Event | Date | Time | Location |
DSC Club Business Meeting | Saturday, 6/11/2005 | 9am coffee/pastry, 9:30 Business meeting, 10:30 Show & Tell (Slope afterwards?). | Bookland Coffee Shop, Cooks Corner, Brunswick *See Note 1 |
Minutes of the
DSC Meeting
Minutes Summary:
Minutes of the
(As recorded
by Jim Armstrong)
Preface: Had a nice group of Club
members for this meeting. Jim was so involved, he didn't take a picture of
the group. He did however take some pictures of the flying after the
meeting. Our Ken Mac Donald is also a member of the Wiscasset AMA
Club. He contacted their President Bub Greenleaf and received permission
for the Club to fly there after the April meeting. It is a very nice
field. We welcomed the opportunity to try it out.
Members Present:
FName |
LName |
Present |
James |
Armstrong |
Yes |
Frank |
Bennett |
Yes |
Robert |
Constable |
Yes |
Glenn |
Collins |
Yes |
Michael |
Farnsworth Yes | |
Jared |
Fish |
Yes |
Ralph |
Hall |
Yes |
Rick |
Hallett |
Yes |
Mark |
Higgins |
Yes |
Charlie |
Kerr |
yes |
John |
LeClair |
Yes |
Ken |
MacDonald Yes | |
Michael |
|
Yes |
Noel |
Schneider Yes |
TREASURES REPORT:
Treasurer Ken MacDonald provided the Club treasury report.SECRETARIES REPORT: None
DSC FLIGHT INSTRUCTION
PLAN:
BACKGROUND
·
Jim Armstrong sent out an e-mail
recommending that the Club establishes a DSC Flight Instruction Plan. Points being:
·
Recommend that we put in writing
what DSC’s plan is for providing flight instruction.
·
We should establish a Chief
Instructor position that would coordinate DSC’s plan.
·
Goal being first to provide
quality instruction.
Other goals would be share the burden of providing flight instruction
between DSC volunteers.
·
Plan should state when regular
flight instruction is available and how individual instruction can be
requested.
·
Only a portion of Wednesday night
Glider night should be devoted to beginners.
·
Ken made a suggestion on what
should be specified in the plan. He recommended assigning someone to help a
beginner fly, build etc.
· After the December meeting, Jim talked with Forrest Sumner. Forrest told him that he has been training a few people at a field near his house. He also said that he was really thinking about joining the Brunswick Area Modelers Club and flying there during the week. Jim explained what the position was and that the goals would be to share the burden of providing flight instruction between DSC volunteers. Jim and Forrest will put a plan together for the DSC membership to review.
Update: Jim and Forrest Sumner plan on flying at the BAM field on Thursday mornings. During this time they will work on the Plan.
DSC HATS:
BACKGROUND
·
Everyone liked what the Club did
for the T shirt design. Jim is asking for ideas as to what the hat
patch should look like. Goal is to have hats by spring. A free hat will be
provided to the member or members that provide a design or part of a design that
is ultimately used.
Art work doesn’t have to be good. The idea, in at least a rough format, is what
we are looking for. Design can be smoothed out latter by a graphic artist.
·
Jim read an e-mail from Mac
McLaughlin on thermal printing on hats. Mac said that he found out the process wasn’t
profitable and explained why. Thanks Mac for the research.
·
Need ideas to be submitted. Doesn’t anyone want
a free hat?
·
Charlie Kerr said he knew of a place
in
·
Subsequent to the meeting Charlie
sent Jim the following e-mail: JIM. I called these two numbers and both
companies work on CAPS.786-2931 & 782-5888. CHARLIE
Update:
· Members discussed getting patches instead of having hats embroidered. Most thought it would be more practical to get a patch, so members could put the patch on a jacket if they wanted.
Flying wing bungee launcher:
Background: Jim said he got a call from the proprietor of
winglauncher.com on a subject not related to his “Flying wing bungee
launcher.”
After the phone call he looked at the launcher video and was
impressed.
After some discussion members felt that the flying wing launcher would be
fun to use on Wednesday glider night. Ken Mac Donald said he would purchase one and
bring it to Wednesday Night Glider Night for members to use. Rick Hallett said he
would purchase the English version if the Club gets it. He will reimburse
the club.
Sounds like a great idea.
·
: Winglauncher is updating the design of their
launcher and hasn’t any ready for sale yet. Club will purchase one when available. Jim needs the web
site for the English version (Rick, can you send it to him?).
·
----Original Message-----
From:
Sent:
Subject: Re: STATUS
PLEASE
Thank you for your interest in The WingLauncher!
Your e-mail will be forwarded to the appropriate person and we will contact you as soon as possible.
Club member decided to purchase the English version since it was available. Rick Hallett provided the web site address (Thanks Rick).
Update: Wing launcher from
|
Currency Conversion (debit) From U.S.
