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FVAC Flypaper - Jan-Feb. 2018 Page !1
FoxValleyAeroClub
Flypaper January - February 2018
President: Dale Gathman [email protected]
Vice President: Dave Murray [email protected]
Secretary: Debbie Howe [email protected]
Treasurer: Paul Jacobs [email protected]
Flypaper Editor: Susan Galle [email protected]
AMA Gold Leader Club
Academy of Model Aeronautics Charter Club #252
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dale Gathman [email protected]
One month is already gone. The good thing about time going fast is that the prime flying season comes faster. We had another successful and fun Frozen Fingers on
January 1st. I was glad to see so many come out for this event even though the weather was cold. It is always great to be able to spend some time with fellow RC flying friends as we welcome the New Year. Look for coverage of this event in the Flypaper.
New Flight Experience. I have flown night flights and I have flown snow flights on floats. I was finally able to try out my first Night/Snow flight on Saturday, January 19. It was a blast, and I got two flights in with my old Parkzone T-28 with floats and lights. Can’t wait to do it again. Who wants to join me?
Kane County Forest Preserve. Tom Spriet, Tom Flint and I met with our new neighbors to the west, the Kane County Forest Preserve. We met with Board Member Drew Frasz, along with five of the Forest Preserve administrators and department heads. We had a very good meeting and we look forward to a great relationship with these ‘new neighbors’. We will be reporting on this meeting at the FVAC Member Meeting on February 8.
The Windy City Warbirds & Classics committee is again hard at work planning our biggest event of the year. The committee consists of our event
coordinator John Fischer, our CD Armin Weber, Air Boss Sal Perno, ‘Shooter’ Dave Cotton, Webmaster/Pilot Registration coordinator Joe Pedone, Public Relations Director Tom Flint, Announcer R. J. Monroe (from the Elkhart club) and yours truly. John has also decided to create a couple of sub-committees this year (Flight Line and Parking) to help us get everything covered as the event gets bigger and busier. If you have any ideas for improvements, please let one of the committee members know.
SWAP Meet. Make sure not to miss our annual Swap Meet at the Kane County Fairgrounds on Saturday, February 17. It is a great way to pick up some things that you didn’t know you needed, as well as some things you have been looking all over for. The swap is attended by many fellow pilots from surrounding clubs who share the excitement of our great hobby. Details are on our web site.
Hope to see you at the February Member Meeting on the 8th, and please bring your winter projects to show to the group.
Dale
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FROM THE SECRETARY Debbie Howe [email protected]
Fox Valley Aero Club - Member Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2018 @ Township Hall
President Dale Gathman welcomed everyone and said he looks forward to a great flying year. Dale said he would be announcing the six appointed positions to the board. Membership Chairman: Tony Bahowick Public Relations Chairman: Tom Flint Fly Paper Editor: Susan Galle Field Chairman: Karl Griesbaum Government Relations: Tom Spriet Safety Chairman: Jeff Peca A round of applause was had for all.
Secretary, Debbie Howe asked for a motion to approve the November meeting minutes, Tom Flint made a motion to approve and was seconded by John Fischer. All Approved.
Next Treasurer, Paul Jacobs said we have received a lot of dues tonight and would be taking dues in the backroom behind the meeting so please include your FAA number as the FAA has reinstated that registration of drone’s law. Please remember that you must have your AMA dues paid as well in order to fly at our field. A motion was made by Alvin Cole to accept our treasurer’s report and seconded by Tom Flint. All Approved.
Dale Gathman reminded the club of the Words that past President Alvin Cole started that are words that
our club lives by: Flying…..Fun….Safety….Camraderie….Mentorship….Courtesy….Fellowship....Community.
Dale Gathman announced the Fun Fly Awards for last year: Wiffle Ball Touch and Go: Third Place Jeff Mrachek, Second Place John Turner, and First Place Jeff Peca Bomb Drop: Third Place Alan Galle, Second Place John Turner, First Place Dan Compton. Overall Fun Fly Awards for the year: Third Place goes to Alan Galle, Second Place to Rob Sampson; First Place goes to John Turner. A round of applause was had for all. Jeff Peca was awarded the Frozen Finger Fun Fly Award for 2017 and for 2018 Frozen Finger Award goes to Jeff Mrachek. A round of applause for both. Safety Chairman, Jeff Peca said “lets be safe out there” Jeff also reminded everyone who is flying in the cold to keep in mind that the plastic parts of our planes can become brittle in the cold an our batteries will discharge quicker in the cold.
