the photos online now, still have to set up gallery options lots more to come if my pc works haha..

http://mbphotos.exposuremanager.com/...009_scale_meet

it was fun talking to the folks there, several from my club have been going to this event for years, one of our founding memebers has not missed one yet. tho i will say i am looking forward to being closer to the action at XFC my lil 105mm doesnt zoom enough for scale patterns let me know what you think
mike

ps wizard photo coverage is fun, and if i can make back a few bucks to get better gear i can do it even better see you muncie

[pitviper51]

A few wallpapers for you. still looking for the 260..
mike

[flyjay77]

thank you for the photos , flight #2 I did some outside snaps after I had to go around for landing . Yea the smoke show is always fun!! at our scale fly in I may do some scale airshow stuff . as long as it is scale flying , specials through out the day are welcome , If someone comes I would like to have a 3D demo at lunch ..

Thank you all for the nice coments on the pitts . Aerobatics is scale as well , its good that rough river welcomes us and has a fun scale aerobatics class to fly in ,..,

Jason,

[pitviper51]

i seen that!, just gotta love a bipe invert snap my favorite move is one Jim did alot of, flying low across show center and pop up elevator and thorw in the inverted snaps.. oohhhh soo cool. and bipes make it look even more painful. no prob on the pics, there are more on the site, lot more to upload yet, alot of the air shot are dark from the overcast, but some are ok
mike