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Flying High With Electric Power!
The Ampeer ON-LINE!
Fly the Future - Fly Electric! |
Site Table of Contents
| President: | Vice-President: | Secretary/Treasurer: |
| Ken Myers | Richard Utkan | Debbie McNeely |
| 1911 Bradshaw Ct. | 240 Cabinet | 4733 Crows Nest Ct. |
| Walled Lake, MI 48390 | Milford, MI 48381 | Brighton, MI 48116 |
| (248) 669-8124 | (248) 685-1705 | (810) 220-2297 |
 | ||
| Board of Directors: | Board of Directors: | Ampeer Editor |
| Jim McNeely | Jeff Hauser | Ken Myers |
| 4733 Crows Nest Ct. | 18200 Rosetta | 1911 Bradshaw Ct. |
| Brighton, MI 48116 | Eastpointe, MI 48021 | Walled Lake, MI 48390 |
| (810) 220-2297 | (810) 772-2499 | (248) 669-8124 |
| Mailed Ampeer subscriptions are $10 a year US & Canada and $17 a year world wide. FREE on-line! | ||
| The Next Meeting: Date: Sunday, August 6 Place: RCCD Mile Field see map in this issue Time: 9:30 A.M. | ||
Thanks to ALL who CAME to the Mid-Am 2000
|
|
Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10, 2000 Place: Seven Cities Sod Farm - Junction of I-80 and Iowa 130. For detailed map contact the CD AMA Sanction #00592 *** AMA License Required There will be a $15.00 landing fee which will include a raffle ticket for two Hitec Focus III
radios to be given away, one for each day. You must be present to win.
Flying will commence both Saturday and Sunday at 08:30 AM and end at 5:00 PM on Saturday and 4:00 PM on Sunday Buy, sell or trade is welcome. For further information: Jon McVay AMA 6004 5 Hillcrest Heights Mt. Vernon, IA 42314 319-895-6527 or email: Togflier@aol.com |
Return to "What's In This Issue?"
Aviation Giggles
A lot of these kinds of things appear on the Internet and newsletters. I don’t reprint
them here very often, but some of these brought a smile, so I thought I’d share them.
(from Australian Aviation magazine):
- Every takeoff is optional. Every landing is mandatory.
- If you push the stick forward, the houses get bigger. If you pull the stick back, they get smaller. That is, unless you keep pulling the stick all the way back, then they get bigger again.
- Flying isn't dangerous. Crashing is what's dangerous.
- It's always better to be down here wishing you were up there than up there wishing you were down here.
- The ONLY time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.
- The propeller is just a big fan in front of the plane used to keep the pilot cool. When it stops, you can actually watch the pilot start sweating.
- When in doubt, hold on to your altitude. No-one has ever collided with the sky.
- A 'good' landing is one from which you can walk away. A 'great' landing is one after which they can use the plane again.
- Learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to make all of them yourself.
- You know you've landed with the wheels up if it takes full power to taxi to the ramp.
- The probability of survival is inversely proportional to the angle of arrival. Large angle of arrival, small probability of survival and vice versa.
- Never let an aircraft take you somewhere your brain didn't get to five minutes earlier.
- Stay out of clouds. The silver lining everyone keeps talking about might be another airplane going in the opposite direction. Reliable sources also report that mountains have been known to hide out in clouds.
- Always try to keep the number of landings you make equal to the number of take offs you've made.
- There are three simple rules for making a smooth landing. Unfortunately no one knows what they are.
- You start with a bag full of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the bag of experience before you empty the bag of luck.
- Helicopters can't fly; they're just so ugly the earth repels them.
- If all you can see out of the window is ground that's going round and round and all you can hear is commotion coming from the passenger compartment, things are not at all as they should be.
- In the ongoing battle between objects made of aluminum going hundreds of miles per hour and the ground going zero miles per hour, the ground has yet to lose.
- Good judgment comes from experience. Unfortunately, the experience usually comes from bad judgment.
- It's always a good idea to keep the pointy end going forward as much as possible.
- Keep looking around. There's always something you've missed.
- Remember, gravity is not just a good idea. It's the law. And it's not subject to repeal.
