Skymasters Newsletters


 


Skymasters Newsletter:
 

Requested issue not available in pdf format - displaying webpage format instead.

SkyWriter

Chartered Club #970
Skymasters R/C Club Newsletter - April 1999
See Skymasters on the Web at www.geocities.com/~skymasters

Bald Mountain Involvement Day

When: Saturday, April 17 9:00 am - ??

Where: Bald Mountain Park Headquarters

(Greenshield Road approx 1 ½ 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.

President’s Message

Hi All,

I have received a few notes from club members on the field shape and status recently, so I guess the first signs of spring are approaching. (Actually the fact that I finished my annual all winter project also is a good indicator!)

You should be receiving this note about the time of the Bald Mountain involvement day, and I hope that you can spend at least a few hours on Saturday, April 17 helping out. This is our true rent and continues to be one of our primary selling points, so show up and help out!

This time of year is when your BOD gets around to also acting on field opening projects and on an improvement or two. We have several ideas, and when we sort out the dumb ones I come up with from the good ones, your BOD will share our wonderful knowledge with all at a meeting. My idea of a paintball machine gun pit to shoot down all of the Gremlins (except mine of course) did not make it past initial scrutiny. Sometimes I wonder if that VP of yours has his priorities set straight!

It is actually about 50 degrees outside right now as I write this and the itch to go flying is getting stronger each day. This year, I am preparing a few planes that are a change from my normal tumble about the sky flying. I am going to try slow flight and slow aerobatics. I have been admiring this type of flight ever since Joe Rubenstien let me fly his Blario last summer. It will be a definite challenge not to try to snap roll or flat spin, but I know I can do it if I try. One of the enjoyable draws for me into this hobby is the ability to try lots of new things all of the time. If you feel that you may be getting a little of the "been there, done that" with the sport flying many of us do, I would offer some of the medicine I took on attacking a new flight style. It appears that a strong thread of combat flyers may be emerging with the bazillion Gremlins I am seeing for a change as well!

I am really looking forward to the Toledo show this year. I have several things I am looking to buy, unlike the last few years. Some of my favorite ships were purchased at Toledo. I am looking to make a final commitment to a ship for my Saito 300. I have a Midwest Cap 232 kit, but I am really debating finding a good Bipe for this motor. I am also looking to buy a trainer almost ready to fly. Both my son and Daughter continue to have interest in learning to fly this summer, so my solo trips to the field on Wed. may not occur much this summer. I personally, want to get a 60-size trainer, that I will just have to buy a new .90 four stroke for. Interestingly, I have not found many trainers on the Internet for sale, but I see them often at swap shops. I also am looking to finally get started in some aerobatic electric’s (to go with the slow ones), but I still have to be convinced the technology is there for strong aerobatic flight of at least 5 minutes. Although, I am often like a kid in a candy store with a pocket full of nickels at Toledo. The show is also allowing dealers back into the swap arena after two years absence, which I think, is well founded. The last two years of the swap meet at Toledo have been characterized by a lot of empty tables and lower turnouts all around. It was pretty obvious that the no dealer rule was a workable one for them. I actually took some side employment this summer to load up on $$ specifically for Toledo, so it should be fun. For the last few years, a group of us Skymasters will go down on early Friday morning and stay both Friday and Saturday (perhaps staying for the auction this time!). Please see one of us if you would like to join our merry band. We cram 2 per hotel room, with it costing around $25-$50 bucks each for the room plus wherever we go out to have dinner. It is an enjoyable time and anyone is more than welcome to join us.

I will give the PC a rest now and sign off until next month,

See ya at the field

Joe Finkelstine

From the Editor…

Welcome to the April 1999 issue of Skywriter.

Our President got bumped from the front page this month – Please give some of your time to help out at Bald Mountain Involvement Day. See page 1 for more info!

It looks like spring may be making an appearance! I am putting the newsletter together after two beautiful flying days! Hopefully I got some good pictures for next month’s newsletter (including a very interesting Gremlin landing!)

Once again, please check your mailing label to see your current membership status. Following your name is (99) is your 1999 dues are paid. Information is as of Mar 16. Please direct any discrepancies to our Treasurer! The new field combination will be in the May newsletter for those renewed. The new combination will be set on May 16, when the field is reopened after the Bald Mountain Float Fly.

