Sunday Morning: Clear and calm to start, there is a light to moderate easterly breeze now. Friday it rained and blew, but wasn't too bad as there were some sunny spells but Saturday was really cold and windy at just 8C with dark cloud. I re- covered the model yesterday whilst listening to the "doom and gloom" on the computer (Reaing football).

Today I looked out of the window and at 8-30am it was dead calm, so I decided I would test fly the Skylark. I still had to pack the radio gear back into it with the foam padding, but that only took a minute to do.  As I hadn't cut the grass since the other day, I used the lower runway to take off and the model rose gently into the sky, no trim changes although the motor is a little more audible now, guess I grazed the bearing. The prop driver is also bent a little, but not where the prop sits, so the nut looks a little excentric, but the prop is running ture, it will do until I order a replacement.

I flew the model for 5 minutes then landed as I wanted to apply more downthrust to the motor. I had intended to do this anyway, so I added two washers under each side on the top motor mount position. I think I will add a couple more yet too as it did improve things.

The model flys just as well as before and after two flights and two perfect landings, she is back on her wall looking as good as new.

I have also had a couple of flights with the Bixler this morning and found a couple of nice areas of lift in the building easterly breeze.

Thursday Nght: Disaster! The Skylark has had a serious accident, an accident called stupidity, old age... pilot error. Anyway yesterday dawned dead calm, clear and sunny, for the first time in ages it seems. At 7am I was way too tired to go outside. This time the clocks changing has really messed with me. At 8am it was brighter and still calm, so I grabbed the Skylark from the studio inside, grabbed the transmitter and went out to the strip.

I turned on the transmitter and wiggled the sticks and all controls moved, as I accelerated I was surprised at first how well it went through the thickening clover, but as it reached take off speed to lift off, the nose dug in and I aborted. I decided to do a  hand launch instead and under full power the model went up to 50 feet. It takes a couple of seconds after a hand launch before your fingers get back to the sticks and you take control, but as I did something was horribly wrong, the model was uncontrolable, I shut the throtel and tried to turn back toward the strip but as I did the model went into a vertical dive straight into a pile of rocks... Not good.

The damage was severe, every former to the back of the wing was either destroyed or seriously broken, the fuselage side was split and punctured where the servo tray and wing seating plates had ripped out, the rudder servo was broken. The left hand front end of the nose was destroyed for 4 inches, prop destroyed, wheel disloged. The first 2 inches of rear fuselage top decking was also broken with a split in the side where the wing had ripped off.

The wing was damaged in three places, both right and left wing leading edges had at least 4inches of crush damage from individual rocks all the way through the leading edge, leading edge sheet and ribbs right to the main spar, the left wing was also completely  broken off half way along where the aileron begins resulting in the aileron servo also being stripped.

The battery has some front end damage, (but is holding a charge), ESC and reciver seemed OK, the motor has a graze from a rock, (but the main shaft is OK and the motor runs true with a new prop) Prop was destroyed and the two servo's mentioned. What a bloody mess! I didn't feel like takng a photo of it, perhaps in hind sight I shoud have, but it looked broken

I glanced at the transitter and it dawned on me I hadn't changed the model, it was set to Bixler, not Skylark, Dick head! I checked the controls, but I didn't take notice as this setting caused the elevator to work in reverse. First clue was the nose digging in when I tried to lift off, so after the hand launch my turn back toward the strip would have included some "up elevator" and with the resulting dive I would have added more, except it was set to down.... So as i said old age, stupidity, breaking the number one pre flight check rule, at least it explains why. After that I certainly didn't feel like flying anymore and spent the rest of the day (except 2 hours trip to town and luch) working to try to fix it.

I had to remove a lot of the covering and then cut out all the damged parts. Using cyno I fixed the splits in the fuselage. I rejoined the broken part of the wing with cyno, it went back together very well indeed and I would be sure of no loss of strength there. Next I set about cutting out the sections of broken leading edge and all the broken ribs, at least 5. I had to cut out large sections of the leading edge sheet too and I removed some interspar webbing that had split with the twist of the impact, but fortunatly there was only the one mentioed break in the main spars and the all improtant centre section was OK. the right wing still has 2/3 of it's covering in place

Once everything was removed, it was time to start repairing what could be repaired and replacing the rest. It took all day yesterday and a couple of hours today, but I am pleased to say that I have now reconstructed the model completely. It has a new front end including engine former and nose leg former, the wing has been rebuilt and the new leading edge sheet fitted in very well.

