LISMORE MODEL FLYING CLUB NEWS February 2015
IMPORTANT DATES Next LMFC General Meeting Sunday 1st March 2015 At the field starting at 9am.
Sailplane Expo 2015: Armidale January 24 -26 Wow! What a sensational weekend of thermal soaring. Celebrating 35 years, this inconic soaring event continues to draw some the best sailplane pilots from the east coast of Australia. This year had 34 entries. Solid friendships forged over consisent attendance is half the fun. People helping each other and a healthy touch of sledging as well, sets the scene for a fun time.
That’s not to say the Expo is not competitive, it is. To be in the top ten you have to be consistently good at achieving your ten minute flights and moreover, you need to land near the spot, nearly every
flight. Of the thirteen rounds flow, Thomas Cook (ex Sydney, now living in Houston, Texas), dropped only 43 points out of the maximum possible 13,000 points! Pretty darn good if you ask me. The rest of us were ranked off his score with only the top ten being better than 12,000 points.
LMFC members have always supported this event well and this year saw some returning after a couple of years absence. Given that most of the LMFC guys fly sailplanes only on a part time basis, we held up pretty well in the stiff competition. The thing that always amazes us coastal dwellers, is
the variety of weather conditions that the tablelands can deliver in a comparitively short time. Saturday was postcard perfect , with zero wind and perfect thermal conditions when you found one!
Sunday……westerly winds that would have had any sane modeller back in his workshop for the day. The strange part is that Sunday generated some of the weekends best lift and very close competition. Go figure? The thermals were everywhere. Monday…..The same wind, only blowing 180 degrees around, from the east. Thermals not so good and some omminous clouds lurking around. Tough challenging conditions, but competitive rounds, until…….
The Lismore Boyz……A tad short on shade
The heavens openned up half way through round 14 at approximately 11.30 am. I mean it bucketted down rain drenching anything and everybody without shelter. Congratulations to Hutton Oddy and Kevin Smeaton for a superbly run, very enjoyable comp….see you there in 2016. The Field of Dreams
“Are we there yet”? “No not yet”. Sound familiar? Every parent has heard it. The problem with
establishing our new field and more importantly,
filling the low-‐lying land of our new field is the budget. Not ours, but the LCC budget for ongoing works. In Saturdays Northern Star, we read that some 10% of LCC’s rates are outstanding. That’s millions of dollars that should be being allocated to infrastructure works in the Lismore area. Logic subjects that if clean fill is available, why is it not being dumped at our site? Why isn’t progress being made more rabidly? Sadly, any fill dumped into the flood plain must meet strict environmental requirements and secondly, once dumped, LCC needs to fund the moving and leveling of the material. So far, we have received in excess of $60,000 worth of materials and machinery time, to build our road, parking areas and pits. As heard at the February meeting, your executive have recently been re-‐enthused to progress and maintain whatever pressure possible on LCC to keep going.
Craige's new Stiik
Further to this, a request has been submitted to extend our current field license until mid 2018 to ensure tenure until we can safely move. Updates will be provided at each monthly meeting.
FLING-‐FLUNG last weekend. It’s on again in 2015. Sunday February 8th saw the beginning round of the monthly Fling soaring challenge and by reports received in, a very competitive mornings soaring was had by all attendees. Weather conditions, whilst initially challenging, turned into super charged thermals all over the flying area. Some suggested they were so strong that the model’s
covering was at risk of being sucked off the wings! Gentlemen Jim was apparently heard to say in one round, “ Can anyone see my model”? Not a nice phrase to be uttered on the flight line. All eyes focused skyward and with the skills of an
spotter for an army sniper, Jim’s flight-‐line buddies managed to locate the errant Fling and so began the height reduction process to within normal eyesight range. A good result all round. Eds Note: The Ed would greatly appreciate some photographs from the Fling days and the results for publication after each round.
John 's impressive hanger.
eGlide 2015. Thanks to the ongoing enthusiasm of Nigel, eGlide 2015 is on again at LMFC.
