Hear Ye!

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

From The Editor...
by Price Dempler

While I usually try to bring good news, it is my unfortunate duty to report the passing of Ed Casson. He died on Monday, February 19th from a massive coronary at the age of 56. He is survived by his wife, Bessie, his daughter, Deborah Potthof of Chadds Ford, as well as his brother, Richard and a grandson. Services were held Wednesday, February 21st - 35-40 VFSS members attended.

There was no BOG meeting in February, so we give Sam a break this month. And spring is coming sometime soon. It cannot come soon enough!! And we have meetings that should further fuel the modeler's spark. See Warren's article for details. Take care!!

News From The President
by Warren Barrick
Club Banquet
Thanks to all who attended the Club's Annual Banquet on February 13th at the Camelot in Bridgeport. It was a great success! Attendance nearly tripled that of last year - we has 86 people attend!
For the first time in memory, we had a tie for the Doug Davidson Award. Walt Pierzchala and Chuck Karr were both awarded plaques. Rob Caso received the VFSS Technical Achievement Award. The Good Sport Awards, a first this year, were won by Austin Gutman and Paul Hicks. All of these awards rcognized these gentlemen for their positive contributions to model aviation and VFSS.
The Camelot provided us with a super buffet of pasta, salads, meat, cheeses, rolls and desserts. Everyone had a great time!!

March Meeting
The March meeting is expected to be a celebration of scale aircraft. Expert scale modelers from VFSS and the tri-state area have been invited to display their aircraft. Many of these models are warbirds of Top Gun Quality.
Invited to attend and expected to participate are Rudy Forst, Joe Palmer, Chuck Hunsicker, Joe Weizer, and Rob Caso from the Signal Seekers. David Malchione and David West are warbird exhibitor/flyers from IMAA area clubs. Larry Tudor will bring jet engines and some videos of same in use. Jeff Troy, longtime Signal Seeker, scale columnist for Model Aviation and nationally acclaimed scale builder will be on hand to coordinate things. We will have a grand raffle and refreshments as usual. Do Not Miss This Meeting!!
Don't forget that next month is the helicopter meeting.

Membership Announcement
The March meeting is the last day for the renewal of your VFSS membership without penalty. After this date, you must have a 1996 VFSS card and a 1996 AMA card to fly at the field!

Training Announcement
Rom Boutin and Chuck Karr have agreed to run the training program for this year. Training will officially start on April 8th.
All students, new and old, must contact Rom Boutin at (610) 692-1924 to be placed with an instructor. Students from last year can be assigned with the same instructor if they wish. Remember, all students must call Rom!!

More Training News
by Rom Boutin

There have been numerous inquires by Active club pilots who wish to become VFSS Flight Instructors. Accordingly all present certified VFSS Instructors who wish to participate in the current year training program are to advise Rom Boutin with their preferred days and times (AM or PM) that they will be available to provide such instructions. Correspondingly, ALL STUDENTS are requested to contact Rom Boutin so that they can be assigned to an Instructor or maintain their present Instructor. See you all at the Field!

A Charged Question...
by Fred Warner

While in Florida this winter, I met and RC pilot who flies helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.
Because the weakest link in the on-board equipment is the battery pack, he makes up 5 cell packs for all of his aircraft. A voltmeter will pick up a "dead" cell on the ground and if a cell dies during flight, there will still be sufficient voltage for safe flight.
He checked with the Futaba engineering people and they indicate that there is no problem in applying 6 volts across the receiver and servos. Sounds like a good idea, especially since the added weight of one cell should not cause a problem. Any comments pro or con before I make the changes in my flight packs?

From The Net
compiled by Price Dempler

From: 102525.2531@compuserve.com
Date: Sun, 4 Feb 1996 17:20:41 -0500
To: mhmyers@netaxs.com
Subject: hovering ufo
We are searching for remote control helium filled promotional animals, UFOs, or any other related designs for indoor (coliseums,arenas etc.)promotions . We would also require these items to be effective outdoors as well. It is very important they be electric powered. The size we are looking for is anywhere from 10 feet to 30 feet long. Thanks, hope you can help.

From: "Bob Tursack, Jr." <TursackPrint@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Feb 96 10:48:23 UT
To: mhmyers@netaxs.com
Subject: Your web site
I enjoyed your web site, especially the photos of your Ryan and the antic. I also have both models...although my Ryan is a Byron's models and is done in the yellow and silver scheme. It is powered by a Supertigre 3000 and flies great. I am a member of the Hamburg "WingSnappers" and fly mostly giant scale. Currently I am building a Duncan Hutson designed "Hanriot". This is a WWI bipe used by the Belgian and Italian front lines. I'll be powering mine with a 7cyl. Seidel radial. If you'd like to swap stories, I'm on AOL..."TursackPnt". Thanks for the work you put into your site!