It is back hanging on it's curtain rail tonight ready to be re-covered. I am pleased with how well it has gone back together and once re covered will look none the worse for wear, in fact I also repaired the dent I put in the wing last week, so it will look new again. Stupid thing is that I do enjoy rebuilding them, it would have to be pretty bad for me not want to. It should be flyable again sometime tomorrow, although the wind is back and the forecast is for rain, so waiting game begins again I suspect.

Tuesday Morning: Very windy, mostly sunny, feels cold even though it's 17C - I have no idea how we would cope in the UK temperatures. The wind must be blowing the red dust around becuae I keep having sneezing fits and a blocked nose, in fact I haven't been right for the whole month having suffered from some sort of flu and a chesty cough the whole time, which is only slowly improving.

As it was Easter Monday yesterday, there were quite a few visitors to the plaza. Spanish families tend to visit the plaza during these holiday weekends and often sit and eat and play ball games, some even let off fireworks.

Tammy and Lucy keep watch from the kitchen terrace.....

Growling like a dog, Tammy spots some "intruders"

Amber joins in too.....

Later there was a little black dog in the garden barking at the cats, when I went chase it away I saw a kite flying very close, I soon realised it was flying from the bancale, so I went to invstigate.

It turned out to be Javea and Maria from the restaurant, with their family. I thought it was nice they felt they could come here and fly their kite, after all as Javea pointd out, this is the only place in Pinos with enough space and no trees..... At least there is no chance of me wanting to fly at the same time!

Here's a picture from the other day, an orange moon rises over the Med, the lemon tree is lite by the plaza lights.....

Good Friday Afternoon: Dark and Cloudy, very windy but mild at 23C. Yesterday was sunnier in the morning, and very mild, up to 24C and the warmest day this year, but then it clouded over and got cooler. I went to town and managed to get some tablets for the pool at last, also the vaccue hose had a different fitting to the one on the pool, but I managed to get the right one and was able to clean the pool reasonably well, it certainly looks a lot better today and it's at a stage now I can get it back from.

On Wednesday afternoon we had to take Beccie to Benidorm for a scan, we got there at 3-45pm and left at 7pm...  This follows a scan at Denia on Monday and she has more appointments durng the comming weeks, it's all the one year tests. Trouble is she has developed a terrible phobia of the hospitals, (can't blame her, so have we) so it makes it all a lot harder. On top of that it's a year since the major incident wth her breathing began, so with ongoing visits to Denia hospital, it's all very upsetting. It would make it so much easier if they could keep to their times, but they never can by hours, so anxiety and frustraion creep in and make it all horrible again.

Tuesday Night: Cloudy and very windy, 19C (but it didn't feel like it) in fact it was so windy in the night it blew my weathervane over - and that's bolted to a concrete block! So the first job this morning was to go up on the casita roof and stand it back up, which I did in a different place. Stupid thing is that Benno's vane points to the South West whilst mine points to the North West, yet they are just 25 meters apart.....??? No wonder I have so many probems landing my models!

Sunday and Monday were also very windy (no flying) but mild. 18C

Last Night we had a gorgeous sunset, here are some pictures.

Looking to the east and the Mediterranean Sea (in the valley)

Looking toward the house from the driveway

Looking north through the gates...

Saturday Evening: Today started out cloudy, then there was a sunny bit followed by thickening cloud, we are due for rain in the next few hours and the cloud build up is the front moving in. Actually I think it's the hight movng away again and the forecast confirms this with a return to strong westerly winds and unsettled weather for as far as we can see.

Last evening there was only a gentle breeze and I was able to fly my V911 helicopters outside in the courtyard.. I was having great fun, some of the cats were watching and seemed tot want to play, which was even more fun, bit hairy when you are dueling with one in the top of the almond tree, although I didn't crash.... In the end I flew both models and all packs, then went online and ordered more ..... only $8US for 5 more batteries including postage! V911 is virtually indesturctable and a great way to learn how to fly the proper model heli's....(ie 450 size)

I got up qiute early again and did have a fly with Skylark, but I wasn't really in the mood at first, it was a bit uneven, but not too bad. Later on. I  flew both the Bixler and Lady B, Jose the water man stopped his truck on the road and watch me fly Bixler for several minutes, so I did a few passes in his direction.. All flights had nice landings today.

I did the shopping in the afternoon,  I was a litter later than usual today and didn't get back until 5-30pm, it was reasonably calm still so I flew the Skylark again.... Love it!

