MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

Minutes of the 10/11/05 Meeting of the Tri-Area RC Flyers

The meeting was called to order by the Sec./Treas. in the absence of the President and the Vise-President at 7:00PM at the SKP clubhouse.  Attending were: Anliker, Fitch, Oaks, Takata, Calkins, Granger, Greene, Marken, Crumley, Moffett, Maupin, Dantzler and two Cooks.  Visitors and prospective members were Bill Berson and Bob Kampmann.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.  The Treasurer's report indicated total assets of $4409.46, comprised of $746.46 in the bank account, $645 in fuel inventory and $3000 in a CD.

The first order of business was to welcome Bill Berson and Bob Kampmann into the club as new members.

A motion to change the Bylaws to separate the Secretary/Treasurer office into two separate positions, effective the first of the year, was seconded and passed.

A proposal of Jim Crumley's that we increase our field rent to Roger Short from $200 to $500 next year, providing the field is not sold by then, was discussed at length.  The consensus was that the increase would not only be fairer remuneration for the use of the field, but would enhance our chances of getting another site on Short's property in the event this one is sold.  A motion to this effect was made, seconded and passed.  It was suggested that we make this payment in a manner that was advantageous to Roger's tax situation and the Sec./Treas. agreed to handle this. 

It was agreed that we should invite Roger and his wife to our Christmas party.

The Sec./Treas. received approval to continue to give the Shorts a $50 gift certificate and the Sayers a wreath at Christmas.

Pete Granger, our all-purpose member, provided the cookies, presented a program on structural considerations of model building and was the recipient of the prestigious Crash-of-the-Month Trophy.

Submitted by Bill Anliker, Sec./Treas.

FIELD MAINTENANCE SIGN-UP SHEET

I f you would like to join this elite group, drop me an e-mail. I am sure we can find a month to put you into.

AROUND THE CLUB

>Since the cap was eliminated we have picked up 3 new members—all experienced modelers that I look forward to getting to know. Bob Reinach joined last month and Bill Berson and Bob Kampmann signed up at the last meeting. If you bump into these folks at the field, DO take the time to get acquainted. Would you like the newsletter to carry the current membership total?

>Monday October 17 I had to go to Silverdale. As I drove by the field I could see there were at least 4 pilots doing their thing. Thursday the 20^th was an OK day and I got a pass to go to the field. Sure enough, there were 6 of us flying: Fitch, Anliker, Crumley, Oaks, Moffett, and myself. We kept a plane in the air almost continuously for 2 hours without a mishap.

>I see Bob Mollerus is running for public office in Brinnon.

>As the Crash of the Month winner for October, I feel it is my responsibility to report that Crumley (Ugly Stik), Fitch (Ugly Stik), and Anliker (Beaver) are in hot contention for the November honor.

HINTS, KINKS, AND STUFF

>Ken Petersen, Russ’s son recently moved to Fort Collins, CO and joined the Rocky Mountain Modeleers. They have a very nice web site at www.modeleers.org, but you need to register as a guest to get to the good stuff.

Their October ’04 newsletter had this gem:

12 Rules of Model Aviation

1. Perfection in model building is a desirable goal, unless completion of the airplane within your lifetime is important.

2. Airspeed is life to your model, altitude is life insurance. No airplane ever collided with the sky.

3. Always fly your airplane with your head, not just your hands. Never let your model go somewhere your brain didn’t get to five seconds earlier.

4. The probability of model survival is equal to the angle of arrival.

5. Flying a model airplane is not dangerous; crashing it is dangerous.

6. Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment.

7. There are three simple rules for making a smooth landing. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.

8. It’s a good landing if you can still bend the landing gear back to its normal position.

9. A fool and his money are soon flying a more aerobatic model than he can handle.

10.The nicer an airplane looks, the more likely it is to crash.

11.A model airplane may disappoint a good pilot, but it won’t surprise him.

12. If God meant for man to fly model jets, He’d have given him more money.

From the Rock Valley RC Flyers via The Checkerboard Flyer Gary Parenti, editor Westchester IL

AERONAUTICAL JOKE

The following maintenance work orders were submitted by pilots.
The replies are from the aircraft maintenance crews.

Problem: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
Solution: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

Problem: Test Flight OK, except autoland very rough.
Solution: Autoland not installed on this aircraft.