From: kevd@gnn.com (Kevin Dorfsman)
Date: Sat, 10 Feb 1996 23:30:36
To: warrenm@autodraft.com Cc: seanm@calon.com, mhmyers@netaxs.com, tkholst@oslonett.no, Kym.Farnik@cmc.com.au, agbjarn@ismennt.is
Subject: Intro Dear fellow RC'ers..
I am a member of a flying club in Norwalk, CT (USA) called the Country Squire Modelers, Inc. We maintain an airfield as "guests" at a state park called Sherwood Island in Westport, CT. My reason for emailing you is to start a connection with clubs around the world. This is an informal one of course. I think that as this sport gets to be more and more popular, the need to help each other out with common problems would be ideal. I am also editor of our newsletter, and would even like to start sending it to other clubs in return for theirs. Our club is a small club of around 100 members and growing. We have been around since the ice age (so I'm told). The majority of our members fly sport and pattern planes. Some of them have even joined the popular pylon racing scene. Twice a year we like to have a summer fun fly and are even planning some combat, pylon, helicopter, and other special days. Right now our main event will be our winter build contest. The contest allows the members to enter various planes that they have built over the 95/96 winter.The classes for the contest are sport, sport bi-plane, pattern, scale, sailplane, and rotary. I'm sure the $100 first prize is incentive, but we also like to show off our work while admiring that of our friends. We would like to find out more about your club and your events. If you are ever planning to be in this area, I would like to formally invite you or any of your members to our meetings. Our meetings are the second Monday of every month. I look forward to hearing from you soon... Happy Flying....

From: TursackPnt@aol.com
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 1996 18:38:31 -0500
To: mhmyers@netaxs.com
Subject: Giant Scale Planes
My home is in Glenmoore which is about halfway between Exton and Pottstown. Hamburg is about 50 minutes from my house. This sounds like a long ride...but the field is definitely worth it! We have the most wide open flying area I know, with a nice pavilion and an outstanding ladies' auxiliary that cooks lunches every Sunday from June thru the end of October. Every Father's day weekend, we have a two day Giant Scale Funfly. This event is always a success and attracts pilots from Pa, NY, NJ and De. If you can, you should come. We are printing up a flyer that will go to the local hobby shops. You can keep an eye out for them, or if you like, give me your home or bus address and I'll send you one. For your info...My fleet consists of a Proctor Eindecker, Proctor Jenny, Proctor Antic, Byron's Ryan STA, Byron's Sukhoi (60 size), Two Ulery Lasers, Violet F-80. Currently on the board is a Morrisey Bravo and a Proctor Albatross.

Subj: Goldberg Tiger2
Date: 96-02-24 10:29:41 EST
From: remote4@carol.net (John Schwab)
To: GeeBeeR1@aol.com
Dear Sir, I am presently building a Tiger2 by C.G. and was courious if you have any information how the plane flys. I have built it as a second plane, after the Eagle2. It ispowered by a Super Tiger .40. Any information, or direction to information would be helpful. Thanks, and I love the newsletter!
John Schwab

From: Norm Deputy <deputy@hom.net>
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 05:59:13 -0500
To: mhmyers@netaxs.com
Subject: Your Web Page
Just wanted to let you know that your web page inspired us to develop a web page for our R/C group in Georgia some time ago. I consider myself a novice at web page development but we tried and used some of your techniques for developing ours. The R/C web sites are growing fast and have done a good job of advertising what this hobby is all about. You have a great web page, very informative, well done and attractive layout. If you get a chance, visit us at www.hom.net/~gama.
Norm Deputy

From: "George M. Hilliard IV" <0004945839@mcimail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 96 15:25 EST
To: Mike Myers <mhmyers@netaxs.com>
Subject: Pattern Guys
Hi Mike, Still a nice page! I'm a member of the VFSS and I've been building most of the winter. Could you put me in touch with a member or two that flies AMA pattern? Thanks. GeorgeH.

From: "lnorthcott@ccinet.ab.ca" <Lewis.Northcott@ccinet.ab.ca>
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 21:27:16 -0700
To: mhmyers@netaxs.com
Subject: Flying Witch
Where can I get the plans for building the witch? I live in Fort McMurray, Alberta. I think it would be really fun to have something like that at our family fun days. If there are no plans for it, could you let me know some of the measurements, etc that I could at least get it started. Thanks.


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