Hear Ye!

The official newsletter of the :
Valley Forge Signal Seekers
Radio Controlled Model Airplane Club
July, 1996

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING TO BE HELD AT THE FIELD ON TUESDAY JULY 9TH AT 6:30. RAINDATE IS THURSDAY JULY 11TH.

In This Issue:

* News From The President
* B.O.G. Review
* Training Program Update
* Safety Stuff!
* Upcoming Events

NEWS FROM THE PRESIDENT

By Warren Barrick

June Meeting:
It is really becoming a pleasure to report on our monthly meetings. One success after another, great presentations, live participation and good fun. This month was more of the same and the success is because every one of these meetings was based upon one great resource; V.F.S.S. Each meeting has been led by active members of V.F.S.S. talking about their specialty.

John Powell and Ron Stein came to us this month with numerous examples of their thermal seeking equipment and lively, knowledgeable presentations of their experiences with same. They had everything from a vintage RPV which has been scaled down and electrified to state of the art high aspect ratio gliders such as the Esteem. Ron displayed his scratch-built concepts; low aspect ratio to huge electrified "condor-like" soaring machines.

This clubs greatest asset is its membership and once again members John and Ron proved it in their areas of expertise. Many thanks!

Fred Warner's Auction
Thanks to Mrs. Warner for contributing Fred's models to the club. Thanks to Scott Irvin and "Rom" Boutin for getting the models to the June meeting.

A lively auction was held which garnered receipts of $312.00. The BOG has designated the Chester County Library to be the recipient of these funds. Fred had tutored literacy there in his spare time and we will give the funds in his name and memory.

Reminder
At the field make every effort to be courteous to club members and spectators.

Practice every facet of safe flying. Don't forget the basics, restrain your aircraft when starting, keep it in position facing away from spectators and the pits. Be careful with your hands! Paint your prop tips white so that you can see the prop. Run your engine while it is under restraint, either held by a co-pilot or tied down. Do not taxi in the pits, and once on the flight-line loudly announce your intentions as well as direction of take-off. Complete a good rectangular pattern as you ascend to flying space. Be consistent in all of these things and "Stay in the BOX".

July Meeting
The July membership meeting will be held in the park on Tues 7/9, rain date Thur 7/11. Both of these nights are also instructional times. Show the student pilots what a great sport we all participate in and demonstrate to them what flying by V.F.S.S. is all about.
Have a good time!

B.O.G. REVIEW
By Sam Andreas

This months meeting of the V.F.S.S. Board of Governors was held at the flying field on Tuesday, June 18th. The President called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. In attendance were: the Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and 12 board members as well as the Chief Field Marshall and Chief flight Instructor.

Topics discussed were as follows:
1- Rudy Forst will purchase a new canopy for use during Fun Flys.
2- The club will obtain 1/2 Keg of Birch Beer and a couple of cases of canned soda plus 100 hoagies for the club fun fly at the end of this month.
3- Al Campana who, unable to attend, provided Warren Barrick with some information on obtaining club jackets, however there are still additional quotes forthcoming. The topic will be explored further at the next B.O.G. meeting.
4- A new club office was created, that of Helicopter Safety Officer. Board member Tristram Colket will hold that position.
5- The board received a report concerning a recent overflight and subsequent crash onto the property surrounding the one time superintendents house. The report requested that disciplinary action be taken against the individual responsible. Since this is not the first time this individual has had such an accident the board decided to take the following action: The individual can only fly after his plane and radio have been examined by a club official, ie; Field Marshall, Safety Officer, Instructor or Technician. The individual must then have one of the above officials stand next to him on the flightline while his craft is in the air. This is to remain in effect for the remainder of the flying season. The person in question will shortly receive an official club letter informing him of the decision.
6- A motion was placed before the board that "no club member shall be entitled to monetary compensation for services rendered to the club". The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 PM.
Note: There will be no meeting of the Board of Governors in July. The next B.O.G. meeting will be held at the church on August 20th at 7;00 PM.

