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Flying With a Plan

Saito Engine Raffle!

Something extraordinary happened at last night's meeting. It wasn't big, or flashy...and I'm sure it went unnoticed by most of the guys. Nonetheless, it was important as it reminded me, once again, why I like this hobby and our club in particular.

Someone volunteered for something.

Now I guess this shouldn't be too surprising, as we tend to have most of the bases covered duty-wise. But what I have noticed is that most of the work that goes into making our organization run is accomplished by pretty much the same individuals. What was surprising (and very satisfying) is that this particular volunteer came from outside the usual circle of "doers."
... A couple of seasons ago, shortly after we made the move to Medfield official, one member started bringing his gas weed-whacker to the field along with his aircraft. Between flights, he would fire up the trimmer and clean out the weeds and tall grass along the fencing and between the pilot stations. He would also empty the trash bucket he had placed next to the transmitter impound...taking home a Hefty bag of broken props, empty fuel jugs, cigarette butts and Dunkin Donut coffee cups and combine it with his household garbage. No one asked him to perform these tasks; he just saw the need and took it upon himself to help make our field a more pleasant place to fly.
... In addition to his job as volunteer groundskeeper, this member also performs several other duties for the club...and this became a topic of discussion at a recent board meeting. To be fair, we thought, we should make a pass at getting another member (or members) to take over the field edging and trash responsibility. Personally, I thought it was a good idea, but I felt it would take the grass reaching waist height before anyone tackled the job.
... I brought the topic up at last night's general club meeting and saw a lot of nodding heads, but no hands in the air. "Spring is still mentally too far away," I thought. "I'll just let this percolate and ask again at the February meeting."
... At a break point in the evening, I was helping to set up a VCR for a video on finishing tips for large scale models when a relatively new member quietly got my attention and said, "You know that edging and trash thing...I'd be happy to do that job if you want."
... Well, this just made my night! I didn't have to resort to prodding, repeatedly asking the members over the course of several meetings or guilting someone into volunteering. I simply articulated the need to the membership and an individual stepped up to the plate and said, "I will help!" In that instant, our circle of "doers" just got a little bit bigger.
... I clearly remember my first trip to the Millis field to check out the club. I recall how friendly and helpful everyone was...and how even on that initial visit I could see the "get it done" attitude that permeated from the pilots. I didn't understand it then, but I've come to realize that most of the guys that truly love this hobby are the kind of people that will be there when needed...and I'm proud to be associated with them.

Keep up your airspeed!
Jim McCoy

Club Meeting January 31,2006

Club president Jim McCoy brought the meeting to order at 7:30PM. A motion to accept the November secretary's report was made and seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The treasurer's report was read by Dave Seale. A motion to accept the treasurer's report was made and seconded. The motion passed unanimously. As of January 31 the 2006 membership count stands at 30 members.
... Jim passed around a few pictures taken of the flying field showing damage due to someone plowing the snow off it. Members are being asked to never plow snow off the field. The CRRC board will be giving the same message to their members.
... Cleanup day was briefly discussed. CRRC has volunteered to work with us this year. They are leaving it up to MMAC to coordinate a day and to let them know what we would like them to do. The general consensus was that it is too early to pick a date. Stay tuned.
... Jim thanked Dave Seale for trimming the grass and collecting trash at the field for the past few years and asked for volunteers to take this task over from Dave. After the meeting Bob Lombard volunteered. Are there any other members willing to help out on this task? Contact any board member if you are.
... Club V.P. Bill O'Donnell presented the engine raffle to the members. The club is raffling a SAITO 72 Golden Knight engine. A winner will be picked after the 100 tickets are sold. A chance will cost you $5.00. Contact Bill at 508-473-4441 if you are interested in purchasing a ticket. You do not have to be present at the drawing to win.
... A big thanks goes to Dave Seale for bringing coffee and donuts to the meeting and showing 3 video selections from the club's library. Bill O'Donnell conducted the monthly raffle to conclude the club's first meeting of 2006.

REMINDER: The annual gate key exchange starts at the next club meeting
on February 28.

Roger Gilman
MMAC Secretary

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Welcome Aboard !

Rich Speranza joined our club in early January and attended the January meeting. He is from North Attleboro and a neighbor to Bob Lombard. In addition to flying electric park flyers and the simulator, he has flown on the buddy box when visiting his retired Dad, an RC enthusiast living down south. Rich has built an ARF trainer. As an incentive to become a proficient pilot, he is currently building an Extra 300 kit, which will be waiting in the wings for him to solo. Rich is looking forward to taking flight training in the spring and we're looking forward to seeing him down at the field.