- The three most useless things to a pilot are the altitude above you, runway behind you and a tenth of a second ago.
- There are old pilots and there are bold pilots. There are, however, no old bold pilots.
Thanks Keith Shaw for the forward. Several really apply to us "grounded pilots" as well!
More Electric History
From: George Sparhawk sparg@juno.com
Dear Ken,
Sometime in the '30s when I was just starting to make solid airplane models my
father gave me a book titled Building and Flying Model Airplanes published in 1928.
Chapter XXI-"How To Make A Compressed Air Engine" states "In
the national tournaments conducted by the Playground and Recreation Assoc. of America, Inc , limitations of size are put upon all
models competing. The limit of 48" would hardly permit the use of gasoline, steam or carbon dioxide. Electricity, because it
requires the addition of batteries, is too heavy for most flying models, and its use is generally confined to exhibition models. Thus,
through a process of elimination, compressed air is arrived at as the most practical form of dynamic energy for models other than
twisted rubber."
The rest of the chapter gives instructions for making a compressed air engine.
Thought this might be of interest for your history book.
Wow. This history information you folks are sending is great. Hopefully,
this summer, I’ll start to get it all together to deliver to the AMA. They certainly do need it. I suppose the fellow I talked
to last year thinks I’ve given up, but it all takes time. Thanks for everyone’s input so far. Ken
MISS Contest/EFO Demo
From: Al Sorensen RCWED@aol.com
The MISS soaring club will be holding their second annual contest at Camp
Dearborn on August 20, 2000. We're hoping for it to be bigger and better this year.
I would like to again invite members of EFO to join us this year.
I hope you folks will be available this year and look forward to seeing you again.
(This is their soaring contest but electric fliers will be putting on demos
between rounds and after the official contest. All area efliers are invited to join us. KM)
RCB Kits Update
Rob Bulk
RBCkits
rbckits@cistron.nl
rbckits.www.cistron.nl
Proeftuin 40 2771MT Boskoop Netherlands
tel 0031 (0)172-231869 Fax 0031 (0)172-231866
Hello Everybody,
RBCkits has updated their homepage with the new Bristol Beaufighter,
Skyray, Tlizzie and the MicroBipe.
Also, we have a preview of some new designs. So have a look and enjoy.
Greetings and happy flying, Rob.
(Please note that in the USA many of the fine RCB kits are available from
Specialized Model Supply, P.O. Box 1336, Crystal Lake, IL 60039-1336 Phone: 815-444-8279
All photos from RCB website. KM)
RATING SIG KADET LT-25 FOUR (4) STARS
From: Plenny Bates plennyb@home.com
SIG KADET LT-25 Four (4) star rating
Type: High wing sport/aileron trainer
Mfg: Sig
Source: New Creations R/C, 409.856.4630 or www.newcreations-rc.com
Airframe Weight: 43 oz A friend has one that is 6-8 oz lighter.
Motor: Astro 15 10 turn (sport wind) geared 2.38/1 (standard gear box) 9.5 oz. Source: New Creations R/C.
Battery(s):
#1 Sanyo 2000 x14 Gordy Cells. (seen in this issue)
#2 Saft NiMH 3000x14 (2300 to 2400 at high draw) Ralph Weaver http://members.iquest.net/~weaverr/
ESC: Mfg. Astro 211 1-14 cells max. 65A Source: New Creations R/C
Prop: Master Airscrew 12x8 Electric pulls 35 A max Source: New Creations R/C
Receiver: JR 649S PCM 1.5 oz 9 ch 5 used
Servos: Four (4) HS 81 MG (two servo wing) Mfg.: Hitec
Changes: Bolt on wing and pulled sides of the nose in to clean it up a bit.
All up weight with 14 Sanyo 2000's: 92.68 oz.
This is a great electric kit as it comes from the box. One
might think this model was designed for electric if the plan did not show a glow engine in the
nose. You can use everything in the kit but the plywood firewall. All three LT-25's in this
area fly very well. The laser cutting is well done, so the kit assembles quickly. I have only
one minor complaint, a first time builder who felt compelled to follow the instruction book
might have a problem using the plan to space the spars rather than the precision laser cut
ribs.
