rc b u r l i n g t o n flyers
TRANSCRIPT
FlyersB u r l i n g t o n
RC
Next Club MeetingFebruary 13th, 2007VFW Hall, Lexington
Next Club MeetingFebruary 13th, 2007VFW Hall, Lexington
AMA ChArter1752 VoluMe 24 No.1 FeBruArY 2007
Annual Auction A Success Once Again!
Time to renew your Membership!
N e w s l e t t e rAMA Charter 1752 Volume 24 No.1 FEBRUARY 2007
www.burlington-rc.com
T h e B u r l i n g t o n R a d i o C o n t r o l F l y e r s
Club Activities
RC AuctionsSunday February 11th Northern CT Radio Control Club, Vernon, CT. Visit http://www.ncrcc.org/ for more info.
Sunday February 18th 107th RC Auction, Saugus, MA email: [email protected] for more info
Lazy Loopers Auction, Franklin, MA Visit http://lazyloopers.com/ for more info
Cape Ann RC, Rowley, MA Visit http://www.carcmc.org/
Al Prudhomme – could not make it. Jack presided.
Treasurer’s Report John Hatfield said the club’s bank
balance as of 10/30/06 is $2,318. Significant expenses were $350 for brush cutter and sent check for $375 for the hall, etc. No major expenses were expected in the near futuure so the club should end the year with about $1,377. (See the detailed report on page 3 of this issue). Membership Report
New members were introduced: Qinglin Jiang is from mainland China and is working for VeriSign as in computer security. He has been to the field several times and can take off and almost land. Has a Hobbystar 60.
John Hatfield reported that he lost his plane and that all that is left is some nylon bolts.
Field Report Jack reported he could use help
with brush cutting. He will bring the cutter down every Saturday or Sunday. He also noted the field is in reasonably good shape.
Membership Report
John Hatfield informed the group that as of this date there were 96 members.
Good prizes were announced for the raffle.
Coffee BreakAfter the break, the fall elections
for officers were held. Juahan Sonin represented the electtions nominating committee and proposed that the entire current board keep
their positions. The slate was: Al Prudhomme - President. Jack Stanley - Vice President, John Hatfield - Treasurer, Mel Suarez - Secretary, Juhan Sonin, Dave Palermo, and Rob Catalano - Board of Directors. All present were asked if anyone had any last minute nominations. There were none and the vote was taken. It was approved to keep the entire current board of directors as is for 2007.
Real Flight G3 demoBill O’Connell and Mel Suarez
provided an intro to this amazing piece of software. You can get it for about $200 and it truly is impressive. Not only can you fly dozens of different types of airplanes, helicopters, electrics, and even an airship, but you can also practice with others on-line. Mel and Pete have been hosting sessions. Also, there’s another piece of free software that you can download called TeamSpeak. That along with a set of earphones and mike allow you to talk while you fly. This changes everything because you can do formation flying and talk at the same time. Download the client and/or server from www.goteamspeak.org. Chris Payne has been hosting TeamSpeak sessions in support of the simulation sessions.
If anyone needs help getting started, it’s available from anyone of the people you see on the bulletin board. Mel will be hosting flying sessions on Tuesday nights from 8-9pm.
Some club members have been working on an improved bulletin board messaging system. Bill mentioned that he saw it. Bill, Pete
Secretary’s Report for November 14, 2006 membership meeting, by Mel Suarez
Club Elections!At the upcoming November meeting, we will vote in new club officers for the upcoming year.Please come and cast your vote!
Next Club Meeting
Tuesday, February 13, 20077:30 pm at the Lexington VFW Hall, 2 Hayes Lane (off Woburn Street) Lexington, MA Coffee and donuts will be served!
Show and tell—bring a plane for a free raffle ticket.
Raffle Prizes: As always there will be a nice ARF along with other prizes that will include a $25 gift certificate to Bill’s Hobby Barn, NiCD glow starter, and fuel.
Continued on page 4
Please Renew your membership!
If you haven’t already done so, please renew your membership by the February 13th club meeting. Otherwise you will be considered a new member and will have to pay an additional $25 initiation fee! If you have any questions, contact John Hatfield at [email protected]. Or visit www.burlington-rc.com/membership .html for the latest dues and mem-bership applications.
The Presidents Letter
Any new member desiring to fly MUST demonstrate the ability to fly, or else take flight instruction until such proficiency is demonstrated.
