first in flight for 2013: smilin’ joe pedone paul jacobs...

The Flypaper is a monthly publication of

The Fox ValleyAero Club

An Illinois not-for-profitCorporation

P.O. Box 837St. Charles, IL 60174-0837

www.foxvalleyaero.com

New in this issue:Officer / Chairperson ReportsMeet the Members: Jason Boettcher page 8How-To: Ethanol Removal from Gas page 10Event Report: Frozen Fingers page 16Shots From the Field page 19Boxelder Tree Takedown Photos page 20

AMA Gold Leader Club

Academy of ModelAeronautics Charter

Club #252

President:Thomas [email protected]

Vice President:Alvin [email protected]

Secretary:Dale [email protected]

Treasurer:Paul [email protected]

Flypaper Editor:Doug [email protected]

First in Flight for 2013:Smilin’ Joe PedoneCongratulations, Joe!

Doug Swanson photo

J a n u a r y 2 0 1 3

mailto:[email protected]





http://www.modelaircraft.org/

http://www.foxvalleyaero.com

J a n u a r y 2 0 1 3

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGETom Spriet–[email protected]

It seems like only yesterday, it was “Y2K”and the world was going to end.Well blink, and here it is: 2013, and the world is still turning as always.Now there is talk about the Mayan Calendar ending so……?

The reality of it all is our flying for 2012 is behind us. You can’t go out andget that one more flight in. It’s all about choices, you can go to the mancave and work on that new Christmas gift or blow the dust off the onethat’s been in the corner and get it ready for the new season. You can lookon the FVAC field cameras and see who is crazy enough to be flyingtoday, or you could be the crazy guy and go enjoy this Chicago weather

and fly yourself. Either way, the whole year is ahead of us to enjoy our great hobbyand be with friends and family.

Now is the time to plan ahead for the upcoming FVAC calendar. Its time toconsider a trip to remote places like Toledo ”Weak Signals” or Champaign “E-fest”or possibly a quick trip to Florida to visit past FVAC members and take in an Jetshow while you are there. Yup, it’s all about choices.

So if you got ‘em, fly ‘em. If they’re still in the box, then build ‘em.If you don’t have ‘em, visit your local hobby shop to buy ‘em.

Here’s to 2013! ! ! May it be the best year it can be for all.

Tom Spriet

Tom Spriet p

hoto capture

It’s hard to see him in this photo, but if you lookclose you can see Dale Gathman braving the firstsnow of the year to get a little stick-time.

E-Fest is coming! It’s held over February 09 & 10, 2013, inChampaign, Illinois at the University of Illinois Track and Field Armory

www.hobbico-efest.com

attention all-season fliers!

The left 3 bays of the Juice Bar will remain operationalthroughout the winter season! A portable toilet will alsoremain on site.

(crazie

s)


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FROM THE EDITORDoug Swanson–[email protected]

2013—here we go. What will this year bring? I’m hopingfor successful events, lots of stick time and blue skies. Oh,and I hope to complete some of the unfinished projects inmy workshop. As usual, there are so many attractive newaircraft hitting the market that I want most of what comesout (not good). My wife tells me I don’t know thedifference between needs and wants. There’s a difference?Huh?

The Flypaper is starting off the new year strong. Thanks tothe contributors this month for providing some great

reading. I hope this member sharing continues throughout the year.

This month’s ‘Meet the Members’ features Jason Boettcher. See his responses to my questionson page 8. Thanks for sharing with us, Jason.

Bob Boen has provided an informative and timely how-to article regarding ethanol and ourgas engines. If you feed your engine with pump gas from the station, this is a must-read. Hisarticle can be found on page 10.

Dale Gathman has written a report on our first event of the year: Frozen Fingers. This funevent was an exiting way to kick off 2013. If you missed it, check it out the mayhem startingon page 16.

Some of Dale Gathman’s ‘Shots From the Field’ can be foundon page 19. Thanks for showing us fair-weather flierswhat goes on at the field, Dale!

Last October, a group of members came out help take down the Boxeldertree north of the pavilion in an effort to alleviate the bug problem. A fewphotos snapped during the takedown and cleanup can be found on page20.

That’s it for me this time. I’ll see you at the meeting. DougSuper Decathlon 100cc ARFby Hangar 9 (HAN1070)

WHERE THE HELL

DID I PARK THEINVISIBLE JET?