I don't know why mine is 6-10 oz heavier than the other two
in the area (Jon McVay and Bob Livin's son, Andy), as they all came out of the kit. My
landing gear is from my departed Tiger Cat and it is larger. Both Jon and I used 14 cells and
Bob is using 12 cells. In any case they all fly very well. Jon told me that he saw one that
was modified a bit to look much like a Taylorcraft.
SR BATTERIES SR X250
36" SP 400 Sport Model
(Aileron Version)
By Clyde Geist
Via Silents Please
Edited by: Frank Dellamura
Fdellamura@aol.com
The Newsletter of The Silent Electric Flyers of Long Island
You guys know me... I like to build. My advice to you is buy an X250, build it,
admire it and fly it ... period.
When you buy it, you’ve acquired a carefully engineered airframe and a very
complete kit, all of it is the highest quality and all there: wheels, push rods, control horns, canopy, building jigs and wing graphics.
The high degree of prefabrication cuts assembly time to about 5 hours. Building the model will teach you some new unique
methods or building skills.
100% of the balsa has been laser cut from super quality material. Everything else
has been pre cut, shaped, bent or prefabricated to very high tolerances.
Included also is a 52 page highly illustrated instruction booklet to guide the beginner
or expert.
I built mine exactly as suggested without exceptions.
As you admire "your new" SR X250 model you may reflect (as I did) on the
X250’s unique systems and methods. The wing, for example, uses a carbon rod spar and leading edge for strength without undo
weight. The ribs just slide onto the spar and are stationed with the included spacer. Tack with thin CYA and it’s on to the next
step.
The 100% laser cut fuselage goes together in minutes. The tail surfaces are
assembled from laser cut sheet parts too.
Despite its total covered weight of only 4.65 oz. the blend of laser cuts and
composites produce a strong model.
Flight performance is very good. It practically leaps into the air. I needed to move
the C.G. forward ¼" (from the place, indicated on the plan, which improved the balance on its landing gear and
performance in the air.
The nose wheel is fixed yet the rudder is effective in taxi.
Hand launching this model is a challenge because of its low wing design. R.O.G.
requires smooth dirt or pavement due to its large prop.
(Actually, I find hand launching it quite easy, the few times I’ve had to do
it because the grass is too thick, long or wet. Mine takes off close cropped grass quite easily. KM)
Top speed in not blinding but vertical performance is strong, owing (I suppose) to
the low pitch and high RPM propeller and the light (13 oz/sq.ft.). Wing loading. (I plan to experiment with smaller and
higher pitch props later. CG) Just the same, it’s a surprisingly spirited model that excels in low and close basic aerobatic
maneuvers and doesn’t take a lot of sky to perform. This takes some getting used to but is a decided advantage for an electric
model.
I did crash it badly early on (transmitter problems). The wing just can’t
break but the fuselage hit straight in and folded up. I repaired it in just one night with no loss of anything but its looks.
When you see me down at the field I’ll let you fly it, and then you can judge the
model for yourself. (Me too. KM) When you order one, you will find that Larry carries everything necessary to complete
his X250 kit: motor, gearbox, prop, speed control, servos, radio, covering and . . . oh yes, the batteries.
Model Tech P-51
From: Dan Parsons danpars@worldnet.att.net
Ken, enjoyed seeing my notes and pictures of the A-20 and my Sea Fury in your
June issue; thanks for including them. (Absolutely my pleasure! KM)
I'll be flying into Detroit on Friday for the Mid America electric bash. Sure wish I
could have driven and brought my P-51 and Hellcat. But, it will be a bunch of fun and interesting seeing fliers from all over the
US and what they are doing in electrics. I've been flying my P-51 and Hellcat quite a bit and have them going well, so now have
them down for painting. Just finished the P-51 and had an in-flight picture session today with Gary Kyle putting it right where I
needed it for good pictures. This P-51 is from the Model Tech ARC kit which was designed as a slope soarer. It is an easy
conversion to electric. Here are the specs: 50 in. wing span, approx. 3 sq.ft., 68 ounces., wing loading-22.6 oz./sq. ft. MaxCim
motor, controller, gearbox, 2.5:1, 10- 1900 Sanyo cells. Very good flying machine and I'm getting around 6 min. flights doing
aerobatics about 50% of the flight.
