February 8^th, 2011

Meeting opened by President Stevens at 7:04 pm.

Members attending were: Pendleton, Berson, Kennedy, Crumley, Greene, Creedon, Fitch, Tom Beres, Jeff Beres, Berger, Cindy Cook, Jim Cook and Stephens.

Guests Present: None

The minutes posted on the Web site were approved as submitted.

Treasurers Report: The balance of the Bank of America checking account on 1/11/11 was $ 2,191.23. Since that time there were deposits of $ 270.02 and withdrawals of $ 90.00. The current balance as of 2/8/11 is $ 2,371.25. The balance of the Quimper CD is $ 6,788.44.

Safety Report: Roy says, "Be Safe."

Old Business: After some discussion with the members, Jeff Beres said that a tentative date around the second Saturday in April will be set for a field trip to The Museum of Flight in Seattle. Jeff said that with a minimum of 10 members the cost is $ 13.00 per person.

New Business: Seth Stephens read a recent report concerning The FAA and its intentions to enforce laws that would regulate the freedom of AMA and those pilots flying model airplanes.

General: Pete Bruce donated $ 20.00 gift certificate to be raffled off during the meeting. Alden Johnson spoke up to show that he had the winning ticket number for his prize.

Service Award: None

Meeting closed at 7:38 pm.

The Program: Jim Cook brought his "Vapor" – a very light electric powered aircraft. Pete Bruce shared a DVD that was shot while at an Arlington Air show. He and Wilma (wife) flew to the air show in his home built "Avid", and Wilma did an outstanding job of editing their movie.

I would like to send a message to all our members. As you know our hobby may be facing some difficult times this year with FAA trying to establish rules for flying unmanned aircraft in the states. I will attempt to keep all our members up to date at the meetings with how the game is playing out between AMA and the FAA, but I want to encourage all our members, whether they attend our meetings or not to keep up with the problem by reading their monthly AMA magazine and follow the events as they unfold on the AMA web page. When we have enough information on exactly how the new FAA rules are going to affect us and our hobby AMA is going to need all our help in contacting our government representatives and others and let them know how we feel. So keep informed on the subject and be ready to react. We can't afford to sit back and let others do it. Each and every one of us in AMA have to voice our feelings.

J From Bob Kampmann: If you haven't heard by now, Jean and I moved to Poulsbo, WA the first part of December, so...

Please put out the word that the ORCA club in Port Gamble will be having some fun type events in 2011, and I'm sure you're all invited to attend to spectate or participate.

J J J Yet another Bob Kampmann input: http://www.aircraftowner.com/videos/view/super-cub-landing-on-windy-mt-top_912.html

J From Jim Cook: Another video for the newsletter if you think it worthy.

http://www.wimp.com/jettaxi/

I hope to obtain a brief bio and a picture of our new members to enhance their introduction to the membership. This is voluntary on the part of the newbie, but it should be beneficial for all.

J From THE PRARIE FLYER, newsletter of the Coeur D’Alene Aero-Modeling Society (CAMS), EDITOR Stan Allison:

Www.classicaero.com All things wet! Plans, kits for Amphibs, Floats, Float planes. Also full scale documentation.

Www.rcspecialities.net Quality alternative mufflers for Saito 4.-stroke engines. Have line of in-cowl mufflers also.

Www.franktiano.com. Amazing photo galleries of model aircraft. Also items such as scale pilots and dummy engines.

Www.patscustom-models.com Pat Trittle designs and kits a variety of smaller a/c. The laser cutting is done @ Manzano Laser Works.

J Good news about Nelson Hobby:

Good day to everyone! Jerry and I are happy to announce that we have reached an agreement and I now own Nelson Hobby. My goal in buying Jerry's business is to ensure that Nelson Hobby's unique line of building and finishing products continues to be available to modelers everywhere.

The Nelson Hobby and web site name, and product names will be the same as when Jerry owned the company.

I have known Jerry for quite a few years when we both lived in Oregon and I got to know his entire product line very well. I have used all his products including the finishing products of Nelson Covering, and Nelson Hobby paints.

