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SkyWriter

Chartered Club #970
Skymasters R/C Club Newsletter - April 2000
See Skymasters on the Web at www.geocities.com/~skymasters

Bald Mountain Involvement Day

When: Saturday, April 15 9:00 am - ??

Where: Bald Mountain Park Headquarters

(Greenshield Road approx 1 1/2 miles east of M24, just west of Kern Road)

Please come out and give some of your time for this important event. The benefit of this day to both the park and Skymasters is tremendous!

There are tasks for everyone, regardless of your ability. Past projects have ranged from painting signs to pouring concrete to building a bridge!

All Skymaster families attending and contributing at least 2 hours of their time will receive a $15 gift certificate! Skymasters also provides food for the event.

We need volunteers to be 'Group Leaders' to help manage the projects. Contact Steve Fredericks ASAP if you can help. We will need to meet before Involvement Day to organize the work.


President's Message

Hello all!

It's April, and that means a lot more than just tax season if you are a Skymaster! It's officially "getting-read-to-fly season". Of course some of us got an earlier start than usual due to the string of warm days we had this winter. I took an informal poll at our March 8th meeting and found that nearly a third of you had already flown outdoors this year. That's great enthusiasm for our hobby! As I was saying, April has so many events, but I would like to highlight just a few in my letter. First and most important is a reminder that Saturday, April 15th, is Bald Mountain Involvement Day. This is the one day of the year that we as a club donate our services to the State Park for allowing us the use of Scripps Road Field. This is a renewal year in the 3-year cycle of our use permit, which makes it an important year for a good turn out. Steve Fredericks will again be coordinating the details as the day gets closer. Every year there is something for every skill level, from painting to cleaning to clearing trails and cutting down trees. Because it was so popular last year we are again giving a $15 gift certificate to each member (only one per family) that turns out for Involvement Day.

Other April dates of note include our meeting at Larson Middle School on Wednesday April 12. This meeting will include our annual review of the AMA safety code with a new twist - a game-show format! Come and get educated while you enjoy the fun and entertainment. We are also planning a spring readying your equipment for flight seminar brought to you by the many experienced members of the Skymasters. This is also a good time to remind you that there will be no second Larson School meeting in April because of Spring Break.

You no-doubtably noticed the great line-up of technical expert speakers we had this winter and spring at our Larson School Meetings. We have Joe Hass and Darrell Watts to thank for inviting them and arranging their visits. We still have a full schedule leading us into the summer so don't miss-out on the technical sharing, participate in your club, that's what makes our hobby great!

There have been some nice Great Planes Slow Pokes reviewed during show and tell at our Larson Middle School meetings. It looks like our planned Slow Poke events should be a lot of fun. In fact, I was even inspired enough to take mine out of the box for the first time. (I decided to take a short breather from my F4F Wildcat project.) I plan to do very little modifying to the kit, but I am going to listen to all of the good advice about keeping the CG as far forward as possible. My planned modifications include ailerons and a scale-like color scheme. So don't be a slow poke with your Slow Poke, lets see how many we can get into the air this summer.

Since many of you are already flying you probably have noticed the poor condition that last fall and this winter have left our runway in. The BOD is aware of this and we will be working on it as soon as the weather allows. Similar to last year we are planning on rolling, spiking, and seeding. In addition to that we are looking into possibly replacing some of the sod and putting down insecticides to prevent the animal digging this fall. For now we ask for your patience and we may be asking for your help in the very near future. Stay Tuned.

All for now. Fly safely and happy landings!

Gary Weaks

From the Editor...

Welcome to the April 2000 issue of Skywriter!

You should be receiving this just before Toledo. Still time to plan a trip down to the largest R/C Expo. See flyer for details or talk to someone that has been there! See you there!

One more reminder that Bald Mountain Involvement Day is Saturday, April 15. We need volunteers to be 'Group Leaders' this year to help run the projects. The park does not have the staff to coordinate the number of people we bring with us. Contact Steve Fredericks if you can help out as a 'Group Leader' We will have a list of projects identified so far at our April 12 meeting.

Our flying event season starts next month. Get your planes ready for spring and flying. Not sure what you need to do?? Come to our April 12 meeting and find out. We will also have a ground school for all the new pilots starting out this season.

Did you renew your membership yet??? If not, please do so soon. We will be changing the field combination on May 21 following the Bald Moutain Float Fly. The new combination will be on the mailing label of renewed members for the May issue.