Photo Credit: Bitten and

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So the new year is in fullbloom. Winter projects on thebench and a well deserved restfor your favorite plane thatyou flew all summer long. Wehad a great time at our annualChristmas party. This event

continues to get better each year and the club participationis at an all-time high. I am looking forward to serve you inmy new capacity and welcome your feedback as wecontinue in our quest to make this club one of the best in theMidwest. Our continued participation in communityfunctions such as Toys for Tots will help us be seen as anasset to the community. The Frozen Fingers event was alsoa great event. I’m sure this is the beginning to a great flyingseason.

My winter project that I started about three weeks ago isalready complete and ready to maiden. I guest it wasn'tmuch of a winter project. My sundowner 50 came pre-hinged, so a few evenings and a few spare parts that werelaying around and it was complete. All I need is the perfectIndian summer day to get this plane in the air. It is just thekind of plane that I like: F A S T.....

See you at the field,

Alvin

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VICE PRESIDENT’SMESSAGEAlvin Cole–vicepresident@

foxvalleyaero.com

Sundowner 50 ARF byHangar 9 (HAN4725)

We delivered many toys and over $1,200 in giftcards to the Salvation Army from ourmembership. A big thank you to everyone who

made a donation. Major Miller was extremely pleased with ourdonations and commented, “We have come to count on the FVACwith these gift cards for our young adults—especially the teenagers.This is appreciated very much!”

John ‘JT’ Turner

in the communityFVAC

L-R: John Turner, Major Jonathan Miller, Senaida Maier, and Sal Perno




With 2012 in the rear view mirror it’stime to look forward to our swap,Toledo, and a great flying season.The club’s treasury is in great shapeand all members checks were depositedas received in December as last year therewere complaints from some that don’t likea check to be outstanding. This resulted in alarger cash balance at year end due to 2013dues in the previous year but a full report

was sent to all boardmembers for approval atthe next meeting.Remember, all information isavailable to any member wishing

to review it.

With some time off over the holidays I was ableto complete a couple of ARF’s that had beensitting on the bench. The first is a Dirty Birdifrom Great Planes. I put an OS .61 FSRAnniversary Gold engine in it and used thestandard gear. The second is a U-Can-Do 90which I won at the 2011 Christmas party and Iput an OS 120 Surpass on it. I’m not a big fan of3-D—probably because I can’t do most of it—butthis may give me a chance to try and improve.

That big Extra you see on the other bench hashad its batteries and control box from Smart Flyinstalled and will be ready for the IMAC eventthis year. Hopefully all of you are doing yourannual inspection of your fleets and cyclingbatteries. Be sure to check all your fuel lines asthey do deteriorate over time. The gas Tygonlines become brittle and the silicone lines simplyget mushy if left in fuel over a long period.

Till next month, Paul 5

w w w. f o x va l l e ya e r o . c o m

TREASURER’S REPORTPaul [email protected]

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When: Saturday, February 23, 2013

Location: KANE COUNTY FAIR GROUNDS(St. Charles, IL)• Over 15,000 square feet oftradeshow

• Admission $5.00 per adult,children under 12 FREE

Where: 525 Randall Rd.St. Charles, IL 60175(Use Randall Rd. entrance betweenNorth Avenue and LincolnHighway/Route 38)

What: BUY, SELL and/or TRADE RCAircraft, Helicopters, Radios,Equipment, Cars, and Boats.Food service available all day.

Costs: Early-Pay Table Rental Discount ifpaid by February 1st:

• One table $15.00 each• Two tables $12.50 each• Three or more tables $10.00 each

All table rentals after February 1st $20.00 eachAll table rentals include one free admission.

Checks Payable to: Fox Valley Aero ClubPO Box 837St. Charles, IL 60174-0837

Time: Tables ready for setup at 8:00AM

Open Admission from 9:00AM TO 2:00PM

After 1PM, we will be open to foamy electric andlight electric indoor flying. Come and participateor sit and enjoy the show. AMA cards required.

