Prez Sez
by Al Campana
On Tuesday night, March 17th, a meeting was held by the Board of Governors. The members were there to discuss club business and assign responsibility for various projects. For example, Ed Snead is putting together a team of people responsible for checking noise levels of our model aircraft. This is a very important and necessary function if we wish to continue to use our field. Sam Andreas has agreed to put together a map and procedure to be used in a medical emergency and Jim
Campana will put together a one page brochure to be handed out at the field for visitors wanting information for our hobby. Mike Estock has selected dates for our FunFlys and is planning an interesting program. These are just some examples of your Board members volunteering their time and expertise to do the tasks that need to be done in order for the Club to be a dynamic organization. Their ideas and ability to get things done are the guiding force within the Club. Next time we have BOG elections or have a vacancy to fill on the Board, give it some thought. If you think you can contribute, then by all means go for it! Warmer days bringing nice flying weather will be here soon, so it's time to re-emphasize flight safety, noise control, and securing the field. Flight Safety - Starts by getting the frequency pin from the pin board and making sure the the pin number matches your frequency. All radio systems come with a channel number holder which attaches to the antenna. Use it. Any flier should be able to see the frequency you are using from a distance. After you have started your engine, walk or carry your aircraft to the flight line. Check to see if anyone is landing and if the runway is clear. If OK, then announce "taking off". When landing, announce it and set up to land. If someone yells "deadstick" he has the right-of-way. When retreiving your airplane from the field, don't dawdle, get your airplane and get off the field. Someone else may be coming in deadstick. Noise control - Every airplane flying at the field must have a noise check. If the average of 4 readings is over 97 DBa you cannot fly. Securing the field - At the completion of the day's flying, usually in the evening, don't forget to replace the Pin Board in the barrel and lock it. And it helps to remember that we've been a part of this Historical Park since 1959, so please help by keeping our field clean and neat. Thank you for your help
WRAM Show
This year 39 Club members made the trek to White Plains, N.Y. to the Annual WRAM Show. We boarded the chartered bus and left promptly at 8:30 AM. This time Dan Cooper and Joe Weizer gave the driver directions to the show and we arrived without getting lost. Actually, it was a good thing we only had 39 people on the bus because the food Joe brought aboard took at least 4 seats. We had Italian subs, turkey subs, TastyKakes and pies by the dozen, pretzels, cookies, candy, sodas, and anything else you could think of. As usual, it was a great show and it was an opportunity to buy equipment, supplies, and kits at a really great "show price". Some fellas hit the swap shop and bought some items at bargain prices. Later in the day many of us ended up in the upper balcony that oversees the entire show floor. Great spot to rest, grab a snack and watch the crowd below. We boarded the bus at 4:30 PM for the ride home and finished off the rest of the food. When we pulled in to the King of Prussia Mall parking lot it was raining but that couldn't spoil our excellent trip. Thanks, Joe for the ride and the food.
April Raffle
By Jim Myers
The March Raffle was a big success! Thanks to all of you who purchased tickets. Sooner or later, maybe you will win a big prize. For April we have another set of goodies:
Airtronics 6 Channel FM Radio with dual rates, trainer socket, servo rev., etc.
F-14 "Tamecat" Trainer ARC, 68 in. wingspan. Designed by our own Jeff Troy.
Starter Battery - 12V with charger, Hand Crank fuel pump, Expanded-scale Voltmeter and a Hand-held Wind Meter.
That's a total of 6 prizes. Remember, you can't win if you don't buy a ticket. Come early and buy a handful.
For Sale
Complete Paint Spray System - consisting of Campbell-Hausfeld 1/2 HP oilless piston Compressor with holding tank, regulator, gauges and water trap, spray gun, hoses and fittings. Also Paasche AUTF Airbrush with 3 oz and 8 oz paint jars. Dusting nozzle. Ready to paint your latest toy? Then call: Austin Gutman.
Pilot Profile
Rudy Forst
Club Notes
April 14 - General Club Meeting at the Church at 8:00 PM. Featured speaker will be: J. Bradley McManus, former P-38 pilot.
