EFO April Zoom Meeting What we shared at the April Zoom meeting with a lot of discussion about early electric planes.	The May EFO Flying Meeting The Midwest RC Society & EFO Fly at the Plymouth-Canton Mettetal Airport
Keith Shaw's Virtual Toledo Show Project: The Stingray Keith shares the details on his "Virtual Toledo Show" project.	What Ever Happened to Sanyo? Jesse Davidson tells us where we can find the answer to that question.
LiPo Disposal and FMA Chargers Don asks how to safely dispose of LiPo batteries and Ken attempts to answer him.	Look What I found, Keith's Bearcat Original Colors Keith shares some recent information about the original color scheme on his big Bearcat.
Weekly Float Flying on Wednesday Morning at Addison Oaks Joe Hass provides details on this weekly event.	Upcoming Skymasters RC Club Night Fly and Bonfire Pete Foss, Skymasters' president, informs us about this upcoming event.
The Upcoming Keith Shaw Birthday Party Electric Fly-in 2021 Put it on your calendar for this year for sure!	37th Annual Mid-America Electric Flies 2021 Event announcement
Upcoming E-vents	Send Ken email

EFO April Zoom Meeting      The April 14 EFO Meeting was held via Zoom with six members present.      Ken Myers related his story about his Junior Falcon. It was quite a tale. The details were in the May 2021 Ampeer.      There was quite a long discussion about the new solar powered charging station at the Midwest RC Society 7 Mile Road flying. EFO member Dave Stacer, who is also a member of Midwest, filled us in on all the details.      There was some discussion about possible setting up an APRS weather station at Midwest field.      Rick Sawicki said that he did go down to the Toledo Swap Shop scored the Sterling kit of the Polish Fighter. He noted that he'd been wanting one for a long time.      Dave Stacer and Denny Sumner also went. They each found something worth bringing home. David's find was a used Radian that he plans to use to compete in the Tuesday evening Midwest glider league.      Ken went to the basement and got his. brand-new, still in the plastic wrap, Sterling Nieuport "28" to share with the group. He noted that he had built this same model while stationed in Korea in 1968. He also shared the red and yellow ElectroStreak that he has.      Roger Wilfong shared an Estes Rocket collectors kit that he'd acquired.      Bob Blau shared his tricked out foamy jet, the Typhoon, with LED lights.      I received the following from Bob the next day. * * * * *      Here are a few photos that you might consider for the next Ampeer.      I enhanced the screen shot of the kit plane (don't know the name) and a few of the ones we chatted about.      The Virtual meetings are great. Bob Sterling Polish Fighter Great Planes ElectroStreak Great Planes ElectiCub - note the AstroFlight motor Bob with his ET-200 in 1994 Surprise Electric Performance Glider Bob's Typhoon with LED Lights      Thanks so much for sharing these photos.      I wonder how many Ampeer readers remember some of these "oldies but goodies". Return to "What's In This Issue" The May EFO Flying Meeting      The May EFO Flying meeting was a bit different!      It turned out to be a combined meeting with the Midwest RC Society. The Midwest RC Society & EFO Fly at the Plymouth-Canton Mettetal Airport The Airport Setup. - Greg Eilers' photo      Bill Brown, Jr., of the Midwest RC Society, was asked by the manager of the airport if he could get some Midwest members to come and fly at the airport on Saturday, May 15. The airport was totally closed because the runways were being repaved. Several EFO Members Just Enjoying the Beautiful Day      Ken Myers had planned to have the EFO meeting on that same day at the Midwest flying field, and asked if the EFO members, most of whom are also Midwest members, could join them. Some of the Spectators      That Saturday was a perfect May day for flying. The sun was out, the wind was low and the temperature was moderate.      Bill Brown, Jr. had gone out to the airport the previous evening and cut the grass short, at the south end of the hangars, to provide us with a grass runway for our models. Thanks Bill!      The guys started showing up about 10 a.m. Bill Brown, Sr. and Bill Brown, Jr. doing some flying      There was a lot of flying throughout the day.      