FOX VALLEY AERO CLUBRADIO CONTROL

SWAP MEET

FOR TABLE RESERVATIONS AND INFORMATION:

John Turner @ 630-443-7807 Joe Pedone @ [email protected] [email protected]

J a n u a r y 2 0 1 3

7


January 10 FVAC Member Meeting 6:30 Board 7:30 Regular at Township Hall

February 14 FVAC Member Meeting 6:30 Board 7:30 Regular at Township HallFebruary 23 FVAC Annual Swap Meet Kane County Fair Grounds

March 14 FVAC Member Meeting 6:30 Board 7:30 Regular at Township Hall

April 11 FVAC Member Meeting 6:30 Board 7:30 Regular at Township HallApril 13 or 20 Member Work Day FVAC Field

May 9 FVAC Member Meeting 6:30 Board 7:30 Regular at Township HallMay 27 St. Charles Memorial Day Parade TBD

June 8 Kids Day 9:00 AM start, 1:00 PM second roundJune 9 Fun-Fly & Pig Roast FVAC FieldJune 13 FVAC Member Meeting 6:30 Board 7:30 Regular at FVAC FieldJune 14 & 15 Al’s Helicopter Fun-Fly FVAC FieldJune 23 Geneva Swedish Days Parade TBD

July 11 FVAC Member Meeting 6:30 Board 7:30 Regular at FVAC FieldJuly 20 & 21 Festival of Flight FVAC Field

August 3 & 4 Chicagoland IMAC Challenge FVAC FieldAugust 8 FVAC Member Meeting 6:30 Board 7:30 Regular at FVAC FieldTBD Cub Scout Rocket Day TBD

September 12 FVAC Member Meeting 6:30 Board 7:30 Regular at Township Hall

October 10 FVAC Member Meeting 6:30 Board 7:30 Regular at Township HallOctober 20 Fun-Fly & Turkey Fry FVAC Field

November 14 FVAC Member Meeting 6:30 Board 7:30 Regular at Township Hall

December 6 Annual Christmas Party Hilton Garden InnFox V

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f Events


When I changed jobs, Pratt Wayne was on my commute to work, so it’s nice to catcha quick flight after work. After I got my largest plane I knew it was time to join FVAC.

FlyP.: Are you involved with full-scale aviation? If so, please elaborate.Jason: I am not, however, my father and a close relative both earned their Private Pilot

licenses, which means I’ve been fortunate enough to try flying a Cessna a few times.I’ve been tempted to enroll in ground school at DuPage airport; aviation is sort ofin the family blood. My Grandfather used to give lessons and fly his Curtiss Jennyin and out of Morton Grove. His license was signed by Orville Wright, which is aninteresting piece of family history.

FlyP.: Are you forced to work to pay for this hobby? If so, what is youroccupation?Jason: Yes, I need to work to support this madness; I am in theautomation business and do electrical engineering for Industrialcontrols. Specifically, I design electrical panels, write machine

control software, and start up production equipment.

FlyP.: Are you married? Have any children?Jason: My wife’s name is Jen and we have been marriedfor 11 years. We don’t have any children, but we do havea dog. Jen is supportive of this hobby, which is reallyfantastic.

FlyP.: How long have you been involved in the hobby?Jason: I started flying R/C in 2005. After trying on my own for a

while, my father and I attended David Scott’s “One Week toSolo” flight instruction in Shawno, Wisconsin. This was agreat way to spend some family time together while learningsomething we were both interested in. The class reallyhelped gain confidence.

FlyP.: How long have you been a member ofFVAC?

Jason: I’ve been with Fox Valley for 3 years.

FlyP.: Please give a history of your RC aviation past.Jason: When I started, I joined Propmasters in Naperville. As I got

into larger planes, I joined the Barnstormers in Saint Charles.

MEETmembersthe

Jason Boettcher


continued on next page

8

Jason with his 100cc Aeroworks Yak 54 ARF-QB at the 2012Chicagoland Fox Valley IMAC Challenge

Dale Gathman photo



FlyP.: What are you flying currently?Jason: Primarily, I fly an Extra 300S

with a 1.60 2-stroke glowengine. I also like to fly my35% Yak 54, which is my onlygas model. There are alsoseveral 40-sized models and afew electrics in my hangar.One plane that I really missflying is a Great PlanesPredator, which is a ‘quickie’;its a V-tail plane with aThunder Tiger .40 glow forpylon racing, which is yetanother part of the hobby to explore.

FlyP.: Do you have any current or planned aircraft projects?Jason: This winter I’ll be building up an electric gas fueler for my Yak. Also on the

bench is an Extra 260 with a .91 4-stroke—just happened to have theengine from a previous plane and could not pass up the deal on theairframe. OK, the real truth is I don’t feel right unless something is beingbuilt!

FlyP.: What is/was your favorite model aircraft?Jason: I have to say the giant-scale Aeroworks Yak 54 is really fun to fly.

FlyP.: What is your favorite full-scale aircraft?Jason: It may be strange, buy my passion for modeling does not spill over into

the full-scale world. In fact, my knowledge of full-scale aircraft is verylimited.