Multiplex & ALpex Rx Upgrade
In Praise of a Supplier
From: Irvin J Cooper ijcooper@juno.com
To: Multiplex USA - Critter Bits - cc: Ken Myers
Great service again Karlton!
I just got my ALpex Rx back from you, new crystal, new program and its great for
$13 !!!!!!! All at your initiative rather than at my request.
I cannot fathom all the effort and expense you took at your own initiative to get all
those little Alpex rx's upgraded. I do know that no one expected it. I for one got a new crystal and the new program for less
than I expected a crystal to cost, and loosing the crystal was my own fault.
I suddenly went from a $29 piece of junk (my fault) to a valuable indoor / park
flyer receiver through no effort of my own.
I took a few minutes and looked back over the orders I have had directly with you
and your products I bought via your distributors etc.
Not to my surprise, I find I always got great products, value, and service, never a
miss. I think it would be prudent of me and others to take a closer look at your offerings in the future and give Multiplex priority
when buying EFlight items.
Thanks for your contributions to our sport.
Upcoming EFO Events/Meetings
AUGUST 6th, 2000
DOUGLAS KURSINSKY MEMORIAL
This event will be held at the RCCD (Radio Control Club of Detroit field. This is
an AMA sanctioned event. We would like to see as many EFO members there as possible in memory of our good friend Doug.
Map to RCCD field
August 20: See note earlier on MISS/EFO gathering
It’s Back!
At the June Midwest R/C meeting, Ken Myers brought in a
Spickler Q-500 that he had just refurbished. The plane was originally built in 1988 or 1989. It flew for several seasons with a direct drive
Astro Flight 25 and suffered a serious crash when someone returned the pin, but left their transmitter on. Ken repaired the
fuselage from years of hanger rash, including a move to a new house and a new marriage.
Once the fuselage was repaired, he recovered the fuselage with red Econocote,
while leaving the vertical, horizontal and wing in the original yellow and red Micafilm. A canopy was added to finish it off, as
well as red stripes on the wing and horizontal stab. It is now powered using an Astro Flight 25 geared 1.82:1 spinning an 11x8
prop using 15 Sanyo 1700SCR cells. 4-channels of an Airtronics 6-channel guide the plane. It flies well, and will be seen more at
the field soon.
The stats are: 500 sq.in. of wing area, airframe weight 22 oz., motor & prop 14.4
oz., radio 10.8 oz., 3.47 sq.in. of wing area yielding 22.2 oz./sq.ft. Total weight: 77.2 ounces.
Electric Control Line
From: George Yatsko seadog@csnet.net
Ken,
I spent delightful hours surfing the EFO website and downloading the AMPEER.
I learned a lot, with lots more too go. However, I observed that very little space or attention was given to Control Line flying.
Providing control line flying free of nuisance noise and neighbors' complaints the
problem we MUST solve to keep and maintain a promised town built and approved flying site.
We are looking for CL electrics (around 20 to 25 feet radius) to serve at the basic
and intermediate skill levels only.
We have failed to find any coordinated effort in the USA, to provide electric
control line flying (for ALL ages but) specifically targeted to those between the age of 6 and 16. It appears to us, that control line
buffs, to date, and the electric community have missed an opportunity to develop economical electrics that could be flown in
school yards, ball fields, football and soccer fields, parking lots and backyards worldwide.
We just want to give kids (youth of ALL ages) the chance to FEEL THE FUN OF
FLIGHT. The simple, touchy, kinesthetic, sensory fun of flight, feeling it from the palm of your hand through the control lines to
seeing the plane respond within a small dome overhead. Our focused quest is that it MUST be kept SIMPLE (low expense too).
We are looking BEYOND (or is it in-between ? NO, it is instead of) the big power
buffs of CL and the high tech, high cost of R/C. A very small niche indeed, but oh the rewards!!
We too believe "Fly the Future.. Fly Electric". We urge it be expanded beyond
R/C/Free Flight/Soaring and into CL. Can you help?