Ken Myers was able to introduce a new beginner to RC flying using his RUA 2-4-10.      There were hot dogs, provided by the airport, for lunch around noon.      It was a fantastic day of flying for us and bringing our hobby to the public's attention! Denny Sumner retrieves his plane from the short cut grass. Keith Shaw Enjoying a Flight Denny Sumner Capturing the Bills Flying Paul Sockow and Roger Wilfong Concentrate on Flying More Spectators Watching and just Some of the Planes      Ken's RUA 2-4-10, used to introduce new pilots, its in the foreground. It worked out really well. Denny Sumner Flying and Keith Shaw Watching Return to "What's In This Issue" Keith Shaw's Virtual Toledo Show Project: The Stingray From Keith Shaw via email      After several months of dedicated designing, building and finishing, I present the Stingray as this year's Toledo project.      It is the latest in a long line of pure flying wings that I have made to study the wonders of the Horten Brothers' aerodynamics. The biggest challenge was figuring out how to cram the batteries, fan, speed control, retracts, and radio into that skinny 12% symmetrical section!      Power is a Mercury 74mm EDF running on a 6S 4Ah LiPo. The indoor flash photos don't do the color scheme justice, which is Ultracoat Deep Yellow and True Red.      I ran the system and it draws 62 amps, giving 1400 watts. The wing loading is a mere 16.6 oz/sq.ft, and the power loading is 270 watt per pound. It should have adequate performance. :-)      The span is 66", area 720 sq.in., and a ready-to-test-fly weight of 83 oz., which includes 4.5 oz of nose weight.      If the sun decides to come out later this week I will try to get some better photos. While the plane is ready to test fly, I am not. I will need to get in a lot of practice on my existing planes to get my reflexes and finesse honed to test flying precision. Hopefully I will be up to speed by late May.      This a view of the underside showing the retracts. Keith Return to "What's In This Issue" What Ever Happened to Sanyo? From Jesse Davidson via email      I noticed that you have a broken link to a website called Sanyo.com. That site was first published way back in 1998 but unfortunately, it is no longer a working website.      You link to Sanyo on this page.      We recently published an article that explains what happened to the site. I think it's an interesting story, and it could be useful to your readers.      Here's the article if you want to take a look.      Would you consider swapping out the broken link for our article? It would really help. Thanks, Jesse      I did not swap out the broken link, but I've provided the link to his article above.      Many of us used Sanyo cells almost exclusively and some of you might wonder whatever happened to this one-time industry giant. Return to "What's In This Issue" LiPo Disposal and FMA Chargers From Don Patterson via email Dear Ken,      I have some LIPOs that I would like to prepare for disposal because Battery Giant no longer disposes of LIPOs.      I have read that soaking them in salt water after discharging them renders them harmless. Please let me know how much salt is needed for a given volume of water and how long they should soak.      I also want to restore my charge value to 4.2 volts in my FMA multi-4 charger before I measure capacity. I reduced it to 4.1 volts to "baby" my batteries and cannot remember how I found my way through the one button commands to edit charging parameters.      I visited the Revolectrix site and it looks like support for these chargers may be a thing of the past. Too bad. They are excellent chargers. Thanks and take care, Don Patterson Hi Don,      I think this article in the March 2021 Ampeer might help with the discharging question.      I've never set my discharger below 3.77V per cells, as that is what I use as a storage charge.      Sorry, I cannot help you with the Multi-4 except to point you to the manual.      I hope this information is helpful. Later, Ken And another reply from me: Hi Don,      I forgot to mention that the salt water "bath" doesn't really work.      