FlyP.: Is there a dream project for you in radio control?Jason: My dream project was completed three years ago when I finished the

AeroWorks 100cc Yak. ‘Building’ and setting up a giant-scale bird foraggressive aerobatics, while keeping safety #1, was an interesting andrewarding journey. I feel very fortunate that this dream could be realized.

FlyP.: Is there anyone that you look up to in the radio control hobby?Jason: I’ve observed the guys who fly IMAC at FVAC for several years and see

myself following their lead. More specifically, I really look up to the pilots

who fly giant scale, aggressive, high-alphamaneuvers during demonstrations at thevarious FVAC events, such as the Festival ofFlight. After I finally took the leap to get intoIMAC and had an opportunity to meet thesefolks, it was quickly realized that they are asfriendly and helpful as they are experts inflying!

FlyP.: Are there any facets of the hobby thatyou would like to try? (eg. a certain powersystem type, different type of aircraft,competitive flying)Jason: This was the first year I finally

mustered up the courage to try IMAC. The folks at FVAC were extremelyhelpful and several friendships formed quickly. I’ll never forget showingup early Friday afternoon the weekend of my first contest with the Yak topractice the Basic sequence, which I had been flying with the 25% Extra.I was quickly discouraged with my performance and doubted the decisionto try competition; quite frankly, I was pretty shook up after seeing howwell others flew. I can honestly say that every FVAC member who flewIMAC (now or in the past) stepped right up and mentored me—increasingboth confidence and proficiency at the same time. Imagine having fun,meeting new friends, and becoming a better pilot—all in one afternoon!If you have been thinking of trying IMAC come on out, there is a greatgroup of folks here at FVAC who are willing to answer any questions andhelp you out.

FlyP.: Are there any embarrassing moments at the field you would like toforget?

Jason: The worst moment was when a fellow FVAC pilot crashed his 100cc birdwhile landing when I was spotting. I still go over those last few secondsof the flight to try and figure out what I could have done better to help…

FlyP.: What are your interests beyond model aircraft?Jason: Jen and I like to take long walks with our dog, and also bike on the many

trails available locally in the Aurora/Batavia area. I also like to tinker withelectronics, especially audio equipm ent and lasers. An interestingproject on the bench is a laser projector which draws graphics andproduces beam shows. 9

Doug Swanson photo


EVOLUTION ENGINES’ (HorizonHobby) recent introduction of a 10cc gasRC engine and the new article in thismonth’s issue of Fly RC magazine certainlyillustrates the hobby-wide focus on usingthese new, smaller gas engines in RCapplications. It is now possible to convert40-size through 60-size RC aircraft (thatwould normally be powered by glow fuelmotors) to gasoline operation, and be able

to take advantage of the moreeconomical source of fuel ($3.50 vs.

$23.00 or more) to power these types of RCaircraft.

While using pump gas (with ethanol; E10)in a RC application affords the averageRC modeler access to a fuel source thatis relatively inexpensive (comparedto glow) and very convenientand accessible, converting toE10 gas operation does have adown-side that the RCmodeler should be aware of.

byRobert Boen

Make Ethanol-Free Gasoline For Use in RC Model Aircraft Gas Engines

HOW-TORemove Ethanol (Alcohol) from yourpump gas, produce more power andmake your engine last longer.

• A “How-To-Do-It” section explaining how tosafely remove ethanol from locally purchasedpump gas, and how to properly tune your engineto use this modified fuel.

• The theory behind it and the reasons why youshould go “Alcohol Free”

• How to tune your engine for best performancewith this new blend

1010GX 10cc (.60 cu. in.) Gas Engineby Evolution Engines (EVOE10GX)


E10 Gasoline - General Problem Areas & Issues:• Water Absorption! Water Contamination (W/C) and the

resulting Phase Separation (P/S) of the gasoline and Ethanol arethe biggest issues. Ethanol attracts, absorbs and holds moisturein fuel tank with the increased occurrence of lean, water-diluted fuel. Once P/S starts to occur in the E10, the Ethanolcannot be recombined back into the blend and it must beremoved from the tank. Failure to do so will result in a flame-out.

• Vapor lock or fuel starvation. Most common in carburetedengines; hot weather and/or operation at high altitude resultsin the engine leaning out and/or quitting. (Ethanol increasesgasoline's vapor pressure).

• Drop in octane (after water absorption and P/S and W/C startto occur).

• Decreased fuel efficiency and power due to lower energy(BTU’s/Gal).

