Dispatches From The Aerodrome… October 2005 Page 4
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Dispatches From The Aerodrome… October 2005 Page 4
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October Meeting
The next club meeting will be held on Thursday, October 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the banquet room of Soulman's Bar-B-Que, 691 E Interstate 30, Rockwall.
Minutes of the September Meeting
The September meeting was held on Thursday, September 8, 2005 at 7:30 PM at Soulman's Bar-B-Que, 691 E Interstate 30, Rockwall. President Tom Dupont presided. Twenty-three members and 3 guests were in attendance.
Minutes of the August meeting: The highpoints of the minutes of the August meeting were read by vice president, Bill Lenk.
Treasurer’s Report: Wayne Brunson reported that the club incurred all-in expenses totaling $3,697.55 for our field renovation project leaving an unallocated balance of $437.75.
Safety Committee Report: Safety officer, Terry Williams, reported that Ronnie Stine deliberately crashed his airplane rather than attempt a recovery maneuver close to the pits. Ronnie set a terrific example for the club. As you know, Ronnie is probably one of the best pilots in our club – if Ronnie cannot fly your airplane than it’s unflyable. I did not get the full details but, apparently, Ronnie experienced a flying event close to the pits and rather than risk flying into the pit area, he deliberately rolled his airplane away from the pits and crashed it. For a terrific pilot like Ronnie that must have gone against all of his instincts. There is a man who practices what he preaches and places safety first! Thanks, Ronnie for setting the example for the rest of us.
Field Marshall Report: Field marshall, Doyle Evans,
reported that he is working on a plan to fill the deep cracks that are appearing in the pit area as a result of the baking Texas sun and the lack of any rain. (Jeez! We haven’t had a drop of rain in two months! Even Rita passed us by L) As this report is being written, Doyle provided me with an update indicating that after receiving approval of president Tom Dupont, sandy loam was being delivered Tuesday, September 27. Doyle said that once the sandy loam is down and spread, we can install the Petromat for the planned taxiways. Since the last meeting, Doyle has also painted a white stripe down the center of the runway and “X”s at both ends (to alert full-scale aircraft that it’s not a standard runway).
Clint Brunson said he is going to donate and deliver to the field 15 concrete stops to replace the logs currently in use.
Flying Proficiency Committee: No significant issues to report. Instructors Ronnie Stine and Bob Leserve signed off on three new pilots.
Old Business
Treasury Account Audit:
Doyle Evans reported that he satisfactorily completed an audit of the club’s financial records.
Lawnmower Maintenance and Repair: Dwayne Obenshain, sent an e-mail saying “…the mower is fixed and I delivered it to the field today (Monday, 9/26)…it should be good till next spring.” Good job, Dwayne!
Ratification Votes: Ratification votes were taken on the three proposals passed at the August meeting to change the club’s bylaws:
Proposal 1: Change Article V.B.1. to increase to $50 from $40 the annual club dues paid by all members. The proposal received 18 FOR votes (100%) and 0 AGAINST votes.
Proposal 2: Change Article V.B.4. to increase to $100 from $50 the initiation fee paid by all new members. The proposal received 18 FOR votes (100%) and 0 AGAINST votes.
Proposal 3: Change Article V.C. to raise the club’s membership cap to 60 members from 50 members. The proposal received 18 FOR votes (100%) and 0 AGAINST votes.
Accordingly, the changes will be incorporated into the bylaws. Proposals 1 and 2 will become effective January 1, 2006. Proposal 3 became effective September 8, 2005.
New Business
Paul Ramirez submitted a proposal to change Article V.B.2. of the bylaws to increase the family membership dues to $65 from $50. “In light with the recently approved increase in the regular membership dues to $50, an increase in the family membership is required; otherwise the regular membership dues and the family membership dues will be the same,” explained Paul. “Family memberships will still enjoy the benefits of a seventy percent discount below the cost of another regular membership.”
The proposal received 18 FOR votes (100%) and 0 AGAINST votes. However, in accordance with Article XII of the bylaws, the proposal must be placed before a vote at the October meeting and again receive an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (66.7%) of the members present and voting in order to ratify the changes. If approved, the proposal will become effective January 1, 2006.
Some discussion took place regarding the club’s fiscal year which is currently from January 1 to December 31. The issue is the late payment of club dues. Treasurer, Wayne Brunson, indicated that in order to maintain our club’s standing with the AMA, he must submit an “official” club roster to the AMA no later than March 1 of each year. The problem arises when individuals fail to renew their membership on a timely basis. “Unfortunately, lots of guys wait until the middle or end of February before paying their dues. That means I have to constantly scramble to get the roster updated to get it to the AMA on time,” said Wayne. When you think about it, we are shooting ourselves in the foot because our current bylaws provide a 60-day grace period before dues-tardy individuals are required to pay a new-member initiation fee ($100 commencing 2006). The 60-day grace period takes us right to the beginning of March – when the official roster is due at the AMA – so the problem is obvious. Larry Wells said that at one time the club’s fiscal year was April 1 to March 31 for just that reason. President, Tom Dupont, said that these are important issues that guys need to think about so we can resolve them at a future meeting. In the meantime, web-manager, Ronnie Stine, said that he believes he can arrange to install Pay Pal on our website to enable individuals to pay their dues electronically. That would be very cool.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:19 PM.