Dollar To Pound Sterling |
Completed |
-$58.75
USD | |
|
Currency Conversion (credit) To Pound
Sterling From U.S. Dollar |
Completed |
£29.99
GBP |
Rick Hallett tried out the launcher and told us about his first and only flight. There is a trick to putting on the harness, which uses Velcro to secure the straps. If you put it on wrong the wing will not come off. He put it on wrong and the plane went out straight into the ground. Rick said the instructions were very poor on how to secure the strap. During the meeting Rick provided a demonstration on its use. Note: We hope to try it after the meeting.
DSC VIDEO LIBRARY ON-LINE:
Background:
·
Discussed what to do to publish the Club’s Video Library so
people can see what is available and to see who has what checked out.
·
Several
Tapes appear to be missing. Please look through your tapes and see if you
have any by mistake.
·
Jim will
put library in an Excel file which will be published periodically on the Web
site.
·
·
Club
president has
put an e-mail out to everyone showing what tapes were missing and who was listed
in the database as having had checked them out.
·
Before
the Club spends money to re-procure, an honest effort has to be made to try to
locate the missing tapes. It doesn’t appear to have happened to
date. Mike
mentioned that some of the past newsletters documented who took or returned a
tape. Jim said
he had used this information to update the list, but would go back and make sure
he captured everything.
·
Discussed how to publish the database on videos for members
to see what is available and to see current checkout status. Jim mentioned that
he had a call from someone out of the
· At the January meeting it was suggested that Jim could use an excel file so that the data could be migrated to the online database that Mike is going to produce, rather than retyping everything into the new database. At the February meeting Jim said he didn’t like using excel because you can only undue (go back) one change. He can put the data he uses into an Excel spread sheet anytime Mike wants it to import into the new program. For now a PDF of RTF will be published for member to view.
Update: Mike Farnsworth set Jim A. up with a HTML
editor so that he could publish the Newsletter and VCR list in HTML format. Discussed the
benefits of having the VCR list in the member only section only. Motion made and
approved to put VCR list in member only section.
RC Magazine reading room:
Background:
·
At the
last meeting a motion was made to purchase RC magazines for viewing at Wednesday
night glider night at Ken Mac Donald’s house. Ken would then give them away at a free
participants drawing at the monthly DSC meeting. After some discussion, it was recommended
that people that go to Ken’s house pick out what magazines to purchase and bring
up for discussion at the December meeting.
·
Ken discussed it
with several people that have been meeting at his house regularly and
recommended Fly RC and Silent Flight. Fly RC was approved but after some discussion
members felt that Silent Flight didn’t have enough glider info in it. Someone mentioned
that the English Glider magazine QFI might be better. Members agreed.
· Jim reported that he ordered Fly RC and QFI . Fly RC Magazine has started to come in. He will be bringing them to Ken’s on Wednesday night. Come by and take in some great reading.
Update “Free Participant’s RC Magazine
Drawing”: At
this meeting the we raffled off a “Fly RC” magazine. Mark Higgins had
the lucky ticket.
He donated the magazine back to the club. Next ticket drawn was Frank Bennett’s.
NEW BUSINESS
AMA OFFICER PATCHES: AMA officer patches were presented to DSC 2005 Officers that were present at the meeting. Jim thanked them for their service to the Club.
CHUTES: Jim ordered the two Club chutes it needed for the Club winches and one that it owed to Rick Hallett. Since the Club was already paying for the shipping, Jim sent out an e-mail to see if anyone else wanted a chute. Mike Farnsworth, Michael Moore, Rick Hallett (2nd chute) and Peter Elliot order a chute.
FLYING AFTER MEETING:
Members discussed where to fly today. Frank Bennett got permission to fly at a field in Pownal. Ken MacDonald got permission to fly in Wiscasset. It is the AMA Weedwackers field. Ken talked to Bud Greenleaf president of the Weedwacker and got us permission to fly there if we want. Jim looked for a place to fly other than the BAM field because of 2 things. One is the BAM field would have powered flyers and we needed a thermal field since forecast was for wind 5 MPH or less.After some discussion member chose to fly at the Weedwacker’s field.
Show and tell:
Rich Hallett brought in a plane box he made. It holds 2 planes in a very efficient size. Rick asked people to redesign. He makes the box and then cuts it at an angle. Adds cleats and a handle hole in it. Let Rick know if you come up with anything better. Before he had a cardboard box and broke 2 vertical fins.
President’s corner (Jim Armstrong):
Notice: This is my first attempt to publish the newsletter using a HTML editor that Mike Farnsworth provided. It took a lot more time to do. I need your help to evaluate weather or not it is worth my time. The hope was that the newsletter would download faster for you. Did it?
Right now I am wondering how many actually spend any time reading the newsletter. I know some do because they have told me so (like Matt below) and I appreciate their nice comments.