• Decreased life cycle of parts and engine due to the highlycorrosive nature of Ethanol.

• Decreased shelf life of E10 gasoline. Typically, this is 3 to 6months, depending on the local weather, humidity andtemperature conditions.

That’s the bad news. Now for the good news…

You can get rid of the Ethanol in your pump gas that you usefor your RC gas airplane safely, conveniently and easily.

Just add water!

I didn’t invent the process, but I have certainly tried to refine it.

Background Facts:Normally pump gas(gasohol) is defined as beingE10, a fuel mixture of 10% anhydrous ethanol and90% gasoline sometimes called gasohol, whichcan be used in the internal combustion engines ofmost modern automobiles and light-duty vehicleswithout need for any modification on the engine orfuel system. E10 blends are typically rated as 2 to 3octane points higher than regular (comparable non-alcohol blended) gasoline and are approved for use inall new U.S. automobiles, and are mandated in some areasfor emissions and other reasons (i.e. extending the fuel supply).

Using E10 gas does have as some risk to the equipment if used ona long term basis without proper maintenance procedures. Ethanolis a very strong solvent and a corrosive cleanser, and while smallamounts will keep your engine clean, excess alcohol will weardown engine parts. Ethanol’s water-absorbing (hydroscopic)qualities are the most problematic issues for RC flyers, but can bemanaged if fuel is stored properly and replaced often.

Why remove the E10, you ask?1. More power & RPM (You will have to re-tune the engine here).2. Easier starting.3. Better fuel economy / lower fuel costs.4. No water contamination (eliminates flame-outs).5. Longer shelf life possible for non-E10 gas (2 to 3 years with

proper storage).6. Longer life for Tygon tubing; helps reduce hardening.7. The gas will be cleaner and non-corrosive; will reduce

maintenance problems with Walbro carburetors. 11

- Non-Ethanol Gasoline = 114,000 BTU/Gallon.- Ethanol = 76,000 BTU/Gallon- E10 Reformulated Gasoline = 111,836 BTU/Gallon.- 3.3% loss in BTU output (power) results in lower H.P. & RPM


J a n u a r y 2 0 1 3

Defining the ProcessFirst of all, this removal process is best described as “ControlledPhase-Separation”. Our gasoline fuels have been blended with“up to” 10% Ethanol (grain alcohol) by volume with gasoline foryears now. The Australian RC’ers have had it worse, as their gassupplies are blended with 15% to 18% Ethanol, and they wereprobably among the first group of model aircraft hobbyists to usethis process. Our EPA is now looking at implementing a shift toE15 in our country that if approved, will make some type ofethanol removal process even more necessary for local R/Cers inorder to fly safely. American auto manufacturers have come out asbeing uniformly against this practice on all 2012 and older vehicles,and will not warrantee any fuel system damage if the policy isimplemented (Note: Walbro only guarantees that their carburetorswill safely operate with up to 10% Ethanol).

Next, How to do itStart out by getting a clean and dry 1 gallon polyethylene containerready for use. A used glow fuel jug is a good start for this, as it issemi-transparent, and you will need to see the relative liquid fluidlevels as the process gets underway.

Ethanol (grain alcohol) is “anhydrous” meaning that it has anaffinity and ability to absorb moisture (water) from theatmosphere, not the other way around. Since 1 gallon of liquid has126 ounces in it, and we’re dealing with a 10% mixture here(alcohol and water have a SG very close to each other), measure outand pour 12.6 ounces of water (yup, right out the tap will do) intothe jug and use a magic marker to draw a line at the top of thewater line. Ok, you can use more water if you want to (13 ouncesis ok), but you’ll run out of room in your 1 gallon jug later if youuse much more than that.

Once you have the jug with the 13 ounces of water in it,

pour 1 gallon of your favorite gasin it, cap the jug and shakevigorously for 15 secondsor so, and then set the jugon the countertop and letit settle. This processworks in any temperaturedown to freezing, butwarmer temperatures dohelp speed up the process.

Note: I use a good grade of premium gas (93 to 94 Octane) from BPor Shell. Since Ethanol is a detonation inhibitor and Octane boosterwhen added to gas, removing it knocks down the Octane Rating by1 to 2 points. Not to worry here; you are not removing any powerfrom the gasoline, and your RC engine will run just fine with thereduced octane level. The Octane Rating system is merely anarbitrary numerical rating system to describe the gasoline’sresistance to detonation (knocking)… nothing more.

