Skymasters Newsletter:
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SkyWriter
Chartered Club #970
Skymasters R/C Club Newsletter
- November 2000
See Skymasters on the Web at www.geocities.com/~skymasters
President's Message
Hello and greetings,
I just got back from the Davison Hill Toppers WWI & WWII scale contest
where my Fokker D VII came out on top in the WWI category. (Congratulations!
Ed.) One of the great things about southeast Michigan for our hobby is that
during the warmer months you can find a contest or event almost every weekend at
one of the many local clubs. Flying at different club fields and in contests
helps to sharpen your skills. In addition you pick up a lot of good tips for
your latest model or things you would like to see at our field. It is likewise
important to take care of our visitors at our field during Skymasters open
events. Make sure our visitors feel welcomed and know who to talk to in case it
is their first visit and they need to understand the field procedures.
I hope that you were able to attend the annual field closing party last
month. We sure picked a good day weather-wise this year for our festivities with
above-average temperatures for late October. The field doesn't actually close,
it is available to members and their guests all year long. It is just our way of
saying so-long to summer.
As the warmer months give way to winter our field maintenance will be ending
soon. Please join me in thanking Al McGee for all of the grass mowing this year.
He certainly had a challenge this year keeping up with the fast-growing grass on
the runway. But the field has never looked better. The great field conditions
are also due to the work put in this spring and summer with fertilizing and
Milkyspore grub control coordinated by Bill Wood, Randy MacInness, and Mark
Smith. Thanks for the smooth runway!
November is election month, not just for the country but also for the
Skymasters. To put a new twist on some old sayings: Ask not what your club can
do for you, but what you can do for your club! Your club needs you! We will be
having elections for officers during our November Larson School meeting. Each
year we elect a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer to one-year
terms. If you are interested in one of these positions for the up-coming year or
would just like to know more about what the position requires, see any of the
current or past club officers.
Plan now to attend the annual Skymasters' Holiday Party. This will take the
place of our regular agenda for our December Larson School Meeting. Bring a
plane and be in the drawing for prizes.
Lastly, the BOD is working on programs for our winter meetings at Larson
Middle School but we need your help! If you have any ideas or subjects that you
would like to so a program on please the club officers know. We are planning on
having a real treat for our January 24th meeting; It will be a scale
symposium with George Mairorana, Skip Mast, Dave Pinegar, and Steve Suager, four
world-class scale modelers with numerous contest wins to there names. Plan to
join us as these great scale modeler share their stories and talents!
That's all for this month. Fly safe and happy landings.
Gary Weaks
From the Editor…
Welcome to the November issue of Skywriter - a little later than normal.
Still catching up from a week in sunny California!
Flying activity has dropped off a bit. Those of us that need to work during
the day are finding it dark to early to fly evenings any more. Those able to
take advantage of days have had some nice ones recently.
My helicopter is now flying! It completed three flights with me at the
controls this morning - obviously not going far from the ground - after a test
flight by Dave Palechek. That gives me about 6 flights on helicopters - still
along way to go. There are some obvious differences one must adjust to between
planes and helicopters… If you get in trouble with a heli, don't cut the
throttle! It is the only thing keeping you in the air!!
Our annual elections are at the November 8 meeting! Are you interested in
serving as a club officer?? Talk to any BOD member for information about any of
the positions. There are 4 elected officers: President, Vice President,
Secretary, and Treasurer. These four plus all past Presidents make up the voting
members of the BOD. Appointed positions (by the new President) include
Newsletter Editor and Chief Flight Instructor.
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:
September 27th, 2000
Location: Larson Middle School
First and Second Time Visitors:
Announcements:
- October 20th -- Field closing party -- after sundown Friday night
- Hunting season is approaching. In the event of good flying weather, remember
that our agreement with the DNR requires hunters to be at least 400 yards from
the field and cannot shoot towards the field.
- Gary Weaks is looking for 2001 winter program ideas. Contact Gary with your
suggestions.
- Bill Dezur is looking for volunteers for October 13, 14 & 15th
to be involved with the Boy Scout Jamboree at the Romeo Airport. The Jamboree
is based on an aviation theme. This will include taking scouts up for flight
demonstrations and model airplane flight demonstrations.
