Genesee Valley Aero Modelers

Editor: Glenn Crocker
21 Highview Trail
Pittsford, NY 14534

Although we're still in the midst of the midwinter blaahs, there are definite signs that the flying season will soon be here again. The days are noticeably longer and that small speck on the horizon indicates the official start of Spring a few weeks hence. (I realize that, for some of you hardy souls, the flying season in this part of the country is twelve months long. However, most of us prefer to hibernate in our workshops during winter.

Another indicator of the changing season is an impending mall show scheduled for 21-22 April at Eastview Mall. The RAMS has invited OVAM to participate, and after a brief discussion at last month's meeting, it was agreed by common consent to have a display. This is a good chance to promote our hobby and advertise our club, so mark your calendar for that weekend and bring a plane to show off A good public relations effort is always worthwhile. Additional information will be forthcoming later.

Next months' meeting will feature a video of early experiments with helicopters conducted by Bell Aircraft, then located in Buffalo. Bell took over the old Consolidated Aircraft factory on Elmwood Avenue after Consolidated moved to San Diego. That factory had been built by Curtiss during World War I for the manufacture of the JN-4 Jenny. Bell also had a large factory adjacent to the Niagara Falls Airport along Niagara Falls Boulevard. Along with Sikorsky, Bell was one of the pioneers with rotary wing aircraft, and as you know, it is still active in the field, although it left the Niagara Frontier many years ago. Mark Smith has acquired a copy of a film that has footage showing experiments that were conducted prior to World War II. It should make for some interesting viewing.

There is a bit of unfinished business that needs to be brought to the attention of the membership, namely unpaid dues for 2001. For those few of you to whom this applies, please take care of this matter as soon as possible. And remember, a $10 late charge is now in effect, because failure to pay dues on time creates unnecessary paperwork and expense for the club.

I hope to see you at the March meeting.

During the course of World War II, many people gained fame in one way or another. One man was Butch O’Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to an aircraft carrier in the Pacific. One time his entire squadron was assigned to fly a particular mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gage and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. Because of this, he would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get-back to his ship. His flight leader told him to leave formation and return.

As he was returning to the mother ship, he could see a squadron of Japanese Zeroes heading toward the fleet to attack. And with all the fighter planes gone, the fleet was almost defenseless. His was the only opportunity to distract and divert them. Single-handedly, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes and attacked them. The American fighter planes were rigged-with cameras, so that as they flew and fought, pictures were taken so pilots could learn more about the terrain, enemy maneuvers, etc. Butch dove at them and shot until all his ammunition was gone, then he, would dive and try to clip off a wing or tail or-anything that would make the enemy planes unfit to fly.

He did anything he could to keep them from reaching the American ships. Finally, the Japanese squadron took off in another direction, and Butch O’Hare and his fighter, both badly shot up, limped back to the carrier.

He told his story, but not until, the film from the camera on his plane was developed, did they realize the extent he really went to, to protect his fleet. He was recognized as a hero and given one of the nations highest military honors. And as you know, the O’Hare Airport was also named after him.

Prior to this time in Chicago, there was a man named Easy Eddie. He was working for a man you’ve all heard about, Al Capone. Al Capone wasn’t famous for anything heroic, but he was notorious for the murders he’d committed and the illegal things he’d done. Easy Eddie was Al Capone’s lawyer and he was very good. In fact, because of his skill, he was able to keep Al Capone out of jail.

Easy Eddie had a son He loved his son and gave him all the best things while he was growing up; clothes, cars, and good education. And because he loved his son he tried to teach him right from wrong. But one thing he couldn’t give his son was a good name, and a good example. Easy Eddie decided that this was-much more important than all the riches he had given him. So he went to the, authorities in order to rectify the wrong he had done. In order to tell the truth, it meant he must testify against Al Capone, and he knew that Al Capone would do his best to have him killed. But he wanted most of all to try to be an example and to do the best he could to give back to his son, a good name. So he testified.
Within the year, he was shot and killed on a lonely street in Chicago.
This sounds like two unrelated stories. But Butch O’Hare was Easy Eddie’s son.

Did you ever have your six-minute epoxy start setting up on you after one or two minutes? Epoxy manufacturers suggest that you mix your epoxy on a flat, wide-open surface as opposed to a deep container. It seems that mixing epoxy in a deep container speeds up its chemical reaction time. If you still want to use a deep container, add a little alcohol (don’t exceed 50%) to the epoxy to slow down setting time.

A reminder for the yearly holdouts. Dues are past due. If you have not renewed your membership for 2001 and wish to do so, a $10.00 late fee is now in effect. We are not like the IRS, there will be no interest or penalties. If you are planning to fly with us this year, we would appreciate your dues.

In general, all two-part paints are capable of catalyzing (causing a chemical reaction) in the lungs, coating the alveoli and suffocating you. There is little that can be done in this situation.

EPOXY CEIROMATE primers have the combined hazards of zinc chromate and epoxies. The dust created when sanding will cause a sore throat, headache, and overall flu-like symptoms and general body pain.