After the jug has settled (an hour or so), measure what appears tobe the new water level that has appeared, and draw another line atthe new level and measure it. This is the new combinedEthanol/water mixture that has formed. If the new line isapproximately the same distance up on the jug, as the first one thatyou drew… then congratulations! You have removed the Ethanolfrom your first gallon of gas! All that remains is to carefully siphonoff the new gas and store it in a new container, and dispose of thewater/ethanol residue in the old jug.

What has happened here is you started a “Controlled Phase-Separation” in which the Ethanol was removed from the gas byallowing the Ethanol to combine (remember, it’s anhydrous) withthe water in a controlled manner. Since the specific gravity (S/G)12

O.S. GT60 GasolineEngine w/Muffler

(38600)


of Ethanol is very close to that of water, and the combined S/G ofthe new Ethanol/water mixture is significantly heavier than that ofgasoline, the Ethanol/water mixture dropsout of solution, and sinks to thebottom of the jug. What youare left with is your new“Alcohol-Free Gas”.

Tuning your EngineI won’t bore the reader ofthis article with a discussionof air/fuel ratios, or thestoichiometric air fuel ratiorequirement for a gasolineburning engine that it was originallydesigned for. Suffice to say, you can use thisgas “as-is”, but your engine will be runningvery rich. You will need to retune the engine torun leaner, much as you did when the engine was new and youfirst test-fired it using gas with Ethanol in it.The retuning is required because the engine was calibrated andtuned for a fuel (E10) with a lower BTU output. You now have afuel (non-E10) that has more power (higher BTU’s), and you willneed to lean the engine out slightly to take advantage of the newfuel. Your engine will like you, and your gas will last a little longer.Doing this usually results in an increase in RPM of 300 to 400 RPMon the idle and the top end, so some adjustment on your idlesetting may also be required.

Other Tuning TipsI’ve found that most modern RC gas engines with electronicignitions come tuned from the factory with 31 to 32 degrees BTDCignition advance. Using an old drag racer’s trick of retarding theadvance to tune for the top end, I usually retard the timing back

down to 28 to 29 degrees BTDC. Use of a degree wheel (from anyauto parts store, or make your own) is mandatory here.

Remember, the Hall-Effect magnetic trigger on your engine’signition triggers the spark on the collapse of the

magnetic field, not the other way around, so tune &plan accordingly.

Using this tip usually results in a 100 to 200 rpmgain at the top end, with very little impact on idle

or throttle response. Believe me your engine will likeyou for it!

Summing it up:I’ve been using this process for over 5 years now, with no flame-outs or engine failures due to fuel choice or mixture settings. I’vealso done in-flight testing comparing flight profiles with 100LL vs.Power Master vs. Non-E10 Reformulated Gas, and can find noappreciable difference.I’ve also concluded a 3 year aging test using the above 3 gas blends(with and without 40:1 oil blend) to observe the effect of thehardening effect of the 3 fuels on the Tygon tubing. The Non-E10gas faired a little better, and remained more pliable longer, but inthe end all 3 had a hardening effect on the Tygon. This may be duemore to the Benzene and Butane additives in the gas, than it doeswith the ethanol.

Lastly, I’ve had many flyers come up to me and ask “Why?” statingthat they’ve run pump gas in their “Weed-Whackers” for yearswith no problems. That may be true, but then again their “Weed-Whackers” don’t cost thousands of dollars, or fall out of the skywhen they start sucking dirt and water.

All for saving the cost of 13 ounces of water out of the tap!13

Desert AircraftDA-120



14

Music for the evening was provided by Alvin Cole onthe bass, Alvin’s son, Alvin Jr., on the drums, andJamel Kimbrough on the keyboard. Thanks Alvin foryour generosity and your great band. Photos fromthe past two years events and planes in flight were

being projected on the wall, for all attendees to enjoy.

Prior to dinner, President Tom Spriet called on Cliff Fullhart tointroduce us to a rather large-scale biplane that he and a fewhelpers had assembled in the middle of the dance floor shortlyafter they arrived. Cliff told us that the plane was a 1/3 scale114” wingspan Sopwith Pup, made from a Balsa USA kit. It hasbeen donated to the club by Cantigny Park. Since it doesn’thave an engine, Mel Ziska is graciously donating the neededengine to the club (thanks Mel). The plane is going to live withCliff, and he stated that any member may fly it, as long as theyhave been checked out by him (and probably on a buddy box).

