From The Editor
by Price Dempler
Happy Holidays!! As I sit down to write this, it is 26 degrees outside and the ground is covered with snow. It looks like a good time to find my shop and get some work done! Submissions were light for this issue so I included some information forwarded to me via Michael Myers' Web Page (thanks as always, Michael). It concerns a club located somewhere near Trinidad - it is interesting to see how other clubs operate! Best Wishes to all for a safe and happy holiday season - see you next year!
From the President...
by Ted Ferrant
The following are the nominees for the upcoming BOG election:
Jack Butler, Warren Barrick, Al Campana, Tristran Colket, Al Freeman, John Matt, Joe Pasquini, Walt Pierzchala, George Sprenkle, and Charlie Swope. Even with all of these nominees in the BOG, the Signal Seekers are still short a couple of BOG members - therefore, all of the above nominees are automatically part of the 1996 BOG. No voting is necessary and therefore no form is included in this issue. If you would like to nominate other members, you must do so in person at the December 12th meeting when final voting takes place. The new BOG takes effect on January 1st, 1996.
The nominees for the Doug Davidson Award are Chuck Karr and Walt Pierzchala. The singular nominee for the Technical Achievement Award is Rob Caso
Last, the Club Auction a great success - many thanks to all who participated!
B.O.G. REVIEW
By Sam Andreas, Secretary
Since there were not enough board members present to provide a Quorum the November meeting was informally convened at 7:00PM on 11/21/95. In attendance were: the President, Treasurer, Secretary and six board members. Topics discussed were as follows:
1- The Treasurer reported the clubs financial status as of 11/21/95.
2- The club Tractor/Mower will be sent in for routine maintenance at an approximate cost of $350. It will be ready and in tip top shape in plenty of time for the spring season.
3- A tentative date was set for the club's annual Banquet. It will be held at 7:00 PM on February 13th (in place of the February general meeting) at the same restaurant as last year. Specific details will appear in the January issue of Hear Ye.
4- The earnings from the recent club auction were estimated to be approximately $400.00.
5- Walt Pierzchala showed the board a copy of the 1996 Club Membership Applications. The new applications will be sent to members along with the January Hear Ye. The meeting ended at 7:50PM.
SPECIAL SEMINAR FOR NEW FLIERS
Chuck Karr will be conducting a seminar for beginners at the January general meeting. The seminar will cover various facets of the building and setup of model aircraft and answer those perplexing questions faced by every new builder\flier. This is going to be a very informative session and I'd be willing to bet that if coaxed, Chuck will share some tips on aerobatics.
RAFFLE WINNERS
By Joseph Pasquini, Raffle Chairman
Attendance was lighter at the November meeting than it has been for several months. However despite the poor turn out we still had a pretty good sale of raffle tickets amounting to $125.00. Add to that $33.00 from the club's subsidized fund and the fact that supporting Hobby Shops always give us a discount. We will have over $158.00 worth of prizes at the December general meeting. Following are just some of the winners from the November raffle and the prizes they won:
George Sprenkle - SIG Kadet Mark II Kit
Eric Holberg - Thunder Tiger 40 Engine
Rom Boutin - Expanded Scale Voltmeter
From the Net...
compiled by Price Dempler
From: "Ron Strobel" <RStrobel@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 25 Nov 95 19:12:43 UT
To: "'mhmyers@netaxs.com'" <mhmyers@netaxs.com>
Subject: Signal Seekers
I just wanted to say hi. As a proud member of the Signal Seekers I enjoy every moment out at the field. It is a great way to spend quality time with my dad, Bill Strobel, and to learn from the masters about skilled flying of radio controlled airplanes. I am glad to see us have a presence on the Net.
Ron (low pass) Strobel
WELCOME TO THE TRINIDAD & TOBAGO MODEL AIRCRAFT CLUB
Forum Manager: Steve Lutchman
User-ID: Stevel
The entire membership would like to welcome you into the Model Aircraft Forum. As a new member there are some important facts that you need to be aware of. This introduction attempts to highlight Club rules, sanction flying sites, insurance coverage and other relevant information.
THE CLUB: The clubs main objective is to promote safe model aircraft flying in Trinidad & Tobago. It does this under the guidance of a seven (7) member committee annually elected by the membership. The initial membership fee is $100.00 and $20.00 per month thereafter. There is a family rate of $100.00 and $25.00 per month which covers the entire family. Junior membership dues are $50.00 to join and $10.00 per month. Finally, there is a special category for Control Line members. The fees here are the same as the junior members.
CLUB RULES: Model aircraft of the type flown and operated by members of TTMAC are not toys. Remember this at all times and together with some basic rules of radio control modeling laid out here, your experience will be both safe and enjoyable.
1/ The flying field must be kept clean. If trash bins are not present members are responsible for keeping their own trash and disposing of it appropriately.
