Hotlanta
Douglasville, GA
July 19-20, 2014

This weekend, because of the low ceiling and typical summertime rainy weather presented a wonderful opportunity to do much "model" chat and fellowship. Despite the rainy elements, CD Dan Dougherty and his Assistant CD, Scott Sappington managed to work in 4 rounds for all but the Expert Class which flew the "charm", 3 rounds.

All the contesting was done on Saturday as the rain was just consistent on Sunday which led for some good "togetherness" under the dining pavilion at Douglas County Model Club Field about 11 AM EST on Sunday.

Friday afternoon lent for some good practice for the early arrivals one of which was Kendell Robinson, member of Kevin Clark's home club who flew 3D or something like that, but accepted Kevin's invitation to come fly B-Novice SPA pattern. He had a blast flying a huge SIMLA (the HUGE version of the Ed Kazmirski TAURUS) powered with a .50 OS Electric motor turning a 15.5x12 4-blade prop. He used 5000 to 5300 MAH power packs for "juice". That huge bird was smooth as silk. Kendell lives in Hendersonville, N.C. He was really pleased when challenged to execute precision maneuvers, with more good SPA members to assist and welcome him to the SPA ranks.

Roy Thompson K'd two rounds as did Dan Dougherty in Sportsman, Thompsons 3rd round score was 966 compared to Dan's 952 and that was the margin of the close win for Roy. Duane Wilson suffered the only casualty of the weekend, rekitting his beloved TAURUS of many years when he lost sight of it behind a judges' tent. We sympathize with Duane in his loss. He declared, "the wing appears OK but will have to remake the fuselage". Duane was 3rd in SPORTSMAN.

In ADVANCED, Mr. May K'd 3 of the 4 rounds for a total 3000, Dave Phillips III amassed 2890.

EXPERT flew 3 rounds of which Greg Hoke, Warner Robins, GA, won 2 for 1st place. Kevin Clark was just behind him with 2971, and Jamie Strong missed part of one of the 3 rounds and was 3rd in that class. The BIG class (as has been the case this season) was SENIOR EXPERT with 7 entries. Jeff Owens continued his "dominance" of the class this season with 3K's of the 4 rounds and a max of 3000. Right on his heels with one K and total of 2965 was Bruce Underwood. Russ Chiles did "some of the best flying he has done", according the Bill Collins who judged him 2 rounds, taking home 3rd place. Keith Watson, Dave Phillips (DAD), Bill Dodge and Jim Johns finished in that order.

Highlights of the event occurred on Sunday morning under the Dining Pavilion when several containers of CA and 1/2 dozen or more caps were raffled then the BIG prizes of said raffle went to Warner Robins, GA with Greg Hoke (Magnum .91 4S engine) and Guntersville, AL (Carolina Customs Curare Kit) with Bruce Underwood.

The crowd "marveled" Sunday morning when Roy Thompson brought out his "PHANTOM DRONE" and allowed anyone that wanted to to fly it, demonstrating how easy is was to fly, anyone can do it. He wowed the folks with actual screen-captures of the crowd relayed to his video receiver mounted to the transmitter. He allowed it to return, on it's own, to the point of departure which to the craft, according to Thompson, was it's "home". Roy is a retired aerial survey pilot and declared "if we'd only had something this high-tech in the early years, it would have made my job much easier". Your reporter took a close shot of Roy's video screen for this articles' accompanying photos. It's amazing the technology that must go into his drone-craft.

Keith Watson, a constant improvisor, showed us his home-made "epoxy-warmer" and a photo appears of this ingenious gadget.

Dan Dougherty, Curtis (Pres. of Douglas Model Club), clubmembers, wives, Scott Sappington (Ass't CD and Chief Judge), and Jim Johns who did much of the scoring, everyone involved.....your hospitality was so congenial, "we totally forgot that it rained most of the weekend". You folks turned a rain-shortened weekend into a delightful memory-making event. We are SO grateful.

Bruce Underwood, SPA PIO

Click here for photos