The April Meeting

April 3^rd, 2007

The Meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM. No visitors, guests or new members were in attendance.

 

1. Meeting minutes from the March 6th, 2007 meeting were approved.

 

2. The Treasurer’s report was read by Al Jones and approved by the members. Al confirmed SCRC’s status as an AMA Gold Club with insurance coverage that includes Jack Garbrick’s property. Current value of the Will Coder memorial fund is $1,104 Two of Will’s planes will be auctioned after tonight’s meeting and there are four more to be sold at future meetings.

 

3. Old business –

 

Curt Buergin announced that SCRC offered to help repair the driveway at the field but Jack considers this a routine maintenance issue and he will handle all expenses. There is a possibility that SCRC members will provide some manpower to help spread gravel.

 

Curt showed the AMA Certificate honoring Diana Coder for her many contributions to SCRC.

 

April is the month that club members are dropped form the roster if dues are not paid for 2007. The dues need only to be paid for reinstatement.

 

4. New Business –

 

Henry Margusity, chairman of the 2007 air show committee, updated the membership on the topics covered in last Tuesday’s committee meeting. Henry spoke with Jack Garbrick and Jack is agreeable to our ideas and encourages the planning of a bigger and better show. We are proposing a five-hour show beginning at noon on the 19^th of August and planning for a variety of activities including full-scale aircraft flights and sky-diving. Demonstrations of EAA and Civil Air Patrol activities are possibilities. Possible themes are RC Trainers, War birds and a mass flight of Will Coder’s models. We may use a food vendor this year and split the revenue with the vendor. Our goal is to have all of the planning done by July 1^st. We will not charge for parking but may have a donation bucket on site. We would also like a better static display of member’s models this year.

 

Curt made a motion to appropriate funds to purchase the material required by Woody to make more fence posts for the air show layout at the field. Motion passed.

 

Curt brought up a safety issue concerning models conflicting with the operation of full-scale aircraft. Also, SCRC’s rules should be posted on the frequency board at the field. A motion to add a rule specifically grounding all models while full-scale aircraft are on the runway was passed by membership.

 

Anther safety concern is the designation of pit areas for models. Some members tend to park and set-up too close to the flight line (the runway for full-scale) and this may conflict with both AMA guidelines and FAA regulations. Ron Angle will investigate the specific FAA rule for obstructions near runways. The AMA guideline for pit areas is believed to be 15 feet from the flight line. After discussion on how to mark the proposed area, Al jones made a motion to line off a pit area with landscaping paint. Motion passed.

 

The Wings of Williamsport R/C Club’s Spring Fun Fly is May 19^th and 20^th. Members requiring details or directions may call Kevin Ziegmann at (570) 726-7975 or e-mail him at kcflyer@comcast.net

 

Ron Angle has information for the Williamsport Group’s Indoor Fun Fly, April 22^nd in the Dome in Muncy.

 

5. Program – No program

 

6. Show and Tell

 

Al Niessner brought an unassembled Hobby Lobby Miss 2 e-powered ARF plane. A special sale price of $100.00 included a free outrunner motor worth $50 by itself. Al advised the Hobby Lobby will have specials like this, once a week for a five-week period.

 

7.   Mark Stitzer was the winner of the 50/50              split $24.00 with the club.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 pm.

 

A Perfect Day ---Almost

    Sunday, April 22 was a nearly perfect flying day. The weather was sunny and warm, with just a little breeze. Many of our members were flying at the field and enjoying the day. I was there, flying my electrics.  I put my Cobalt 25 powered Uproar into the air for its second flight of the day, and was making a full speed pass just beyond the runway, when the plane began twitching, then rolled inverted and crashed hard into the corn stubble. It was pretty much destroyed. I looked around and the cause was immediately discovered. Another transmitter on my channel had been turned on by accident. Well, maybe accident isn’t the right word. Turning it on was deliberate – the accident was not checking the frequency board BEFORE turning it on. The other guy on my channel was adjusting his throttle or something, and flicked the transmitter on to test it, I think.

  There is a lesson here. It’s so easy to just flick that switch without thinking. Please, guys, be careful! Let’s hope that doesn’t happen to anyone else this season.

   The good news is that all my radio equipment, speed control, motor and batteries are still functional, although a bit dirty! All I really lost was the airframe. The Uproar was in its seventh season of flying, so I’ve gotten my money’s worth and more from it. I’ll build a new one and make it better, maybe get some Li-Po batteries and save a pound of weight! Hmmm, I have a tax refund coming…..

 

The Uproar after the crash.

 

 

 

That’s all for now.

 

Sam Stitzer  814‑364‑9530

samstitz@yahoo.com