Please send me any input you may have for the newsletter. Please send mail to GMCardillo@att.net, or to my address on the back cover...

 

Meeting Minutes

Date: March 8th,2000

Location: Larson Middle School

Minutes read and accepted

First and Second Time Visitors:

  • Don Patterson
  • Juan Lelito

Treasurer's Report:

  • Swap Shop reportedly brought in approximately $800 to $1,000.
  • The current account balance is $7,550 plus the Swap Shop profit.

Presentation:

R/C Electronics with Pete Waters

  • Pete provided an interactive discussion on various electronic components related to R/C flight including servos, batteries, and receivers.

Show and Tell:

  • Grey Lane brought in his completed SlowPoke.
  • Gene Thuringer brought in a modified P-51 SlowPoke.
  • Al Nelson brought in a SlowPoke
  • Herm Greif brought in an International Arrowtech
  • Graham Overton brought in a Little Bubba with a 17 1/2" wingspan. It was designed by John Hoover and weighs between 13 and 15 ounces.
  • Vince Pettke brought in a Lazy Bee electric. It is powered by an 05 cobalt with 7 cells at 800 mah.
  • Paul Zabawa brought in a Sorta Comet, which is a combat plane.

50/50 Raffle Winner: Dave Shea

Show and Tell Winner: Gene Thuringer

Old Business:

  • None

Motion to adjourn and second

Events of the Last Month

Swap Shop

Another successful Swap Shop for Skymasters. My thanks to Gary Walling for all the preparation and coordination activities, and to all the Skymasters that helped out that night to make things run smoothly. We sold over 50 tables and had over 150 additional people pass through the doors.

Special thanks to the manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and publishers that supported out event with donations.

They are:

Airtronics

Northeast Screen Graphics

Riders Hobbies

R/C Modeler

R/C Report

Tower Hobbies

These folks are literally buried with requests from clubs for assistance. We appreciate their continued support of our event. If you won something from one of these companies, a short Thank You to them for their donation would be a great idea.

Here are some pictures from the event.


A view of the shoppers and sellers.
Donna Burns selling tickets for our Float Fly Raffle.


Some of the prizes we gave away.

Skymasters Events

April 12, 2000 Skymasters Meeting - Larson Middle School, 7:30 PM

Getting your planes ready for spring! Also, our annual safety meeting required for our Gold Leader Club status. Ground School for all new pilots. Review of AMA Safety Code and Field Rules. Open discussion on safety and related issues.

Preparation and signup for Bald Mountain Involvement Day activities.

April 15, 2000 Skymasters Bald Mountain Involvement Day - Park Headquarters, 9:00 AM

This is a day we give to the park. Whether you can give an hour or two, or more, your time is appreciated. There are tasks for all! From sign painting to construction. Our activities have helped the park tremendously over the years. We had over 70 Skymasters (and families!) participate last year. We would like to top that number this year! This is our most important event of the year! We need Group Leaders this year. Contact Steve Fredericks for info.

April 26, 2000 **NO MEETING** - School Closed!

May 10, 2000 Skymasters Meeting - Larson Middle School, 7:30 PM

Dr. Electric, Keith Shaw joins us to talk about electric power for R/C models. We are seeing more and more electric models show up at our field, enough to have an event for it. Come see what is possible with todays technology.

May 20, 2000 Seven Lakes Spring Float Fly - Seven Lakes State Park, Holly, 9:00 AM

Our first Float Fly event of the year. Get your planes ready to go. Small admission includes lunch and pilots drawing.

May 21, 2000 Bald Mountain Float Fly - Bald Mountain State Park, Main Entrance 10:00 AM

Got you planes set up at Seven Lakes yesterday? Well bring them back to Trout Lake on Sunday for another day of water flying! The Scripps Road Field is closed for this event due to the proximity of Trout Lake (less than 3 miles on GPS.)

May 24, 2000 Skymasters Meeting - Scripps Road Field, 6:00 PM

Spring spruce up at the field. Come on out to help take care of some small projects at the field in preparation for Student nights and a summer of flying!! (We need to make sure the grill works!) Some projects will include work on runway. As always, flying is not permitted during runway maintenance.