Friday Evening: Today was clear and sunny, 20C and there was only a light easterly breeze most of the day. I looked out of the window at 8am and it was dead still and I thought this is going to be 9am next week, so may as well get used to it. I had a whole hour of still conditions during which time I flew the Skylark and the Bixler.

As the day went on the wind did get stronger, but it remained directly from the east which produces areas of lift from time to time, which is perfect for the Bixler to soar. Today it was random, but in between thermals I used her motor to gain height again.

In the afternoon there had been a long calm spell, so I decided to put the Bixler up again, bit it was only airborne for about 5 minutes when the wind quickly changed to the south east and turned the air to "scrambled eggs". Flying isn't an issue, but landing is.... I flew out into the South valley to approach and found the model was being sucked downwards, it took full power to escape. As I approached I held the model level and it arrived over the terrace at just 300mm, perfect for a landing, then a gust thrust it up 3M and with no airspeed, promptly dumped it in the nearest almond tree.... Bit embarrassing if someone was watching from the restaurant as I'm sure they were!.

Chrissie bought me a weather vane for my birthday, it had to be ordered and has been a while, but I received it yesterday and fitted it this afternoon. With that and Benno's one back up, I now have a reasonable idea where the wind is.

In the end it dropped completely and I had two Skylark flights back to back, I love it! It's a dream. Finished with Bixler 9 or 10 flights today, lost count

Thursday Night: I woke up early and looked ut the window, at 8am there was no wind, at 8-20 I decided to go and take advantage and flew the Skylark in perfect still air, really nice. Second flight was Pioneer, but I cut it short as the wind began to build. Good job I did, the wind got really strong again, although it was 18C, clear and sunny as well.

No I haven't suddenly built another one, this is the Super Skylark, big brother to my original Skylark design and a prototype - a project I began nearly 7 years ago and which has been "on hold" ever since, mainly due to an unwelcome but equal warp in both wings, which must have happened during building. This has been the main reason it was never finished, but the other day I sat down and "reconstructed" some sections of the wing in order to eliminate the warp. The model has the Axi 2826/12, my original electric motor, which can fly a model up to 3Kg. Awaiting servo's and solarfilm to complete.

As it is it weighs 1.060 kg (2lb 3 oz's) which is the airframe, wheels and motor. I added up all the other bits, including a 3300mah battery, ESC, servo's and receiver and it comes to 1.422 Kg ( about 3lb 2oz ). Then there is covering, but that isn't much. Wingspan is 58" (1.470M) x 45" long (1.150M) So I am expecting it to weigh just  under 1.5kg (about 3 1/2 lbs) Very light for this size of model.

Tuesday mid day. Clear and sunny 18C, medium easterly breeze. The strong wind blew relentlessy for the last two weeks, some days were very cold, others warmer, but you can't do anything when it's so windy But today started out calm and the air was just stirring at 8-50am.

I took the Skylark out for it's first flight since I added the colour trim, in fact it was only it's 3rd proper flight. But by 9am the wind was starting to blow from the east. After Skylark I also flew the Pioneer, but I had to cut that one short and land early due to the sudden uncrease in wind strength. It's impossibe to fly here with an easterly wind due to the turbulence caused by the village and the air falling into the valley behind.

A little later I tried a flight with the Bixler which at first was soaring, but again the wind changed and suddenly there was no lift, only sink.... I tried to land on the top terrace as normal, but as I approached the model was dragged down at the last second and hit the wall below head on, splitting the front of the fuselage along it's joint. Not a huge problem, in fact it's fixed already, but once again the trecherous turbulance here has become evident.

Update: The wind dropped about 6pm and I was able to have three more flights, first with the Lady B (it's been a while since she flew) then Skylark, which was concieved with these still warm evenings in mind.... She's absoloutly what I wanted, it's a pussy cat to fly, uses next to no power and I love landing it. Final flight was with the Bixler and I managed to find a thermal for a couple of minutes, so all in all a good day for flying.and all three landings tonight were "text book"

I, on the other hand am still suffering from some flu thing... I tried to do some gardning this morning and that ended up with a major coughing fit follwed by the afternoon asleep on the sofa, it had totally wiped me out. Kieran has been here today doing some gardening, so I had to drop him back to Jalon before I flew.

Thursday Evening: Another cold and windy day, it was clear and sunny, but it's far too windy to stay outside.

The floculante seems to be working in the pool, I was surprised how much, the bottom still resembles the Thames, but the water is much clearer than in the picture I took same time last evening as can be seen in this picture.