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SkyWriter
Chartered Club #970
Skymasters R/C Club Newsletter - February 1998
See Skymasters on the Web at www.geocities.com/~skymasters

President's Message

Greetings,

As we enter the cold months, much of the business of the club is now coming into focus, as well as the start of a new building( and repairing ! ) season. The first 1998 BOD meeting occurred first Wed. of January and your new president was greeted with an audience of over 12 people with much to discuss. One of the primary topics was the 1998 event schedule, and we are hoping to have it out to all by and of January. We have a few event dates that we are still working out, which should all be resolved by the time you read this.

Steve Fredericks reports that the December Crazy fly was one of the biggest events, in terms or registered pilots, for Skymasters in 1997. Approximately 40 pilots showed up and braved the cold weather and Steves "famous" chili. It was one of the most perfect weather days I personally have seen for a winter fly. The small amount of snow on the field allowed both a wheels or ski use and I think all enjoyed the day immensely. Hats off to Steve for another great winter break!

Our February swap shop is coming up on the 25th in place of the second meeting. Gary Walling again has "volunteered" to lead the charge and he is in need of help for the many support tasks to make things proceed smoothly. Gary is again soliciting 1/2 hour segments and I would encourage all of you to please donate a small amount of your time to help the club out. Gary will be passing out the sign up sheet at our January meetings. I would also encourage all of you to consider going to other swap meets during the cold winter months. I have found it a most enjoyable 1/2 day out and have found many bargains this way. There are 2 swap meets coming up in February both near Flint (Owosso and Baker College) that I have found to be both excellent in terms of quantity and quality.

Several new topics are now active, and I would like to encourage all of you reading this to feedback your thoughts to me or any other BOD member. Some of these include:

  1. The ongoing attempts to secure a second field.
  2. The creation of a listing of club member aviation books to allow loaning to each other. The hope here is to create a simple listing of club members and any aviation books they own that they are willing to loan out to other members.
  3. The creation of a "youth" rate for club membership - this would entail a lower rate like the new AMA $1 rate for youth membership. We will probably be voting on this issue in February. Please make yourself informed and heard!
  4. Review of student sign off and instructor sign off. Perhaps it is time we visited the question of are we doing things correctly here.
  5. It is vital to me and ultimately the club, that you please let your thoughts be known on these and other topics. I (and your BOD) have no desire to throw down decisions on any of these matters in a vacuum.
As I write this newsletter, I have just finished up on a small Extra 3.25 I'm building, and found out the hard way how NOT to dye a canopy. I used RIT hot water Dye, but forgot that the canopy melts pretty easy. After realizing my error, I fished out the mess and bent it somewhat back into shape and had a few laughs at my stupidity ( I also burned my fingers a wee bit and had black dye in my fingernails for a week!). Anyways, I will still bring the little Extra to show and tell and proudly show it off - I say this to encourage all of you to bring in your creations. If I can bring in my bumpy canopy, already patched Ultracote (I know, the plane hasn't flown and I've already got patches!), none of you has anything to be embarrassed about!

Hope ya leave the field with as many pieces as you came with!

Respectfully submitted,
Joe Finkelstine

Lift off of Joe Hass' rocket powered plane at our Snow Fly!
Your editor's Tsunami on skis.
Darrell Watts prepares his plane for flight.
 
1998 Club Officers
President: Joe Finkelstine
Vice President: Gary Weaks
Secretary: Paul Shurtliff
Treasurer: Graham Overton
Editor: Greg Cardillo
Articles must be received by the 20th for next issue
Articles may be reproduced from Skywriter

From the Editor...

Welcome to another edition of Skywriter!

First I want to correct two errors from last month's issue - The date of the second January meeting was incorrectly listed as January 21; it should have been January 28. A second, on the back cover, I inadvertantly updated our noise rule to 95dB at 10 inches... obviously, it is still feet. Now that the editor has his eyes checked, we'll move on...

A quick note to other clubs - we will be happy to include your event in our calendar and publish your event flyers. Please help by sending a copy on white paper. Copying and scanning work much better from white paper!

Submissions for Skywriter can be given to me at any meeting, mailed to my address (see return address), or emailed to GMCardillo@misi.net (attachments OK) or GMCardillo@juno.com (no attachments to the Juno address).

See color version of the pictures here and more on our web site!

Coming next month - a feature article on Airfoils!

 

For Sale

NHP 3 in 1 Air/Heli Simulator for 486 or faster P.C. computer. Fly many aircraft already designed,or design and fly your own prototype aircraft. Riders price $189.99, plus $10.00 for Futaba cable, sell for $150.00 complete. Call Kirby Elliott.

 

Meeting Minutes

January 14, 1998 Meeting at Larson Middle School

Minutes from previous meeting were read and accepted.