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

March 10, 1998 Meeting at Larson Middle School

Minutes from previous meeting:

Minutes read and accepted

Treasurers Report: Approximately $13,500.00 in account

First time visitors:

Gray Lane was in Romeo club has an Hog and an Extra.

Norm Kitchner Building for a long time now wants to fly.

Zack Green First time purchased a Thunder Tiger trainer.

Presentation: Sound attenuation

Greg Cardillo hosted the discussion on sound reduction. A variety of mufflers were shown. The idea to check our planes for sound level (dB) is:

Place your plane on the grass. Place the dB meter up wind from your plane 10 feet away from the center of the plane at the muffler line. Hold the meter at a slight angle to the plane pointed at the muffler. The meter should be approximately18" off the ground. dB meter should deflect in the positive range, (it’s more accurate). You must read less than or equal to 94 dB. If you are over this don’t fly. Greg is this right? RMH

Bob Burns has done some Research and development for redesigning mufflers and baffles. Especially with old loud engines. If he can make those meet dB, he could make the new ones purrrrrrrr. Joe F. inputted that Saito is working on sound levels, and every engine they sell in the US is under 94 db. Greg needs to take 2 dB off his Super tiger 2300, (a manly engine) (oh oh oh) : ) for his Midwest Giles 202. Several vendor make quiet mufflers, Davis, and others.

Tips: Change prop, prop selection can make a difference.

Plug one hole on 2 hole exhaust. Watch performance and rpm’s.

Try a soft mount. watch the clearance. the grommets compress.

Experiment with a new baffle. Try a 30 06, or other shell and

silver soldier pipes on the end. Do not use a live shell!!!!!!!!! see Greg

Try extending the intake to the carb. Intake tube can remove a dB.

A diesel head is quieter. And more powerful, and less rpm, messy.

Round prop tips, use 1" rubber hose washer.

Terry Overton had some great ideas, and expertise with making 4 stroke mufflers. For ideas see him. (sound’s like a presentation ) silver solder and you.

Upcoming Events:

April 17th is involvement day, please come there are jobs for everyone. This year attendees will receive a $15.00 gift certificate.

May 15th Saturday, seven lakes float fly.

May 16th Bald Mountain float fly.

RCCD is having a great lakes scale contest. Joe has info.

Business:

Bald mountain involvement day is April 17 th., this is the rent for our field. This year if you come to work for at least 2 hours, you will receive a gift certificate. Swap shop did very well, even with a low turn out this year. we made $708.00.Thanks to Gary Walling. We are looking for someone to take over the swap meet next year. Interested? See Joe (The Pres.)

New hats are in they are $10.00. (Almost gone)

Please do not fly a new airplane until it passes a dB check!

Show and Tell:

Gene Thuringer brought in a Gremlin with a OS 40 FP, painted with house paint, and 2 tubs of spackling. Spare stickers were added. 3.5 lbs. Mech mixer.

Ross M. Hardy brought in a Northstar. Balanced with a tape measure. OS 46FX ,8lbs, 5 oz, (thanks), I bought it at a swap meet. You thought I built it!!! :-))

Joe Finkelstine brought in his Speedybee, with no formers, 26 surpass, 4 ch 3 lbs 4 oz

Graham Overton brought in a Gremlin Fiberglass covered wing, can you say destroy the competition. Leftover orange paint covering, Mag 40 GPcase, Thunder Tiger piston, and other parts he had in his box. 9x6 prop, 93 dB, 3.5 lbs.

Terry Overton Brought in the Sig Fazer he won at the swap meet. Built by Randy.

Has a YS 53, JR radio, Hitec servos and flew nicely. 90db

Paul Zabawa Had his Lanier strike, Thunder Tiger engine, 1 flight, second covering. 3 ch with standard servo’s. Fairly Fast.

Ron Greening Brought a pretty sky blue Sea master sport. Built from the RCM plan has an OS 46, only for water, yellow windows for night flying. 6.5 lbs.

Other:

Show and prize won by Terry Overton

50/50 was $20.00 Greg Brausa

Old-timers and wanna-bees Breakfast first and third Monday’s at 9 am.

RCM august issue has Skymasters float fly on the cover. Sam Foss (and an airplane.) Look for this issue.