Membership Chairman, Tony Bahowick reminded everyone to pay their dues. He may be calling you to get your AMA membership number if the club does not have it on file.
We had a new member to our meetings Chris Graca, he has been flying for about 5 years and lives in the Northbrook area and has been flying mostly EDF and some props. He does scratch building EDF that are very impressive. Welcome Chris!!
Field Chairman, Karl Griesbaum said that he did not have anything at this time as it is too cold to really do any update or repair but he will have more as it warms up.
Flypaper Editor, Susan Galle said she did not have anything at this time but if you have any stories, hints tips and/or jokes, please feel free to get them over to her.
Government Relations, Tom Spriet, Tom asked all of us to abide by the club rules so that he does not get in trouble. Tom also said he is closing his glass and mirror shop, in order to retire and said that if anyone
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needs stuff; including tools, plexiglass, mirrors, etc... this is the time to come see him and shop.
Alan Galle brought in his Liberty Biplane from West Michigan Park Flyers. It is made out of Epp foam very durable and he bought this plane so he could fly at night. We turned the light of and Alan showed the light strips he installed on the plane the he purchased from HobbyTown. Great Look Alan! Alan also said that this is the 5th plane he has built from West Michigan Park Flyers and he has been very happy with them.
Next Todd Culbertson showed us a really neat box. Yes, he said box. After a second to open this big box he showed us the reason this box was so cool was that it housed a very cool packing for a F16. He showed us how quickly the F16 assembles right out of the box. He showed us the installed landing gear and light system. He uses 2, 6-cell battery packs. It has a built-in gyro and has 2 sensitivity settings for pilot comfort levels. It also has brakes and brake lights on the rear lights. Sold by HSD who now has a location in the USA, it is made out of a high density quantum foam, so it is very durable and weighs about 13.5lbs.
Alvin Cole showed us his cool work that he has started with the Photoshop program, showing his airliner looking like it is full scale and in the clouds. He showed us a couple renditions as he got better the picks looked better and better.
Dale Gathman brought in his P38 or as Dale so said his P37 and a half due to his previous crashes. Dale also showed that he got a new P47. The P47 is an E-Flite ARF.
Rich Gabrys brought a Horizon Hobbies Valiant that he was selling to a person that was not going to make it to the meeting tonight.
Dave Murray was up next and told us that he got a call from Bob Walker and that in the next issue of the AMA Magazine, Bob Walker has been inducted into the Academy Hall Of Fame and the February issue it talks about the Fox Valley Aero Club and how happy he is the our club has become what it is today. Dave said that it is because of Bob Walker the when Dave
walked into his hobby shop in 1968, it is because of his help and guidance that Dave became an airline pilot.
Great Tribute to Bob Walker!!! Congratulations.
Dale Gathman said the board approved the yearly calendar and the only change we are going to make is the Kids Fly is now going to be called the Family Fly Day. We have had some volunteers for Parade Chairman, Dave Murray will be doing that, Debbie Howe will be running our Christmas Party, Festival of Flight will be Jim Thompson, Warbird and Classics will be John Fischer, and Joe Pedone and JT will be running the Swap. Swap Shop Chairperson, Joe Pedone said our swap is coming together nicely, we still have tables available so if you need a table come see him. The Swap will be Feb 17th. You can also register through R/C flight deck and please remember to sign-up to help. There will be another meeting where he will pass around the volunteering sign in sheet again.
John Fischer was up with the Warbirds and Classics and so far we have 32 pre-registered pilots as of now. June 21-23rd are the dates. John will be working with the tent contracts and working out the use of the storage shed and we will have a few sub committees especially for parking, flight line, etc...