Tom Spriet then asked Mel Ziska to come forward, and hepresented Mel with a 2012 President’s Choice Award “ForDedicating His Time, Talent, and Expertise to a Great Club Witha Beautiful Field”. Mel has been a dedicated, longtime member,and has helped many of us with advice and help over the years,as well as serving and doing many things to advance the club.

Next, Tom called on Walt Thyng to deliver the evening’sblessing. Prior to the blessing, Walt reminded us that this wasthe anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and that we

should remember all those who lost their lives during thisterrible event in history. He also remembered Dan Knippen,good friend of many in the club, for his dedication to the club,especially the IMAC activities. Dan, you are missed. Walt thendelivered the blessing, after which dinner was served.

During dinner, Tom Spriet asked me (Dale Gathman) to comeforward, and to my great surprise presented me with a 2012President’s Choice Award “For Fantastic Photographic Images”.I have taken photos of many of the members planes both on theground and in flight during the past year, and have shown manyof the photos at the member meetings. Thank you, Tom.

Soon after, Tom called on Paul Jacobs, the 2011 recipient of theTop Gun Award, to award this year’s Top Gun. Paul explainedthat the Top Gun Award is voted on by a group consisting of theprevious Top Gun award recipients, and this year, the Top GunAward is being bestowed upon (a very deserving) DougSwanson. Doug has been our Flypaper Editor for the past twoyears, and has done a fantastic job. He has also stepped in andhelped out with the IMAC event for 2012. Great job Doug!

As dinner was finishing up, Tom called on Secretary Tony Sokolto announce the winners of this year’s board election. Tonysaid that he received 105 ballots this year, and that all votescounted, as some of the winners won by only one vote. Tomthen announced the Chairpersonpositions for the 2013 season.

SECRETARY’S REPORTDale Gathman–[email protected]

Fox Valley Aero ClubAnnual Christmas Party/Member Meeting MinutesDecember 7, 2012 – Hilton Garden Inn – 6:00 pm.

Proud Bird EF1 Racer Sport ARFby Great Planes (GPMA1260)

continued on next page



The following members will fulfill the positions of officers, board ofdirectors, and Chairpersons for 2013:

2013 Board of Directors

Officers: President . . . . . . . . . . . Tom SprietVice President . . . . . . . Alvin ColeTreasurer . . . . . . . . . . . Paul JacobsSecretary . . . . . . . . . . . Dale Gathman

Directors at Large: Eric KarlCindy McFarlaneDave MurrayJoe PedoneTom SiwekTony Sokol

Past President: Dennis McFarlane

Chairpersons: Field Chairman . . . . . . . . . . Mark KnoppkieSafety Chairman . . . . . . . . . Karl GriesbaumGovernment Relations . . . . Bill SponslerMembership Chairman . . . Chuck NoyesFlypaper Editor . . . . . . . . . . Doug Swanson

Gifts were distributed to all attending ladies. A big thanks go to John (JT)and Pam Turner for acquiring and wrapping the gifts.

Tom then asked for a round of applause for Paul and Dorie Jacobs, whoplanned and directed the Christmas Party. This is the last year that theywill be directing this event, and they are handing the reigns over to Johnand Pam Turner for the 2013 season. Thanks Paul and Dorie for yourselfless service to the club.

As business concluded, Tom announced that the time had come for themuch anticipated raffle. Many awesome prizes were won by ourmembers. Tom gave a big Thank You to Cindy McFarlane of Al’s Hobby,and Ken and Sharon Kaiser of HobbyTown St. Charles for their generoushelp and discounts given during the prize acquisition. The “Big Dog”winner was Tom Flint, who received a check for $1050. Can’t wait to seewhat he shows up with at the field.

The great evening wound down with music, dancing, and goodconversation between friends who share the interest of R.C. Aviation.

Respectfully Submitted,

Dale Gathman – Secretary, FVAC

Support YourLocal Hobby Stores:

continued from previous page


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OUR ANNUAL First-In-Flightevent was once again held onJanuary 1st, at 10:00 am. It wasprobably the best-attended ‘FrozenFingers’ event that we have had todate. The weather was beautiful,but cold (11 deg. F.), and the windwas North at approximately 10mph (straight across the runway).Sal once again arrived early, andgot the fire burning to help keepthe shelter warm. We had 12 pilotscompeting for the cherished ‘First-In-Flight’ trophy and ‘braggingrights’ for the year.

