Aero Mail
Top Gun Pilot Correction
On page 26 of the August 2008 issue, it reads that David Payne piloted the B-17G shown on page 21; that is incorrect. Mitch Epstein owned the aircraft and flew it in the Pro-Am class.
We apologize for the error and congratulate all 2008 Top Gun invitational participants. —MA staff
Best Article Ever in MA!
I have been an AMA member since the late ’70s. Never before have I read something so nice and interesting.
Jets are way out of my price range but I read your article ["Turbine Modeling Made Easy" in the August issue] anyway because I always wondered about them. I have read it 3 times from start to stop and it is so interesting. So many things you write about are so true.
Larry Kopecky Conyers, Georgia
Safety Reminder
The picture of the father and his under two year old son on page 155 of July 2008 MA is cute, but sends a very wrong message.
First, it is in direct violation of rule #11 of AMA National Model Aircraft Safety Code printed on page 158.
Second, Ola Nordell is putting his young son at risk. Models do go out of control and it is not uncommon for beginning flyers to lose control of the model on the ground during takeoff and landing.
William J. Bender via E-mail
AMA's Safety Code reminds us to be sensible and considerate as we pursue our hobby. Wherever we fly our model airplanes, ensuring the safety of people, property, and surroundings should be the first item on our preflight checklists.
Because young children are easily distracted, the instructor (the parent in this case) is naturally extra cautious while flight training. —Michael Ramsey MA Editor
Spectra II Balance Note
Regarding Laddie Mikulasko's Spectra II construction article in your July 2008 MA magazine; is it correct to balance this model with an empty fuel tank? Seems to me that adding 8 to 10 ounces of fuel behind the CG will result in tail heaviness and a wild first flight.
Tom Schramm via E-mail
Those who equip their Spectra II models with electric power won't have this issue. Their fuel tank (the batteries) sits up in the nose, and they don't expend a weighty fuel source.
Glow-power modelers will want to balance their aircraft with a full tank of fuel. That way, as the fuel is used and the tail becomes lighter, an easier-to-manage nose-heavy condition occurs, rather than the opposite. This note has been added to the Spectra II plans, which are available from the AMA Plans Service.
In flight, the pilot might have to slightly adjust the elevator trim and remember that the trim will need to be reset after the next refill-up. This condition would be a worthy opportunity to set up a flight mode in the radio—for takeoff that has a full-tank trim setting and another for low tank, where the elevator trim would be slightly positive. —Michael Ramsey MA Editor
Aero Mail
Float-Flying Perspective
I very much enjoyed the July issue of MA and the focus on float flying. I have a vacation home on a large lake and fly from the water whenever I can. I have some perspectives that were missing from the articles.
When we fly from the ground, we (should) have complete control of the takeoff and landing space. We do not worry much about persons or vehicles moving into our path when making a takeoff or a landing approach. If the water from which you fly is shared with full-size boats, canoes, kayaks, swimmers, ducks or geese, beware.
We tend to gather spectators who stop and hang out watching the unexpected treat of a model airplane buzzing around the sky. They do not appreciate our plight when they anchor in the middle of the “runway.” I have found it imperative to have a spotter with me so they can warn me of obstacles in the water.
They can also attempt to communicate with the obstacle via voice for humans and rocks for fowl (and stubborn humans!) while I concentrate on flying the airplane. Even if there are no obstacles, your spotter can warn you of waves or boat wakes that can swamp your pride and joy during a takeoff run or landing final.
Another problem flying from water is, please forgive me, crashes. On land, 99% of the time, a crash results in, at worst, retrieving the usable pieces from the ground at the crash site. On water, that probably means the lake bottom and a total loss of everything that won’t float by itself. Engine, receiver, servos, battery, fuselage with wing no longer attached, are all gone to “Davy Jones Locker.”
Waterproof if possible and attach flotation via safety wire to individual components you value most. Sections of pool noodles work well.
One more thought is to give consideration to how you are going to get the airplane back if (read when) the engine quits out of your reach. Remember, that means only 2 feet from the dock or shoreline.
A retrieve boat of sufficient size and power for you and the airplane is an imperative. Or you can wait for it to drift to the other side, assuming of course you can get to the other side without a passport and that it remains afloat until you get there (see Davy Jones Locker above). I have also used a tennis ball and fishing reel but it can very quickly get beyond the range of anyone but a major league outfielder.
Oh, and don’t ever swim for it. You will be surprised how fast the breeze will carry the model away and you can quickly get into trouble.
On the up side, you will never find a flatter, more spacious flying site than a lake. It brings a whole new set of challenges that can refresh the hobby for someone looking for something different. It blends, for me, my two passions, boating and flying.
Come on in, the water’s great!
Frank E. Mintz via E-mail
Flying Site Rescue
Thank you [to Wes De Cou, AMA Flying Site Assistance Coordinator], on behalf of our club members for your quick response and extensive AMA information package that helped our RC model club, Olympic RC Modelers of Port Angeles, WA., prevent our county sheriff and commissioners from passing an unworkable noise ordinance. The proposed noise ordinance would have given the sheriff and any complainant absolute authority over anyone creating noise without any decibel standards or other considerations.
The information you rushed to us overnight enabled our members to act quickly and write to the county commissioners before the public hearing including the AMA material detailing our decades-old organization, responsible standards and benefits to communities nationwide. The result was that the sheriff spoke before the hearing started saying that he was exempting us and other responsible groups.
We still will “bird dog” the ultimate legislation to assure we are treated as promised, but it looks like the legislation will be worded so we won’t have new and unreasonable limits to our activities.
Your response and valuable pertinent material gave our club the overwhelming backup we needed to prevent this unfair noise legislation from becoming law. Additionally, our club and model flying was shown to be of positive value to more people in our community. Thank you and all of the AMA for being there when we needed you.
Al Gross, Olympic RC Modelers Vice President via E-mail
View From the Spirit
Attached is a picture taken from The Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA’s) flying replica of Lindbergh’s “Spirit of St. Louis,” as it executes a slow fly-by of our RC club’s flying field immediately before “AirVenture 2008” (EAA’s annual fly-in at Oshkosh, WI).
The photo was taken July 23, 2008, out the left window of the Spirit from the “Lindbergh seat” (the location from which Lindbergh flew the original). The picture was taken by Dave Hable, President of the Winnebago RC Flyers, AMA Club 1269, Oshkosh, WI.
You can clearly see the wing struts, landing gear and part of the Spirit’s left main tire in the foreground, as well as the RC pilot shed, storage buildings, starting tables, safety fencing and perfectly maintained RC flying field, in the background of the picture.
AMA and EAA member Sean Elliott is piloting the Spirit. Sean is EAA’s Director of Flight Operations.
It was a thrill to see our club’s field from the air, made even greater by seeing it through the open window of such a historic airplane.
Dave Hable, Winnebago RC Flyers President Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