Jim Thompson was up for Festival of Flight. We are going to work with the Model T car club to make the event a Wings and Wheels event. We are asking guys to bring any vintage cars that they may have as well and bring like year planes to put out with the car/wheels part of the show.
Mark Knoppkie said the HobbyTown will be opening in Schaumburg. It is open now.
Cindy, the event coordinator at the Hilton Garden has contacted us and asked if we will be willing to book our Christmas party with them again next year. After a check with the membership we have agreed to hold the 2018 Christmas party there next year.
A motion to adjourn was made by Alvin Cole and seconded by Dave Murray. All Approved..
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FROMOURTREASURER
Duesforregularmemberare$125andarenowdue.YoumaypaythembycheckpayabletoFVACandsendittotheP.O.Box837,St.Charles,IL60174ortomyhomeat1010BankfieldCt.,Naperville,IL60540.Rememberto
keepyourAMAduescurrentasyoucannotflyatourfieldunlesstheyarepaid.MostAMAduesexpireonDecember31stsocheckyourAMAcard.MembersnotpayingtheirFVACduesbyMarch31stareconsideredlateandareforbiddenfromflyingatourfieldunZltheyarepaid.Duesforjuniormembers(under19yearsold)are$25aswellasfamilymemberslivinginthesamehousehold.
LooksliketheonlynewairplanecomingoutofmyshopthiswinteristheoriginalUltra-SZrIacquiredfrommemberTonySokol.ThiswasNIBandnowiscompletewithmysignaturediamondplatefirewallonthefrontwithaYS1.40L.IdidpickupthenewFutaba16SZradioandwillspendalotofZmeprogrammingthe15aircrabfrommy10CAP.AtleastitgivesmeachancetodoathoroughinspecZonasItransferthesecngsintothenewtransmider.
UnZlnextmonth,Paul
FROM THE EDITOR Susan Galle [email protected]
I was saddened this month to lose two of our members on the same day - very tragic. Paul Douds was not only a friend, but always had something to say to me as well. I enjoyed his company and always learned something from him as well. I know he suffered in the end as we did not see much of him for the last few months. He will be missed and I will miss learning more from him. Our condolences to his family and children as well - RIP Paul.
Another member loss was Jack Ekstrom. Jack was always smiling, was always happy and was a joy to be around. He was also a pilot and a ham radio operator too. If you went to the memorial service for him, in almost all the pictures, there was Jack with a big smile on his face (wonder if he just got away with something too - Mmm). I know he suffered as well which is even more sad. He will also be missed and our condolences as well go out to his wife Helen and their children. We will miss you too Jack - RIP.
On a happier note, the days are getting longer as well. I am of course, looking forward to racing again but will be out at the field as well. I hope to get my Cadet Sr out there and get some fly time in as well.
Looking forward to the sunshine and warmth (it can’t come fast enough for me!). Hope you all are staying warm and busy with any repairs and/or potential new planes you may have gotten as well.
Later, Susan
From Calvin and Hobbes Calvin: "Leader, bandits at 2 o'clock!" Hobbes: "Roger! It's only 1:30 now—what'll I do 'til then?"
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FROM OUR SAFETY CHAIRMAN
Jeff Peca [email protected]
It’s only late January and a few months before weather becomes consistently mild enough for most of us to start going to the field. In other words, it’s “buildin’ season”. Currently I am working on an airplane called a Valmet L-70 Miltrainer. It was designed and built for the Finland Air Force as a trainer. The
model I am building was designed by Dick Sarpolus and was published in the November 1992 Model Aviation. With some luck it might fly this year.
As you head to your shop please keep in mind the basic safety precautions when using power tools. Keep your hands and fingers out of harms way and don’t forget safety glasses. Keep your shop well ventilated when using CA, epoxies and paint. There are a lot of CA brands on the market that are odorless and less harmful to our respiratory system. If you build models that require painting, consider latex paint. It is cheap, doesn’t smell and is easy to clean up. And the results look great.
The bottom line is stay safe while you are working on the projects in the shop so you could enjoy them at the field.