Problem: Propeller #2 seeping prop fluid.
Solution: Propeller #2 seepage normal - #1, #3 and #4 propellers lack normal seepage.

Problem: The autopilot doesn't.
Solution: It does now!

Problem: Something loose in cockpit.
Solution: Something tightened in cockpit.

Problem: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
Solution: Evidence removed.

Problem: DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) volume unbelievably loud.
Solution: Volume set to more believable level.

Problem: Dead bugs on windshield.
Solution: Live bugs on order.

Problem: IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) inoperative.
Solution: IFF always inoperative in off mode.

Problem: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
Solution: That's what they're there for.

Problem: Engine #3 missing.
Solution: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

Problem: Aircraft handles funny.
Solution: Aircraft warned to "straighten up, fly right, and be serious!

Problem: Target Radar hums.
Solution: Reprogrammed Target Radar with the lyrics.

MEET THE MEMBERS—Grant Smith

I spent most of my working life working for the State of California. I started as a computer programmer in 1965 and when I retired in 1998 I was a Deputy Director for the Department of Justice and responsible for the Law Enforcement Data Center. We raised our two daughters in Sacramento and now have three grandkids in California and Edmonds, Washington. We knew we didn’t want to spend our retirement years in Sacramento where we lived for 35 years and really enjoyed both the mountains and ocean. Our plan was to have two retirement homes, one in the mountains and one on the seashore.

Ten years before retirement Nancy and I decided we would build our own retirement homes. We bought a lot at Bodega Bay, a fishing village North of San Francisco, and after five years of pounding nails, our first house was done. We then bought a lot near Lake Tahoe and began designing a cabin for our second retirement home. That is when we discovered Port Ludlow and abandoned our original plans. We found in Port Ludlow the best of the mountains and big trees as well as the maritime environment we loved. We have been here for seven years now and wouldn’t live anywhere else.

I discovered the hobby shop in Port Hadlock when we moved here and went in one day to buy a model to build during our first winter. By the time I left Wylie had convinced me to learn how to fly the thing by joining his newly formed flying club in Chimacum. He told me about this member named Pete Granger who would be happy to act as my instructor and mentor. He would have me flying in no time! And he did! The rest is history and I have been a member ever since.

My first love is fishing and if the bite is on that is where I will be. Golf consumes a couple days a week when the weather cooperates, usually Summer and Fall, I travel approximately ten weeks a year, building and flying when there is nothing else going on. I don’t fly nearly as much as I would like and therefore haven’t been able to develop the skills I was hoping for. I hope to get out to the field more next year and will probably crash a couple more planes which is ok since I will then be able to build new ones. My winter project is to build a Venture 60 from a kit I bought last year but didn’t have time to work on. After crashing my Stick 60 this Summer I purchased a Waco 60 ARF biplane, which is about to have its maiden flight. I understand biplanes can be a "hand full". Wish me luck!

EDITORIAL—A Friendly Club

I think all of us would like our club to be known as "friendly." It is hard to not socialize just with your favorite flying buds. It is hard to go up to a stranger and strike up a conversation. Yet, if we want to be known as "friendly" that is exactly what we must do.

It is really not all that hard to greet strangers at the field, and if they are flying, it is imperative that we find out about them BEFORE they fly. If you bring a guest to the field it is your responsibility to get him introduced to our flight restrictions, to our frequency control system, and most important of all, to the members present. Involve your guest with the group before you desert him to fly your airplane.

We have signed up a few new pilots, and the best place to get acquainted is at the field. Please welcome them and try to include them in the group chatter. Ask about their airplanes and other equipment that you are not familiar with—you just might learn something!

Try to extend the same welcome to non-flyers who stop by. Public support is always important and you never know when the need for that support will arise. The perception of a few can bring benefits or troubles. If we always treat strangers the way we would like to be treated in a similar situation, we will certainly be known as a friendly, welcoming club.

If you think this is not important, see my comments about the Coos Bay club below. They were the inspiration for this editorial.

FAR FLUNG FLYING

In late September Marg and I loaded up the motor home and headed to Florence, OR to visit Russ and Nancy Petersen. We parked in their driveway and used their complete RV hookups that were located just where we needed them. We had a really nice visit, but the parts you are interested in are the 3 clubs and flying fields we visited.

