MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

Minutes of the 3-13-07 meeting of the Tri-Area Flyers.

Attending were: Cooks, Smith, Anliker, Greene, Benjamin, Crumley, Fitch, Bruce, Berger, Austin, Calkins, Kampmann, Berson.

Treasurer report: Fuel stock is down to 12 gal. The fuel service will likely end because of the problems with delivery and storage.

Old business: Austin reported a few field-mowing slots need to be filled.

Safety Report: none

New Business: Pete Bruce and Larry Berger were accepted as new members.

Benjamin suggested buying club hats, he will research the idea.

Discussion: Several members noted survey stakes across the runway. There was discussion about options if the club field site is sold.

New Member Pete Bruce said he could bring his Stearman for show and tell in April.

Meeting adjourned.

Program: Kampmann displayed a Sig LT25 he bought used from Fred's Hobbies. It has a unique dual 05 electric motor drive geared to one large prop. 

Submitted by Bill Berson

AROUND THE CLUB

>In an e-mail dated March 2, Randy Calkins says, "Snowed in here. I'll hafta learn to ski-fly."

>From Jack Becker March 20:

Hi Pete,

HINTS, KINKS, AND STUFF

>From Bob Kampmann these aviation oddity web sites:

>Don’t forget the Sanderson Field R/C Flyers swap meet Saturday April 14 from 9 to 12 at the Shelton High School N. 3737 Shelton Springs Rd.

JUST PLANE FUN

>Tower: "Eastern 702, cleared for takeoff, contact Departure on frequency 124.7"

Eastern 702: "Tower, Eastern 702 switching to Departure.

By the way, after we lifted off we saw some kind of dead animal on the far end of the runway."

Tower: " Continental 635, cleared for takeoff behind Eastern 702, contact Departure on frequency 124.7.

Did you copy that report from Eastern 702?"

BR Continental 635: "Continental 635, cleared for takeoff, roger; and yes, we copied Eastern...

we've already notified our caterers."

>A year or so ago I introduced you to the Chicken Squadron, a group of crazed combat flyers from Wisconsin, including my friend Ron Jans and 2 of his sons. Son Randy ordered an SK engine from Kanke. The engine destroyed itself when a chip that had been left in the bottom end ate up the rest of the engine as it was running. The following are some e-mail exchanges—father to son, brother to brother, and Randy to all:

Honorable Landy Jans Boy San,

I tell you Ming Lee just put honorable propeller spinner motor in rickshaw and send to boat place at dock. Will put on slow boat from China to go to Am-er-ica country. According to Chinese calendar, should be in sweaty palm by month of dragon or rooster if no breakdown of oar an sail. Try berry hard to please.

Ten Q for be good customer.

Truly Yours,

Honorable Wan Hung Low.

P.S. Just hear rickshaw tip over when hit pig in road and motor fall in pig poop. Come back to factory to clean up and test run. May now be arrive in month of oxen.

So sully, do best we can at 25 cents a hour.

Jeff, Randy’s brother dives in:

Aa-soooooooooooo,

Tell Landall-son not to worry...pig pooop berry good for bleak-in of propeller spinner motor! Help to purge out metal shaving from inside of Chinese pot metal motor! Wan Hung Low will pack in honorable fortune cookie shell for safer shipping.

Maybe Landal-son send extra copper coin to Wan Hung Low to strap on Dragons back for speedy air shipment, have motor in two week if Dragon stamina hold out...but is higher risk if Dragon drop dead in middle of Atlantic....Aa-sooooooooooo....No Guaranteee!!!! Dragon hard to come by these day!

 Then Randy gets into the act:

S&K Motor Company has just sent me an update as to what the problem was with Randall-son’s motor. It seems that during the forging process of the connecting rod a small piece of glowing hot metal rebounded off the heavy leather protectant suit the blacksmith technician was wearing, and landed right back on the piece he was working on! Due to the diminished visibility of having to wear safety glasses and a protective face shield, the blacksmith never saw the impending infraction.

But the Good News is; they have assured me that corrective actions have been taken to eliminate any possible chance of a repeat of the flawed forging process.

Their solution is to remove all protectant clothing and equipment from anyone working in the vicinity of the forging process. This way if a glowing hot ember goes astray it will be consumed by the absorbing power of the human flesh, thus eliminating the possibility of any rebound back onto the piece being formed.

State of the art technology and creative thinking are why Chinese motors have such a strong presence in the market place.

FAR FLUNG FLYING

While I was in Mesa the RV Park club (VDO Flyers) put on a Fun Fly-in. Pilots got 2 raffle tickets for each flight, and there were lots of prizes donated by the area hobby shops. Russ Petersen and I were checking out the club’s electric trainer when there was a commotion behind us. It turned out that 2 60-size planes had had a spectacular head-on midair centered on the far side of the runway. Sure hated to miss that one!

That’s Russ Petersen on the left, and our VDO club president on the right as they view the remains of one of the planes. There was not much left of either one of them!

EDITORIAL—Fun

Unless you are a dedicated competition flyer, you build and fly models just for the fun of it. The only rule is to enjoy the aspects of the hobby you participate in, to have a good time. Perhaps you derive pleasure from building a new model, or perhaps you enjoy assembling ARFS without the interminable construction process. Then comes that first trip to the field with an untried bird. Should you use a test pilot, or would you prefer to challenge the flight gods on your own? The excitement is there no matter what choice you make. After that first flight, as your new pride and joy is admired and discussed by your fellow pilots…well, let’s just say it does not get much better than that.

Putting a hand in a spinning prop, slicing a digit, or otherwise damaging yourself, another flyer, or even equipment is not a good way to have fun. Keep it safe to keep it fun!

FOR SALE OR TRADE

If you want to list an item, just send me the details including your name, phone number, and asking price or trade-for item. Low pixel count digital (JPEG) pictures are also acceptable.

>I will be bringing some of my modeling treasures to the April meeting, including a small Ugly Stick complete with an OS 25 that may still be OK with some cleanup, an Astrohog with a young OS 61LA, and a Four Star 60—No offer refused on these planes! There will also be boxes of wheels, tanks, and maybe other stuff for free—just help your selves.

MONTHLY MEETING—April 10, 7:00 at the SKP Clubhouse

There will be a board meeting at 6:30; please try to be on time.

Peter Bruce will do the "big" show and tell with his Super Stearman. Rumor has it that there may also be a presentation on a Warmliner (?) 2-meter glider.

Pete Granger

granger@olypen.com