Hear Ye!

June, 2006
No. 469

FROM THE PRESIDENT
By Bob Sudermann

Just a few notes this month as things are going well as we get fully into
the new season.

I would like to thank Bob Brown, AMA District III Vice President, for
spending his time with us last week. The discussion hit on a number of
topics including the definition of a 'Park Flyer'. This generated quite a
few good questions.

The membership passed changes to the By-Laws and Field Management Guide for
the definition and duties of the Safety Chairman and Sound Committee
Chairman. The Board will be looking to fill both positions and establish
the committees shortly.

I think everyone has been enjoying the raffle over the last few months and
we appreciate Perry's efforts. Remember, as we move the meeting to the Park
starting in June we will discontinue the raffle until the fall.

Safety Topic:

Everyone needs to remember to use the new 'Zigzag' walkway from the pit area
to the runway. This is there to provide a barrier between the runway and
the pit for aircraft returning back to the pilot's position.

Remember - Fly Safe and I'll see you at the Field.

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SECRETARY'S NOTES
by Steve Kolet

Well, it has been a busy month or so for your club. The field has been
rolled, the porta-potty is in place, and many hibernating members have been
seen at the field again! The first fun fly date is June 10th and much
planning has been done. If you would like to help out in any way - and it
takes a lot of work to make it a success - contact Vince Judd at the number
in the BOG roster.

And speaking of the BOG, it is time to start thinking about helping your
club by doing a term on the BOG. I start seeking BOG nominations in June!
The updated Bylaws and FMG are available on the club website for you to
download and read. If you have Internet access, please use this method as
it saves your club a lot of $$$!!! If you do not have Internet access,
please call me using the phone number in the newsletter, and I will mail you
a copy.

For those interested, I am planning to test fly the Weeks Solution built by
Harold Harrison on Saturday morning, June 3rd. In the barrel with the pin
board are sets of PVC legs which attach to the cross pieces stored in the
roof of the bulletin board. Please assemble the barriers and place them in
the old straight access lanes to the runway prior to flying each day. They
will help us all remember to not walk on these areas as the grass grows
tall. I recently had a wingtip clip the tall grass as I was entering the
runway for takeoff, and the grass pulled the plane in and killed the
engine - barriers work!

See you at the field!

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VFSS BOG MEETING
Notes taken by Vince Judd
& transcribed by Steve Kolet, Secretary

May 2, 2006

Members present: 15 plus president

Meeting opened at 7:00 PM by President Bob Sudermann

Old Business

1. Vince Judd volunteered to be the coordinator for the June Fun Fly.
Detailed planning and initial food, setup and teardown assignments were
made.

2. The May club meeting will be at the church. District AMA VP Bob Brown
will speak after club presentation and vote on the proposed bylaws changes.

3. The June club meeting will be on the 13th at the field and start at 6:30
PM.

4. The July meeting will be at the VFNHP Visitor Center. The speaker will
be VFNHP Superintendent Mike Caldwell. The club will be taken on a tour of
the vault and see artifacts not on public display, and the visitor store
will be open. Significant others are invited.

5. The website demo for the club needs to be coordinated.

New Business

1. A long and detailed discussion of the field zig-zag barrier was held. A
set of PVC stands will be made to help members change their habit pattern to
follow the new route to the runway and remind the mowing crew to allow the
grass to grow in the old straight line access lanes.

2. The Ranger Station is not manned on weekends and holidays at present;
thus day-passes cannot be issued. Please greet anyone who is flying that
you do not recognize and ask if they are a club member. If they are not a
member, please check to be sure they have an AMA membership and brief them
on the flight box, etc. Help them out, and perhaps they will join us.

All business was concluded and the meeting adjourned at 8 PM.

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FROM THE AMA INSIDER

ON THE SAFE SIDE
Safety: As Simple as ABC
by Don Lowe

Hi! I've been in this hobby a long time (forever), and I guess I've seen
about everything happen in model flying that's possible. However, I wonder
if there is some method of operation that might help preclude crashes and
unsafe operations.

I've written about safety many times in past columns for RCM and, of course,
I chaired AMA's Safety Committee for many years. One thing I've learned is
that you can have all the safety rules that you want, but if fliers don't
conscientiously observe these rules, then what good are the rules?

Fortunately most fliers exercise common sense in their flight operations,
and their airplanes survive to fly another day.

Some say that man is a creature of habit. If you can, in some magical way,
coach that creature to use common sense and to follow a set of safety
guidelines, then you have accomplished something.

Models come in all shapes and sizes. Some have such low-energy content in
their flight operations that they are not much of a threat. By and large,
the typical model airplane flown by the average modeler is of a size,
weight, speed, and complication that logical care in flight operations is
mandatory otherwise serious damage can occur to people or property and none
of us wants that to happen.