Motion to adjourn and Second

Events of the Last Month

1999 Swapshop

Wow, was everyone swap-shopped out? As with several area swap shops this year, turnout was a bit lower than past years - the tally showed that 236 people attended. The good thing was that there was plenty of space in the isles to haul away all those purchases! We did have a few empty tables as well; however, even considering the turn-out and empty tables we still had a lot of swapping, gave away prizes galore and had lots of fun. The kitchen stayed very busy - especially when the donuts were given away for free - the gannets raced from all corners of the room for them!

Terry Overton won the first prize of an assembled SIG Fazer, he added an engine and radio and has already flow it (but Terry, the Fazer isn’t scale...) I hope that many of you also won items from the raffles. Please remember that the following organizations deserve a big hand for their continued support of our Swapshop:

Airtronics

Bob Smith Industries

Model Airplane News

Northeast Screen Graphics

R/C Hobbies

R/C Modeller

R/C Report

Riders Hobbies

SIG

Tower Hobbies

Windsor Propellor Co.

The organization task isn’t that daunting when you know that there are many club members ready to help out and the 30

minute work slots again proved a great help to everyone. They allowed the jobs to be shared around and also mean that the

helpers could shop too. I would like to thank Bill Dzure for organizing the kitchen - another great job Bill. Randy MacInnes

deserves a big hand for building the SIG Fazer. Everyone else who worked, either in a predefined time slot or unloading/loading cars - thank you.

Gary Walling

(Thanks once again Gary for organizing this event for us! To those of you that won prizes, please take a moment to write to the manufacturer, distributor, or publisher and thank them for their donations! Ed.)

Skymasters Events

April 5, 1999 Retirees Breakfast - Dennys in Rochester

Come join the retirees and wanna bees for breakfast at 9:00 Monday morning!

April 14, 1999 Skymasters Meeting – Larson Middle School, 7:30 PM.

Yankee Air Force Museum Joe Rivers will be joining us from the Yankee Air Force Museum. He will be coming to talk about the museum, some of their projects, and the history. He’ll be bringing some WWII items with him for us to see. Joe’s particular field of expertise is aircraft colors, markings, and camouflage. Questions are welcome. If you have questions before the meeting, get them to Gary Weaks and he will forward them to Joe.

April 17, 1999 Bald Mountain Involvement Day

See front page for details!

April 19, 1999 Retirees Breakfast

Dennys in Rochester

Come join the retirees and wanna bees for breakfast at 9:00 Monday morning!

April 28, 1999 Skymasters Meeting – Larson Middle School, 7:30 PM.

May 12, 1999 Skymasters Meeting – Larson Middle School, 7:30 PM.

May 15, 1999 Skymasters Seven Lakes Spring Float Fly – Seven Lakes State Park, Holly (Big Seven Lake), 9:00 AM

The flying events for 1999 start off this weekend. Start getting your planes ready, and come join us! Saturday!

May 16, 1999 Skymasters Bald Mountain Float Fly – Bald Mountain State Park (Trout Lake), 10:00 AM

Now that your plane is ready to go, bring it to Trout Lake on Sunday for more flying off water!

Scripps Road Field is closed for this event!

May 23, 1999 Skymasters Chet Brady Memorial Mammoth Fly-In – Scripps Road Field, 10:00 AM

It’s the big ones! 80" or larger monoplanes; 60" or larger biplanes, or ¼ scale. Hopefully Mother Nature will cooperate with us this year for a fun day of flying!

May 26, 1999 Skymasters Meeting – Larson Middle School, 7:30 PM.

 

Skymasters 1999 Float Fly

And the good news keeps coming!

Look for us on the August 1999 RCM Cover!

We just received confirmation that our article from our 1998 event

will appear in the August issue of RCModeler magazine,

as well as the cover photo!

The cover will be one of two pictures, both with Skymaster Samantha Foss and either Bill Leppards PBY Catalina or the Pettke/Watts Cessna!

Photo by your friendly newsletter editor.

Fun Times and Opportunities Just Keep Rollin’ In!!!

Other Area Events

For those travelling to Toledo, remember that I-75 will be closed from I-96 to Gratiot.