2/ All cars must be parked behind the designated pit line.
3/ All transmitters in use at the field should display correct frequency ribbons.
4/ On arrival at the field, ensure that your frequency is not in use before switching on any R/C equipment. 5/ Flying at designated club sites only is allowed (Wallerfield and Carlsen Field).
6/ There is to be no flying behind the pit line.
7/ Learners or members who have not been cleared by a club instructor to fly solo must seek the help of a more experienced modeler before flying in the presence of any spectators.
FLYING SITES: At present the club has two sanctioned flying sites, one is at Wallerfield on the larger of the two runways and the other at Carlsen Field. The Carlsen Field site does not have the runway length available at Wallerfield and as a result a bit more precision is required on landing and takeoffs. Members are required to exercise all the precautions when using either site.
INSTRUCTION: TTMAC has designated instructors that are able to provide the required help to new members. There are no specific days laid out for learners and members who need help normally get in touch with one of the instructors and arrange the flying sessions on their own.
CLUB ACTIVITIES: Throughout the year the club holds several events. Funflys are the most popular activity and there are designed for members of all levels to participate. Generally one aerobatic contest is held every year and these cater for the members who like events that are a bit more formal than the Funfly. Static displays always generate public interest and as a result TTMAC tries to put on a couple of these per year at different venues around the country. The Club holds its General Meetings quarterly and elections take place in the third quarter of the year.
NEW MEMBERS: On becoming a member of TTMAC, you will receive together with this leaflet a copy of the club's newsletter PROPWASH. This newsletter is written by club members and contains information on flying activities and helpful hints relating to our hobby. PROPWASH is published every two months. You will also receive a copy of the club's insurance coverage and an official TTMAC cap. CONCLUSION: TTMAC hopes that this information will answer some of the questions you may have about this particular hobby. Getting involved in it not only gives people the opportunity to learn and explore aviation on their own terms but also to meet people from all walks of life. It's an activity that can be enjoyed by both young and old and there are no limits whatsoever. We hope to see you at the field. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: E-Mail Forum Manager Steve Lutchman at User-ID: Stevel internet ID: delta@opus-networx.com
OCALA PATTERN CONTEST : KINGDOM OF THE SUN.
By Mark Mendonca (from the 'Net)
I recently went to the United States, Florida to be exact and competed in my first pattern contest for the year. I wll not bore you with all the details of the actual competition but I will share with you some of the things that I saw that really impressed me. I flew at two different sites during my four days up there. One was in the Orlando area and the other was the actual contest site. These were first class flying sites equiped with club house, paved runways of 750 feet plus. The overrun areas of the runways are very well kept grass so there is very little chance of damaging airplanes at these sites unless it is and outright crash. The flying sites have running water, toilets and telephones. At the club in Orlando there are even soft drink and snack machines at the field.
Central Florida is a hot bed of R/C activity which is where this particular contest was held. There are at least 4 or 5 hobby shops in the Orlando area alone and as a result the flying sites in this area are full of the latest equipment. As far as the contest itself, let me say it is probably the most competitive one that I have been to in recent times. After flying five rounds, the scores of the top 4 pilots in Advanced, Masters and FAI were close enough for the Contest Director to order a fly off with the top 4 from each class. I was able to make the fly off and overall finished 3rd.
There were about 50 competitors for the entire contest with 8 in the advanced class. The most popular design was the 1.20 powerd Dr. Jekyll. Y.S. engines dominated the meet with O.S. being the closest rival. Futaba and JR radio equipment and all that you will see. APC propellers, PowerMaster fuel are also pretty much standard in the pattern arena. All in all this was a very good trip for me. I hope to continue doing this thru 1995. Anyone who has questions or is interested in getting started in pattern, I would be glad to answer whatever I can. I also took some pictures and hopefully by the time this is printed I will have them developed. Until the next time, go out and smell that NITRO.
Unusual Comments Heard at The Field After a Minor or Major Mishap
by Fred Warner
1. "Oh Heck, I was watching your plane - no wonder it wouldn't turn when I moved the stick!"
2. "It's too calm, I'm used to flying in the wind."
3. "I didn't realize a warped wing was important!"
4. "I guess 4 rubber bands weren't enough!"
5. "I didn't know you had to glue the ribs to the spars!" (This really happened several years ago)
6. "My sunglasses are too dark on a day like this."
7. "I got disoriented because of the funny shaped clouds!"
8. "I guess I should have come out of the dive more gradually!"
9. "You guys watching me make me nervous!"
10. "Next time I'll buy rubber bands instead of using the ones I found around the pit area!"
11. "An overpowered CB caused radio interference!" (Heard back in the days when we flew on the #27 band)
12. "Why is it when my wife comes to watch I always have a problem?"
13. A question asked of the guy next to you on the flight line - "Are you sure your 2nd harmonic isn't giving me a problem?"