A VFSS E-Mail Club Directory is being compiled by Rom Boutin. It's use by members can remind each other of upcoming events and numerous other messages such as requesting help in various areas of R/C modeling or just to keep in contact with other members. The Directory will ONLY be supplied to VFSS members via E-mail. If you desire to be included in this Directory, please E-mail your address to: rboutin@erols.com.
Rom also has an extensive tape library of model and full size aircraft films and movies. These tapes are free for your use. See Rom at our next meeting for the list of tapes available.
Sound Check Program
By Ed Snead
With the coming of Daylight Saving Time, the flying season begins once again. The Noise Abatement Program which was initiated to reduce the sound of loud engines has not been enforced lately and ever so slowly the loud engines are back. So the Program will now be restored to full force with all new airplanes to be checked and issued a sticker providing they pass. The Club rules state the maximum sound the engines are allowed is an average level of 97 DBa at 3 meters (9 ft. 10 in.). Taken from 4 readings 90 deg. apart. Commencing on April 15 all aircraft engines not previously stickered will be sound checked. Since most Club flyers are using .40 to .65 cu. in. two strokes and .40 to 1.20 cu. in. four strokes, meeting the sound level should not pose a problem. For those who cannot meet the sound requirements there are a multitude of after-market mufflers that can be purchased or talk to Jim Myers or Russ O'Brien. They have designed mufflers that have reduced noise levels as much as 6 to 10 DBa and can be readily adapted to almost any engine. The Field Marshalls will try to be available 7 days a week to conduct sound checks and issue stickers to those who pass. The following names are the persons that should be contacted for sound checks:
Ed Snead
Mike Estock
Dan Cooper
Russ O'Brien
Joe Yalove
Bob Sudermann
Charlie Swope
Sam Andreas
Al Campana
Remember, although we are an active Club of nearly 300 members we are a guest of the Valley Forge Historical Park. The Club has rules and the noise level rule is just one of them. When we begin to ignore these rules we place ourselves in jeopardy of being admonished by Park officials. Let's not allow this to happen. Read the rules posted on the bulletin board and follow them. The Club has been very fortunate for 39 years in being permitted to utilize the Park for our flying. Lets not push our luckl
Training Update
By Jim Campana
Since we are near the beginning of a new flying season, I thought I would remind all Club members of our policy with visitors at the field. According to the AMA, all qualified pilots are allowed to take a visitor up for a one-time flight. Here at Valley Forge, we have restricted that even further. Only VFSS Instructors are allowed to give visitors a flight. A buddy-box must be used for this flight. The AMA also allows designating 3 different people in their Introductory Pilot Program. This Program allows a non-AMA person to receive flight instruction for up to 30 days
before they are required to join the AMA. Our designated Instructors for this Program are: Rom Boutin, Bud Klopp, and Joe Weizer.
Also, l would like to have all active Instructors attend the April meeting as I have new material to hand out. If there are any student who I have not assigned, please contact me as soon as possible. You can E-mail me at: jmcampana@erols.com
B.O.G. Review
By Dee Messina, Secretary
The Board of Govemors met on Mar.17, 1998 Meeting called to order at 7:04 PM. Twelve members present.
OLD BUSINESS 1 ) P.A. System - Replaced batteries and OK, 2)AII club owned equipment have been documented to Al Campana.
NEW BUSINESS
1 ) Purchase of TV/VCR tabled at this time.
2) Joe Yalove to obtain specs and prices for 2 outdoor PA speakers for PA system.
3) Jim Myers to to obtain scanner from Ed Snead to check for channel interference.
4) Jim Campana to conduct ground school for newer students at May Meeting.
5) Ed Snead and crew to noise check all unchecked aircraft during April.
6) Auction site will be changed this year because of school renovations. Auction Comm. looking into other sites.
7)Mike Estock And BOG set 3 Fun-Fly dates,will try short time slots for scale, helis, biplanes, etc.
8) Jim Campana to develop a Club info. handout. Also obtain beginners booklet for new members.
9) Mike Estock to look into making removable signs to be located on other side of field for
people walking up the hill.
10) Sam Andreas to develop a map and emergency procedure for a possible medical emergency at the field.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:30
Respectively Submitted,
Dee Messina
Feedback or comments to:
Al Campana, HearYe editor
Michael Myers, Webmaster
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