TRAINING PROGRAM UPDATE
By Rom Boutin
Congratulations to Ron (DIESELIZE) Weiser for successfully completing the training program and soloing in 5 Hrs 5 Min of stick time during 12 sessions. Ron started instructions 24 April and soloed on 5 June '96. A tremendous job by Instructor Abe Jones and likewise by Ron. Ron also kept a fantastic daily flight log, consisting of 8 typed pages, which a copy of the same will reside with Abe and the writer in case anyone is interested in reading the same. It is informative. The training program has also accepted Tris Colket as a Fixed Wing Instructor in addition to being an Instructor with the Helicopter function of our club. Welcome aboard Tris

SAFETY STUFF
By Art Rothstein
The other day at the field I saw a number of rule violations that I think should be brought to the club's attention at this time. Some of the violators were not new members of the club and should know better. When questioned they said they thought what they were doing was proper. NOT!

The clear strips from the pit area to the flight line are NOT taxiways, the plane must be under manual control. You must be holding it, period! When starting your plane the propeller must be facing the flight line- not the crowd. Do not start the engine with the throttle set at full open.

All planes must be marked with some sort of identification. This is an AMA and VFSS rule. No exceptions. If you lose a plane and it is not marked the finder can keep it. Whether a club member or stranger. If you damage property you are not covered by insurance. Please read your rules manual. One of the good signs is that there are very few overflights (252 and the supers house). We are staying in the box .

You have probably noticed a swath cut in the grass about 5' behind the runway. This is where you should stand when flying. The high grass between you and the runway will stop a runaway plane and protect you from being hurt. Please use this area to fly from.

Although not a safety requirement I think it might be a good idea if everyone uses a fuel overflow container of some sort when filling your fuel tank. This will protect the grass, and the overflow fuel can be dumped back into your jug at the end of the day. An old fuel tank will work and you can keep it sealed by simply putting a piece of brass tubing between the two lines. By the way this is a good idea to do to the fuel tank of your plane when you have finished flying for the day. It keeps any residual fuel from going bad.

Another tidbit. I kept losing the needle valve extension from my O.S. 91 Surpass. It turns out that the hole for the extension in the end of the needle valve is the tap drill size for a 2-56 tap. Push rods have a 2-56 thread on the ends. Figure the length, put a 90 degree bend on the other end and screw it into the needle valve, then tighten the set screw. It ain't goin' nowhere.

Remember- When in doubt, don't.

FIELD ETIQUETTE
It has been noted that some members have been leaving outdated AMA cards or Club ID cards or in some cases just an ID card with no AMA card in the Frequency Pin Board while using a pin.

Please note that both your current AMA and ID cards should be placed in the frequency slot while you are in possession of the pin. To make this easier, last year the club obtained clear card holders, one holder is available free to each and every member and a replacement holder may be purchased from the club for one dollar.

If you do not have a card holder contact Walt Pieszchala to obtain one. If you've lost your AMA or club ID card getting a replacement is a simple matter.

CLUB EQUIPMENT
The club is trying to consolidate a list of club owned equipment Ie sound analyzers, club trainers, walkee talkees and other items too numerous to mention.

If you have any club equipment in your possession please provide Walt Pieszchala with a description, Serial # (if applicable) and any other pertinent information.

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR AUGUST
August 3-4, Quakertown, PA. First Annual Giant Scale Warbirds Over Pennsylvania. Contact Bruce Kane 610-282-3552. Sponsored by the BUC-LE AEROSPORTSMEN. Restricted to IMAA members only.

August 3-4, Hershey, PA. East Coast Super Slow Combat for 329. Contact Phil Carter 717-566-3810. Sponsored by the HARRISBURG AEROMODELERS.

August 4, Easton, PA. LVRCS Fun-Fly, Contact Kenneth Reber 610-691-2492. Sponsored by LVRCS Inc.

August 18, Marshalls Creek, PA. 17th Annual Stick 40 Combat Part 3 for 704. stock outline balsa USA Stick 40 trainer, 3ch only, up to 46 2 stroke or 71 4 stroke. contact Bob Karasiewicz 201-386-0821. Sponsored by RAMAC.

Feedback or comments to:
Sam Andreas, HearYe editor


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