CSP Show May 2009

Almost since the inception of the Open House Weekend festivities at the various state parks here in South Dakota the Rapid City Propbusters have performed demonstrations at Custer State Park as one of the official events of the weekend. For most of those years the shows were held at the airport in the park. Then, some years back, we started splitting the locale between the airport and Stockade Lake. For the past few years we have been presenting float flying demonstrations at Stockade Lake on both days of the weekend.

This year’s Open House Weekend started on Friday, May 15, 2009 and ended on Sunday, May 17, 2009. We used our allotted free campsites at Stockade Lake North Campground on Friday and Saturday nights. Saturday dawned pretty cold and fairly windy and the lake had some significant waves that persisted throughout our morning flying time. Nonetheless we flew steadily throughout the morning without any significant mishaps. Members flying on Saturday were Bob Olson, Ken Gatzke, Ken Corrin, George Stone, John Kellogg and Doc McGuigan. Our new member from Custer, Tom Perkarna brought along a 60 pound steam powered tugboat that had one voyage which was cut short because it was taking on water. Don Thorson, our long-time friend from Newcastle, WY also turned up and flew his Seamaster 120.

Sunday was a much more pleasant day for us and for the spectators. The wind was dead calm and the water was glassy smooth when we arrived and started setting up. A little breeze and a few ripples finally developed as the morning wore on but we enjoyed some of the best flying weather we have ever had at CSP. Ken Gatzke was unable to show up on Sunday but Denny Bernal was able to come and fill out our ranks for the day. Tom Perkarna’s tugboat, now water tight, spent a lot of time cruising around the lake. We never did press it into service as a rescue boat, but that may be a possibility for the future.

Denny Bernal was presented with the Farkle Fickle Flying Fish award for flying three different planes on Sunday and managing to do some damage to each of them. Spectators numbered around 100 each day and a good day was had by all. Our rescue boat saw considerable action and the new seats and newly varnished transom were great assets. I believe we are all looking forward to next year’s event. Both before and after the CSP show we had several more days of float flying.

We had several mornings of impromptu testing on good weather week days. On Sunday, May 31st we had a Float Fly at New Underwoood Lake, CD’d by Ken Corrin. Five or six floaters showed up on the 31st and were met by sunny skies and a glassy smooth lake in spite of a forecast for wind and rain. Lots of good flying ensued with the only casualty being the canopy of Doc’s water bomber. He did not let the missing canopy hold him back however -- he made a couple of flights after the loss with the open cockpit version.

We gained another couple of float fliers too. We let Terry and Penny Rambo fly Mike Wagner’s old Ready float plane one time and they were hooked. They took the plane home with them and I hear it is already re-engined and spiffed up for the next float event. By the way that event is coming up at the end of June, so make sure all your watertight doors are latched ad the canopy is firmly attached. Here we go again.