Replies

1. 
   ProDek | May 26, 2004 06:16pm | #1

   Nice shots Stan! What do they grow in all those nicely tilled fields?

   Does your son get to fly along side of you very much?

   "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

1. 
   StanFoster | May 27, 2004 04:44am | #2

   Bob:   Thanks....we grow corn and soybeans...a little wheat. 

   Here are some pictures I took while flying this evening.  It was smooth as glass.  This is a hy-hoe I have cleaning out a ditch of mine.  You can see my shadow.

1. 
   StanFoster | May 27, 2004 04:46am | #3

   cruising a river at low altitude.

1. 
   StanFoster | May 27, 2004 04:50am | #4

   I-57 looking sout towards Champaign, Il.    I accidently duplicated the same shot.

1. 
   StanFoster | May 27, 2004 04:51am | #5

   more cruising

2. 
   StanFoster | May 27, 2004 04:53am | #6

   still cruising

3. 
   CAGIV | May 27, 2004 05:56am | #7

   do you have a flight plan when you go up, or do you just go where the mood and the moment take you?

4. 
   StanFoster | May 27, 2004 06:17am | #8

   Cag:   I fly VFR...visual flight regulations.  I basically just fly where I want over open country.   You must maintain 500 feet from houses..but you can fly right down on the deck across fields.

5. 
   Shep | May 28, 2004 12:21am | #14

     Stan- nice pics (again ).

     One question, tho.  Who's flying the gyro copter while you're taking pictures? Do you steer with your knees while you're holding the camera, or do you have a better solution?

6. 
   StanFoster | May 28, 2004 05:13am | #17

   Shep:  I can fly with one hand...and take pictures....or I can put both hands in my lap and it actually flies better without my inputs.

7. 
   DougU | May 27, 2004 06:20am | #9

   Stan

   In light of the recent bad weather that hit the midwest I was wondering what you do if it gets bad. I assume you can drop her down almost anywhere if need be but how bad can the conditions be and you still get around safely.

   Doug

8. 
   StanFoster | May 27, 2004 01:48pm | #10

   Doug:   It will handle very high winds...but I dont like to fly in rain and will always steer clear of thunderstorms.  Lots of nasty turbulence in those.  My flying is for fun and its not fun in the rain...so it just sits in the hanger.

   However..lets say I were to get caught with thunder cells all around me....I would just land it on a blacktop...pasture...It will practically land in someones back yard if I had to.

9. 
   BossHog | May 27, 2004 09:57pm | #13

   Dad was at a fly-in at Zelmer airport near Palmyra last weekend. He said he saw a gyro-thingy that must be roughly like yours.

   He said the guy was trying to fly head on into a strong wind. Guess the wind was so strong the guy was actually moving backwards relative to the ground.

   Don't know if he was just goofing around, or if his machine was just underpowered. But it would be hard to get anywhere that way. (-:Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps.

10. 
    StanFoster | May 28, 2004 05:17am | #19

    Boss:  I was scheduled to fly to Palmyra last Saturday to the3 gyrocopter fly-in.  I was on the phone talking to one of the guys.....but the weather was awful.   The guy was playing with the wind with the gyro.....you can fly in a 25 mph wind and hover....and still go 60 mph ground speed against that wind if you want to.

11. 
    BossHog | May 28, 2004 02:37pm | #22

    I only live about 20 minutes from Palmyra. We sometimes go up to the fly-ins for breakfast and a plane ride.

    Hope you'll let us know if you plan to make it down for the next one.Stages in breaking up: 1. Yelling and chocolate, 2. Replacements, 3. Getting pissed with friends, and 4. Poetry. [Kate Armstrong]

12. 
    StanFoster | May 30, 2004 03:06pm | #23

    Was out flying yesterday and just enjoying gods creation.

    These were taken of Rantoul, Il.  You can see the old Chanute Air Force base.  The last one is Brookhill golf course.  

13. 
    StanFoster | May 30, 2004 03:11pm | #24

    Still cruising enroute to a friends private strip.  I landed and the beans in the background made a nice shot.

14. 
    StanFoster | May 30, 2004 03:19pm | #25

    down low checking out the hoes.

    These hi-hoes have been cleaning out a drainage ditch of mine. One half mile of brush that have been making the ditch jump its banks.

15. 
    MarkDikeman | May 28, 2004 02:58am | #15

    Stan-

    If you look real close in your I-57 pic you can see where I live.  I added an arrow so you can see better.

    Actually, I live in Savoy and work in Champaign.  I have seen your truck running around a few times.

    Keep the pics coming.

    Mark

16. 
    donpapenburg | May 28, 2004 05:05am | #16

    I think that you drew the arrow too big 'cause it covered your house.

17. 
    StanFoster | May 28, 2004 05:14am | #18

    Mark:  I will take some pictures of your place...give me the county road numbers..and I will set my GPS and fly to it.

18. 
    MarkDikeman | May 28, 2004 05:44am | #20

    Stan-

    I live just off of highway 45 (Neil street) in Savoy.  We are about 2 miles from Willard Airport.  How close can you get to an active airport?

    Mark

19. 
    StanFoster | May 28, 2004 02:23pm | #21

    Mark:   I have flown to Willard.  I dont like going into controlled airspace though...as I cant do what I want to. 

    Stan

2. 
   Junkman001 | May 27, 2004 08:45pm | #11

   Stan,

   Thanks for  being considerate in sizing your pictures , unlike some posted here.  Fifty leven hundred kilobytes. Mike

1. 
   Toolsguy | May 27, 2004 08:50pm | #12

   That is just too cool. I think I've seen your posts before, unless there is another poster who flies these too. Cant say that I would get in one personally but cool nonetheless.