Discharge the pack to as close to 1 volt per cells as possible. Once discharged completely, in an area where spreading a fire is not likely, clip off the power connector, strip the power lead wires, and wind both leads together. DO NOT DO THIS UNTIL EACH CELL IS AT ABOUT 1 VOLT PER CELL!!!      Let it sit over night in that "safe" area and then dispose of it in the regular trash. Of course there are chemicals in LiPo batteries, but they are not toxic like in NiCads or NiMH cells.      If you are not sure how to do this, please donŐt try and find some other way to dispose of them. Later, Ken Addendum:      Terry Dunn discusses discharging LiPo batteries in his Electrics column in the April 2021 Model Aviation starting on page 58. While he is mainly discussing getting a LiPo to storage charge, the same process and device he describes, can be used to get a battery close to 0 volts for disposal. Return to "What's In This Issue" Look What I found, Keith's Bearcat Original Colors From Keith Shaw via email Keith's original color scheme in 1996      Remember my Bearcat's original black and gold "eagle" color scheme? I did the best I could to extrapolate it from two tiny 1" square B&W photos of it as a 1960s airshow performer, but could never find any further info on it. I just ran across a magazine with a whole article on it, including four glorious color photos and 10 B&W ones! It is far more dramatic than the color scheme I approximated. The owner/pilot was Chuck Lyford.      About 5 years ago when the original MonoKote finally embrittled and needed to be redone, I opted for a stylized bronze and black Bearcat loosely based on another civilian color scheme I had found.      I guess now I will just have to wait until this covering disintegrates, and then redo it in the "correct" black and gold scheme. BTW, the name of this airshow beauty was "The Black Cat". How appropriate. Keith Return to "What's In This Issue" Weekly Float Flying on Wednesday Morning at Addison Oaks From Joe Hass via email      We will soon be starting our weekly Float Flying on Wednesday mornings at Addison Oaks County park. Please review the attached flyer for specific details. In brief: Only 2.4 GHz Systems are allowed. All pilots must have valid AMA. There is a one time $5.00 charge. There is a retrieval boat. E Mail bulletins are sent out to confirm each Wednesday session.      If you are interested please contact me to be added to our mailing list.      This is a low key, fun event all summer long.      We hope to see you there. Joe Hass joehass@gmail.com 248-321-7934 Addison Oaks Float Flying 2021 Sponsored by the Romeo Skyhawks RC Club Every Wednesday, June thru September Addison Oaks Oakland County Park at Buhl Lake 1480 W Romeo Road, Leonard, MI 48367 Main Park Entrance on W. Romeo Rd (32mile) West of Rochester Road Past the Toll Booth then follow the signs to the Boat Rental www.oakgov.com/parks/parksandtrails/addison-oaks Flying from 9 am till noon, retrieval boat on site Flying open to AMA Members - Spectators welcome Only 2.4 GHz radio systems are allowed $5.00 One Time Pilot Registration Fee All Cars Need Daily/Annual Oakland County Park Sticker Plenty of Free Parking No R/C Boats During Flying Times Weekly Email Notifications      For more information call Joe Hass at (248) 321-7934 joehass@gmail.com Return to "What's In This Issue" Upcoming Skymasters RC Club Night Fly and Bonfire From Pete Foss via email Saturday, June 26, 2021 Night Fly with Bonfire Event Flying starts at 6PM Bring you own refreshments for the bonfire after flying NO FOOD OR DRINKS WILL BE AVAILABLE. MASKS REQUIRED UNLESS 6 FOOT SEPARATION. Flying open to AMA members. 94dBa at 10 feet enforced Flying field is located within the Bald Mountain Recreation Area, about 5 miles north of the Palace of Auburn Hills on Scripps Road between Lapeer Rd (M24) and Joslyn Rd. For more information email president@skymasters.org The Event Flyer Link http://www.skymasters.org/index.php?page=events&pdfflyer=data/flyers/ Return to "What's In This Issue" The Upcoming Keith Shaw Birthday Party Electric Fly-in 2021      The Balsa Butchers are hosting the "Keith Shaw Birthday Party Electric Fly-In", for the 19th year, at their field near Coldwater, MI. The event takes place on Saturday, May 29, 2021. It is a one day event again this year.      