May 31, 2000 Student Night Begins! - Scripps Road Field

This and every Wednesday thru August 30th. Flying starts at 10am weather permitting. Dinner at 6pm regardless of weather! Flying till 8pm. For those new to the club, this is a great chance for students to meet and fly with different instructors. Then make arrangements to get together other days as well. Dinner is a potluck. Families welcome. We ask that you bring something for the grill - at least enough for your family - and a dish to pass. You will not leave hungry! This potluck is supported by those attending. We will have a sign up each week with needed staples (charcoal, plates, letchup, etc...) If you would like to bring these instead of a dish, you can contribute that way as well.

Come on out; bring the family, and enjoy. Remember, "We always eat, we sometimes fly!"

Upcoming Programs/Events

Skymasters events listed elsewhere in this issue!

Fri-Sun, April 7,8,9* Toledo 2000! 46th RC Expo, Toledo, http://www.toledoshow.com/

Saturday, April 15 Oakland Yard, Indoor Electric Fly 9pm-1am, Dave 248-673-0100

Sat-Sun, April 15,16 IMAC Judging, Flying Seminar, Wright Patterson, Dayton, Tony Falconio 519-736-4815

Saturday, April 29 Oakland Yard, Indoor Electric Fly 7pm-11pm, Dave 248-673-0100

Saturday, May 20 Davison Hilltoppers Sailplane Meet (no contact info provided)

Sat-Sun, May 20,21 Michigan Whirlybirds Helicopter Meet, Hebron, Ohio, Paul Giles 810-790-5952

Sunday, May 21 Sun Parlor R/C Season Opener Fun Fly, Canada, Fred Tonge 519-966-6981

Wednesday, May 24 GLASS Sailplane Meet (no contact info provided)

*See additional information for these events in this issue of Skywriter!

Event info from mailings received, AMRCC, and Michigan RC Flying Times

 

Other Area Events

Toledo RC Expo

Slow Pokes

The CG debate continues. Al Nelson asked Great Planes for clarification. This is the reply from Ann Marie Cross, Product Support Manager for Great Planes:

Thank you for your recent e-mail.

The CG range has been debated for this aircraft. Our CGs are always based upon test flying of the model; however, we have found that what the designer preferred from this plane vs. what modelers have expected in a 'slow and pokey' performance have varied widely.

The Slowpoke has an extremely wide performance window. Depending on your desired performance from your model, please set it up accordingly:

"SPORT MODEL SETTINGS" "SUNDAY FLIER SETTINGS"

Throws: High Rate Low Rate

Elev: (EACH WAY) 5/8" (16mm) 1/2" (12.5mm) 3/8"

Rudder:(EACH WAY) 2" (51mm) 1-1/2" 1"

CG: 3-5/8" aft 3-3/8"

Please also note that depending upon your engine selection the model may require some noseweight. Do not be concerned about any nose weight additions required up to 8 oz. This model has a HUGE wing and a light wingloading and such additions are not critical to its flight performance.

We recommend the inverted positioning to CG because this is how we CG the model and because the mass is below the wing in this formation minimizing the chance of the plane toppling from the stand.

Sincerely,

Mrs. AnnMarie Cross

Product Support Manager

Great Planes Model Distributors

productsupport@greatplanes.com

www.greatplanes.com

 

On Miniature Wings

An R/C Exhibition from the Smithsonian is coming to Detroit. The display will be coming to the Detroit Historical Museum (Woodward, North of Warren) from April 8th thru June 24th. The display includes about 25 scale planes from the National Air and Space Museums collection of 3000 planes. Contact a member of the BOD if you are interested in helping out!

AMA is coordinating the involvement from all the area clubs.

 

For Sale!

Kyosho SR30 Helicopter. Includes SuperTigre 34 H, JR 622XF Radio, JR Dual Rate Gyro, 60 Gear, Pull Starter

$Best Offer! Dan Foxx (248) 797-2534

XXL Club Jacket - Jacket is new and is the 'Sport' style. Logo is embroidered on front and back. Available immediately (allow one week if you want your name on it.) $90. Craig White at 248-435-5235 or 248-388-3564 (Nextel).

Builders Needed

Darrell Watts has a need for 2-3 more builders for Trainers to be used at Camp Jeep. Contact him at 248-391-4677. $50 per plane built is being offered.