George Yatsko, Executive Officer
Hillsdale Flyers (AMA Charter 4210)
PO Box 32
Hillsdale, NJ 07642
hiflyers@csnet.net
Home: 140 Saddlewood Drive
Hillsdale, NJ 07642
phone 201 666 4565
fax 201 722 3876
PS; The web site is an inspiration to us all. It is OUTSTANDING!! (When I come back in a second life I will work on that skill. So much to do and so little time)
Great thoughts George! I believe that you are right. As a part of the
electric community, I do see that we’ve not gone where we could to get the young involved. There have been folks
who’ve delved into the CL aspect of this part of the hobby. I remember reading that Bob Hunt did some and so did the
Black Sheep Squadron. Of course Fred Cronenwett had a great article in the December 1998 issue of the Ampeer, and
more in the August ‘99 issue. The December ‘98 issue is available via email attachment in .pdf format by contacting me
at KMyersEFO@aol.com. The August ‘99 issue is available through September 2000 online
at members.aol.com/KMyersEFO/page2.htm. It’s thrown out to you now, the electric community and writers for the
national magazines. How about some electric control line designs in the mainline media? Of course, I’d be happy to
publish ECL news here too! (Hey, is that a new term? ECL?)
STOVL Boeing X32b Taking Shape in England
I received a very interesting email from Dr. Andrew H. Watson (aka Doc Watson)
who lives in England. He has undertaken a very interesting project of making a true STOVL model of the X32b. His site at
www.awatson1.fsnet.co.uk is all about how he is designing and building this
model. The site has information on the design, building, testing, control, power and scaling of his model. He updates it regularly
to let the reader know of his progress. I highly recommend that you get to a computer with internet service and check this one
out. It will be unique and amazing.
The Boeing X-32A Joint Strike Fighter draws closer to first flight with the
successful completion of initial low- and medium-speed taxi tests. Completed on May 23, the tests verified function and
integration of aircraft systems. Boeing, the world's largest producer of fighter aircraft, is competing to build the JSF under a
four-year U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps concept demonstration contract, while also defining the design for the
operational JSF. A winner is scheduled to be selected in 2001. (Information and photo provided by BoeingMedia.com -
www.boeingmedia.com)
Flying BIG in the UK
From: David Theunissen dwt@ukgateway.net
Hi Ken,
I live in the UK and we have communicated on occasion over the past few years.
Your advice, and web site in particular, have been incredibly valuable in making me successful with electrics. Although I fly a
'40' sized electric sport model every weekend, my interests lean towards larger aircraft. I've been particularly successful with
my 1/3rd scale Fly Baby and now fly against 'power' models in scale competitions. I have also recently completed what is
probably my most complex model, an Optica, which also has a 9' wingspan and flies very well.
To share my excitement and experiences with electrics, I have now developed my
own web site which may be of interest to others. Having come the 'glow' route, I've tried to demonstrate what is possible and
how I've done it.
I now enjoy flying electrics off floats, doing aerial photography, experimenting with
different building materials, working with fibre-glass moulding, etc., all of which are presented on my site.
I have some spreadsheets which illustrate how I design my aircraft, along with what
I think is one of the most comprehensive lists of material weights available. The URL is as follows if you would like to visit the
site: www.flyelectric.ukgateway.net
Thanks again for your efforts,
David Theunissen
FENIX 400 Update
Earlier this year I shared a new S-400 plane from Norway with Ampeer
readers. Sture Smidt wrote to say that he has a site up that features this plane, which is available as a plan or kit. You can
reach Sture at: sture.smidt@komtek.no and his website is:
www.komtek.no/fly/fly.htm
Here are the Specs:
Motor: 400 size 6.0 - 7.2 V
Propeller: Graupner 6"x3" folding prop
Battery: 7 cell 500AR, 700AR and 1400AE
Flight time: 5 min to 27 min depending on battery and flying style
Servos: Micro to Standard
Covering: Paint or film
Pushrods: Sullivan blue
Drawing NOK 125,- + postage
Approx $ 13.95 depending on exchange rates.
To Reach Ken Myers, you can land mail to the address at the top of the page. My E-mail
address is:
KMyersEFO@aol.com
EFO WEBsite: http://members.aol.com/KMyersEFO/