PRESIDENT S CORNER Charlie Koustenis

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1 APRIL 2006 PRESIDENT S CORNER Charlie Koustenis Can Spring be just around the corner? I have been seeing a lot of robins in my backyard; maybe they know something we don t. I sure hope so! We still have room for approximately 15 new members under our current cap. Anyone interested in joining needs to get on the ball. With flying season coming on strong I hope some of you are working on a floatplane as well as a fun fly aircraft. If you check the calendar you will see that the first scheduled fun fly is in April. With all of the good questions about floats at the February meeting it looks like we will have a good time at our picnic. instructions and coaching. Amy IMAC flyer will tell you that flying a routine will make you a better flyer. You learn how to fly more smoothly and repeat precise maneuvers. This will come in handy if all you want to do is burn fuel and make big holes in the sky! Our contest is set for May 27th and 28th so you still have plenty of time to practice. I would like to remind everyone that we will need help from the membership with food, impound, judging help, field set up and clean up. Any and all help will be very much appreciated. HOBBY HANGER of Chantilly is once again sponsoring our contest; so if you happen to be in the store remember to say thanks. If you were at the February meeting you know that Hobby Hanger donated a gallon of fuel as a door prize, so just one more reason to say thanks. Remember to check batteries, aircraft controls and mounting bolts & nuts for your first trip to the field. A few checks now will keep you from going home with a bag of balsa. Fly safe, Charlie K. Larry Kauffman will be the guest speaker at next month s meeting and the topic will be competing in an IMAC event. I would like to see more FARM members compete in our contest and this is a great opportunity for you to participate if you have every wanted to give it a try. Larry is also willing to have a flying seminar at the field. I addition to Larry, we have other members that fly IMAC and I am sure they would be happy to help with

2 SECRETARY S REPORT The March Club Meeting was held at the Warrenton Community Center on March 28. We welcomed John Hlavka, a docent from the National Air & Space Museum, as guest. Old Business Ron Coen reported that we have about $4820 now in the treasury. New Business reported that he will need someone to fill in for him at the April meeting. Nic Burhans volunteered to do this. Thanks, Nic. Hobby Hangar will have a no tax hour on April 15, from 6-7 PM. There will also be an indoor fly-in from 8-10 AM on that day. See hobbyhangarva.com for details. Newbys can get AMA registration forms at Hobby Hangar or TSG Hobbies. A list of club members who did not renew their AMA membership will be posted at the field. Without AMA coverage you can not fly at the field! John Hlavka gave a summary of the aircraft at the new Air & Space Museum in Chantilly. We decided on taking the tour on April 8. We will meet at 10 AM at Bob Evans restaurant at Routes 50 and 28 in Chantilly. John will give us a private tour. Vince Tabacco and Bill McMullen are the club s designated pilots for the AMA designated pilot program. A certificate of insurance was provided to Ron Coen by Charlie Koustenis. Charlie handed out club officer patches for the year to those officers present. Our TBD date for the fall Fun / Float fly has been confirmed as October 7, and the event has been paid for by Lake Ritchie LLC. Presentation Larry Kauffman did a nice talk on flying in IMAC contests. Show and Tell John Hunton Airacuda, small electric twin motor John Hunton Boeing Clipper, circa 1929, 10 lbs., fly in about a month. A joint Hunton, Dale, McMullen project. Duffy Harrell Raptor 50 helo, looks good for the 6 major crashes he mentioned Ron Coen Cloudhopper, large electric, nice, 2 large battery packs Scott Schreiber conversion of utility engines to model use. Honda 4c and Homelite 33cc shown. Bruce Green Goldberg Tiger, converted to taildragger 50/50 Don Seaborg won the money drawing, and Charlie Koustenis won both door prizes: the gallon of fuel and Futaba storage pack. EDITOR S NOTES Upcoming Events: 1. Club Meeting, April 25, at the Warrenton Community Center, 7:00 PM. 2. Fun Fly #1, April 23, at the field, 1:00 PM. 3. Fun Fly #2, May 7, at the field, 1:00 PM. MY ADDRESS HAS CHANGED-See last page. TREASURER S REPORT Ron Coen March 2006 RECEIPTS: Member Dues $ $ EXPENSES: Newsletter $46.80 State Corp. Commission $25.00 Introductory Pilot Program Fees $ Total Expenses $81.80 Overall Total $ Beginning Cash $ Ending Cash $ Model Aviation... Evolving Through Intelligent Design