VISITORS

Kevin Ferguson, Don McLean, Eric Litt, Jack Ehrke, Jonathan Litt, Ed ?????

SHOW AND TELL

  • Joe Hass - Joe brought in an electric JR kit called Ecstasy. He had purchased it from Hobby Lobby and weighs in at 14.75 oz.
  • Jack Fleming - Jack displayed a Twinstar ARF from Tower Hobbies. It was powered by twin OS 25 FPs.
  • Joe Finkelstine - Joe showed us an Extra 3.25, it was powered by an OS 26 Surpass and was covered with Ultra Coat. (Joe won the gift certificate).
  • Randy MacInnes - Randy displayed a Sig Astro Hog. Randy explain various ways he tried to form the wing sheeting and found that steaming the wood worked best. Randy brought the ship in uncovered.
OLD BUSINESS
  • The Crazy Snow Fly had 40 Pilots (the largest Snow Fly to date). Thanks to Riders Hobby for donating prizes!
  • The Swap Shop is taking place on 2/25/98. Please help out by signing up for a 30 minute task (contact Gary Walling). Table setup is at 6:00 PM with general admittance at 7:00 PM.
  • The Scout Conference was a success with 500 people in attendance.
  • Joseph Rubinstein donated his copies of Top Gun 93 & 97 to our video library. Thanks Joseph!
NEW BUSINESS
  • Joe Hass mentioned that Don Bentfield, our AMA District VII VP, had passed away in December.
  • Harold Reuter mentioned that the Lake Orion Review did an article on Bill Stark, and the Skymasters were mentioned in the township calendar.
  • Bald Mountain Involvement Day is 4/18/97. Please plan on attending. There is work for all strenuous levels.
  • Gary Weaks spoke about setting up a book loan program.
  • Joe Finkelstine performed the following:
    1. He read off the proposed 1998 club event schedule.
    2. Spoke about student sign-off requirements regarding competency and safety. The officers will discuss writing a sign-off procedure.
    3. Spoke about a proposal to decrease club dues for members under 19 years old.
 

Skymasters Virtual Library

Many of us have modeling or aviation related books at home. Gary Weaks has offered to compile a database of the books available from club members for others looking for information. This would create a 'virtual library' where a member could look and find another member with a book they would be willing to lend. Enclosed as a separate insert in this issue of Skywriter is a form to fill out if you have a book you would like listed in the virtual library. Categories of Technical, Fiction, and Non-Fiction have been suggested to start. All that is needed is your name and phone number, Title, Year published, Brief Description, Author, number of pages and category. There is room for 5 books. Feel free to copy if you need more room! The form is preaddressed to Gary. Drop in the mail or bring to a meeting and our 'virtual' library can become a 'reality'.

Events of the Last Month

Skymasters Krazy Snow Fly

The Weather Gods gave us a perfect day for flying our last event of the year. The sun came out early with light winds and about one inch of snow on the field. By 9:30 the pilots started arriving and arriving. The turnout was great, by noon we had forty pilots signed up. Three pilots were a father and sons group from Saginaw MI, old friends of KC Satchell.

At ten o'clock the flying started and nobody had to be coaxed into the air. There were five pilots in the air at all times. We had plenty of hot coffee brewing, a large fire in a fire ring, a five gallon pot of chili kept steaming hot over a propane stove, and the side curtains around the shelter. Nobody complained about being cold! All the comments were about how great the weather was for a winter day. They knew Darrell Watts must have saved some of his Float Flying Weather for the Snow Fly. Sure enough when I looked over the at the flight line blocks, there was Darrell talking to some other pilots about weather management.

What great fun everyone had. There was only one crash, and that was repairable. At noon the chili was ready for testing. A few brave souls tried it out and before long everybody had a bowl in their hands. It must have passed the test because there were no leftovers to take home. The air was full of planes all day long as most of the pilots know this will be their last chance to fly until spring, and some their only time to see their friends at the field until the contest season starts.

At one-thirty the drawing for prizes was held. There were three Riders Hobbies caps given away and ten $10 dollar gift certificates to Riders Hobbies. Our thanks from Skymasters go out to John Hoover from Riders for donating the caps and two certificates. Remember Riders when you buy your hobby supplies as they are a big supporter of our club and the many other clubs in the area.

