SFM News Letter

February 2005

by: David P. Andersen

See You at Our Next Meeting!

The next meeting of The Scale Flyers of Minnesota will be Friday, February 25 2005 7:00 p.m. at the American Legion Post, 6501 Portland, Richfield. East entrance, downstairs. Guests are always welcome. Come early and dine in the restaurant. Meetings will be held on the last Friday of every month thru March, but not December. ( Directions )

NOTAM: Scale Flyer Dan Schmidt had emergency multiple bypass earlier this month.  He is recovering well.

Cal's Water Wings!
Bernie Kobilka described his work building a Ziroli Corsair wing for another modeler.  Plans showed wooden hinges at wrong angles which Bernie converted to metal.  No instructions, one spar, no shear webs, complicated.  One month required to build flaps. He said he would “never build one again….Life is too short for all this cussing and swearing.”  Paul Costello reported that he has seen 4 sets of Ziroli plans for this airplane and they were all different!
Jon Bomers reported on the Wings of Freedom full-size air show being prepared for Red Wing airport, May 28 & 29.  John is one of the organizers.  Five acts so far.  There will be a 3-hour morning time slot for model flying.  Set up on May 27th in a hanger.  Limited to 50 models.  Scale models preferred.  Large display area.  The event links are up on the Minnesota Big Birds web site, www.mnbigbirds.com, check back to view updated details in the coming weeks.

Jon also presented a quarter-scale P-47 kit that he will be making and selling.  The molds were developed by the German kit maker, Werner Kranz, who does not want to export to the USA.  A fiberglass fuselage, foam or built-up  wing, with 124” span.  Target weight < 55 lbs. Kit Costs are projected around $1000.  Sierra Precision designed the retracts for the kit and are available through a link within this site. Jon plans on using a Quadra 200 twin on his personal project. His project photo's can be seen within this site.

John Baligrodzki showed his completed Space Ship One.  Now ready to fly.  A glider, it will be carried aloft by another model and released from a very high altitude.  Own plans developed from photos on the web.  He demoed the re-entry configuration wherein the tail tilts up.  He also demonstrated the release from the launching cradle.  And he discussed his method for calculating the CG location. Foam construction covered with thinned white glue and silkspan.  Model Masters paint. 
Chris O’Connor brought his 30% Extra 300L (2-place) built from an ARD kit ($420) “Very nice kit.”  He choose this kit because it is very accurate to scale.  Walker 4.2 engine similar to Brisson.  Electronic ignition.  22x12 Bolly prop.  92” span.  30 lbs. Substituted graphite wing tube for aluminum to save 6 oz.  Built up wood fuselage, foam wings.  i4C battery monitor with digital display in instrument panel.  Don’s Hobby pilot.  Letter Tech graphics done locally.  “Flies very very nice,” like full size.  Only deviation from scale is his wife’s name Lynn below canopy.

Chris has added a new dimension to scale fidelity by using 100 octane low-lead aviation gas...it smells like the full-sized airplane.

Update

Scale Masters Qualifier will be held at Tri-Valley this summer.  Team, sport scale and fun scale events.  John Baligrodzki, CD 651 779-0434, baligrodzki1@yahoo.com.

At Left: Dave Szabo showed a Ziroli Bearcat wing that he is covering with Flite Metal panels.  A discussion ensued on using this material.

Top Right: Congratulations to Jim Greenly for winning Best War Bird (out of 125 a/c) at last summer’s Rocky Mountain Big Bird Festival in Loveland Colorado. His quarter-scale Dauntless was enlarged from Ziroli plans, 100” to 120”,  50 lb

Ercoupe by Russ Hurst at Tri Valley RC

Summary of AMA Experimental RC Aircraft Requirements

AMA insurance does not cover airplanes over 55 lbs. Many flying sites and sanctioned events do not allow uninsured aircraft.  But AMA coverage can be extended if the aircraft meets the following requirements:

  • Wing loading not exceeding 60 ounces per square foot.

  • Ready-to-fly weight not exceeding 100 lbs with fuel.

  • Piston engine's

  • Dual battery system. 1200 MAH min.  2000 MAH if more than 12 servos.

  • Fail safe—engine shut down and full surface deflection.

  • 22 gage wire.

  • Dual servos on elevators and ailerons.  100 oz-in minimum each.

  • Engine kill on transmitter.

  • Pass an annual formal airworthiness inspection by a certified AMA inspector.

  • Two flight tests witnessed by a certified AMA inspector.

  • All subsequent flights 200 feet beyond the flight line.

  • Not flown in competitive events.

For further details, see the AMA web site under Membership Services—AMA documents.

 

Raffle prizes donated by our friends at Hobby Warehouse

“The hardest maneuver ever”—Mike Barbee on the Figure Eight.

Fly well...Fly safely

Mark Prokop, President, mjprokop@aol.com  David P. Andersen, Grand Poo-bah, davidpandersen76@gmail.com