Beginner Flight Instructors:Victor Samsanov (781) 279-0231Sandy Holmes (781) 646-2354Bob Johnson (781) 272-5442Juhan Sonin (617) 504-3390Dave Palermo (781) 279-0186Mel Suarez (781) 944-2737
Advanced Flight Instructors:Victor Samsanov (781) 279-0231Dave Palermo (781) 279-0186Juhan Sonin (617) 504-3390
Helicopter Instructors:Alex Lob (617) 325-7870
Bank Balance 10/30/06 $ 2,318.83
Income Dues $ 1,290.00 Raffle $ 155.00TOTAL Income $ 1,445.00
DisbursementsGrass/Mowing $ 150.00 Mower parts $ 47.80 Brush cutter $ 350.00 Mass. Annual Report $ 30.00 Hall Rental $ 375.00 Newsletter $ 29.10 Postage $ 15.60 Web Charge $ 119.40Coffee & donuts $ 21.25TOTAL Disbursements $ 1,138.15
Bank Balance 1/30/07 $ 2,625.68
Treasurer’s Report
Flight Instruction
My report this month concentrates on the auction and a line or two on my feeling for guest speakers at the meeting.
The Auction on Jan 28th was
another great time, and preliminary reports say made money for both clubs. Jeff Ward and the members from Middlesex RC Flyers, did much to make this happen, even with a last minute change of location to the Memorial School, just down the street, and added cost to the rent.
Help was everywhere. When the janitors arrived, and the doors opened at eleven in the morning, there began a flurry of activity. In “no time at all” the place was transformed into a Auction Hall. With yours truly, and Jack Stanley, selling fresh hot pizza’s, donuts, coffee, and soda—you know it would be a money maker with “Honest” Jack and “Selling” Al at the counter.
Jeff Ward was once again a class act as auctioneer, with outstanding help and enthusiasm from all members who helped from both clubs. There were motors, planes, parts both big and small all over the room as bidding went on
and on and on. At exactly four pm the doors were secured and the auction day was called to an end... Till next year.
Guest speakersI bring up this subject because
it adds, I believe, a lot to a meeting. In our venue for our five meetings yearly, it reasonably makes available about twenty to thirty minutes, for a presentation. This would not be for a selling opportunity, but for interest and information.
It takes considerable planning and follow up; its not too easy, because everyone is busy and not sure about coming out on a Tuesday night to give a free talk...
Having said that, we continue to look for suggestions and I am setting up a schedule, of sorts. Some will be last minute agreements, and others will be planned and “in the works” such as the AMA district rep in the Spring...
At each of our meetings I work to keep it fun, and sincerely appreciate a great attendance, each and every time.
When you come to a meeting please expect the very best effort from yours truly and the Board of Directors.
See you on Feb 13th.
Sincerely,
AlfredPrudhomme,Jr. President, Burlington RC Flyers
President: Al Prudhomme, Jr. [email protected]
Vice-President: Jack Stanley [email protected]
Treasurer: John Hatfield (781) 862-6349 [email protected]
Secretary: Mel Suarez [email protected]
MembershipSecretary: John Hatfield (781) 862-6349 [email protected]
NewsletterEditor: Rob Catalano (617) 924-3168 [email protected]
BoardofDirectors: Dave Palermo, Juhan Sonin, Rob Catalano
This newsletter is published by the Burlington
RC Flyers, a non-profit club organized for the
promotion of radio controlled model aircraft
building and flying. The club operates a
flying field in Burlington, MA and offers free
instruction in safe model flying to any member.
“Academy of Model Aeronautics” (AMA)
membership is required. Contact any club
officer for more information.
© 2006 Burlington RC Flyers
Juhan Sonin shot this photo of Bill Davis’s 60 sized Corsair. Up until just the past week or so, the field has been snow free. Lot’s have people have been showing up to fly over the weekends. Come out and warm your hands by the fire next weekend!
About the cover:
FEBRUARY 2007 3
4 Burlington rC Flyers newsletter
Great seeing new facesOut and About with Al Prudhomme, jr.
J anuary. The field is cold with maybe a few snowflakes on the ground, not much happening here! Wrong. A closer look shows two half barrels for a warm fire, and by the
entrance a cord of wood (give or take) is cut and ready for a fire at either one of the two “pots” available .
Each weekend a few brave the weather for some flying...It’s this time of the year, and even now, the club has considerable activity..
Safety is an overworked word and yet needs our constant attention, a few incidents will, and have, occurred recently. These close calls are great when they are just that, close calls, and stay that way.