CATALYZED ACRYLIC ENAMELS like DuPont Centari have solvent hazards and the above mentioned catalyzing hazard. Centari may be used with or without the catalyzing Gloss Hardener. But it is very fuel resistant without it.

IMRON AND OTHER POLYURTHANES are polyisocyante compounds. They can kill you either by cyanide action or the coating of your lungs and catalyzing in them. Imron may cause a serious allergic reaction by just getting it on your skin.

LACQUERS AND DOPES are also bad. Inhalation of concentrated dope vapors can cause brain hemorrhage and kidney damage. Most of the thinners and cleaning solvents will pass through the skin and collect in the liver and kidneys. Acetone alone isn’t terribly dangerous in small amounts, as it occurs in the body naturally. If it soaks through your skin, it will carry other things with it into the bloodstream. Clean your hands with a waterless hand cleaner instead of thinner. Epoxy glues can be removed with methanol or rubbing alcohol. Alcohol is considered safer than acetone. Lacquer and dope thinners contain MEK which will seek your liver once in your body. It is a known carcinogen.

(A recent 1966 study suggests using two pairs of surgical gloves instead of one pair for protection>ED). Acceptable respirators are those rated for Volatile Organic Compounds. Not smelling the odor is not enough protection.

According to Charles Kalupa, Ed Ram Horn, heed this warning NLTR 2/95

Mar. 10 Indoor flying. Xerox gym (off Phillips Road in Webster) 1-5PM.

April 21 & 22 Mall Show. East View Mall, 9:00AM - 9:00 PM Sat. and 9:00AM - 6:00PM Sun.

June 23 & 24 Sky Rovers Annual Air Show Ford Field. Call Dave Reid 315-548-3779 for more information.

Sept. Interclub Fun Fly .RCCR hosting at Bolling field.

Nov. 24 RAMS annual auction. Church of the Holy Spirit.

During this month we have had three more instances of pilots that reduced their noise levels at least three decibels by changing to a higher pitched propeller. Since sound measurement is a logarithmic scale, cutting the sound pressure levels in half is a reduction of three decibels, which is quite apparent to our ears.

One of these efforts was on Larry Olsen’s Telemaster, with a K&B 61. After changing to a tuned pipe with an 11 x 6 prop, the noise level was still quite high.

Increasing the pitch of the prop to 11 x 7.5 and replacing the tuned pipe with a 12 inch long corrugated metal extension reduced the noise significantly (7 decibels), but the flight performance was quite degraded. The use of a small add-on muffler rather than the corrugated extension maintained the low noise levels, but now the performance of the plane was better than ever. Even better than with the tuned pipe.

One thing that is becoming apparent is that small changes to the engine/propeller configurations can improve the aircraft’s ability to perform for us and lower the noise at the same time.

Off, I drove to my fine R/C club
To fly my new model, it was no Piper Cub!
‘Twas a dark crimson triplane with a JPX jet
Might even just fly, some modelers bet
Nine channels R/C, even more control wires
Four hundred foot range, so it couldn’t fly higher
Let’s fly it today!, I exclaimed with a shout
Was my building time wasted? It was time to find out
Six quarts of jet fuel might just be enough
To fly a short flight and not land in the rough
True, Fokker’s triplane with a turbine was bold
But, I could still fly in the coldest of cold
The engine belched fire and started to scream
Was this a reality, or a nightmarish dream?
Big flames were created, a friend’s model was melted
Scale heat engulfed him, do you think that he felt it?
The noise of my plane could be heard from afar
And, one of our members hid under his car
But, our club president wore a really big frown
Where ever I taxied, the grass was singed brown
Away from the ground, my red turbo-tripe flew
Higher, faster, and farther up into the blue
Servos were straining, the controls were sure flopping
Nicads were leaking and their voltage was dropping
The wind in my face, and a tear in my eye
At last! A new scale ship that really could fly
I zoomed it, and dove it, rolled it, and looped it
Should last a long time if I didn’t fly stupid
Now, what you might ask, could ruin my fun?
My best flying buddy flew a foe of my Hun
All olive and drab with undersides in tan
A big Sopwith Camel with a strong ducted fan
I turned and I climbed to get right on his tail
But his ship was faster, my triplane’s a snail
I remembered a tactic where his ship could be mine
As he followed me down for a hard figure nine
Maneuverability at last, did save my new model
Fuel exhausted, I slammed cIosed the poor throttle
She glides like a brick, if its even a glide
But down in one piece, my triplane, my pride!

Use a water soluble ink pen in a contrasting color when temporarily marking plastic film coverings (these marks come off very easily). This can also be used for marking your canopy before trimming. The beauty of using this method is that when you are finished or have made a mistake, just use a damp cloth to wipe away your markings and draw again. Another use for these water soluble pens is to draw out your trim pattern on your base covering. It gives you a better perspective of where you are going. If you don’t like what you see, erase and do it again. For longer lasting marks, try using a black permanent marker. These marks can usually be removed with a little solvent.

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.

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.

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.