AMRCC Schedule

Date Club Event Notes Contact Phone
Feb          
20 GDSHS Sailplane At Weak Signals field Jack Iafret 810 694-2490
20 Chesaning R/C Swap Meet Baker College-Owosso Carl Brausa 248 373-8949
23 Skymasters Swap meet...Wednesday Larson Middle School-Troy Greg Cardillo 248 391-6803
Mar          
12 Flying Pilgrims Swap Meet UAW Hall-Michigan Ave-West of I-275 Andy Pesonen 734 422-6389
19 Ribcrackers Swap Meet- Livonia Senior Center Farmington Rd & 5 Mile Rd Greg Bessette 810 229-9732
25 Mich Pattern Asc Pattern Forum WCCC Haggerty Rd-Bldg & Flying-10 fee includes lunch    
Apr          
7-8-9 Weak Signals R/C Expo-Toledo Show SeaGate Centre-9am-6pm Wayne Yeager 517 547-4430
15-16 IMAC IMAC Judging/Flying seminar Wright Patterson, Dayton..Bring planes for flying Tony Falconio 519 736-4815
May          
20 Skymasters 7 Lakes Spring Float Fly 7 Lakes State Park-Holly Greg Cardillo 248 391-6803
20 Hilltoppers Sailplane      
20-21 Mich Whirlybirds Helicopter Meet Hebron, Ohio...Classes 1-2-3-FAI-Scale Paul Giles 810 790-5952
21 Skymasters Bald Mountain Float Fly Bald Mountain Recreation-Trout Lake Greg Cardillo 248 391-6803
21 Sun Parlor R/C Season Opener Fun Fly "Everyone welcome" Fred Tonge 519 966-6981
24 GLASS Sailplane      
Jun          
3 RCCD "Warbirds Over Lenox" Warbird Rally & R/C Combat Demo Dave Wagensomer 313 881-9967
3-4 Weak Signals Q-500 Pylon-428 424 Possible will notify Phil Smith 734 429-4707
4 Skymasters Kids Day All kids welcome for flying Greg Cardillo 248 391-6803
10-11 LIFT Sailplane   Jim Johnston 231 938-1272
10 Milan Flyers Fun Fly   Phil Smith 734 429-4707
10 Skymasters "Small Fry" Electric & Sailplane Under .25-2 cycle, .30-4 cycle, Any size elec & glider Greg Cardillo 248 391-6803
10 Signal Seekers IMAC Clinic For Basic & Sportsman classes Pete Bergstrom 313 928-8260
11 Signal Seekers IMAC Meet   Pete Bergstrom 313 928-8260
11 Jackson R/C "Watts Over Jackson" Electric Fun Fly Jack Sowle 517 522-4708
17 Pontiac MAC Giant Scale Fly-In 6th Annual White Lake Rd field Frank Vella 248 627-8060
24-25 RCCD 17th Annual IMAA Meet   Richard Vukmirovich 810 468-1360
24-25 Indian City Precision Aerobatics Grosse Isle Bob Kane 734 281-8514
July          
8-9 UFO Giant Scale Fly-In Flight Of Giants   Dan Wamboldt 734 433-5451
8-9 AA Falcons / EFO Mid-America Electric Fly Midwest R/C Field Ken Myers/K.Shaw 248 669-8124
9 Irish Hills R/C 17th Annual Outdoor Swap Meet   Gary Adams 517 592-6060
15 Milan Flyers Air Show   Phil Smith 734 429-4707
15-16 GLASS Dual Soar In Sailplane      
16 Chesaning R/C Heli Fun Fly   Paul Binkley 810 639-2711
22-23 Signal Seekers Pylon Q-500-Std & Exp   Barney Polzin 734 728-3029
23   Windsor Airport Air Show Full Size & Models    
23 Skymasters Warbirds & Scale Any size Greg Cardillo 248 391-6803
29-30 Ribcrackers Open Air Show Lang Field Greg Bessette 810 229-9732
28-30 DAM/Pilgrims Michigan Jets Jet Show Grosse Ile Burton Eisenburg 248 626-8838
29 Skymasters Harold "Big H" Maseles 4 stroke & Majestic Flyers Any size 4 stroke. Greg Cardillo 248 391-6803
Aug          
5-6 CAPS CAPS Classic Pylon-Q-500 Std & Exp plus Q-40 Wright Patterson field-Dayton (Friday Practice) Mike Condon 734 464-7027
6 Pontiac MAC 12th Annual Scale Meet White Lake Field Don Hines 248 681-2752
6 RCCD EFO Electric Fly-In at RCCD   Doug Kursinsky 810 264-5014
12 Skymasters Multi Engine/Multi Wing Either or both.....Saturday meet Greg Cardillo 248 391-6803
12-13 LIFT Northern Mich Soaring Champs   Troy Lawicki 231 929-3816
13 Chesaning R/C Big BIrd Fly-In IMAA Meet   Carl Brausa 248 373-8949
16-17 Weak Signals R/C SAM 40 Old Time meet Wed & Thurs Phil Smith 734-429-4707
19-20 DAM (Detroit Aero Modelers) Giant Size Air Show/Fun Fly IMAA Meet Stan Spiewak 313 534-330
19-20 RCCD 10th Annual Great Lakes Scale   Bob Chapman 248 524-0092
19-20 Pontiac MAC IMAC Pontiac Grand Prix   Tom Wheeler 248 334-7693
20 MISS Summer Soar In Sailplane   Al Sorensen 313 274-8712
26 Bits & Pieces Big BIrd Fly-In Heritage Park-Adrian--Saturday Larry Dalrymple 734 722-2489
26-27 Weak Signals/Flying Tigers Hobby Stop "Silver Cup" Pylon Race for Q-40 --At WS field Wayne Yeager 517 547-4430
27 Midwest R/C DeBolt Fun Fly Any DeBolt plane required..R/c or U/C Pete Waters 248 486-4800
Sep          
9-10 GDSHS Sailplane Addison Oaks Park   Steve Martinez  
9-10 Skymasters Midwest Regional Float Fly Island Lake State Park..Brighton Greg Cardillo 248 391-6803
9-10 Milan Flyers Precision Aerobatics Milan Field Tom Weedon 734 697-0875
9-10 Midwest R/C Open Air Show   Craig Moehler  
10 Mich Whirlybirds Heli Fun Fly River District Eagles field-Marysville Paul Giles 810 790-5952
16-17 Flying Pilgrims Fall Phase Out-Big Bird Air Show IMAA Meet Andy Pesonen 734 422-6389
16-17 RCCD 2nd Annual Motor City Classic IMAC Sam Monteleone 810 469-4594
17 Chesaning R/C Sport Scale Fly-In Sport scale any size Carl Brausa 248 373-8949
24 Jackson R/C 3rd Outdoor Swap Meet   Ed Prahl 517 784-1448
30-1 Flying Tigers NMPRA Dist 5 Pylon Champs 428-424 Sport & Expert Pete Bergstrom 313 928-8260
Oct          
Nov          
5 Midwest R/C Swap Meet Northville Chuck Wooley 734 326-6297
Dec          
31 DAM Red Eye Fly-In   Stan Spiewak 313 534-3300
31 Skymasters Krazy Sno-Fly Fly-In   Greg Cardillo 248 391-6803
Jan 2001          
1 Chesaning R/C Sno-Fly Fly-In Fly anything   Carl Brausa 248 373-8949
7 DAM Swap Meet K of C Hall-Farmington Stan Spiewak 313 534-3300
Feb          
18 GDSHS Sno-Fli   Art Slagle 248 477-2228
18 Chesaning R/C Swap Meet Baker College Owosso Carl Brausa 248 373-8949
28 Skymasters Swap meet Larson Middle School Greg Cardillo 248 391-6803

