Fancy flier cleared for takeoff
Robin Kirkpatrick loves to soar.
For years he’s been captivated by the challenge to maneuver his sleek “Spirit Elite” electric-powered model plane on currents of air, using only a handheld remote radio control.
In competition, he must keep his plane aloft for a specific period of time and then expertly guide it down to a fixed landing spot.
“It takes a lot of practice,” said the Spokane certified automobile mechanic, “and, it’s a lot of fun.”
Around 25 years ago, Kirkpatrick helped organize the Inland Empire Soaring Society. This weekend he’ll be out flying his small aircraft at the “Electric Fun Fly” at Mt. Spokane High School.
This past May, Kirkpatrick was director of the Ed Huffman Memorial Day Flying Contest at Farragut State Park in North Idaho. On that weekend he was one of several contestants parked at the field in their recreational vehicles.
He and his wife, Betty, dry camped for three days in their 1987 Auto Mate 30-foot travel trailer.
In addition to using the trailer during flying contest weekends, the Kirkpatricks take their rig for camping trips to “whatever is out there within a 200-mile radius,” said the longtime RVer.
“There are so many places to see in the Northwest,” he continued, “you can go to a different place every weekend all summer long for 10 years and never touch any of it twice.”
‘Electric Fun Fly’
Today and Sunday many IESS members will be doing crazy demonstrations and flying drills during the “Bill Weirauch Electric Fun Fly” at the Mt. Spokane High School athletic field. There will be entertaining contests like balloon popping and touch-and-go competition.
“We are all model airplane enthusiasts with an emphasis on quiet flying,” said IESS president Lynn Pilant. “We do things like thermal and slope soaring.”
Pilant, who has been flying model airplanes “way back before dirt,” said model planes have changed “a lot” since he first became fascinated with it.
“I started out assembling planes with tissue paper and balsa wood when I was 8-years old,” he recalled. “In those days they were free-flight, rubber band-powered planes.”
“Today,” he mused, “it’s a little more sophisticated. When you get old enough you can buy the good stuff.”
For more information
“ The IESS meets on the first Thursday of each month at the Shari’s Restaurant at 320 N. Sullivan Road in Spokane Valley. Folks gather at 6:30 p.m. for food and “hanger flying,” with the meeting beginning at 7 p.m.
Dues for new members are $10; renewals are $25 per calendar year. For more information go to www.inlandempiresoaring.org, or contact IESS president: Lynn Pilant at 534-6999, email lgaa@webband.com; or treasurer Dave Moore at 292-2690.
“ North Idaho Championships on Sept. 3-4 at Farragut State Park, four miles east of Athol, Idaho. Flying begins at 9:30 a.m. Self-contained RVs can park at the upper parking lot at the field. Spectators can watch the competition for free, but must pay the park usage fee of $4 per day at the park entrance.
“ For Farragut State Park camping reservations call (208) 683-2425 or go online to www.idahoparks.org/parks/farragut.html. Prices vary between $7-$28 per day, depending on campsite and amenities.
Wheel answer – ‘Sanitizing Laundromat’
A while back Wheel Life readers Roy and Betty Retrouvaille wrote: “We plan on hitting the road full time for a year or so starting this fall. We have RV’ed before and the biggest problem for me is Laundromats. I hate them. Do you have any suggestions on how to clean/disinfect washing machines and dryers before I use them?”
After researching the subject on the Internet and asking Cheryl-Anne Millsap, resident expert on all things domestic at the newspaper, the collective recommendation is to do a bleach-only pre-wash.
Pour a cup of disinfectant (ammonia, chlorine bleach) into the empty washing machine. Then complete a 15-minute cycle at the hot water setting. If chlorine bleach cannot be used, use oxygen bleach.
Also wipe clean with a disinfectant cleaner all surfaces that come into contact with the laundry, including folding tables, countertops and tops of washers and dryers. If odor persists, wash with a solution of one teaspoon baking soda and a quart of water, or a solution of one cup of vinegar or household ammonia in one gallon of water.