3 John Hunton Many of us tried model aviation as a hobby when we were younger. Many of us who tried to fly control line or RC models in the past did not have much success. The models of a few years ago had engines that were difficult to start and run. We could not just fly models anywhere because of the noise that they made, and even though they were advertised for beginners, they really were not easy to fly successfully at all. There have been two remarkable revolutions in the model aviation field in just the past few years, revolutions in which we have seen the availability of excellent training and even high performance models that we can fly in our local areas safely and successfully. We are seeing the emergence of viable electric powered model airplanes. With large increases in the efficiency of modern batteries from lead-acid to Nickel-cadmium, to nickel-metal-hydride, and now to Lithium Poly, and newly designed electric motors of brush-less design vs the former can motors, we have models of remarkable capability with propulsion systems that are even more efficient than a properly tuned and adjusted reciprocating model motor. We are also seeing the emergence of ready-to-fly (RTF) and almost ready to fly (ARF) model airplanes that are available in a higher performance category in hobby shops, and in a lesser performance category but still viable airplanes, in department stores. You do not have to build a model airplane of balsa sticks and Japanese tissue anymore. There are well-detailed models of all types that are pre-built or made of durable foam. Just obtain a model, charge it up or install some batteries, and go fly it. What a great way to have some fun with a child, or a grandchild. Don t just limit this activity to boys. A large proportion of airline pilots now are girls. To differentiate a little more between hobby shop model and department store models, the better models are generally equipped with servos to operate the controls. With servos the controls are proportional that is the controls will move in a proportional manner as you move the control stick. This type of model usually has motor, elevator and rudder controls as a minimum. The inexpensive models generally have controls that are either full-on or full-off, making then more difficult to fly well. These models generally have motor and rudder control only. But either type model can be flown successfully if flown within their limitations. should have when first learning to fly a RC model. This leaves the wind as a possible problem. A model with no elevator control should only be flown in near dead-calm conditions. A model with elevator control can be flown in some wind, but when flying any type of model always keep it into the wind from yourself. If you keep the model into the wind it will be easier to fly because you will be looking at the model from the rear (as if you are in it) more than not. If the model gets down-wind, bring it down immediately or you may lose it. As for using the controls, most everyone will know not to climb or dive too steeply, but few new pilots know how to turn an airplane. When turning in a car the driver turns the steering wheel and keeps it turned until the turn has been completed. Do that in an airplane and you will enter the Graveyard spiral and crash. Do not hold the controls into a turn just establish a bank angle and maintain that bank until the airplane has reached its new direction, then level the wings. When banking the wings you will have to use a little bit of up elevator to keep the nose from dropping. Most modern RC models are inherently stable. That is if you are in an unusual attitude the model will tend to right itself and fly level without any help from you. Now that you know how to turn you know how to fly. It is really that simple, but one more caution now that you know how to turn, keep the model close to yourself because you must have good visual contact with the model so you can see what it is doing and where it is going. There is a wealth of information available through the national model aircraft organization, the Academy of Model Aeronautics on the web at modelaircraft.org. There are links there on where to buy, how to fly and many other things. Also you will find that most any experienced local modeler will be glad to check your model over and help you fly it, for all modelers hope that you will enjoy the hobby as much as we enjoy it. The limitations of RC models depend on the site that you are flying them in and to a large extent the wind. Let us presume that you have a large, clear site, which you

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5 FARM OFFICERS for 2006 President Charley Koustenis Vice President Bill McMullen Secretary Treasurer Ron Coen Safety Officer Nic Burhans Field Marshall Mike Dale Member at Large Bud Hilker FARM Newsletter Staff Editor Printer: Classic Printing Center Chantilly, VA, (courtesy David Malkin) The FARM Newsletter is published monthly by the Fauquier Aero Recreation Modelers, AMA charter #1654. It is mailed to FARM members and to other clubs on an exchange basis. Articles related to all types of aviation are welcome. Opinions expressed in the newsletter are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect those of FARM Inc. Publishing deadline is the 2 nd Tuesday of the month. Please mail all input to: Woodmont Ct. jkillen@starpower.net Manassas, VA Our web site is: FAUQUIER AERO RECREATION MODELERS Woodmont Ct. Manassas, VA