Scores have been posted on the 2009 Polecat Challenge page!

The biggest and baddest handlaunch contest in the US is BACK – June 12-14, 2009! Check out the Polecat Challenge 2009 page for more information!

Polecat will continue to produce the SideWinder II series of DLG’s and of course the Lapdancer and WindDancer electric sailplanes along with Guppys, Push-E-cats, etc. I can no longer work 7 days a week and long days. I’ve had 3 major surgeries since January and that will pretty much take the “tough” right out of you!

The XP-5 will be available from a young man named Dan Stang – you can contact him here: rts.readytosoar@yahoo.com

The EZBD will be available from Mark Miller at isthmusmodels.com.

Friends and customers of Polecat Nation. I’ve put off writing this for a long time but I think an explanation is in order. To most of you, who know me, this is old news but there are obviously folks out there who are dealing here for the first time:

Some of you have tried to contact me and not had any success or possibly placed an order and it is taking longer than expected. In the past 3 years I have had 4 total knee replacements in the same leg. I’m obviously one of those lucky folks who doesn’t accept replacement parts very well. In January I went into the hospital for repair/replacement of my kneecap. When they opened the knee up there was more wrong than anticipated and I ended up getting a total replacement. This one would not heal correctly so in February they went back in to find a lovely staff infection eating away at things. When I woke up I found to my amazement that I was in a brace from butt to ankle and had no knee at all. Had to do 3 months staring at the ceiling without a knee and hardwired to IV antibiotics. The infection was cleared up just in time to get a knee again and be able to attend my own Polecat Challenge. The contest came of beautifully only because of an enormous amount of work that was handled by some very good friends and family. Bottom line is this: I’ve essentially missed 6 months work just this year. Not a good situation for a self employed guy.

This has left me with an enormous backlog of work and a whole lot of missed communications, not by intent. I am back to work, maybe not at the speed I once was but back to work none the less. Service will return to its previous level, I’m committed to that for sure. New products are on the horizon so keep your eyes peeled.

The “cat” is back.

If you have questions about an order or anticipated delivery date call or e-mail and I will do my best to answer. Everybody has been very patient and understanding and the fact that Polecat even survived all this is amazing to me. Rest assured it would not have happened without the help of some very good friends. I can’t help but feel like I’m getting ready to eat an Elephant every morning when I go to work; a very wise man once told me that there is only one way to do that, one bite at a time.

Thanks for taking the time to consider this, not whining, just felt some explanation was in order.

Thanks,

Denny Maize

CEO
COE
Designer
Shipping and Receiving
General Labor force
Trash removal
Mgr. Parts dept
Customer service
CAD dept
Polecat Aeroplane Works

And many, many more in the 2008 Polecat Challenge Gallery!

The first lesson? 2008 Polecat Challenge Sportsman-class Champ Chris Lee captured Team Polecat Pilot Bruce Davidson’s Friday Handlaunch Clinic from the 2008 Polecat Challenge and has provided it to us for safe-keeping. Check out the 1/2-hour long video on the Handlaunch University page. It’s chock full of great information on how to survive your first handlaunch contest.

RadioCarbonArt’s Paul Naton also captured some video clips from the 2008 Challenge and has popped ‘em into the YouTubes for all to enjoy. See Bruce demostrating during the clinic! See 2008 Polecat Champ Paul Anderson “Gripit and Ripit” and “Thread the Needle”. Great information from some of the top F3K pilots in the world!

And for further reading, we’ve got some really excellent articles on handlaunch and thermal soaring from Denny, Mark Drela and Bruce. Study up and get ready for the 2009 Polecat Challenge, handlaunchers!

Hola Dudes – we’ve posted the final scores, raffle winners and some desktop background images of Saturday morning’s “Group Shot” over on the 2008 Polecat Challenge page. Hop on over and download Excel sheets of the scores and beautify your sad desktop with a bunch of dudes with DLGs!

Check it all out here: 2008 Polecat Challenge

Also – thanks to everyone for making the 2008 Polecat Challenge a real success! See you in 2009!

You can catch all the action as we can bring it to you by keeping an eye on the LIVE FEED:

http://www.polecataero.com/polecat-challenge-2008/live-feed.

We’ll be updating it with news, photos and scores as we have them!

Katy Shupes sends get-well wishes to Polecat President and Founder Denny Maize

Customer Tom Shupes writes: “Katy loves my DLGs! I was flying glow engine planes and they scared the crap out of her…too loud. Now, I take her out to the field and set her up with a DVD player in her pink princess tent. She will hang out for hours and keep checking to see if Daddy has managed to get his plane “up high with the birds”. I think she will be the first chick on the winners podium (Polecat 2021).”

Y’all will be happy to know that Denny’s new knee is being forged right now for installation in the very near future. But don’t worry, Denny will still be running the Polecat Challenge from his DennyMobile.

Nothing beats a LapDancer for Valentine’s Day! Get one shipped to your house for $329, FREE US SHIPPING! The deal is only available February 9th – February 14th 2008, so order your Polecat LapDancer Electric DLG today!