Flying with Fred - Volume III, No 4
YIKES! Last
thing I knew I was waiting for the return of warmer
weather back in November, anticipating Turkey Day. Next
thing I know, Santa’s come and gone, and so much for
any colder weather! Hope everyone had a great Holiday-
I wish all of you a great 2007 as well. My thanks also
to Joe Dellutri- our President-Deluxe for the last
year. Joe did a great job of steering around a number
of problems, and in general hold things together while
the Earth circled around these last 365 days.
Also many to thanks to Ed M.- our Treasurer Extraordinaire- also known as The Count De Money, (pronounced “Deh-Monnaayy”) for making possible a great Holiday Dinner at the December meeting. Not sure why it wasn’t broadcast a little better, and our apologies to those who missed out as a result. We also bid adieu to our Newsletter Editor, Ron R., who packed up the Conestoga wagon lock, stock and barrel and headed to balmier climes in Florida. Thanks for all your contributions as well this last year, Ron.
Congratulations to the elected slate of Officers for 2007, especially our new President & Vice President. We wish them the best of luck (and lots of aspirin, as needed) for the coming year. It’s my hope it all unrolls before all of you calm and serene, with nary a ripple of a problem, complication or complaint. I also wish for the next Mega-Lotto winning ticket- hmmm…..
I hate it when people take me at my word when I make statements like “…I’ve got plenty of RC stuff…” in answer to their earlier queries regarding presents for this gift-giving season. I guess they thought I meant I had “enough” RC stuff. Next year I’ll clarify things a bit more by making sure they hear “…I’ve got plenty of RC stuff, BUT I CAN USE SOME MORE…” In truth, what I really need is a gift certificate to the “Time Store” where I can go in and purchase, say, about a month (or two?) of flying and building time. As soon as I confirm the address (electronic or otherwise) for same, I’ll let the rest of you know.
While this time of the year is typically the beginning of the “Building Season” around this area, if the current warmer than usual meteorological conditions prevail, it’s going to be tough to get anything up and running (glued and epoxied?) if the weekends continue to hold out a possible trip to the field- hate it when I have to make this type of decision. Kinda makes me feel like I’m living in North Carolina, or Florida (well, maybe not Florida). Which brings up another quandary.
In addition to building, I would have started my Winterizing Process for all of my airborne “children” by now, if not, in fact, having finished with the process. Yet the thought of getting just ONE more flight with airplane 1, 2 or even 3 is delaying the process- decisions, decisions! I think the bottom line is I’m going to select one lucky plane to fly through the Winter, and the rest will be placed in hibernation.
And speaking of hibernation, remember the key “winterizing” elements: 1) Thoroughly drain and run dry your engine and tank. Check the engine and fuel compartments, etc. for loose hardware. 2) Plenty of Run-In Oil, or equivalent, throughout the engine. 3) Check and replace batteries as necessary. Cycle them once, and place them on trickle charge. 4) Clean all surfaces and remove oil, dirt, etc. Windex or rubbing alcohol work great. 5) Check all control surfaces for worn or damaged hinges, linkage, etc. 6) Repair all damage- however slight. 7) Store in the best location possible (ideally, even covered)- keep weight off tires, etc.
Also many to thanks to Ed M.- our Treasurer Extraordinaire- also known as The Count De Money, (pronounced “Deh-Monnaayy”) for making possible a great Holiday Dinner at the December meeting. Not sure why it wasn’t broadcast a little better, and our apologies to those who missed out as a result. We also bid adieu to our Newsletter Editor, Ron R., who packed up the Conestoga wagon lock, stock and barrel and headed to balmier climes in Florida. Thanks for all your contributions as well this last year, Ron.
Congratulations to the elected slate of Officers for 2007, especially our new President & Vice President. We wish them the best of luck (and lots of aspirin, as needed) for the coming year. It’s my hope it all unrolls before all of you calm and serene, with nary a ripple of a problem, complication or complaint. I also wish for the next Mega-Lotto winning ticket- hmmm…..
I hate it when people take me at my word when I make statements like “…I’ve got plenty of RC stuff…” in answer to their earlier queries regarding presents for this gift-giving season. I guess they thought I meant I had “enough” RC stuff. Next year I’ll clarify things a bit more by making sure they hear “…I’ve got plenty of RC stuff, BUT I CAN USE SOME MORE…” In truth, what I really need is a gift certificate to the “Time Store” where I can go in and purchase, say, about a month (or two?) of flying and building time. As soon as I confirm the address (electronic or otherwise) for same, I’ll let the rest of you know.
While this time of the year is typically the beginning of the “Building Season” around this area, if the current warmer than usual meteorological conditions prevail, it’s going to be tough to get anything up and running (glued and epoxied?) if the weekends continue to hold out a possible trip to the field- hate it when I have to make this type of decision. Kinda makes me feel like I’m living in North Carolina, or Florida (well, maybe not Florida). Which brings up another quandary.
In addition to building, I would have started my Winterizing Process for all of my airborne “children” by now, if not, in fact, having finished with the process. Yet the thought of getting just ONE more flight with airplane 1, 2 or even 3 is delaying the process- decisions, decisions! I think the bottom line is I’m going to select one lucky plane to fly through the Winter, and the rest will be placed in hibernation.