- Skymasters are invited to fly at the Seven Lakes Park in Holly for Float
Flys on Saturdays. Please contact Chet Brady, who is the coordinator.
- Greg Cardillo announced that he gave a presentation to an elementary school
class in Oakland Township. The students were invited to the field to fly the
plane they built and it was very successful.
- Joe Hass has confirmed Wednesday, January 24th as the date he
will bring in world class scale builders and flyers. See newsletter for more
information.
- Paul Zabawa announced that Family Hobbies in Flint is going out of business.
Upcoming Meeting Events:
- October 11th – Aviation Art Theme
- October 25th – Mark Smith will give a demo on foam cutting
- November 8th – Paper airplane contest. ELECTION NIGHT
- December 13th – Christmas Party
- December 31st – Krazy Snow Fly
Presentation:
- Gary Weaks led a Powerpoint discussion on building scale planes from
scratch. He presented many tips and tricks on how to convert drawing into
scale models.
Show and Tell Winner:
- Herm Grief -- $10 gift certificate
50/50 Winner:
- Don Patterson -- Ticket # 899033 -- $22.00
Show and Tell:
- Ross Hardy brought in a ¼ scale, Stinson Reliant Spacewalker ARF, powered
by a YS 91.
- Joe Hass (Chris's airplane) brought in a Hobby Lobby Graubner, which weighed
in at 19 ounces and is powered by a speed 280. It has a 3:1 ratio with a Pixi
7 speed controller.
- Herm Greif shared his Extra 3.25 from Lanier, which is powered by a Magnum
30.
- Paul Zabawa brought in his Trainer Twin, manufactured by MEN. It will be
powered by two 15 Thunder Tiger GP.
- Pete Foss (Sam's plane) shared a LT-25 on floats, which weighs 5 lbs and is
powered with a 25 FP.
Motion to adjourn and second
-------------------------------------
Date: October 11th, 2000
Location: Larson Middle School
First and Second Time Visitors:
Announcements:
- October 20th -- Field closing party -- after sundown Friday night
- SKS video is available to purchase. Please call 1.800.988.6488 if you're
interested.
Upcoming Meeting Events:
- October 25th – Mark Smith will give a demo on foam cutting
- November 8th – Paper airplane contest. ELECTION NIGHT
- December 13th – Christmas Party
- December 31st – Krazy Snow Fly
Presentation:
- Aviation Art
by Ed Kaminski; MILITARY ART GALLERY, 57 Macomb Place, Mt.
Clemens, MI 48043 Phone: (800) 362-8567 or (810) 463-9466; Website: www.milartgl.com
Show and Tell Winner:
50/50 Winner:
Show and Tell:
- Gary Weaks presented several of his oil paintings.
- Bud Howard presented a painting of the bomb group he was assigned to in
1944. He went on to become a group navigator.
- Mike Fleming presented his airplane drawing .
- Greg Cardillo brought in a Sig Wonder, which he powered with an O.S.15 FP.
- Greg Cardillo also brought in a helicopter powered by an OS 60.
- Joe Finklestine brought in the plans for a Scout Bomber Douglas (SBD)
Dauntless. It is a Jerry Bates design and should weigh between 18 and 25 lb
with 5-inch diameter wheels. He will use century jet retracts and power it
with a Saito 300.
- Joe Hass shared several items with the club. These items included Chris's
indoor electric plane, powered by a 6V capacitor, a picture of his father's
Cherokee Archer, a B24 painting from his father's collection, a leather helmet
and goggles, a soldier's banner, a picture from Oshkosh (Wisconsin) and a
Course Air taken from Oshkosh. He also brought in his son David's Blue Hawk
Goldberg Ultimate ARF, powered by a YS 120 4 stroke and weighs in at 9.5 lbs.
- Grey Lane brought in an Extra 300 ARF by Hobbico, powered by a 91 four
stroke.