Issues Update
The Importance of Exercising Diligent
Frequency Control
During the September meeting, instructor pilot and member of the flying proficiency committee, Bill Vassallo, raised the issue of whether the club should consider implementing a policy of impounding transmitters to help control frequency use. A lively discussion ensued – some guys are for it and some guys are against it. Nothing was decided and no motions were forthcoming, however, the discussion did highlight and emphasize the need for all club members to exercise great care before turning ON their transmitters at the field.
BOY KILLED BY 70MPH MODEL AEROPLANE
I don’t know if the above newspaper headline made the rounds of the RC clubs in Texas, but it sure made the rounds of the clubs in New York. It’s an actual headline from a newspaper in the UK. The accident occurred in 2000. Here’s a recap of what happened…
A father took his son to the local RC field to watch his fellow club members fly their airplanes. Several airplanes were in the air. The father and son were standing in the pits. In the pits, a pilot turned on his transmitter without first checking the frequency control board to determine the frequencies in use. He was on the same channel as one of the guys flying. The pilot on the same channel immediately lost control of his airplane. Other pilots and spectators yelled warnings to the father and son but they were unable to hear because they were standing next to another pilot who was breaking-in an engine. “A post-mortem examination revealed that the boy died instantly from severe skull fractures and brain injuries,” the newspaper reported.
What a sad story. A few seconds of carelessness and a boy is dead and a family destroyed. I suspect the event also sounded the death knell for the club as well. Turning on a transmitter without first checking the frequency control board is such a blatant violation of the basic RC safety rules that it’s almost unbelievable. After the event, the AMA ran an editorial in “Model Aviation” magazine reiterating the need for clubs to exercise prudent frequency control referring to a “tragic accident.”
The accident took place in the UK but it could have happened anywhere.
Do we need a transmitter impound policy? It’s something that we need to think about – especially if our club continues to grow its membership. My only prior experience was the club I belonged to in New York. It had a membership of roughly 200. On any given weekend during the flying season, it wasn’t unusual for 40 pilots to be at the field. Was a transmitter impound shed necessary? Absolutely. It was also necessary to have a field marshall on duty to manage the flying queue (big clubs have their own set of problems and pilots from the Bronx carry switchblades). Do I believe we need to impound transmitters? No. But I do believe that as our club continues to grow and the time comes when we regularly see 20 to 25 guys at the flying field on weekends – we will seriously need to consider impounding transmitters – with that large a crowd it’s simply too difficult to control so many transmitters and remember who’s on what channel.
Until the club collectively decides that a transmitter impound policy is required, please continue to exercise due diligence at the field before turning on your transmitter. Check the board for frequencies in use. Make sure your transmitter has a highly visible frequency pin attached. Guys purchase new radios and change frequencies. The pilot flying on channel 50 today may be flying on channel 19 tomorrow. So don’t assume anything. It will only take one serious accident to kill our club.
The Club’s Next Fun-Fly is Scheduled
For Saturday, October 29
Attendees at the September meeting decided to schedule a Fun-Fly for the last Saturday in October.
Bob Leserve (who volunteered to serve along with Larry Wells as a contest director) has already put together a contest agenda and broadcast it by e-mail. For anyone who missed it, here is a preliminary list of events Bob has selected to allow all levels of pilots to compete. The basic ground rules are simple (1) the same aircraft must be used for all events; and (2) all landings must be on the runway.
SLALOM
Place 5 balloons on the runway. Taxi thru them, weaving in & out. Taxi back the same way. Break a balloon and get a five second penalty. Low time wins.
DEAD STICK LANDING
Mark a spot on the runway. Pilot takes off, gains altitude and kills engine... Land and roll to spot. closest to target wins.
SUDDEN DEATH
Pilot takes off and circles in pattern until an unknown time between one and two minutes passes. Time starts at an audible signal, and pilot must land as soon as possible. Landing must be on runway. Low time wins.
CRAPSHOOT!
With the command "Go!" and on the clock, the contestant rolls a pair of dice once to get his "number." He/she then takes off, do one loop and one roll, land, taxi back, shut down and then roll the dice again until his number comes up. The crap shooting "levels the field" a bit, so that the less proficient flyers have a chance against the hot doggers.
BLIND FLIGHT
Time starts at takeoff; ends at touchdown. Pilot ESTIMATES elapse of one minute.
Closest time to one minute wins.
CLIMB 'N' GLIDE
Pilot is given 30 seconds after takeoff to climb high as possible. At 30 seconds, the engine is stopped. Throttle is advanced to prove dead engine. Landing must be on runway. High time wins.
FAST AND SLOW
Plane flies a straight course twice downwind. First pass is for all out speed. (Diving plane is allowed.) Second pass is flown slowly as possible, maintaining reasonable altitude and course. Largest difference in the two times wins.
ROOPS
Timed from take off, perform 5 roops, (one roll followed by a loop) and land.
Bob needs stopwatches. Please let him know if you can bring one. Contact Bob at
It already sounds like a lot of fun for those who can attend. Unfortunately, me and my camera will be in Austin celebrating my Dad’s 90th birthday – so we’ll miss it. If you have a digital camera, please plan to bring it to the Fun-Fly and take a lot of pictures so I can include them in the November newsletter. Thanks.
Kudos Corner
The club gratefully acknowledges the outstanding meritorious service performed on our behalf by the following individuals. As such, we hereby bestow upon you much appreciation and gratitude…
Doyle Evans for donating a box of Petromat staples; repairing the runway; and making arrangements to obtain the sandy loam required to fill the areas where the Petromat for the taxiways will be laid.