And speaking of hibernation, remember the key “winterizing” elements: 1) Thoroughly drain and run dry your engine and tank. Check the engine and fuel compartments, etc. for loose hardware. 2) Plenty of Run-In Oil, or equivalent, throughout the engine. 3) Check and replace batteries as necessary. Cycle them once, and place them on trickle charge. 4) Clean all surfaces and remove oil, dirt, etc. Windex or rubbing alcohol work great. 5) Check all control surfaces for worn or damaged hinges, linkage, etc. 6) Repair all damage- however slight. 7) Store in the best location possible (ideally, even covered)- keep weight off tires, etc.
Now would
also be a great time to get a young person interested
in the Hobby. Get them away from those Game Boys,
X-Boxes, and all electronic games involving “kills” and
medieval-looking characters, dragons, etc. etc. Of
course, if they happen to be in front of a computer
with an RC Flight simulator program turned on, epoxy
their fannies to the seat, and tell them you’ll release
them when they can do the full IMAC and NSRCA patterns,
and a perfect landing, using the hottest (turbine) jet
in the simulator inventory, and the cross wind setting
on the “runway” set to “maximum”.
If Santa, or your Significant Other, or Best Friend did not get you what you were looking for this time of the year, remember the W.R.A.M. show is going to be here before you know it- make your list now. I think one of the items that will be in demand will be the new Direct Sequencing Spread Spectrum (2.4 GHz) radios coming out, the first ones being offered under the Spektrum brand, models DX6 and DX7, currently sold by Hangar Nine. The AMA has, I believe, recently given their blessing to the DX7, which allows the flying of larger models at what would be considered typical distances from the pilot.
If these radios turn out to be everything the hype says they are, and the Feds don’t decide to use the frequencies, etc. for some other inane use, then we will, in fact, be looking at a new chapter in RC Flying, and a quantum leap forward for the Hobby. From the Safety factor alone, these units will be a boon. It will be interesting to see how other radio manufacturers decide to go into (or NOT to go into) this technology, depending on what they think the future of RC Flying looks like, Dollar-wise.
Personally, I have a ton of money invested in older/current 72 MHz equipment, some of which includes synthesizing units that allow me to find an empty channel to fly on and to switch to it as necessary. Since they tell me printing your own money is still illegal, I’ll be holding off for the moment. If this new technology had been available, say, 15 years ago, all of us could have saved plenty of the legal tender, but what the heck.
Ironically, if the trend towards the “Graying” of the Hobby continues, DSSS/DSM radios might be the answer to the problem that, at some time in the future, may not exist. They will definitely be useful for contests, and large flight lines (this year’s NEAT Fair had TEN flight stations) along with certain locale where random interference from other sources may be a problem. Then again, if the Feds continue to shove other users in between our current frequencies, we may not have a choice but to invest in the new systems. Rats- just when I was looking to put money into Long Term Health Care Insurance….
Well, that’s it for 2006. My sincere wishes, once again, for a healthy, happy and prosperous new-year. I hope to see more of you at the meetings, and at the field if the weather holds up, and even if it doesn’t! Until then…
…Fly safe, but FLY!
If Santa, or your Significant Other, or Best Friend did not get you what you were looking for this time of the year, remember the W.R.A.M. show is going to be here before you know it- make your list now. I think one of the items that will be in demand will be the new Direct Sequencing Spread Spectrum (2.4 GHz) radios coming out, the first ones being offered under the Spektrum brand, models DX6 and DX7, currently sold by Hangar Nine. The AMA has, I believe, recently given their blessing to the DX7, which allows the flying of larger models at what would be considered typical distances from the pilot.
If these radios turn out to be everything the hype says they are, and the Feds don’t decide to use the frequencies, etc. for some other inane use, then we will, in fact, be looking at a new chapter in RC Flying, and a quantum leap forward for the Hobby. From the Safety factor alone, these units will be a boon. It will be interesting to see how other radio manufacturers decide to go into (or NOT to go into) this technology, depending on what they think the future of RC Flying looks like, Dollar-wise.
Personally, I have a ton of money invested in older/current 72 MHz equipment, some of which includes synthesizing units that allow me to find an empty channel to fly on and to switch to it as necessary. Since they tell me printing your own money is still illegal, I’ll be holding off for the moment. If this new technology had been available, say, 15 years ago, all of us could have saved plenty of the legal tender, but what the heck.
Ironically, if the trend towards the “Graying” of the Hobby continues, DSSS/DSM radios might be the answer to the problem that, at some time in the future, may not exist. They will definitely be useful for contests, and large flight lines (this year’s NEAT Fair had TEN flight stations) along with certain locale where random interference from other sources may be a problem. Then again, if the Feds continue to shove other users in between our current frequencies, we may not have a choice but to invest in the new systems. Rats- just when I was looking to put money into Long Term Health Care Insurance….
Well, that’s it for 2006. My sincere wishes, once again, for a healthy, happy and prosperous new-year. I hope to see more of you at the meetings, and at the field if the weather holds up, and even if it doesn’t! Until then…
…Fly safe, but FLY!