Florence Area RC Aircraft Association (FARCAA) www.farcaa.org

This is a new club with Russ as president. They have 5 (!) flying sites listed in their web site including several for slope soaring. They use a city athletic field in town for power including helicopters—Miller Field. Think of an elliptical bowl about 200 yards long by 100 wide. Tall trees constitute the sides of the bowl with houses and other structures just beyond. They have had a noise complaint, so we had to check Hawg Wild before I could fly it (87 db max). I found that I had to do most of my flight almost directly overhead, and one short flight was enough! Russ admits it takes some getting used to. We had a nice visit with a bunch of their members even if the flying did not suit me.

Bay Area RC Fliers—Coos Bay, OR Phil Shellabarger, president buzz-wuss@earthlink.net (they do not have a club web site)

The fog had just burned off and the locals were starting to fly. They were among the friendliest flyers I have ever met. I only got 2 flights in because of all the chatter. Phil Shellabarger, their president, and I swapped lies nearly the whole time I was there. They fly from a landfill on a bench above a river, a really pretty spot with plenty of air space and a huge runway area.

It seems that every club has some kind of hang-up. These folks are serious about a 2-man rule to the extent that the second person not only holds the plane for starting and carries the plane to the runway, but is also expected to act as a spotter. These are really excellent safety practices that I wish we would use any time we have 2 or more at the field.

This remote field has a mowed stubble runway and taxiways. The runway is about 50 by 300+feet that would be improved by rolling. Just 50 feet from one end of the runway is a 4-foot high fence with some bright tape on the top wire. There is a house at each end of the field and tall trees parallel to the runway at the pilots back. There are also a couple of airplane eating trees under the normal flight area, but they presented little problem. The field orientation is such that the morning sun shines in the pilot’s eyes. Several of the members showed up while Russ and I were cleaning up and we had a neat visit. One of the people flew a Lanzo Bomber (I think) old timer that sure did land gently.

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 pictures are also acceptable.

MANEUVER OF THE MONTH (MOM)—Inside Loop

Almost any model except an underpowered, over weight dog can do a recognizable inside loop. Mostly what I see at our field is someone blasting along at full throttle in level flight, then slamming full up elevator and holding until a small loop is completed. Most of the pilots are proficient at easing off the elevator as the plane approaches level flight, so there is usually a smooth finish to the maneuver. Some models have to be dived to pick up airspeed before they can do a good loop—just like many full size light aircraft. My Senior Telemaster is one of those, but it does a lot of stuff like a full size plane.

It takes a lot more effort and control inputs to do a really good loop. First, the loop should be as large as power permits, but with 3D capabilities just go for a reasonable size! If your model does not hold a heading, try reducing the loop size—you may be approaching a stall. Next, the loop should be as circular as possible and that requires reduced throttle and elevator at the top of the loop, then throttle at idle and increasing up elevator on the downside followed by reduced elevator and slowly increasing throttle as the plane exits the loop. It sounds complicated, but a little practice will make it second nature—and remember, since the loop is large and uses some reduced throttle settings, there is more time to think your way through it.

Start the loop at full throttle, wings level and a couple of mistakes high. If you have enough power, by all means enter the maneuver from level flight. The larger the loop, the more energy you will need to get the plane over the top without wobbling or stalling.

But wait, there is more! If you perform a large loop straight at you, some trim characteristics can be observed. If the wings go out of plane during the loop, the ailerons need trimming. If the wings remain square until the pullout, then one drops, check the plane’s lateral balance. If the plane describes something that looks like a corkscrew, rudder trim is indicated. If your airplane seems to do several of these things, repeat the maneuver several times to assure you know what is happening, then make one adjustment and try again. If a condition is worse, adjust the other way. Continue working on one adjustment at a time, slowly eliminating undesirable characteristics, until your plane can loop like it is on rails.

MONTHLY MEETING—Tuesday Nov. 8 in the SKP Clubhouse

MEMBER BUSINESS ADVERTISEMENTS

The Board has approved allowing club members to place small ads in the newsletter at no charge. The ads will be included in the newsletter so long as the newsletter editor receives a monthly request for each one.

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Petersen & Granger, LLC

Pete Granger

granger@olypen.com