FROZEN FINGERS 2013Report by Dale Gathman Photos by Paul Makowski and Doug Swanson

The competitors were:

Jason Boettcher – AvistarTom Flint – Parkzone Super Cub LPCliff Fullhart – Top-Flite Contender KitAlan Galle – Al Meyers Super-Pro KitCollin Griffin – Duraplane Trainer 40Kevin Kessler – Knife Loop Yak 30Joe Pedone – Great Planes Yak 54*Rob Sampson – Parkzone T-28Tom Siwek – E-Flite Mini Pulse XTWalt Thyng – ModelTech Magic

Electric ConversionArmin Weber – MS Composit Blade

DancerMel Ziska – E-Flite Yak 54* Winner of First-In-Flight 2013


This year was the second year that we used therules we adopted for last year’s event. To win thetitle of First-In-Flight for 2013, the competitor hadto have the first plane to leave the ground,complete one pattern flight, and have a successfullanding.

Cindy McFarlane and Dorie Jacobs were enlisted to

judge the event, especially watching for any earlystarts. Doug Swanson and Brandon Makowskimanned the still cameras, and Paul Makowski shotvideo. Because of the cross-wind, and the largenumber of pilots, the planes were lined up towardsthe northwest on the west end of the runway(which means they were taking off into thecornfield to the west of the shelter. The pilots

would have to immediately bank to the left upontakeoff, adding to the challenge of completing theirlap without hitting each other. The countdownwas given, and at the start signal, eleven of thetwelve planes were all in the air, very close to eachother, within a few seconds. One hit the turf about15 feet from his take-off spot, and a few moreended up on the ground in the cornfield to the

Seconds after the word “GO!”, wasthis mayhem—no photo editing here!

Doug Swanson photo

Jason BoettcherCliff FullhartMel Ziska - D.N.S.

Joe Pedone - 1st Place!

Armin Weber

Tom Flint

Rob Sampson

Kevin Kessler

Walt Thyng

Tom Siwek

Collin Griffin

Alan Galle

17



south. I don’t have an exact count, but I suspectthat only about half of the planes survivedunscathed. The cross-wind was tuff for some ofthe pilots, as well as the cold temperature.

Upon completion of the competition, the judges,photographers, and I got together to determinethe winner. After reviewing the photos andvideo, all were in agreement that the winner wasJoe Pedone. Armin Weber was the second toleave the ground, followed by about five othersalmost simultaneously leaving earth’sgravitational pull. It was amazing that Cindy andDorie were able to keep track of all the planes, aswe went from all on the ground to all in the air ina matter of a few seconds. Great job, judges.

Once all the planes were secured back on terra-firma, the First-In-Flight trophy was awarded toJoe Pedone. Congratulations, Joe…Great job.

A new twist added this year, per the suggestionof Walt Thyng, was that we erected a Christmastree in front of the shelter. All were encouragedto bring any wood constructed plane parts thatthey had left from 2012’s mishaps, and ‘decorate’the tree with them. At the conclusion of thecompetition, Walt set fire to the tree, destroyingall evidence of the 2012 mishaps, in hopes that2013 will be a mishap-free year for all.

That concluded the event, but some stayed andenjoyed each other’s fellowship and flew theirplanes. What a great way to start the New Year.If you missed this year’s event, or have neverattended ‘Frozen Fingers’, you owe it to yourselfto give it a try. It is great fun.



Alvin Cole,Hangar 9Showtime 50

Sal Perno, Hangar 9 Cub 40 w/O.S. .46 AX

John Fischer, Hangar 9 Christen Eagle II,also sporting his new Spektrum DX18QQ Special Edition

Mike Friedman, Great PlanesAvistar Elite w/O.S. .46AX

Mariano Rosales, Flyzone DHC-2Beaver

SHOTS FROM THE FIELDby Dale Gathman

19


20


Boxelder TreeTakedown

Mark Knoppkie steadies a log for Tim Olin.Tom Spriet makessmaller parts out ofthe bigger parts.

President Tom Spriet enlisted the help ofan employee of his, Tim Olin. Tim knowshow to take down a tree, and made quickand safe work of the multiple trunks.

Photos by Doug Swanson and Paul Douds



Dale Gathman helpedwith the slicing and dicing.

Doug Swanson, Mark Knoppkie and Tony Bahowick draggin’-n-stackin’ branches.21

L-R: Randy Griffin, Brian Wituk, JimClousing, Sal Perno and Greg Bohler

Unloading branches and log sections near the mulch storage corrals.


J a n u a r y 2 0 1 3

22


So long, 2012. Hello, 2013.Doug Swanson photo

monthSHOTof the


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first in flight for 2013: smilin’ joe pedone paul jacobs...

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