Polar Bear 2003

This years Polar Bear was in the air (pun intended) until the evening before the event. The weather had a mind of its own and it was not allowing the mind readers (weather people) to read it this year. Finally on New Years morning the weather turned out halfway decent with slightly strong winds straight down the runway out of the north and temperatures in the high 30's. 

Once again this year we had the pavilion enclosed (many thanks to John and Matt for getting the doors up again this year) and the bathroom heated. Many requests have gone out to figure out a way to heat the seats (without the use of open flame) for next year. Turn out was great with an open invitation to the members of the Tri-County R/C Club out of Mattoon, IL. 

1st Group shot. 

2nd Shot, much better.

People weren't quite ready for this one. 

Matt helping Bob Stout get his airplane started.

Bob Stout flying his Midwest Extra with Moki 2.1

Bob Stout and Bill Snowden from the Tri-County Club.

3 of the Tri-County members. (L to R) Steve Epperson, Roy Gould, Terry Claypool

Bill Snowden and Roy getting Bill's airplane started.

Terry's DragonLady

Steve and Terry, Steve flying his DragonLady

Terry tearing up the sky (and the silence) with his straight piped YS 1.40 on his DragonLady

Terry starting the noisemaker to end all noisemakers. 

Steve's DragonLady on touchdown. 

Terry's DragonLady on takeoff, it doesn't take a very long rollout with that YS 1.40

Flyby of the DragonLady, you can hurt your neck trying to keep up with it. 

(L to R) Keith Walker (didn't get the memo to act like he was watching the airplanes flying around), Bob Holmes and Club President Tony Young. 

Why doesn't everyone stay outside like this when Matt fly's??

These guys only stayed out because they stood between the building and Matt's truck mostly betting he wouldn't hit his own truck.

(What they didn't realize is he left the tailgate open because he planned to harrier his Edge 540 into the car and park it, backwards!!!)