Simplicity is the rule. Any electric launched glider and you are in. The weapon of choice by the masses is the standard Radian Glider. Simple,
rugged and reliable…..most of the time. Trophy hunters are emerging as the event matures and some pretty hot hybrids are appearing. Apparently, really high launches is a way to cover up your lack of thermaling abilities? Rumors abound about volts and milliamps etc etc etc (They are apparently important?)
Quality sledging is now an inherent part, some say an essential ingredient, of this super fun event and your Ed has now figured out that being the first down is
not the desired result! Someone said I need a 12 volt battery.....not sure the Radian would carry the one out of my car, but the argument seemed convincing? The first event saw the Hybrid Hunters on safari taking out first and second with amazing descents from mega launches! The rest of the crew scavenged out respectable scores and had a s#t load of fun in the process. I forgot to mention Rod B trailing his magic orange ribbon under his Radian. Apparently, he was hoping to jag a sky hook on his flights. Scores indicate that he did actually do it on 3 rounds……the judges are checking the rule book as I type. Lastly, your Pres. Jamie Z is on report for ploughing the grass runway whilst landing at Mach 1.2 with his eSpirit. I swear I saw him dropping corn seeds in the furrows ready for next summer. If anyone spots him watering the runway, you’ll know why. Get a bigger battery and we’ll see you all next month. Ed Note: Any eGlider guiders who I’ve failed to embarrass, humiliate or condemn… my apologies. I’ll get you next month :o)
eGlide 1st February 2015 Results 1 Scott J 73 2 Jamie Z 68 3 Peter P 66 4 Graham H 64 5 Scott V 62 6 Rod B 57 7 Phil C 36 8 David L 31 9 Ralph 21 10 Jim R ( Mechanical Problems) 18 11 David C (Radian Failure!!) DNS Some more from Omaka Heritage Aviation Museum. Blenheim NZ.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: At our next club meeting March 1st 2015, the agenda will include: -‐Would members be interested in having a monthly Sunday morning fun flying comp? -‐Our site shed has been sitting unused since at was bought and so the question to all members is should it be kept or sold. This will be voted on at this meeting. Safety Issue-‐ relating to engine start up, (IC or Electric) at the shade roof area. Members encouraged to read the MAAA manual of procedure immediately. This document outlines your obligations to operate inside the MAAA guidelines and therefore ensure your insurance is not jeopardised. It easily accessed on the MAAA website, there is no excuse. Builders Corner From the workshop of Jamie Z I’ve recently been asked by a model sailplane retailer to assemble a 6m scale moulded model of a Shark 304 for a customer that is coming out from the United states for 6 months. Being ambitious and up for a challenge, how could I refuse. Upon receiving the model the first thing to do with a $5500 model is cut a hole in it and yes it took me 2 days before I was game enough. The hole is for a 12 cell ducted fan which puts out 6.5kg of thrust, that should be enough to haul the 14kg model off the ground. Next job is the bulkheads to support the motor which I ‘Hysoled' in. Then the doors are hinged on using custom made hinges. The motor is installed and a bit of
programming (actually it took me 3 days to figure out how to use the Weatronic radio. It’s similar to a full-sized PC and with no instructions it was a matter of pressing buttons until the code was cracked. Now I’m used to it and all’s good.) Talking of the Weatronic radio, the
receiver that is supplied is a monster, it’s similar in
size to a substation for a small village. But once you get your head around how it works, it is an extremely good choice for larger scale models. The receiver side can accept up to 32 servo inputs that are broken into eight separate banks of four, with each of these banks having it’s own voltage regulator. Each bank can be set at either 6v or 7.4v these banks are also overload protected. There’s also a GPS unit and a three axis stabiliser built into the unit. They claim a range of three
kilometres for it, pretty impressive. Here’s the donk in all it’s glory. P.S That’s my Ventus taking back stage or should I say being repaired! Better landings than mine…JZ And….. Knowing LMFC has a few Fokker DVII fans. Here is a nice one coming together in Sydney by John “Crocodile” Crockford. Scratch built to ¼ scale. John is Secretary of the Flying Scale Aircraft
Association. of NSW.