�
HINTS & TIPS (sifting through the numerous articles that Orvil was so kind to share with me - I now share them with you - thanks Orvil!):
The empty metal cases from regular size and “jumbo” size felt markers, when drilled and fitted together, make great mufflers for four-cycle engines. A sheet metal screw and silicon rubber sleeves hold all together nicely. Your editor also recommends an empty hair styling mousse container for the muffler as well. It makes a superb outer container.
A setscrew, nut and two large washers are all that are required for bending metal tube without putting a kink in it. Run the washer and nut down to the tube without pinching it, place the tool in a vise for convenience, then pull the tubing out and round to the desired curvature.
Use one or two small phone jacks as necessary to hold your hatch or canopy. Cut off the unwanted solder tabs, then use poxy or cyanoacrylate to set the units in place. For big canopies, use larger jacks for more holding power.
A heated cigarette lighter cap is a portable MonoKote iron for field repairs.
Pull old nylon hose over balsa fuselages then dope in place. Adds lots of strength and gives smooth, seam-free covering.
Grind slots in screw. Makes good tap for maple wing mount blocks.
Black neoprene fuel tubing makes very realistic dummy exhausts. Run a piece of 1/16-inch wire inside to hold the bent shape, then pump epoxy into the tube and allow it to harden. Make branch manifolds in the same way and attach with cyanoacrylate.
Here’s a glowplug caddy for next to nothing. Cast a block of resin (left over from a finishing job?) or use a hardwood block. Drill appropriate size holes, then make a tap by cutting grooves down an old plug with a Dremel-type cut-off disk. Use the plug to cut threads in the block.
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2018 Fox Valley Aero ClubCalendar of Events
January1 Fun-Fly—FrozenFingers 10:00amFVACFieldJanuary11 FVACMemberMtg 7:30RegularatTownshipHall
February8 FVACMemberMtg 6:30Board,7:30RegularatTownshipHallFebruary17 FVACAnnualSwapMeet 9:00-1:00KaneCountyFairGrounds
March8 FVACMemberMtg 6:30Board,7:30RegularatTownshipHall
April12 FVACMemberMtg 6:30Board,7:30RegularatTownshipHallApril14 FieldWorkDay 9:00amFVACFieldApril21 TreeLine/BermOrientaEonDay 9:00am–1:00pm-FVACField
May10 FVACMemberMtg 6:30Board,7:30RegularatTownshipHallMay19 Fun-Fly–#1 1:00-3:00FVACFieldMay28 St.CharlesMemorialDayParade TimeTBD
June2 RocketFest&FamilyFly FVACFieldJune3 PigRoast&Fun-Fly FVACFieldJune8 2018MediaDay 9:00am–3:00pm-FVACFieldJune14 FVACMemberMtg 6:30Board,7:30RegularatFVACFieldJune21-23 2018WindyCityWarbirds&Classics FVACFieldJune24 OpenFly–AllScale FVACField
July12 FVACMemberMtg. 6:30Board,7:30RegularatFVACFieldJuly21 Fun-Fly–#2 1:00-3:00FVACField
August9 RetroFly 2:00pmatFVACFieldAugust9 FVACMemberMtg 6:30Board,7:30RegularatFVACFieldAugust11 CubFly–AMASancEoned-Open 9:00am–8:00pm-FVACFieldAugust11 NightFly–AMASancEoned-Open 8:00pm–Midnight-FVACField
September8 FesEvalofFlight FVACFieldSeptember13FVACMemberMtg 6:30Board,7:30RegularatTownshipHallSeptember15NightFly&ChiliDinner 7:00pmFVACField
October6 Fun-Fly#3 1:00-3:00FVACFieldOctober11 FVACMemberMtg 6:30Board,7:30RegularatTownshipHallOctober14 TurkeyFry FVACField
November8 FVACMemberMtg 6:30Board,7:30RegularatTownshipHall
December7 AnnualChristmasParty 6:00HiltonGardenInn-St.CharlesDecember13RookiesChristmasParty 7:00RookiesSportsBar&Grill-St.Charles
Revision02-05-2018
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FVAC FROZEN FINGERS 2018First-In-Flight Fun-Fly
By Dale Gathman
Our annual First-In-Flight event, titled ‘Frozen Fingers 2018’ was held on January 1st at 10:00 am at the field. The weather was cold, hovering around zero degrees F, wind 10-15 out of the WNW and the field was covered with a nice blanket of snow.
