Genesee Valley Aero Modelers
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21 Highview Trail Pittsford, NY 14534 The Prez Sez . . . I’m a little short on time this month so this will be a quick note… Two main things, the first is that the T-shirts are in. They are all cotton, light gray shirts with the club logo on the left front. Very classy and inexpensive too! We have them in sizes from medium to XX Large. The Medium to X large shirts are $6.50 each, and the XX Large shirts are $7.50 each. The club purchased 100 shirts total and right now there is a good selection, but don’t wait too long to buy or your size may be gone. You can call me at 229-2157 to reserve shirts and I’ll also try to have some with me at the field on nice evenings and weekends. Second, there should be a copy of a safety notice sent out by the AMA in the newsletter concerning lithium batteries. As with any new technology, it needs to be treated with some respect or it may bite you. I have started using lithium batteries myself and have purchased a special charger for them. I am only charging the batteries while I am with them and in a ceramic container. So far the benefits have been worth the extra trouble. See you at the field… Max At The Field The field has been rolled and cut once so far this year. Surprisingly you are able to drive to the pit area. You will find that the muddy tire tracks are the most solid area rather than driving on the grass. I would still check prior to driving down if there is an extended rainy session. We have changed out the retrieval boat at Canadice Lake. The fiberglass boat is more stable but apparently it has gained weight the last few years so the decision was made to go back to the Aluminum boat. We are flying at Canadice on Tuesday mornings. I received notice from Florida that the Titusville Terror is on his way North so enjoy the peace and quiet while you can. Charlie is recovering nicely from his back surgery. The doctor told him he was doing so well that he sent him home early but we really know he was being so disruptive they wanted to get him out of there. Flying peanut scale in the ward was very distracting. The weather has not been good for flying since he has been home. Charlie says if he can’t fly no one can. By the time you read this the Shelters should be up and the benches should be back and we will be into the 2004 flying season. Don’t forget the Chiefs float fly at Sandy Bottom Park on May 22nd and 23rd. The Snow Snakes are gone but the trees are just waking up so be careful and enjoy. Memory loss Two Radio Control hobbyists were talking after dinner one night. One of them remarked to the other that with oncoming age comes short-term memory loss. To help alleviate this condition, he had taken memory classes where he learned to remember things by word association. Then, he told his friend about a new hobby shop he had visited the day before. The hobby shop had high-class merchandise with unusually low prices. The other man got excited and asked for the name of the hobby shop. The first man couldn’t remember, so he said, "Let’s test what I learned in memory class. What do you call the pretty flower that comes in many colors and has thorns?" "A rose," the second man answered. "That’s it!" The first man turned to his wife. "Rose, what was the name of that local hobby shop we visited yesterday?" from Servo Chatter Anoka County Radio Control Club, Inc. Stan Zdon, editor Coon Rapids MN Calendar of Events May 22-23: Canandaigua Chiefs Honeoye Float Fly. Sandy Bottom Park. May 29-30-31: Canandaigua Chiefs Camp & Fly June 5-6: Ray Edmunds Memorial Fun Fly at North Hampton Park. June 19-20: CHIEFS Electric Fun Fly July: Olean July 10-11: RAMS Open House Macedon Field. July 24-25: Sky Rovers – Fun Fly Aug. 8: GVAM Family Picnic. Aug 21-22: Great Electric Fun Fly-Bolling Field. Aug. 27-28-29: 2nd Annual Helicopter Event (Macedon) Sept. 18: Interclub Picnic (Macedon) Gone West  Toby My Flying Buddy 1992-2004
"Why don't they pass a Constitutional amendment prohibiting anybody from learning anything? If it works as well as prohibition did, in five years, Americans would be the smartest race of people on Earth." Will Rogers
By Larry Dudkowski Breaking in an engine ensures smooth and reliable performance. Nothing is more frustrating than having your engine quit, whether it’s in flight or on takeoff. Breaking in an engine reduces this problem. The break-in process involves impregnating the metal surfaces with lubricant as they wear together. I picked up this method from a model magazine a few years ago and have used it ever since. The procedure repeatedly brings the engine up to operating temperature, which opens the pores in the metal, allowing the lubricant to penetrate during the cool down cycle. The following steps are performed with the throttle wide open. The engine speed is adjusted via the needle value. Generally an engine is broken-in when it will idle reliably and will throttle up smoothly. The instructions here are for 2-cycle engines; 4-cycle engines require a different break in. When in doubt, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Engine Break-in Procedure: 1. Warm up the engine. Start it. Once it’s running, set the throttle wide open and adjust the needle valve mixture very rich. The engine exhaust should be wet with unburned fuel and oil. The engine should be four-cycling (that is firing only every other cycle). Run this way for two minutes. 