Upcoming Programs/Events

Fri/Sat/Sun, April 9,10,11* Toledo 99, Weak Signals, Seagate Centre, Toledo

Wednesday, April 14* Skymasters Meeting, Larson Middle School

Saturday, April 17 Skymasters Bald Mountain Involvement Day

Wednesday, April 28 Skymasters Meeting, Larson Middle School

Wednesday, May 12 Skymasters Meeting, Larson Middle School

Saturday, May 15 Skymasters Seven Lakes Spring Float Fly, Seven Lakes State Park

Sunday, May 16 Skymasters Bald Mountain Float Fly, Bald Mountain State Park

Sunday, May 23 Skymasters Chet Brady Memorial Mammoth Fly-In, Scripps Road Field

Wednesday, May 26 Skymasters Meeting, Larson Middle School

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

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

Skymasters Fuel Buy

It’s that time of the year again… Time to stock up on fuel for the season. Al McGee is once again ordering fuel from Morgan. All fuel is 18% oil. Cool Power is 100% synthetic oil (except 4 cycle); Omega is 40% Castor, 60% synthetic (except 4 cycle). Four cycle fuel is 50% Castor, 50% synthetic.

The following are the choices:

Bulk Fuel – 55 gal drums:

10% Cool Power - $9.50 per gallon

(Al has plenty of containers!)

Factory Packed:

FAI (no nitro) Cool Power or Omega - $8.00 per gallon

5% Cool Power or Omega - $9.00 per gallon

15% Cool Power or Omega - $11.50 per gallon

4 cycle (15%) - $11.50 per gallon

Signup sheets will be at the meeting, or call/email Greg at 248-391-6803 or GMCardillo@att.net to reserve yours now!

(Order will be placed mid to late April) Thanks Al for handling the order once again!

Shelter Expansion

One of the items from our last member survey, and from several comments at our events (especially student night), was the desire for a larger shelter. Well, get ready, cause its coming!

We have some initial drawings which have been reviewed by the board, and the DNR, and we have permission to proceed. The addition will form an L with the existing shelter, at the southwest corner towards the parking lot.

We are currently confirming prices and will be ordering supplies soon. Look for an announcement for the ‘barn raising’ coming soon!

Mixing Hitec and Futaba Radios for Buddy Box

As the nice weather approaches, and new faces appear, a reminder of a warning from last year.

Hitec and Futaba ‘buddy cords’ appear to be interchangable, and mixing transmitters functions as a buddy box. However, one combination can be unsafe! If a Futaba buddy cord is used with a Hitec transmitter as the ‘slave’, the Hitec transmitter will transmit on its own frequency even if the batteries are removed from the ‘slave’!!! If using a Hitec radio as the ‘slave’, you must either use a Hitec ‘buddy cord’, or remove the crystal from the Hitec ‘slave’.

For Sale!

Looking for a large warbird?? Byron Originals ¼ Scale F6F Hellcat. Powrprop-Purr; Robart Retracts, Tires, Hibs, Retractable Tail Wheel; Sliding Canopy; Cockpit Kit. All still in box! Paid $2300.00 for all. Asking only $1400!! Call 248-476-9215.

Governer Engler’s Response

Those who participated in the letter writing about the proposed flying site at Stony Creek Metropark have received an initial reply. Here’s a copy of the letter to one of our members:

Braille Airways

A commercial airline jet was sitting at the airport waiting for the pilot and co-pilot to arrive. Just as the passengers started to really get restless, the airline announced that the pilot and co-pilot had just gotten in and were on their way. The pair came in through the rear door and started making their way up through the plane. The passengers began whispering among each other when it became apparent that the pilot and co-pilot were looking very blind. Both of them kept making their way toward the cockpit, tapping their red and white sticks against anything in their path. The co-pilot even had a seeing-eye dog pulling him along the aisles.

After they sat down at the cockpit, the passengers exchanged a few nervous laughs and thin jokes about the safety of the flight. The engines revved up and the plane began taxiing over to the runway. By this time a few passengers were craning their necks trying to see into the cockpit to see what the pilots were up to. When they approached the runway, the engines grew louder and louder as the plane went faster and faster down the runway. The passengers were really nervous as the end of the runway drew too close for comfort. The passengers began screaming as the end looked near. Just as the plane looked like it was going to crash off the runway, the plane suddenly took off and began its ascent.

After the plane was at a safe altitude, the co-pilot said to the pilot "You know, one of these days, they aren’t going to scream and then how are we going to know?"

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 1998 is 95dB 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 Chris Knee. Assistant Chief Flight Instructor is Graham Overton.

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!


Select 1999 Issue
January February March
April May June
July August September
October November December
12 issues found

Select Current Year

 
Select Prior Years
1998 Issues 1997 Issues 1996 Issues


Skywriter is available in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format.
Download your free viewer

Send comments to the Skywriter Editor