Hear Ye!

February, 2003
No. 428

FROM THE PREZ
by Bob Sudermann

The amount and wide variety of expertise that exists within the membership
of this club always amazes me. It ranges from cutting foam core wings, to
scratch built mechanical devices, to laser cutting techniques. We have
experts in four-cycle engines, gas powered engines, electronics, and scratch
building; I could continue this list with just about any area relating to
model aircraft. The two most recent examples were presented in the January
general meeting. First Rob Caso explained the requirements and techniques
required to lay out the parts, use a CAD (computer aided design) program to
get the designs into the computer, and cut the parts utilizing a laser.
There is a lot more to it than these three steps, and Rob did a great job
explaining it. If you missed the meeting, check out his article in the
January Hear Ye! Thanks again, Rob, for your time and effort in sharing your
unique talents.

During the Show and Tell portion of the meeting, Russ O'Brien presented yet
another mechanical marvel. He is building a 'Single Engine - Twin Prop'
aircraft. He has designed and is building a belt drive system which utilizes
a single four-stroke engine that drives two props turning in opposite
directions. This will help counteract the 'P Factor' effect of the single
prop, which tends to turn a tail dragger to the left. The system has not
been tested yet, but you can expect to see it soon.

The normal BOG meeting for February 4th will be replaced with a Flight
Instructors' meeting. I would like to discuss the use of a Flight Manual,
which includes a Flight Log and a Formal Sign Off by the Chief Flight
Instructor. A separate letter has been issued with a few more details, and I
hope all current instructors can make time to attend.

What's everyone working on? Let's bring out any completed or partially
completed winter projects to the March meeting on the 11th so we can all get
a look. This may help motivate some of us to get something started or
completed. Remember the flying season is coming fast! See you at the field.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

VFSS BOG MEETING
by Steve Kolet, Secretary

January 7, 2003
Eighteen members present
Meeting opened at 7:05 PM by President Bob Sudermann.

OLD BUSINESS: None

NEW BUSINESS:

Item 1: 2003 Budget Review

a. Minor increase in Field Marshall allowance for hats.
b. Minor increase in sunshine fund.
c. Small increase in banquet line to allow for third entrée selection.
d. Discussion concerning possible budget/cost reductions in out years by
reducing mailed newsletters. Research required to determine effect of
reducing mailings, printing costs, availability of online newsletter, etc.
e. Education line was increased to $300 for two school programs
f. Motion to approve budget was made, seconded and approved.

Item 2: The trip to the WRAM's Show was discussed by Joe Weiser. Currently
have 3 personnel who have paid reservations and 7 others who have indicated
interest. Joe needs 40 paid to make the trip. Decision was made to send mass
email for interest ASAP. Money must be in Joe's hands by Jan 20th or trip
will be canceled. (Trip expense is $1500 for bus, meals, admission, etc.
Cost is $40 per person. There is a $200 refundable deposit if cancelled by
January 21.)

Item 3: Al Primas is in Montgomery Hospital and has been hospitalized with
appendicitis since mid December. Sunshine fund sent flowers.

Item 4: Discussion about noise at the field and sound testing for the next
year was heard. Decision was made to test aircraft on an as needed basis. A
rig to hold the sound meter at a two foot height to eliminate interference
by a person holding the meter will be made. Adherence to the flying field
boundaries was emphasized! Noise control and Field Management guide was
passed out for reference.

Item 5: Bob Suderman passed out sample instruction packet for student pilot
instruction from ground school through solo and transition to advanced
performance aircraft.

All business was concluded. Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CLUB CALENDAR

Tuesday, February 4th -
Flight Instructors Meeting (replaces BOG Meeting) at 7:00 PM, room 207.
Review Plan for 2003 Flight Instruction Program.

Tuesday, February 11th -
VFSS Awards Banquet at 6:30 PM at Camelot, 425 Mill Street, in Bridgeport,
PA. (No general meeting.)

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, February 21st, 22nd, 23rd -
WRAM Show - White Plains, New York. No Club Bus this year - you have to get
there on your own.

Tuesday, March 4th --
BOG Meeting at the church, 7:00 PM, room 207. Schedule Fun Fly Events.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DO MODEL AIRPLANES TALK?
By David Beach

We all become accustomed to listening to model aircraft. Typically we focus
on the most audible component, the engine. Is the engine running well and
fuel mix okay? We listen for the right sounds in reaction to throttle up
from idle. We listen to make sure the engine doesn't sag in response to the
pinch test or holding the nose up. These are the obvious ways in which our
flying models "talk" to us and indicate their airworthiness.

But model aircraft can tell you a lot more about their condition if you pay
close attention. At the field the other day, I overheard a pilot say, "It
sounds like my fuel tank is foaming." In that case the airplane was
attempting to say, "You did not set your timer and I'm about to run out of
fuel." A minute or so later the airplane ran out of fuel and a successful
dead-stick landing was the result. With a little more pilot awareness, a
powered landing would have been possible.

Unusual noises are often a precursor to something that is about to go wrong.
Paying attention to what your airplane is telling you can mean the
difference between landing with a loose muffler and losing a muffler in the
woods. It can mean the difference between slowing down an airplane
experiencing control surface flutter and having control failure. Unusual
model aircraft noises have a variety of sources, but your first reaction to
an unusual noise should probably be slowdown, land, and inspect.

I have an airplane that gives feedback that is not audible, but it's talking
to me nonetheless. With a fuel tank that's well ahead of the center of
gravity (CG), once the fuel level starts to get low, this airplane gradually
gets light in the nose and starts to climb from what started out as level
flight trim. I don't need to look at a timer or listen for changes in engine
noise to know that it's about time to land.

Have you ever attempted to fly with your antenna down or a low receiver
battery? It's not uncommon to get a short "glitch" and have temporary loss
of control before all is lost. If you recognize that your airplane is
attempting to tell you something, it can make all the difference.

Learning to pay attention to what your airplane is trying to tell you is not
always easy. Through personal experience I've learned a new signal to look
for that might have saved two different airplanes, and I'd like to share it
with you.
Any sudden change in flight trim means something is wrong!

Twice in the past year, I have retrimmed airplanes in flight and kept flying
when I might have had the opportunity to avoid an in flight failure. Just
because adding three clicks of down-trim makes the airplane fly straight and
level again doesn't mean you should keep flying; it means land now if you
can.

Is a control horn coming loose? Has a control rod bend become fatigued and
gotten soft? Has the engine mount shifted and changed the thrust line? Has
the battery moved in the fuselage and changed the CG? Has a wing bolt mount
failed and changed the trim? When an unusual change to flight
characteristics occur, it is our job as pilots to understand why and
properly assess the impact of that change. Get this done safely on the
ground.

Staying in touch with what your aircraft is trying to tell can make a big
difference. It can make the hobby more rewarding, and can make you a safer
pilot. Do model airplanes talk? Only if you pay attention and listen very
closely.

from Eagles News
Southern New Hampshire Flying Eagles RC Club
David Beach, Editor
Merrimack, NH

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Al Campana also submitted a diagram showing Basic R/C Model Design
Parameters by Romey Bukolt. The document may be read by Acrobat Reader on
the web site of the Palos R/C Flying Club at
http://www.palosrc.com/instructors/basicdes.pdf.

Feedback or comments to: Marilyn Ayres , HearYe editor
Michael Myers, Webmaster

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