The Model Shop

For those of you that are new to modeling or those that have short term memories like me (this should have been in last month's January issue), let's start the New Year by restating the Model Shop's Motto as first printed in the July 2003 Yankee Flyer: "Remember folks...2 Minutes a Day! 2 Minutes a Day!"
... Take only 2 minutes to put away as much stuff as you can just before leaving the shop for the day (or night). It will make your shop more of a sanctuary and you'll be able to find stuff. It doesn't have to be a cleanup (unless you want to) and there's no need to be anal about it, but putting the tools back in place and clearing off the bench regularly is definitely beneficial.

Ted's New Twin
Charlie Neville gave Ted Zaborski a damaged Avistar 40. Ted has long been fascinated with multi-engine planes and has had experience with several of them. He repaired and redesigned the ship, filled in the nose and enlarged the vertical stab and rudder. Twin engine nacelles have been located on the wing, each mounting an OS25FX engine with a 6 oz tank and separate throttle servo. The trike landing gear has been retained but the main wire gear has been replaced with Dubro Super Strength Plastic unit.
... The plane has been beautifully re-covered using red, white and blue Monokote. Care was taken in the design to locate the CG at the wing's main spar. Care too, was taken to retain the Avistar's angle of down thrust on each engine, and to provide each with 2 degrees of outboard thrust.
... The model, dubbed "Charlie's Two" is complete and its maiden test flight is imminent. Watch for the results in the BMFF column of Yankee Flyer. Future plans are to build another more refined example after test flights are successfully completed.

Meet Joe Pilot!
So, you think you've built one tough "follow the enemy down to the deck and flame his Zero into the jungle" fighter plane? Well then who do you have pushing the stick over...Sylvester the Puddty Tat? What every WWII, Korean-era and beyond model that's heavy on the testosterone and light on the manners needs is the right...shall we say...personality...under the canopy.

Who's this character in my airplane?!

Slimline is proud to offer such a character. The perfect compliment to the model that simply screams attitude. This pilot will add the final touch of realism for your throttle to the firewall, low and fast fly-bys, and he's exclusively available from your friends at Slimline. What are you waiting for?

Slimline Products #7001 $19.99

With temperatures in the 50's we had some unexpected mid-January glove-free flying. The frost was out of the ground and the river was overflowing its banks, but the field was still accessible. The 21st saw 7 of the usual suspects. Included in the group was John Markinac (the beard) who put in a rare winter Saturday appearance. Below is an all hands discussion about the center of gravity of Charlie's Miss Pigi which had been flirting with disaster. Saturday, the 4th , was "a spring day in February." We enjoyed dead calm winds and temps also in the low 50s. Model restraint forks were easily pushed into the ground. So far, with March but 4 weeks away, it's been an easy winter.

Flying with a Plan
Bill Coombes / Hi Sky RC Club - Midland, Texas

One of the benefits of flying Pattern competition (as it was called in the olden days) was that it forced you to fly a predictable, recognizable sequence of maneuvers on every flight. In other words, it imposed some discipline in your flying, and it made you a better pilot.
... Although I have not flown in competition in many years, I still try to remember the lessons I learned when I did compete. Every time I fly, I have a mental plan of what I want to accomplish during the flight. When instructing school children, I've found that making them do repeated maneuvers allows them to move more quickly toward their first solo. They become disciplined fliers.

Planning Prevents the
Airplane from Flying the Pilot
Watching pilots at our field and at my electric field of choice, I have seen guys who could be skilled fliers constantly chasing their airplanes through the sky until they find themselves disoriented and their airplanes at risk. They aren't flying with a plan, but rather the airplane is flying them.
... With the Commemorative Air Force, I have participated in the hardest kind of flying to learn - formation. Believe me, discipline and a plan are the only things that prevent catastrophic accidents (besides a thorough briefing and an understanding of the flight formation rules). Guys who can fly an airplane well enough when alone suddenly discover a whole new set of skills necessary to master before they are safe in a formation.
... I'm not advocating that all of us in the RC world rush out and become International Miniature Aerobatic Club (IMAC) pilots, but I am saying that flying each fight with a specific plan (like really round loops, or skillfully centering maneuvers in front of you, or a perfect landing pattern) will impose some meaning to your flying and you will become a safer, better pilot (and your airplane will last longer as well). With the high price of these Alfa warbirds that I am into right now, economy forces me to always fly with a plan.

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