Genesee Valley Aero Modelers

Editor: Glenn Crocker
21 Highview Trail
Pittsford, NY 14534

The Prez Sez . . .

The Prez sent some photos from the WRAMS show. We had at least four club members at the show. They must have behaved themselves because I didn’t get a call for bail money.



I am surprised they didn’t check the passports of this motley crew
I will include more in the next Newsletter.
Max

At The Field
By Glenn Crocker

We should be checking our equipment and making repairs to get us in good shape for the 2004 flying season. Remember to cycle your batteries, check all control horns to ensure they are tight and are not cracked. You may want to check the covering for cracks tears or holes. Check seams to make sure one will not pull apart and turn your wing into an air scoop. This can be a real bummer and really ruin your day.

Don’t forget your engine. Look at the glow plug (Eric can skip this step) or better yet replace it for the new season. Check to make sure the linkages work smoothly. Sometimes residue builds up and hardens over the winter and when the throttle linkage makes an attempt to open the carburetor it only succeeds in giving the throttle servo a hernia. If you have a 4 cycle engine you may want to check the valve settings or at a minimum check that the valves are not stuck.

Clean your flight box and pry loose your tools that were stuck down when the CA spilled last Fall and you were going to get to it as soon as you got home from the field.

Remember as the weather turns nice and we are able to fly check the driveway before you drive on it or you may end up stuck in the mud. You may be on your own because the tractor may not be in running condition (battery charged).

Just think in about another month and a half the weather will be nice, the Florida folks will be back (including the Titusville Terror) and all will be well with the world.


Fighting rust monsters
By Rick Giannini

Yes, it’s true. Late at night when you are asleep, they come. Creeping into your engine bearings, the rust monsters arrive, in eager anticipation of the yummy flavor of metal. Laughing and sharpening their teeth to razor points, they begin their dastardly deed. In short order - as little as a month-they have reduced those smooth, round ball bearings to pitted, moon like orbs, guaranteed to cause an increase in friction-generated heat, lean runs and a general loss of performance. All of a sudden, your nice, expensive engine runs like crud.

"Oh, my!" you exclaim. "How can I keep this from happening to me?" Ah, my fellow modelers, the answer is very simple. At the end of each days flying session, run your engine completely dry of fuel. Disconnect your fuel line, attach your glow driver, and spin that engine until it doesn’t even pop. Then get out a little after-run oil, or Marvel oil, and drip a dozen or so drops down the carburetor and hand prop it for about a minute. This is a must for good engine maintenance. The current cost of replacing a set of bearings in a .60 engine is $30 to $35. Ouch!

For the YS engines, use a compatible lubricant. Don’t use Marvel oil in them, as it will damage the regulator diaphragm. Happy flying.

From News-o-FlyinThe desert Hawks
Rick Giannini, editor Lake Havasu City AZ


Calendar of Events

March 30 Indoor Electric and Free Flight. Xerox Fitness Ctr. 9-12am $5.00.

June 5, 6: Ray Edmunds Memorial Fun Fly at North Hampton Park.

July 10, 11 RAMS Open House Macedon Field.

July 24, 25 Sky Rovers – Fun Fly

Aug. 27, 28, 29 2^nd Annual Helicopter Event (Macedon)

August: GVAM Family picnic.

Aug 21-22: Great Electric Fun Fly-Bolling Field.

Sept. 18 Interclub Picnic ( Macedon)

Fuel Fool News

Reminder! I will be taking fuel orders at the March meeting. I will place the order on March 15th.

If you cannot make the March meeting and want to order fuel give me a call.

I have included prices for what 99% of the club has ordered in the past. The lubricant we have ordered is 20% consisting of 18% synthetic and 2% castor. They will make up any blend you want.

% nitro Price per gallon
2 or 4 cycle 10% $12.25

2 or 4 cycle 15% $13.40

If you pay by check make the check out to Glenn Crocker rather than GVAM. This keeps the logistics simpler.


Dues are past due

Another reminder that dues are getting way past due. If you have not paid your 2004 dues and are planning to renew your membership, I would certainly like to hear from you…Soon !

The dues for senior members is $45.00 and is $1.00 for junior members (19 years or younger).

Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter.


Reminder From Harry

Harry wanted to remind the club members that the Rhinebeck Jamboree will be sometime in September. When he gets the particulars he will let us know.

Mowing Volunteers Needed

We need mowing volunteers for the 2004 flying season. With the volunteers we had in past the mowing cycle was about every 5 to 6 weeks.

This year we will need some new faces. Some of our perennial volunteers are not able to mow anymore for medical reasons.

Mowing only takes about 1 to 1.5 hours and there will be someone to familiarize you with the equipment.

I will have a signup sheet at the March meeting. If you are not able to make the meeting and would like to signup give me a call 
Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Better Grip

To improve your grip on your transmitter, especially during hot summer months when your palms are more likely to sweat, stick some handle wrap (the stuff they use on tennis rackets) on parts of the transmitter where you hold, you’ll get a better grip and it won’t slip so much.
Tower Hobbies Helpful Hints
Ernie A. Lee
via the web.

GVAM Frequency List

It’s that time of year again when you might be considering a new radio system. You can use this to get on an uncluttered frequency. If you see an error let me know.

Tip of The Month
by Fred Harvey

This month's tip involves the dangerous practice of making last minute changes to your aircraft when the engine is running.

I recently heard about an incident involving the first flight on a new aircraft. After the engine was started and was ticking over nicely, the pilot decided to make one last sanity check of his control surfaces.

As he wiggled the controls he finally noticed that the rudder was operating in reverse. Since he was in a hurry to go flying he turned the transmitter over and flipped the servo reversing switch for what he thought was the proper channel.

Well, he got the throttle instead of the rudder. The engine suddenly went from idle to full power. The aircraft shot away from him because no one was holding on to it!

The worst problem here was that the pilot did not realize what had happened. All he knew was that something had gone wrong. The airplane became airborne while he was still firmly pulling back on the throttle lever trying to get the engine to slow down.

Since this was the aircraft's first flight, it was out
of trim. The pilot had to try to keep it under control while both the rudder and the throttle were working backward!

It took this guy a few minutes for this mind to catch up with the situation. After he realized that the throttle problem was of his own making, he pushed the stick all the way up. With the engine finally at an idle, he was able to get the aircraft safely back onto the ground.

In this case, no one was harmed and the aircraft survived to fly another day however, this does point out the danger of going flying by yourself.

First: Always have someone with you at the flying field! Always! Don't settle for just a warm body somewhere nearby. Get help holding, starting, and running up the airplane. The chance of anyone getting hurt is greatly reduced by doing this.

Second: Never fly an aircraft until you are absolutely sure that everything is in good operating condition Check your aircraft over carefully. Make sure the transmitter is set properly, the range check is okay, receiver is switched on, control surfaces move in the proper direction, etc. If you find anything wrong, shut down the aircraft and take it back to the pits or take it home.

It is much better to have to quit for the day than it is to have an accident you will regret-maybe forever.

From Vapor Trails, Derby Radio Control Society Fred Harvey, editor, Derby KS

G.V.A.M. Newsletter
c/o Glenn Crocker, Editor
21 Highview Trail
Pittsford, NY 14534