The event consists of Open Electric Flying with a "Special Guest of Honor Theme", Happy Birthday Keith Shaw [June 6].      Enjoy a day with the "Pioneering Master of Electric R/C Flight". 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday. NO LANDING FEE! Donations for field maintenance and lunch appreciated.      For additional information contact; Contest Director: Dave Grife - E-mail: grifesd@yahoo.com or Phone: 517-279-8445 Please e-mail or call with any questions.      The field will be open for guests to fly on Sunday as well. Return to "What's In This Issue" 37th Annual Mid-America Electric Flies 2021 AMA Sanctioned Event (Proof of AMA/MAAC membership required to fly) Saturday, July 10 & Sunday, July 11, 2021 Hosted by the: Ann Arbor Falcons and Electric Flyers Only The 7 Mile Rd. Flying Site, Salem Twp., MI, is Provided by the: Midwest R/C Society Contest Directors are: Ken Myers phone (248) 669-8124 or email kmyersefo@mac.org - www.theampeer.org for updates & info Keith Shaw (734) 973-6309 Flying both days is at the Midwest R/C Society Flying Field - 7 Mile Rd., Salem Twp., MI Registration: 9 A.M. Saturday Event Flying from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. Saturday Open Flying 10 A.M. Until You Leave Sunday (Open Flying Saturday after the Event & All Day Sunday) There will be no events on Sunday, just open electric flying. No Pilot Landing Fee No Parking Donation Will Be Requested from Spectators Awards on Saturday Only! Best Scale Most Beautiful Best Mini-Electric Best Multi-motor Best Sport Plane Foam Flurry for NCM aircraft CDs' Choice Planes Must Fly To Be Considered for Any Award Plaques for winner in each category The Field is Open for Open Flying All Day Friday Night Flying Possible, Weather Permitting, Friday & Saturday Nights POSSIBLE Field Lunch (hot dogs, chips, water or pop) Available on Saturday - depends on COVID protocols POSSIBLE Burgers, Brats and Potluck on Saturday evening for Pilots & Their Guests - depends on COVID protocols Come and join us for two days of fun and relaxed electric flying. The NCM (Not Conventional Materials) Event      Traditionally, model aircraft airframes have been mostly constructed from balsa wood, plywood, spruce, and fiberglass. For the purposes of this meet, NCM airframes are mostly constructed from not conventional materials i.e.; sheet foam, foam board, cardboard, block foam, foam insulation material, etc. Foam Flurry for NCM aircraft: This is a true event. It is based upon the all up/last down event of early electric meets. Any NCM aircraft may be used (no ARF types). Power systems are limited to a maximum of 3S (no paralleling) LiPo batteries or 4S maximum, no paralleling, for A123 packs. All planes qualifying for this event will launch at the same time, and the last one to land will be declared the winner. VERY IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR 2021 - THE FLYING FIELD ENTRANCE TO THE MIDWEST FLYING FIELD CHANGED TWO YEARS AGO!      The old entrance to the Midwest RC Society flying field is permanently closed!!! DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE IT!!!      To locate the Midwest R/C Society 7 Mile Rd. flying field, site of the Mid-America Electric Flies, look near top left corner of the map, where the star marks the spot, near Seven Mile Road and Currie Rd.      The field entrance is on the north side of Seven Mile Road about 1.5 Miles west of Currie Rd. entrance is on the north side of Seven Mile Road about 1.6 Miles west of Currie Rd.      The address is 7621 Seven Mile Road, Northville, MI 48167. The entrance is through a private residence drive and out past the barn. Entrance to the flying field. Overhead of entrance from the track to the flying field. Directions from Google Maps to the flying field      Because of their convenient location and the easy drive to the flying field, the Comfort Suites and Holiday Inn Express in Wixom, MI have been added to the hotelsŐ listing. They are only 10 miles northeast of the field and located near I-96 and Wixom Road. See the map-hotel .pdf for more details. Other Hotels Return to "What's In This Issue" To Reach Ken Myers, you can land mail to the address at the top of the page. My E-mail address is: KMyersEFO@theampeer.org EFO WEB Site