I have participated in several competitions and many other modeling events. My main interest is scale aircraft including both powered and sailplane types.

I will admit that I am not the well spring of knowledge that Jerry is but I am happy to announce Jerry will be on my board of directors and will be available to modelers when I can't answer the questions or need his opinion on issues that come up.

We will be up and running with hinges and glow drivers in the next few weeks. Covering will be available in March.

Relocating the paint, other inventory items, and equipment will be governed by weather. These items will be transported by truck to my facility in Evergreen, Colorado. The trip from Texas to Colorado can be very difficult this time of the year due to snow and ice on the highways making travel difficult and sometimes dangerous. Soon as weather permits, the remaining items will be trucked to Colorado.

I look forward to working with everyone and exchanging ideas about our hobby. As Jerry has done over the years, talking with customers is very important. This is the way I can learn how to improve upon our products and also to find out what kind of new products our customers are looking for.

Please watch Nelson Hobby web site for new contact information, which will be available later this month. I will send out an email with information as we get things rolling.

Happy Landings

John F Desilets

J From a friend, Lee Glover—an R/C wannabe:

Watch how a Southwest airplane is built

J J J Score yet another one for Jack B.:

J Thanks to Bob Kampmann for this cartoon about a wannabe R/C pilot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx5Es0bnulM

February:  Lawrence Pendleton We almost missed you Lawrence, many thanks for volunteering.

March:  Seth Stephens

April:  Jeff Beres and Vern Kennedy

May:  We need a volunteer

June:  Bill Berson

July:  Roy Greene

August:  Pete Bruce

September:  We need a volunteer

October:  We need a volunteer

November:  We need a volunteer

December:  Jim Crumley

I’d like to thank Bob Kampmann, Bill Berson, and Ron Jans along with some other folks for keeping me "plugged in" as things heat up. As I understand the process, no one is supposed to announce or comment on the rule making discussions until the FAA offers the proposed rules for comment. The AMA Washington representative Rich Hanson may have exceeded these restrictions in one of the listed interviews:

www.modelaircraft.org/aboutama/articles.aspx Go to Feb. 15 (first half of interview) and click on "play MP3." Do the same thing at Feb 16 for the second half. There is a commercial break about half way through the interviews, so be sure to hang in there if you want to hear the whole thing—AND YOU SHOULD.

Aero News at http://www.aero-news.net/news/sport.cfm?ContentBlockID=80760875-a5a3-451e-b415-7c5248645401&Dynamic=1 also published a group of FAA restrictions that it attributed to the AMA.

1. 400 foot maximum altitude

2. Impose a speed limit

3. Limit maximum weight to perhaps 55 pounds

4. Ban turbines

5. Extend present 3 mile radius restriction around airports to 5 miles.

Rich Hanson discusses the airport restriction in the second half of the interview. I have not been able to confirm items I through 4 through another source, but they are briefly alluded to in the first interview.

I think it would be useful if we members let AMA know the sort of restrictions we would be willing to accept. For example, perhaps we might accept a 500 foot ceiling, but would not accept a greater than 3 mile radius restriction around airports. I am sure I have exceeded 400 foot elevation, and I know of an Oregon club that flies on airport property (with communications, lookouts, and other considerations).

AMA’s safety program is effective and sensible. None of the restrictions noted above are real at this time. The FAA will likely put out PROPOSED rules for comment in late Spring/early summer. That will be the time to scream "like a stuck hog" if the rules are not to your liking. In the meantime, DO communicate with the AMA.

I distributed the latest from AMA to the club membership on February 24. It contained the news that the US senate has passed legislation that would EXEMPT us from the FAA rule making. Now the house needs to pass the same legislation so it can hopefully be signed into law. There are provisions for sending your own or a form letter to our legislators. At the time I sent mine I was number 247 in the state of Washington. Be sure you are included in the final count, and encourage your friends in other clubs to do the same.

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.

Pete Granger

granger@olypen.com