Also I would like to thank John Hoover myself for the prizes he donated this year and to last year's Snowfly. I would also like to thank Bob Donahue for helping me set up in the morning, and Darrell Watts for the generous supply of firewood he took time to collect and bring to the field. We now have enough for all winter. Thanks also go out to the members who donated help in the kitchen, brought firewood, kept the flightline going with no problems and helped me clean after the event. It is these types of special members that make belonging to Skymasters fun and rewarding. If you missed this year's Snowfly, make sure you come out to next year's as it is growing every year. Thanks again to everybody, and see you next year. Steve Fredericks

(Thanks again Steve! ed)

What snow fly would be complete without a fire?
Several pilots on the flight line in the snow!
Steve Fredricks' plane on skis.
Joe Hass and son getting ready to fly.
Rider's Hobbies' John Hoover flying up a storm.
Mark Smith and his trainer with skis made of Lexan.
Terri and Keith Phillips watch the action.
Lots of planes in the pits.
K.C. Satchell and his Wonder.
Hand launch of K.C. Satchell's Wonder
 

Upcoming Programs / Events

  • Wednesday, February 11: Skymasters Meeting, Larson Middle School
  • Sunday, February 15 Chesaning Area Model Flying Club Swap Shop, Owosso, MI
  • Wednesday, February 25 Skymasters Swap Shop, Larson Middle School
  • Sunday, March 1 Ribcrackers Annual R/C Auction and Swap Meet, Livonia, MI
  • Saturday, March 7 Aerobatic Judging Seminar, Livonia, MI
  • Sunday, March 8 Precision Aerobatic Seminar, Livonia, MI
  • Sunday, March 8 Flying Pilgrims R/C Club 5th Annual Swap Meet, Canton, MI
  • Wednesday, March 11 Skymasters Meeting, Larson Middle School
  • Wednesday, March 25 Skymasters Meeting, Larson Middle School
Event information from mailings received, Model Aviation Events Calendar and Michigan Flying Times

Skymasters Events

HELP PLEASE

Our annual swap shop will be held on Wednesday 25-Feb-1998 at Larson Middle School. Set-up time is 6PM with general entry at 7PM. Raffles will be drawn at 7-45PM and 9PM. The 50/50 and door prize will be drawn at 9PM too.

I have been busy trying to organize the event and now need to call on our club members to help me by volunteering some of their time to help out during the evening. There are various jobs to be done, some light work and some heavier - but there will be jobs for all. Bill Dzure has accepted the daunting task of organizing the kitchen and so both of us will need some help. I have divided the event into 30 minute slots and would like people to sign-up for a given slot (or slots). Please consider helping out since it spreads the load and lightens it too. Note that we need people from around 5PM to help carry things and set-up the tables and afterwards to help clean-up.

 

Proposed Change to Skymasters Constitution

The Proposal

The following change to the Skymasters Constitution is proposed in accordance with Article X:

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

I. Amendments to the Constitution may be made at any regular meeting, provided a reasonable attempt has been made to notify all members in advance of the meeting that such an amendment is to be considered. Those present at the meeting then constitute a quorum. The approval of two- thirds of the members in good standing, who are present, is necessary for ratification of the amendment.

Article III - Membership, Section I: Changes indicated in Italics (Subsection B Modified)

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

I. All persons are eligible for membership providing:

A. The applicant is a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA).

B. The applicant is 18 years of age or older, or one of the following is true:

1. The applicants parent or legal guardian is a member of the Club.

2. The applicant has the consent of parent or legal guardian.

 

In addition to the above Constitution change, it is proposed that dues for members under 19 as of July 1 of membership year whose parent or legal guardian is not a member of the Club shall have financial obligations of $10 dues with $0 initiation/reinstatement fees. This change will be effective as of January 1, 1998 for any 1998 applications received.

The Purpose

Creation of a junior membership in Skymasters coinciding with a reduction in AMA dues for the same ages is aimed at increasing youth membership in our club. Our club sponsors many activities aimed at youth, from Kids Day to scouting and school programs. This is an extension of these programs to encourage youth participation in our club and hobby.

A special application requiring signature of parent/guardian will be used. Parent/guardian signature is acknowledging our club rules and indicating supervision for minor members will be provided or arranged for when attending club functions.

The $10 dues with no initiation fee will cover the clubs cost of supporting the membership (postage, etc.), while reducing the financial burden on youngsters getting started in Model Aviation.

Family (normal) membership will still cover adult/children members at same address.

Respectfully submitted,

Greg Cardillo & Carl Long

 

This proposal will be discussed and voted on at the February 11 membership meeting. This notice is advance membership notification as required by our Constitution.

 

Congratulations Members!

At our December Christmas Party, we recognized two of our members for their contributions this year. While many people pitched in and helped out (and are all appreciated), two members stood out. Both are instructors that help our new pilots learn to fly. Many comments were received about both these instructors by the Board commenting on the time they dedicated and how helpful they were. Congratulations to Chris Knee and Al Mrock, 1997 Skymaster Members of the Year!

 

Congratulations also to Darrell and Jane Watts, who became the proud grandparents of a beautiful baby girl - Rachael Meredith on December 25th! Mom, Dad, baby, and grandparents are all doing fine! What a Christmas present!

 

Skymasters Radio Control Club of Michigan

Greg Cardillo

Lake Orion, MI


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