Skymasters Information

Skymasters field is located within the Bald Mountain State Park (see map). State Park Permits are required and can be obtained from the Park Headquarters located on Greenshield Road or at club events. Flying is permitted from 10 AM to 8 PM. The noise limit for 2000 is 94dBa at 10 feet - this noise rule is strictly enforced.

Wednesday evenings during the summer is Student Night and there are usually instructors around all afternoon. Student night is also 'pot luck' buffet night so that you can fly-n-feed (though not usually at the same time). Students are encouraged on other days and weekends. It is a great idea to come on Wednesday, meet the Instructors and arrange for more instruction time together. Our Chief Flight Instructor is Greg Brausa.

From June to August, Club Meetings are held at the field on the first Saturday of the month at 12 Noon - a great chance to fly and gossip too! Winter meetings (September to May) are held at Larson Middle School (on Long Lake just east of John R - see map) on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:30 PM. Show and Tell, coffee and donuts, and model-speak are the order of the evening. Come along - they are fun.

The Skywriter newsletter is sent to all members, local hobby shops and other local R/C clubs. Any and all contributions are welcome, please pass any articles to the Editor. If you know of anyone who may be interested in our hobby (friend, relative, neighbor, colleague or acquaintance) - please give them a copy of this newsletter or a copy of an AMA magazine - it may spark their interest and get them into our hobby!


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