SKYWRITER ONLINE

December, 2000
Next Meeting Time: Meeting Program: President's Corner:
Hello, for those of you who don’t know me, I’m Steve Kelley, your new president. I’ve been involved in modeling most of my life, and hope to do a good job in the coming year which shouldn’t be too difficult allowing for the excellent board of directors we have this year. As a first order of business, I’d like to thank our outgoing president, Jack Hall, for all of his efforts as president the last few years. Now he’ll have more time to practice for next year’s fun fly competitions (like he really needs to). I’d also like to thank Joe Billmaier for doing a good job as field director last year. Personally, I’m hoping to bring a new airplane to each meeting for show-and-tell and also have some interesting presentations to increase attendance. If any of you have suggestions as to how to improve the club, please let me know. We’re still going to bring the suggestion box to every meeting , but you can also call me or e-mail me at skelleysr@hotmail.com. Remember that this is YOUR club. As club officers, we only try to make sure that everything runs smoothly. Lastly, I’d like to remind the membership that any member can come before the board at our board meeting, which follows the regular meeting, for whatever reason he or she wishes.

Thanks and build it light
Steve Kelley

Minutes of Meeting November 6, 2000:
Meeting called to order at 7:30 PM.

The Secretary’s reports for the October meetings were accepted as published in the November newsletter.

The Treasurer’s report for fiscal year 2000 was accepted as published in the November newsletter.

Field Director’s Report: Joe Billmaier reported that the field is still in good shape. The new frequency stickers have been installed on the radio board at the field. Hunting season started October 14 and runs through November 25. During this time the field may only be used on Sundays.

Old Business: Russ Miller reported that the preparations for the auction are proceeding on schedule.

Russ Miller reported that the sign at the field has been taken down for repainting by a member who wishes to remain anonymous. It will be ready in a couple of months.

New Business: Peter Feil read a letter that the club received from Michael Giansiracusa, who is a club member and a student at Cornell University. He is looking for parts of crashed and unrepairable airplanes to use for structural testing. Bob Janak volunteered to collect any donations at the Fish-and-Game Headquarters at our field. Mike will pick up the parts during his Christmas vacation.

Jim Sbrogna made a motion to increase all dues by five dollars a year. There was considerable discussion of the treasury balance, and annual income and expenses. The motion was defeated by a vote of 22 to 11.

Nominations for the board of directors for the year 2001 were reopened. There were no further nominations. The following nominees were approved by acclimation: Peter Feil, Mike Doucette, Dennis Cherry, Steve Kelley, Brian Gawronski, Kevin Schleicher, and Jim Dibb.

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.

Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting November 6, 2000
Meeting called to order at 8:40 PM.

Steve Kelly will be the new President. Dennis Cherry will be the new Field Director. Peter Feil will continue to serve as Secretary. Mike Doucette will continue to serve as Treasurer.

The possibility of having a mall show this winter was discussed. A discussion and a solicitation of volunteers will take place at the next members’ meeting.

Dennis Cherry informed the board that the video library should be ready for the next members’ meeting.

Ideas for “show and tell” such as planes, videos, construction technique demonstrations, and Steve Kelley’s plane of the month were discussed.

Meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM.

Treasurer's Report for November, 2000
Balance as of 10/31/2000 659.93
 
Deposits: 2001 Auction Proceeds (all)
  Admissions 268.00
  Commissions 265.10
  Raffles 374.00
  Total deposits 907.10
 
Withdrawals:
  2001 Auction expenses: Raffle prizes, postage, fliers 305.91
  Printing: 11/2000 newsletter 118.68
  New field keys 36.75
  2000 Picnic food and supplies 60.04
  Other: 2001 MA annual report, Mailing labels, Application forms, Key deposit returns (2), Account maintenance fee 51.57
  Total withdrawals 572.95
 
Balance as of 11/30/2000 994.08

2001 AUCTION SUMMARY
Proceeds:
  Admissions 268.00
  Commissions 265.10
  Raffles 374.00
  Total 907.10
 
Expenses:
  Hall rental 150.00
  Raffle prizes, postage, fliers 305.91
  AMA advertisement (2 months) 24.00
  Total 479.91
 
Net profit 427.19

Kevin Schleicher won the radio raffle prize.
The club thanks Dean, Russ, Mike D, Mike B, Steve, Dennis, Rene, Joe, Ron, Roger, and all others who helped make it a success.
Compiled by Mike Doucette

OCTOBER SHOW-&-TELL
Steve Kelley brought in his Mystique, built from an old Craft-Air kit. Originally a trike-gear trainer, he set it up as a taildragger. It features a poplar fuse and a balsa built-up symmetrical wing with only ¼” dihedral. He beefed up the wing structure with dihedral braces, fiberglass, and shear webs. Power comes from an OS 40FP.

Jim Dibb showed his new Lanier Shrike 40 before covering was completed. He modified the structure by building the wing center section onto the fuse and gluing the spars into the center section, effec-tively making it a one-piece structure. The inboard ribs were glued to the fuse, and the rest of the wing was built up with the fuse hanging off the edge of the table. An OS 46 provides motivation. This plane should be a mover!
Compiled by Mike Doucette


NOVEMBER SHOW-&-TELL
Steve Kelley, in his continuing Plane-of-the-Month series, brought in an old Sig Klipper. The kit features a foam wing of 4’ span and a balsa fuse. He used low-temperature covering on the foam wing, which was modified to be bolted onto the fuse. He used a pull-pull control system on the rudder and beefed up the wing with spanwise strips of fiberglass. A Thunder Tiger 15 provides forward motivation.

Jack Buckley showed a GB Combo T-tail glider from Germany. The wing is foam-core with obechi sheeting and plastic-film covering; the airfoil is a type G11. The wings are held to the fuse by a ball-detent mechanism. Graphics were computer-generated and cut on a Vinyl Graphics machine. An electric power system can be installed. Jack reports that this is a VERY fast ship!
Compiled by Mike Doucette


12 RULES OF MODEL AVIATION
  1. Perfection in model building is a desirable goal, unless completion of the airplane within your lifetime is important.
  2. Airspeed is life to your model, altitude is life insurance. No airplane ever collided with the sky.
  3. Always fly your airplane with your head, not just your hands. Never let your model go somewhere your brain didn’t get to five seconds earlier.
  4. The probability of model survival is equal to the angle of arrival.
  5. Flying a model is not dangerous; crashing it is dangerous.
  6. Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement.
  7. There are three simple rules for making a smooth landing. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.
  8. It’s a good landing if you can still bend the landing gear back to its normal position.
  9. A fool and his money are soon flying a more aerobatic model than he can handle.
  10. The nicer an airplane looks, the more likely it is to crash.
  11. A model airplane may disappoint a good pilot, but it won’t surprise him.
  12. If God meant for man to fly model jets, He’d have given him more money.
From the Rock Valley RC Flyers
Via the Checkerboard Flyer
Gary Parenti, ed.
11001 Martindale Drive
Westchester, IL 60154