GOOD PLANE FUN HOBBY FLIERS MEET AT LAKE.Byline: Eugene Tong tong 1 tr.v. tonged, tong·ing, tongs To seize, hold, or manipulate with tongs. [Back-formation from tongs. Staff Writer CASTAIC - Dozens of radio-controlled sea planes soared into the wild blue yonder yon·der adv. In or at that indicated place: the house over yonder. adj. Being at an indicated distance, usually within sight: "Yonder hills," he said, pointing. Sunday, ripping (1) Converting an audio CD from its native CD-DA format to MP3, AAC or some other compressed audio format. When the term was coined, it had a perverse meaning. Many loved the idea they were "ripping off" the music industry by making copyrighted works available in a compact format out figure-eights and barrel rolls barrel roll n. A flight maneuver in which an airplane makes a complete rotation on its longitudinal axis while approximately maintaining its original direction. Noun 1. like the best of their full-size cousins before gently setting down on Castaic Lake Castaic Lake is a lake on Castaic Creek formed by Castaic Dam, in northwestern Los Angeles County, California, near the town of Castaic. The 323,700 acre foot lake (399,000,000 m³) is the terminus of the West Branch of the California Aqueduct, though some comes from the 154 mi² . ``It's very graceful,'' said Jim Feldmann, 60, of Burbank, after a run at the third annual Castaic Floatfly. ``I don't dance, so this is my graceful (activity) - it's dancing in the sky.'' The Canyon Crosswinds flight club and the Castaic Lake Recreation Area organized the weekend gathering of radio-controlled aircraft Noun 1. radio-controlled aircraft - an aircraft without a pilot that is operated by remote control pilotless aircraft, drone heavier-than-air craft - a non-buoyant aircraft that requires a source of power to hold it aloft and to propel it , converting a strand along the lower lake into a miniature airfield for two days. ``We got takeoff on five,'' club President John Snider shouted into a megaphone as he played air traffic controller. ``Clear the way. Five, you're clear for takeoff.'' The club, which has about 80 active members ranging from teenagers to such veteran pilots as 73-year-old Ben Strasser, also maintains an airfield at the Castaic Lake Recreation Area. But nothing can beat the thrill of nail-biting water landings. ``You would think (landing on) the water's more forgiving,'' said Strasser, the club's secretary. ``But if a part hits the water too hard, it gets stuck. On land, it would just bounce and keep going.'' Once the province of hard-core hobbyists who fashioned planes from a box of sticks and a handful of drawings, most model airplane kits now come as a set of prefabricated pre·fab·ri·cate tr.v. pre·fab·ri·cat·ed, pre·fab·ri·cat·ing, pre·fab·ri·cates 1. To manufacture (a building or section of a building, for example) in advance, especially in standard sections that can be easily shipped and parts and with the designation ``ARF'' - almost ready to fly. Interest has been steadily growing, Strasser said. ``There is something mental about it,'' he said. ``We get lost in the air. There's nothing in your mind except for that airplane.'' ``It's a real treat to put that first plane together and watch it fly,'' said Dan Thordarson, 49, of Saugus, who has flown model airplanes for more than 20 years. ``They either fly, or meet their demise.'' Some began the hobby as children, but left it as they got older before returning, said Feldmann, a pilot for 15 years. ``A surprising number of people started when they were kids,'' he said. ``Then they discover girls and the planes go away. They take it up again 30 years later.'' Along the lake's edge, flight enthusiasts prepped their wings and compared notes while Snider, 49, of Canyon Country, kept an eye for incoming trouble. A wave-boarding event up the shore just rocked the water. ``We got a 3-foot swell coming in,'' he announced to the pilots, though it was probably closer to 3 inches. ``In something like this, we need all the exaggeration Exaggeration Bunyon, Paul legendary giant, hero of tall tales of the logging camps. [Am. Folklore: The Wonderful Adventures of Paul Bunyon] Jenkins’ ear trivial cause of a great quarrel. [Br. Hist. we can get.'' But jesting jest n. 1. A playful or amusing act; a prank. See Synonyms at joke. 2. A frolicsome or frivolous mood: spoken in jest. 3. An object of ridicule; a laughingstock. 4. aside, it's a serious job, especially when it comes to warning bystanders about stray planes. ``When you have a 5-pound plane and it's flying at about 100 mph, you're talking about 500 pounds of energy hurtling at you,'' Strasser said. A license and insurance were required from all pilots. After circling over the lake, a plane had a rough landing, snapping off one of its landing skis. A rescue boat crew leaped into action, recovering the craft. ``We have this joke - a plane's only $300, but you spend $1,000 on the boat to rescue it,'' Strasser said. Eugene Tong, (661) 257-5253 eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) A radio-controlled plane lands on water at the Castaic Floatfly, organized by the Canyon Crosswinds flight club and the Castaic Lake Recreation Area. (2) A helicopter flown remotely hovers over Castaic Lake at the third annual event on Sunday morning Sunday Morning may refer to:
Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer |
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