Motion to adjourn and second
Events of the Last Month
Skymasters at Scout Camp-o-ree
Gary Weaks
It was a little breezy, but other than that we had great weather for the
Ojibwa District Boy Scout Camp-o-ree held at the Romeo Airport, Romeo, Michigan
on Saturday, October 14th. This was an aviation theme event featuring
airplane rides, display aircraft (including a vintage BT-13 WWII trainer), and
many aviation-related activities. Members of the Skymasters along with the Romeo
Skyhawks were invited to display model aircraft in booths on the midway and talk
about our hobby to interested scouts and leaders. We also were given an hour in
the afternoon during which they closed the airport to full-sized aircraft and
allowed us to put on an R/C flying demonstration and let four scouts who won a
raffle try their hand at R/C flying with buddy-boxes and trainers. We
demonstrated a variety of aircraft including gliders, scale, sport, and training
airplanes operating from the paved East-West runway. An estimated 700 scouts
were in attendance throughout the day and most were seated at center stage for
our show. They all got to take an AMA cub kit home with them after the camp-o-ree.
This was great exposure of our hobby to many future R/C modelers. Thanks to Greg
Cardillo, Mark Smith, Dan and Laura Devine, Grey Lane, Steve Fredericks, Greg
Charbeneau, Bill Dezur, and Gary Weaks for a busy day!
Skymasters Events
November 8, 2000 Skymasters Meeting
–
Larson Middle School, 7:30 PM
Come participate in a Paper Airplane Contest. Paper will be provided for your
creation and Darrell is sure to come up with some interesting events..
Annual election meeting for 2001 Club Officers.
**Only one meeting in November due to Thanksgiving Holiday**
December 13, 2000 Skymasters Christmas Party – Larson Middle
School, 7:30 PM
Our annual holiday party! Bring the family and a plane or two! Look for more
info as we get closer. Santa is planning on flying in with some gifts for the
kids! Those bringing planes will be entered in a drawing for some R/C related
prizes.
**Only one meeting in December due to Christmas Holiday**
December 31, 2000 Skymasters Krazy Snow Fly – Scripps Road
Field, 10:00 AM
Our last flying event of the year on the last day of the year! Will we need
wheels or skis (or floats)?? Come on out and brave the weather - enjoy some hot
chili and hopefully some flying!
Attention Retiree's and Want A'Bes…
Join us for BREAKFAST and MODEL AIRPLANE GOSSIP at DENNY'S 714 MAIN ST.,
ROCHESTER MI.
9 A. M. 1st and 3rd. MONDAY'S of each month
EVERYONE IS WELCOME - STARTS NOVEMBER 6, 2000
Contact Bob Burns at 248-628-4666
Other Area Events
Swap Shops take a break for the holidays. The only activity I have info for
is the return of Indoor Flying:
Oakland Yard is again opening for indoor flying. Dates for this year:
Saturday November 25 9pm-1am
Saturday December 9 9pm-1am
Tuesday December 26 FUN FLY
(FF adult 5-7pm; RC 8-11pm; FF kids 6:30-8pm)
2001 has 2 days per month through April with a February date in Silverdome
being scheduled for a national event!
Wanted!
Partially built or built Goldberg Floats (not finished). Call Joe Hass at
248-601-1541.
Airplanes Found!
Don't forget to put your name on your transmitter and in your planes! The
name on the transmitter helps us find you when you leave your transmitter at the
field (notice I said when!). The name in the plane helps out if someone else
finds your plane and is an AMA requirement. (We have had hunters return two
planes this year, and Skymasters find another couple - none had a name!)
Video Library
Just to remind you the Skymasters R/C Club has quite an extensive video
library at your disposal. Attached to this months Skywriter is a complete list
of titles currently available. I will usually have the complete set of our
approximately 135 videos at each club meeting. If you need to make special
arrangements to acquire a video, feel free to contact me at 248-588-5261.
The video collection will be expanded this year and I am looking for any R/C
related title suggestions you would find interesting. Of course, donations will
also be accepted.
Please check-in or let me know of any videos you may be holding which are
property of the Skymasters collection so the inventory may be properly
completed.
Contact George T. Dzendzel at 248-588-5261.
View Skymasters Video List
Skymasters 2001 Application
** Insert 2001 application
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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