SCRC Meeting Notices
Monthly meeting are generally held the first Tuesday of each month with exceptions caused by holidays, etc. During the summer months, the meetings are held at the club's flying site. All other meetings are held at the Central Pa. Institute of Science & Technology, (formerly known as the Centre County VoTech School) in Pleasant Gap. The meetings start promptly at 7:00 p.m.

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Newsletter for the September Meeting

August 2, 2005

The meeting was called to order by SCRC Vice President Will Coder at 7:03pm. There were 21 members and two guests present. Anthony DeLullo was a guest, as was former SCRC member Bob Grove.

Our secretary, Chuck Paulson was absent, so Sam Stitzer agreed to take minutes for the meeting.

Minutes from the July meeting were accepted as published on the SCRC website.

 Treasurer's report: George Gurney reported that the June 19 Fun Fly/Picnic netted a $62.00 profit, and the July 17 picnic brought in a $15.00 profit.

  Old Business: Planning for the August 14 Air Show was conducted by Will Coder using Jim Rhodes' checklist from past years. Volunteers were found to bring the required food, drinks, ice chests, etc. A signup sheet for pilots wishing to participate in the show was passed around by Sam Stitzer.

  Official start time for the show is 2:00pm. We will open the field at noon to sell food and drinks, and for spectators to look at the models. The safety fence will be set up at 8:00am on Saturday, August 13.

  George Gurney read the text of a press release he sent to several local radio and TV stations. Some suggestions were made for contacting additional radio stations in Mifflin County.

   Sam Stitzer said he would have Al Niessner send all SCRC members an email telling them to let Sam know if they were planning to fly in the show.

   Announcements: Bob Grove mentioned the "Wings over Piper" flying event in Lock Haven on August 5, 6, and 7. Modelers are invited to fly any type of R/C model. Attendance in past years was high, and some jet models were present.

   Program: There was no program, except for some good flying after the meeting.

   50-50 Raffle: We had no raffle since the tickets were not there.

   The meeting was adjourned at about 7:40pm.

A Sad Note

   We lost a club member and a good friend on the evening of August 2 when Harry Anderson passed away.  Harry was one of the first guys I met when I began flying R/C back in 1972. He was a good pilot and model builder, and always seemed to have a big smile, even in recent years as his health declined. He flew a Top Flite Contender many years ago. He used to take off, then at only about a six foot altitude he would roll it over and climb out inverted! That became his trademark maneuver, and he chuckled when people remarked about it.    In more recent times Harry was our chef at air shows and picnics.

   Harry was all about enjoying the R/C hobby. He didn’t build big or flashy planes. He just went out and had fun! I admired him for that attitude.

   I have to wonder if it was just a coincidence that Harry passed away the same evening we were having our meeting at the field. Maybe it was God’s way of letting Harry pay a final tribute to those of us he knew and loved. Goodbye, Harry. We will miss you.

 Wings Over Piper

  I attended the Wings Over Piper model meet at Lock Haven on August 6. I was impressed to see that this has become a major event! There were many large scale models there, especially Piper Cubs up to 1/3 scale. One was a winner from the Top Gun Scale Championships. It was incredible! Completely detailed cockpit and exterior! A B-25 bomber of about ten feet span flew with two big gas burners for power. It was beautiful! It was so realistic at that size. Many other scale models flew, including a Stearman PT-17 biplane, a Waco Bipe, and some WWI biplanes (Sopwith and Fokker) I love scale models, and these big birds were the cream of the crop! It was definitely worth the short trip to Lock Haven, and I hope to return next year. Hmmm, maybe I should build a Cub!  (See photos at the end of the newsletter.)

SCRC Air Show

  August 14 was stinkin’ hot! I believe the weather kept some spectators away, as the crowd seemed a bit smaller than recent years. Nonetheless, we had a great Air Show! I opened the show with a dedication to the late Harry Anderson and Leonard Grove. Jeff Favuzza suggested this idea, and it was a good one.

   A wide variety of aircraft types were flown to the crowd’s delight. Trainers, sport, scale, gliders, pylon racers, helicopter, the Stop Sign, the Mud Duck, and more had great flights!

   Brian Julius and Karl Stashak did a mock pylon race with a Sukhoi and a Shoestring which showed the crowd some real speed!

   Jeff Favuzza’s bomb dropping P-40 was a crowd pleaser, especially when the right main gear refused to come down for landing! I think he was doing the old “Wing and a Prayer” act! He retracted the left gear and belly landed it perfectly on the grass!

   We had a mass launch of five electric Soarstars at once. It looked and sounded a lot like a nest of bees! Brad Fisher’s model suffered a wing failure in flight and fluttered into the corn! He got it back, and will have it flying again.

   Woody Struble’s Flying Stop Sign was a favorite, as always, with it’s hovering over the runway.

   Nathaniel Rice had the only helicopter in the show, and it performed well with quick aerobatics and a feather soft landing.

   Of course while all the flying was going on, the Wingerts and the Zinsmeisters were busy serving up great burgers and hot dogs! The hot weather made for brisk sales of cold sodas and water. I drank five sodas that day and was still thirsty when I got home!

   Our thanks go out to all who helped in any way to make this event a success: Pilots, all who brought food, soda, etc., those who set up the safety fence and canopies, and special thanks from me to Al Jones, who acted as my “Gofer”, making sure each pilot was ready to fly when his turn came up. This effort really smoothed out the flow of action, and made the show very professional. I’m sorry if I forgot anyone. Thanks again to you all. Your effort is greatly appreciated.

  That’s it for now. Remember, the September meeting is at the flying field. In October we will return to the Central PA Institute of Science & Technology.

Sam Stitzer  814‑364‑9530

     samstitz@yahoo.com

 Wings Over Piper

These planes were big!

B-25 flying over looks real!

Only the hat in the back seat shows that it’s not a full size Cub!

For Access to past SCRC Newsletters --  click on the month for the desired year.