A reminder that frequency tags need to be used every time you fly. Careful thought and safety for yourself and others is always in fashion out in the field area.
New members...Burlington flyers sees new members coming along each month, and all will agree this is great. The enthusiasm I see is a pleasure. Two very pleasant examples: I was at the field when a new person came up and asked for some info about joining us. He said he likes to fly helicopters.
It turns out he is a Air Force officer being transferred to Hanscom AFB from the Maryland Area, and wanted to become a member. The next week I met him again, his planes and helicopter were still in Maryland but, being anxious to get up and fly, he had bought a small electric helo to use now.
The second example came on a brutal, cold & windy Saturday morning a week or two ago, when I was coming in. A man was leaving, having just put his stuff in the car. He was introduced to me as being a new member and had just been out with Victor Samsanov for a training session. His plane had gone down, and it was very cold, and yet our new member was happy with the time at the field and looked forward to the next time when he hoped it would be warmer.
New members are the clubs growth and it is just great to see such good members joining the fun of our club.
My presidents report this month is on the Auction and Guest Speakers. Meet me in that section of our newsletter.
Alfred Prudhomme, Jr.
and Juhan have been involved.
New BusinessThe new bulletin board web system was discussed.
Aerobatics class – Mel Suarez talked about getting an acrobatic class going for members wanting to achieve more with their flying.
Show and TellRob Catalano brought in a scratch built foamie
biplane made with free plans from www.3dbatx.com . It was constructed with fan fold foam and had carbon rods for support. The web site gave good photos for how to detail the plane. Good for up to 5 mph. It flies sweet, much different feel from monoplane. It had a brushless motor and a Phoenix 25 esc. He said it balanced out perfectly. He also added functioning landing gear with a carbon fiber rods.
Chris Payne likes new builds and new ideas. He learned about an old magazine called “Profile Publications” and picked some up on eBay. Chris showed some of the magazines and said they provide history of an aircraft, color markings, description of the pilots, their tactics, and just beautiful stuff. He said because of the detail, they can be used for scratch builds.
Mel Suarez brought in a used Shogun electric heli that he got for $275. He said the problem is the JR analog transmitter did not allow aerobatic “idle-up” flying. So he ripped it out and put in a Futaba receiver (Ch 48) to go with his 8ch computer radio that he uses with his Raptor 50. Now there’s a problem with yaw stability and the gyro. So he’ll be looking to replace that with something better and hopefully be able to have some real fun with his investment.
Rich Szostack mentioned he is moving to the west coast, in the next 3 months or so. So is unloading several planes. Richard will be missed.
Show and TellVic Naimo – got the Jerry’s Big Boy ARF (money
goes to money)
Edson Costa - $25 gift certificate to RC Buyers Warehouse
Paul DiFeo - $25 gift certificate to RC Buyers Warehouse
Pete Risutto – took the NiCad re-charger.
Congratulations to all the winners.
Secretary’s Report continued from page 2
November, 2006 Meeting photosBe sure to come to February’s meeting, you wouldn’t want to miss out on having some flattering photos taken.
Once again the rousing crowd was enthralled with the presenters.
We missed some good shots because Bill’s noggin kept getting in the way.
Rob Catalano with his Foamie.
Chris Payne shows off one of his new Profile Publications.
Mel Suarez shows off his newly acquired used Shogun heli.
The Great Planes G3 Simulator ready to take a P-47 for a run.
Clockwise from left: Vic Naimo claims the Big Boy ARF raffle prize among shouts of “take the fuel, take the fuel” ! Edson Costa and Paul DiFeo won $25 gift certificates to RC Buyers Warehouse, and Pete Risutto won the NiCad charger.
FEBRUARY 2007 5
6 Burlington rC Flyers newsletter
2007 Joint Club AuctionThanks to Jeff Ward, Al Prudhomme, Jack Stanley, Ray Capobianco, John Parisi, Mel Suarez and a host of others from both the Burlington and Middlesex RC Flyers clubs who made the event a success. Here’s just a sampling of photos of all the great people and great stuff from this year’s event. Photos by Rob Catalano
FEBRUARY 2007 7
Burlington RC Flyers NewsletterC/O Rob Catalano33 Merrill RoadWatertown, MA 02472
FIRST CLASS MAIL
Next club meeting:
Tuesday, February 13th, 2007Meeting time is 7:30 PM
Meeting Location
Lexington VFW Hall 2 Hayes Lane (off Woburn Street) Lexington, MA
Newsletter www.burlington-rc.com
The Burlington Radio Controlled Flyers