The goal of the event is to be the first pilot to have your airplane leave the ground once the starting signal is sounded. The pilot must then complete a minimum of one ‘pattern’ flight approximately the length of the runway (800’), and land successfully. The winner of the annual event gets his name plate added to our new Frozen Fingers ‘First in Flight’ Champion plaque. The plaque is a perpetual plaque, and it contains the names of past winners along with the year of their win. The new plaque will be displayed in the pavilion at the field for all to see.
I arrived about 9:15, not knowing what to expect. I figured that because of the extremely cold temperature, maybe only one or two pilots would show. To my surprise, there were already four or five pilots in the pavilion. More members kept arriving, some to fly and many just to watch the fun. Alan Galle was not able to attend, buton Saturday had dropped a large airplane fuselage off for us to add to the tree, which we did. Mark Knoppkie also added his sweated-through flying hat, which you can see hanging on the tail of Alan’s fuselage.
Even though the temperature was COLD, we had a respectable number of members show up for the event, and a total of 9 pilots competed. Many of the other members came just to watch and fellowship with fellow members. John (JT) Turner both competed and brought his famous ‘sticky buns’ that many of us look forward to eating at this event each year.
During the pilots meeting, the pilots were instructed that we would be lining the planes up towards the West. All of the planes had either floats or skis attached, and as the wind had calmed somewhat, no spotters were
FVAC Flypaper - Jan-Feb. 2018 Page !8
required to hold the planes in position prior to take-off. All of the pilots were instructed to stay behind the extended tennis net flightline.
The final starting line-up was as follows (North to South):1. Kevin Kessler Fun Cub2. Joe Pedone Great Planes Yak 54 (former winner - RIP)3. Tom Flint Eflite Carbon-Z Splendor4. Jeff Mrachek Mini Ultra Stick (Winner First-in-Flight 2018)5. Tony Bagnola Super Cub6. Rob Sampson Yellow Yak7. Jim Clousing Multiplex Mentor8. Jim Thompson Tweety 40 Electric9. John Turner Twist 40
Doug Swanson again graciously volunteered his talent behind the lens shooting high speed time lapse photos of the start. A video camera was also set up on the north side near the nets to catch the action.
I counted down the last ten seconds before start: ten – nine - eight - seven - six - five - four - three - two - one and then I pulled the trigger on the air horn and ‘no sound came out’. The diaphragm had frozen and was not able to vibrate. Luckily, all the pilots jumped on the throttle anyway, and we had a contest. If you look closely at the photos, you can see that the winning plane was smaller than most of the others and upon throttle up came off the ground after only about 24 inches of travel and then climbed at about a 70 degree angle. Once all 9 pilots successfully landed (or unsuccessfully in a couple cases), Doug and I went over the time-lapse photos to determine the winner. This year it was not that close - Jeff Mrachek and his Mini Ultra Stick lifted off before the others by a good margin. Once the winner was determined, we announced it and presented Jeff with the old trophy (which is full and will be replaced with the new plaque) so that we could get a photo of the proud winner.
After the trophy was awarded, we ‘torched the tree’. Another fighter wing had been added to the tree, and afteran ample application of charcoal lighter, Rob Sampson did the honors and lit it up with a road flare. The tree and plane pieces (and Mark’s hat) made a great display and the whole thing was burned up in about two minutes.
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After the event, some of the attendees went over to Colonial for breakfast and conversation. Once again, we started the year off right, doing what we love to do. It is always great to be able to spend a little time with our fantastic members on the first day of the year. If you were not able to make it this year, I hope that you will be able to attend next year so you can experience what this fun event is all about.
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Theviewpointsinthisnewsletteraresolelythoseoftheindividualauthors.TheymaynotnecessarilyrepresentthoseoftheEditor,Officers,
TheFlypaperisamonthlypublicationof:TheFoxValleyAeroClubP.O.Box837St.Charles,IL60174-0837www.foxvalleyaero.com
AnIllinoisnot-for-profitCorporation
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