Several weeks ago a friend of mine crashed a gorgeous and expensive
Aerobatics (Pattern) model at a contest because of a momentary lapse of
attention and adherence to important safety practices. The model was a
typical F3A Pattern aircraft with a plug-in wing and tail. In his haste to
fly, he forgot to physically secure the wing halves into position and plug
in the aileron servos.

This inattention to flight procedure was followed by a failure to exercise
the control system prior to flight to observe normal operation. A takeoff
and the resultant crash occurred. Fortunately no one was hit, but the
beautiful aircraft-and his ego-were severely damaged.

How do we improve our chances of safe flight? In mulling over this on the
way home I thought about our flight training in the Air Force. We used a
check system prior to flight that was simple and easy to remember. Each
check list was particular to an individual aircraft design; such check lists
are used by full-scale pilots today.

The code I used at that time was CIGFTPR, and I will never forget it. It
followed the usual walk-around-inspecting the exterior to see that
everything was in place and kicking the tires. Then in the cockpit I went
through the list. It goes something like this:

C (controls): Operate the flight controls to observe for motion and
direction

I (instruments): Check the instruments to be sure all are functional

G (gear): Landing gear lever down and locked

F (flaps): Flaps are set to proper position

T (trims): Control trims are set properly for takeoff

P (propeller): Propeller controls are set for startupand takeoff

R (run-up): Engine run-up to check proper operation

This system worked well and I'm sure the precheck saved many an aborted
takeoff.

Okay, such a system works for full scale, but is there a system that is easy
to use for model fliers that will be remembered and may be used to prevent
disaster down the road? How about using ABC? It's simple and easy to
remember. The check would go like this:

A (assembly): Check that everything is in its proper place, controls are
still intact as installed and securely fastened, and all assembly fasteners
are in place.

B (batteries): Must be fully charged-very critical to safe flying.

C (controls): Controls checked for deflection, without evidence of servo
malfunction, and operate in the proper direction.

Have you ever taken off with the ailerons running backwards? The average
flier will not survive this error, and many models have been lost because of
reversed ailerons. Remember, make sure they are operating and in the proper
direction. Just stare at the aileron; did the right aileron deflect up when
I commanded right aileron?

Simply observing motion is not enough; you must check direction. You
probably would be unable to execute a takeoff if any other control is
backward, but the ailerons are another story! When I taxi I am consciously
flipping the ailerons to make sure they are working correctly. When I flew
full scale I always checked controls one last time before initiating
takeoff.

Will you do your ABCs? I sure hope so since it hurts to see a gorgeous
airplane in pieces and maybe someone hurt. Let this little memory jogger
help save your beautiful aircraft. Yes, safety is common sense, and for some
it is habitual. Be sure and practice safe flight.

Happy flying!

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CLUB CALENDAR

Tuesday June 6 -
Board of Governors Meeting - 6:30 at the Field.

Saturday June 10 -
VFSS Fun Fly (Rain date - Sunday, June 11). Starts at 9:00 AM. (Setup
starts at 7:00 AM or earlier.)

Tuesday June 13 -
General Membership Meeting at the Field, 6:30 PM - Dusk. Guest Speaker -
Vince Judd will discuss and show off one of his other hobbies: Drag Racing
(Static Display Only.)

Tuesday July 11 -
General Membership Meeting will be held at the VFNP Welcome Center, 6:30 PM.
Guest Speaker: Superintendent Mike Caldwell. We will get a tour of the
Vault (artifacts not on public display), and the Visitor Store will be open.

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LOST

at the VFSS field, a nice set of precision German screwdrivers in a case,
black handles with red tips.

Please call Ed Moore if you have found these. Thank you!

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FOR SALE - Engines

Saito .56 GK Four Stroke (2 years old, like new /also Satio Alumn. mount
included)

OS 1.60 FX Two Stroke (Is new, One gal. of fuel thru engine, OS stock pipe
included)

Make offer ! Contact Jim @ 610-935-1362 or J_NOEL@comcast.net

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FOR SALE

Great Planes RV-4, Wing 54", length 49", weight 8-9#. Covered in Solartex
with paint finish. Flaps installed. Red, green and white landing lights are
installed in the wings and tail. $190. Call for info, pictures available.

China Moon Funfly. Film-covered balsa with carbon tube fuselage. Aileron,
elevator and rudder controls. Wing 31", length 30", weight 9 oz. Comes with
brushless 10A ESC, brushless Feigao geared 4.43:1 power system and 11x 4.7
prop. $75. Just add radio and (3) servos. Call for info, pictures available.

Rick 610-429-4686.

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