http://www.flyingscaleaircraftassociation.com/about.html
February 2015 MINUTES
Minutes for LMFC 01/02/2015. opened at 9.05 am. Present 16 members.( others present but not signed) Opened by JZ, apologises from David Riley, Bill Mackenzie, Gregory Spencer, Neil Clifford and Graham Gilliver. Minutes for DEC 7TH 2014 read by JS. approved by JR and SL. Correspondence from MAAA concerning new WINGS awards for foam aircraft and MAAA grant/loan scheme to assist model clubs develop. JZ pointed out the work JS had put into getting information on these grants though it is still not quite clear if it would be a grant or a low interest loan. James will pursue this and make an application for LMFC. MATTERS arising. LMFC next Interstate Glider Challenge to be at Pearces Creek 2nd and 3 May 2015. Scott Johnson and Nigel Virtue to organise the event. Phil Crandon to liaise with the field owner for approval. Catering will be organised at next LMFC meeting. Discussion re the current field lease, PC believes that LCC will provide a lease until June 2018. Phil indicated the lease revues are to be held in March PC and other committee members to meet with LCC and finalise a lease. JR suggested that LMFC should get to know our local councillors by inviting them and their family, to a club barbeque on an event day such as the Electric day . Agreed by affirmation seconded by JM. JR thanked JZ and DM for buying the Kubota mower, saying it was an excellent asset. Treasures report. DM reported that LMFC expenditure for Jan 2015 was $478.00, we had $100.00 income, a balance of $1901.00 and a deposit of $10,070.00. REPORT by JZ. JZ said the event at Armidale was attended by a number of LMFC members and was very friendly, with a high standard of flying by all. Presently no fill is being dumped at the new field. PC pointed out how difficult it is to fill wet lands because of environmental laws. JZ said that LCC may have $3000.00 to put toward the new field and the sale of the current land used as a drop zone by the Gun Club to the Gun Club may help to pay for fill at our new site. Other business. Jim Romer suggested that LMFC sell our club shed (Which is not used and is decaying) . Agreed by most present. JZ will inform all members and if the majority agree LMFC will sell the shed. SL pointed out that some members were starting their motors very near the shade roof, this is dangerous and against MAAA guide lines , of which all members should be aware and diplomatically suggest to offenders that they start their engines away from the pit area as outlined in MAAA manual of procedure. John Morgan suggested a series of Fun Fly days, agreed to by many present. JZ to approach members and see reaction. . Meeting close at 9.55am
Lismore Model Flying Club –Calendar (December 2014) www.lismoremodelflyingclub.org.au
Got some modeling gear to sell or looking for something??? Email a photograph and details to you’re the Ed. [email protected]
Don’t Forget
LMFC General Meeting 2015
To be held at the field March 1st, at 9am.
LMFC is on FACEBOOK!!!!
Don’t be afraid of this social media forum. There is a whole lot of interesting info being shared by the modelling world just waiting for you. Here is your LMFC link https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lismore-Model-Flying-Club/893002544046201?hc_location=timeline
February 2015 9/2 16/2
21 22/2 Harrisville Hootenanny 21st -22nd aka Kev's Calamity or Smeaton's Sailplane Struggle March 2015
1/3 Club meeting, E-‐Glider comp, BBQ breakfast 8/3 15/3 Fling comp & BBQ lunch
21 22/3 Scenic Rim Aerotow 29/3 Fun Fly Day
April 2015
5/4 Daylight Savings ends – clocks Forward 1 hour; Easter Sunday; E-‐Glider comp
12/4 Club meeting, BBQ breakfast 19/4 Fling comp & BBQ lunch
10 to 13/4 MAAA Nats (Harrisville Glider) May 2015
2 & 3/5 Interstate Glider Challenge Pearces Creek. NO LMFC meeting
10/5/ Mother’s Day
17/5 LMFC Club Meeting Fling comp & BBQ lunch
24/5
31/5 June 2015
7/6 Club meeting, last E-‐Glider comp, BBQ breakfast, RENEWAL fees due by 15th June
14/6
21/6 Fling comp & BBQ lunch
28/6 July 2015
5/7 Club meeting, Final E-‐Glider comp, BBQ breakfast 12/7
19/7 Fling comp & BBQ lunch 26/7