2. Lean out the mixture until you’re near peak rpm. Run for 30 seconds. 3. Enrich the mixture again until the engine is four-cycling. Run for 30 seconds. 4. Lean out the mixture until you’re near peak rpm. Run for 60 seconds. 5. Enrich the mixture until the engine is four-cycling again. Run for 30 seconds. 6. Keep alternating the high-speed runs with the cool down periods, increasing the amount of time you’re running near peak rpm in 30-second increments. Remember the 30 seconds of running rich cool down time in between each high-speed run. For the next tank of fuel, let’s begin with step one, "the warm-up," but pick up the high-speed run time where you left off. If you ran out of fuel after two minutes, the next high-speed run would be two minutes, 30 seconds. After the second tank of fuel is used, check for smooth idle and throttle response. If the engine quits at idle or hesitates at throttle up, continue the process. Once completed, you should have a reliable power plant for your model. I find that about 20 ounces of fuel is the minimum required for proper break-in. For the first few flights, you should run the engine slightly on the rich side, gradually leaning it out for peak power in successive flights. The fuel is also an engine coolant and lubricant. Engines, especially the ABC types, are manufactured to very close tolerances. When the model is in motion, less load is on the engine, and the propeller moves easier. This allows the engine to run faster. If the fuel mixture is too lean, the engine overheats because of the high combustion temperature, and less unburned fuel is available for cooling and lubrication. This causes the internal parts to expand. Expansion can cause the engine to seize and quit running during flight. Remember, it’s running too lean if: 1. At full throttle, you quickly pinch and release the fuel line and the engine hesitates or slows. 2. At full throttle, you hold the aircraft vertical and the engine slows or hesitates. Wait 15 seconds. 3. Brown or black residue is on the cylinder head. This is burned oil. 4. Your engine slows or quits on take off or during vertical maneuvers. from Plane Talk Prop Masters R/C Aero Club Dave Masters, editor Warrenville IL EMERGENCY SAFETY ALERT Lithium batteries are becoming very popular for powering the control and power systems in our models. This is true because of their very high energy density (amp-hrs/wt. ratio) compared to NiCads or other batteries. With high energy comes increased risk in their use. The, principal, risk is FIRE which can result from improper charging, crash damage, or shorting the batteries. All vendors of these batteries warn their customers of this danger and recommend extreme caution in their use. In spite of this many fires have occurred as a result of the use of Lithium Polymer batteries, resulting in loss of models, automobiles, and other property. Homes and garages and workshops have also burned. A lithium battery fire is very hot (several thousand degrees) and is an excellent initiator for ancillary (resulting) fires. Fire occurs due to contact between Lithium and oxygen in the air. It does not need any other source of ignition, or fuel to start, and burns almost explosively. These batteries must be used in a manner that precludes ancillary fire. The following is recommended: Store, and charge, in a fireproof container; never in your model. Charge in a protected area devoid of combustibles. Always stand watch over the charging process. Never leave the charging process unattended. In the event of damage from crashes, etc, carefully remove to a safe place for at least a half hour to observe. Physically damaged cells could erupt into flame, and, after sufficient time to ensure safety, should be discarded in accordance with the instructions which came with the batteries. Never attempt to charge a cell with physical damage, regardless of how slight. Always use chargers designed for the specific purpose, preferably having a fixed setting for your particular pack. Many fires occur in using selectable/adjustable chargers improperly set. Never attempt to charge Lithium cells with a charger which is not, specifically, designed for charging Lithium cells. Never use chargers designed for Nickel Cadmium batteries. Use charging systems that monitor and control the charge state of each cell in the pack. Unbalanced cells can lead to disaster if it permits overcharge of a single cell in the pack. If the batteries show any sign of swelling, discontinue charging, and remove them to a safe place outside as they could erupt into flames. Most important: NEVER PLUG IN A BATTERY AND LEAVE IT TO CHARGE UNATTENDED OVERNIGHT. Serious fires have resulted from this practice. Do not attempt to make your own battery packs from individual cells. These batteries CANNOT be handled and charged casually such as has been the practice for years with other types of batteries. The consequence of this practice can be very serious resulting in major property damage and/ or personal harm Safety Committee Academy of Model Aeronautics 5161 E Memorial Drive Muncie, IN 47302
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