Genesee Valley Aero Modelers
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Editor: Glenn Crocker Think Spring….. Think Safety! It actually looks like winter might just end after all. We’ve had a few days in the sixties with sunshine and most of the snow has finally melted. I’m sure Glenn will let us know what condition the field is in and I am willing to bet Charlie is looking for a good day to start rolling the field. Before you know it we’ll be out enjoying another season of flying. Speaking of flying, while you’re waiting to get out there, this is a great time to check out your planes and equipment. Give your planes a good safety inspection and remember if you have a new plane or you’ve done some major repairs, have another club member check it out also. Keep an eye out for fuel damage and check all those wires, switches, servos and linkages. When you get to your radio batteries, remember that they are now a year older. If you have any doubt about their condition, maybe this would be a good time to buy some new ones. New batteries are a lot cheaper than a new plane. When you do get to the field, a range check is always a good idea. Also remember your preflight checklist. Are all control surfaces going in the right direction? How does your prop look? If you like to hand start your motor, think about using a starter stick or at least a leather glove. We don’t need any fingers sliced and diced. Let’s make this our safest season. Speaking of speed safety, thanks to a donation, we will have a cell phone with a cigarette lighter adaptor added to our box at the field. You can’t use it to call your wife and have her bring your dinner to the field, (not that she ever would,) you can use it to call 911 in an emergency. Directions on how to get to the field will also be included. Last but not least, don’t forget to bring your latest project to the April meeting. Finished or not, we all want to see what you’ve been up to! Happy Landings, Max Calendar of Events May 17-18 Canandaigua Chiefs Float Fly Sandy Bottom Park Honeoye Lake June 7-8 Ray Edmunds Memorial Air Show. North Hampton Park Model Flying Field June 14 Canandaigua Chiefs Fun Electric Fly June 21-22 Sky Rovers "Rovers Rally" July 12-13 Olean STARS Scale Rally July 12-13 History of Flight. Sponsored by the HAG Geneseo N.Y. July 26 & 27 RAMS Open House at Macedon Aug. 3 GVAM Family picnic Aug. 23 & 24 RC Helicopter Event at Macedon Aug. 31 Four Club Fun-Fly Sky Rovers hosting Sept. 24 – 28 2003 Scale Masters Oct. 11 Ladies Night Out
Crash Etiquette From RIC Report We've all been present when someone else crashes, and wondered how to handle the situation. Here's a short course on crash etiquette borrowed from a club newsletter. While bent over your model tweaking with the needle valve you
hear "I ain't got it"...followed by a low frequency thump. Usually
several expletives will be inserted about then, and some are used quite
imaginatively. A hand crafted masterpiece of airframe miniaturization crammed
with state of the art electronic equipment and powered by an exquisitely
machined engine no longer exists! The pilot, who is frequently the builder and
owner, has made an unscheduled landing, or has discovered that the radio in his
hands has greater range than the eyes in his head. Your immediate problem is how to react. Generally it is considered bad form to immediately ask if you may borrow the pilot's glow plug battery. Similarly, you probably shouldn't ask if he's finished with the frequency clip right away! Any equipment related reasons for the crash you hear are by definition reasonable. Pilot error is too rare and far too sensitive to even suggest, so don't say, "That's odd. I haven't had any problems on that frequency today.", until at least an hour after the crash. Offer to help look for the wreckage. Don't say, "It sure sounded like it hit something good and solid!" Note that most lost models are found and returned, so don't ask out loud if he had his name and phone number in it. If it looks like more than enough people have volunteered to help with the search, try to weasel out of going. There are ticks and poison ivy out there, and seeing a grown man cry isn't pleasant anyway. If the pilot takes a plastic bag with him, or if he comes back empty handed to get one, then quietly assume the worst. Actually, in a really bad crash, two hands and a pocket are sometimes enough storage space for everything worth salvaging. Whatever you do, don't hold a postmortem on the spot. The pilot probably doesn’t want to discuss right now, things like battery condition, poor construction, pilot error, used rubber bands, fuel tank capacity, light blue covering, and model selection vs. pilot skill. Avoid specifics as best you can, sound supportive, and look appropriately grave. You'll want the same consideration some day! Congratulations to Chuck Huskey for not making the crash column this year.Jim Kitchen At The Field There has been some activity at the field this year. Eric got a first flight on his electric Canadair. The flight was perfect with a takeoff from the snow, several circuits around the field and a smooth landing. Eric said it was a touch tail heavy but handled well. When I first saw the plane, I thought someone had put a hex on Charlie’s Canadair and shrunk it to half size. The next flight test will be off the water. Rumor has it that some one managed to find Ned’s tree already this year. I know Tom is not back in town so it can’t be him. I have an early start for the awards and recognition portion of this year's Ladies Night Out. Remember the trees are just coming out of hibernation and have quite an appetite. One other thing to keep in mind, the drive to the pit area may look solid but you may want to check it out before you drive down. Right now it is too soft to drive on. Charlie says he will not answer his phone until things dry out. On the 26th of March we spent some time watching Carol and John’s new home going together. The center portion is post and beam construction. There are some photos on page 4. I have seen this done on television but this is the first time seeing it up close and personal. There are no nails and everything is held together with "big" wooden dowels. The fit was better than most models. John and Carol are very excited about the project. John’s workshop will be under the garage but we were encouraging him to make a preemptive strike into the rest of the basement. Thank you for the refreshments and lunch and a good morning. Our April meeting is show and tell. Bring your winter projects. If you fly watch for hungry trees! Mowing Volunteers Glenn Crocker We have some volunteers for mowing this year but could use a couple more to spread the workload out. If you can help please let me know. You can sign up at the April meeting or give me a call at 248-5133. Air ControllersHere are some conversations that airline passengers normally don't hear. The following is an account of an exchange between an airline pilot and control tower. The German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are renowned as a short-tempered lot. They not only expect one to know one's gate parking location, but how to get there without any assistance from them. So it was with some amusement that we (a Pan Am 747) listened to the following exchange between Frankfurt ground control and a British Airways 747, call sign "Speedbird 206" Speedbird 206: "Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of active runway." Ground: "Speedbird 206; Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven." The BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop. Ground: "Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?" Speedbird 206: "Stand by, Ground, I'm looking up our gate location now." Ground (with arrogant impatience): "Speedbird 206, haff you not been to Frankfurt before?" Speedbird 206 (coolly): "Yes, twice in 1944 but I didn't stop."
From Clay Ramskill’s Newsletter Editor Helper
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