Genesee Valley Aero Modelers
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Editor: Glenn Crocker Calendar of Events May 17-18 Canandaigua Chiefs Float Fly Sandy Bottom Park Honeoye Lake 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. 23 & 24 RC Helicopter Event at Macedon TBD Four Club Fun-Fly Sky Rovers hosting AUG. GVAM Family picnic Sept. 24 – 28 2003 Scale Masters Dues Are Over Due This is another reminder that dues are over due. The dues were due by 12/31/02. If you are planning to renew your membership, your prompt attention to this matter would be appreciated. Seniors: $45.00 Juniors: $1.00 Indoor Flying Schedule Courtesy of Jack Barker Here is the Indoor flying schedule for the rest of 2003. Flying is at The New Covenant Fellowship Penfield N.Y. Mar. 16 12:30 – 4 PM Contact is Ray Edgecomb 585-482-3774 At The Field Hang in there; we only have one more month until spring. Hopefully we can get an early start to the flying season after being mostly shut out this winter. I have it from a reliable source that Charlie has been spotted sneaking up to the field to get his flying fix. The Polish falcon has also been seen at the field. Charlie said it was a little difficult getting across the ditch but the snow being up to his chin didn’t bother him at all. I hope everyone has been busy building this winter and that we will see some unusual creations this season. Remember to bring them to the April meeting. Remember there is only two months until the Titusville Terror returns and then we are all in trouble. See you at the meeting. Mowing Volunteers Glenn Crocker Although it seems like summer will never come, we will be up to our you know what in grass before too long. I need some mowing volunteers for the 2003 flying season. If you can help please let me know. You can sign up at the March and April meetings or can give me a call at 248-5133. "If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today." Rotarian To ARF or Not to ARF The popularity of hand-built, high quality, Almost- Ready-to-Fly Radio Control (RC) aircraft showed a marked increase around 1983 with the introduction of the EZ series by Pilot of Japan. Those of you who were flying RC before 1983 may recall how different the hobby was when you had to build it yourself. First of all, there were a lot fewer guys flying (RC) models. Also, there weren't so many modelers with the superb flying skills we see today because modelers spent more time building. We didn't have today's marvelous radio systems and engines either. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, I became concerned about the future of our hobby due to the impact of ARFs. I have always built my own models from kits or from plans, and to me it seemed that the hobby of RC model airplanes was both building and flying. We now have ever-increasing numbers of RC fliers who build very little. The magnitude of the reduction of builders can be easily gauged by comparing old RC magazines with current issues. In the 1960s and 1970s there were usually four to six construction articles per month. Today there's usually only one construction article per month. Should we be concerned? Well, after really giving this ARF business some serious thought and putting things in the proper perspective, I realized that ARFs have not at all hurt the hobby-they've just changed it! RC modeling is becoming more a sports or social activity and less the tinkerer/inventor's pastime it used to be. How many golfers make their own clubs? How many hunters make their own rifles? How many private pilots make their own airplanes? The answer to each of these questions is some, but only a small percentage. Today there are more items competing for our time and we're becoming a country where time is getting harder for many to find than money. Consequently, the ARF market is there to respond to our changes in lifestyle. Do I think we should be worried about our hobby future? Yes, but not due to ARFs. We really need to interest more people, especially younger ones. This has been a concern of the AMA since the 1960s and still is one. ARFs actually help spark interest since they provide much quicker satisfaction and allow newcomers to find out if they're interested before investing too much precious time. I've heard many longtime modelers complain that "no one builds anymore" or "there aren't anymore good new designs," and on and on. I've said those things, too. Well, magazines are going to follow the market and advertise what sells, so I don't think the number of new designs published per month will increase. But, there are thousands of already published plans and hundreds of kits that are available! There will never be enough time to build them all. The really wonderful part of our hobby is that if you aren't interested in building, you can enjoy flying ARFs. If you like to build, you can build from kits or plans. If you want to, you can even learn to design your own models. And the best part is that there are no real barriers, only those we make for ourselves. Just about anyone who wants to learn to build, can. And it's okay for builders to assemble ARFs, too. My experience is that assembling most ARFs takes more effort than most builders realize, since setting up an airplane's systems is often more challenging than building the structure. I probably will never assemble many ARFs, because I like to build as much as I like to fly. But, for those who aren't interested in building or for initial training, ARFs are a superb way to enjoy RC. I don't feel that modelers who build their own airplanes should think they're superior to those who assemble ARFs. I also don't think that anyone flying an ARF should feel inferior either. Both groups of modelers are just enjoying different aspects of our great hobby. The main point is to have a good time and enjoy the almost infinite possibilities. Finally, one thing that I strongly recommend, regardless if you buy a kit or an ARF, is to check it out carefully. There are large variations in prices and product quality, so nothing beats personally inspecting it at your local hobby shop. From Range Check Charles County Radio Control Club Brandywine MD
Drilling Engine Mounts Santa Renews His Pilots License Clay Ramskill On Occasion, we have an aircraft fly away – just charge off into the boondocks on its own. This is nearly always due to a radio receiver power failure. We quickly think of the battery, then perhaps the switch as the culprits. But how about the PLUG between the switch and the battery?? 
Clay Ramskill What do you do to keep the end of your antenna in place? A 1/2 inch piece of fuel tube does the job nicely. Cut two slots in it about 1/2 way through. Squeeze the tubing to open up the slots, and thread the antenna through the slots as shown. The tubing can then be slid up the antenna as desired. The tubing will not beat your aircraft to death as the antenna whips around in flight, will hold the antenna securely, and yet in case of (ugh!) a crash, the tubing will slide right off instead of breaking the antenna. -Clay Ramskill, 7 Towers RCC, Arlington, TX.  Protect Fuel Lines in the Tank
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