MAY THERMAL DURATION CONTEST
PRECLUDED MAY DSC MEETING:
I sent an e-mail to everyone
informing them that there wasn’t a May meeting. E-mail below:
SUBJECT: THERMAL DURATION CONTEST THIS SATURDAY IN LIEU OF
DSC MEETING
Hi Guys,
Just a
reminder, this Saturday's contest is at the YCS Plains road Thermal
site. It is a beautiful
site. So don't
miss it. This
is an event that
has as much
or as little of flying as you want. Contact CD Rick Hallett
for open
frequencies if you want to sign up 1-800-430-3058.
See the
Downeast soaring Club's Forum "Downeast Soaring Club" section for
a nice flyer
and explanation of scoring from Michael Moore. If you have
never been to
this site, the YCS web site has a map. See at:
http://ycsoaring.com/cgi-bin/cp-app.cgi?usr=50X2943340&rnd=2604487&rrc=N&cip=69.173.146.232&pg=Plains_Map
Happy
flying,
Jim
SUMMER MEETINGS:
Just like last summer, I won't be able to run the summer meetings since I play horseshoes in NH every Saturday. Here is what we had in the minutes of the February 2004 DSC Meeting.
MEETING DAY (SAT OR SUN?
That was the question!):
Ken Mac Donald said he
couldn’t make the meetings on Sunday because he goes to Church. He asked to have a discussion on having
meeting on Saturday. Several other
members said they preferred Saturday.
Attending members voted in having the meeting on Saturdays.
MEMBER PROJECTS: Matt Dyer, who is a current member of DSC, sent me an e-mail to me that has a link to some of his planes. I'm sure you will enjoy viewing his planes. You may remember reading the write up he provided for a beautiful plane he brought to a meeting's Club Show & Tell a few years ago. Matt and Rick Hallett (you will see why) gave me permission to publish Matt's e-mail.
----- Original Message -----
From: Matt Dyer
Subject: Electric R/C
Hi, Jim:
I just wanted to say that while I am an inactive
member of DSC, I really enjoy the newsletter and the e-mail messages I
get. I see that you are dabbling with LiPo batteries. I have been
doing so myself, but only for smaller models.
I did enjoy the meetings I attended, but I really
don't have such a strong interest in soaring and competition. Rick Hallet
is a great guy (I got to know him when he was a member of KVMA), but I can never
figure out just how any of his contests are scored! Right now, I only have
a small hand launched ARF glider (an Eric), and I don't fly that much.
I really am into electric R/C. All my glow
stuff has been sold, and I am 100% into electric propulsion. Some of my
planes are on my website. Check it out at:
http://mysite.verizon.net/matt.dyer/index.html
Last week, I just completed a Bird-E-Dog from Model
Aviation plans. It was featured in the April 2002 issue. The power
is a Nippy Black outrunner and a Kokam 3S 1500 mAh batter driving a 9x6E APC
prop. Should be a good flyer. It is sport scale L-19. I flew
in them when I was in the Army. I'll post a page on it when I get some
photos taken of it in completed form.
If there is an electric fun fly at the BAM field, I
will attend that.
Anyway, keep up the good work on the newsletter.
Regards,
Matt
MEMBER PROJECT:
From: Glenn Collins Sent: Sunday, May 01, 2005 4:07 PM
To: James T. Armstrong III
Subject: Speedster 400 Nearly completed a plane I found on the internet.
Speed 400 with solid balsa wing. Used laminated sheets with carbon tow inbetween. Very strong. Supposedly goes 80 mph. I made my wing longer and increased the tail size to compensate. May be a little slower but should still move out. Lower wing loading should slow it down a bit for landing. Total weight with 7 AE cells was 464 grams. 14 grams heavier than predicted. Not bad considering I added 6 inches to the span. I may try those Lithium batteries. Not sure if they put out the same voltage as the AEs or can take the current of the 6V speed 400. Pretty simple, maybe $10 in materials and 8 to 10 hours of total builiding time. May be good for a club building project. It would be fun to do some pylon racing. Look up speedster 400 on the Ezone'z High Performance board.
Glenn
NEW DSC VIDEO:
Special
“Thank You” to John LeClair for making a video of some of the action at Rick
Hallett’s Thermal Duration contest on
Jim
I have made a DVD movie out of the
footage that I taped at the thermal duration contest with my camcorder. I would
like to donate it to the clubs library. It is nothing extravagant but shows a
bunch of launches and some of the people that were in attendance. It is about 16
minutes in duration.
John
LeClair
Slope Soaring Eagle:
My neighbor, Elmer Berquist painted a slope soaring plane
that was manufactured to look like an eagle. It has ailerons as part of the wings and a
tail that is the elevator. He did it for a family member that lives in
Unlimited Thermal Duration Contest Report from CD
Rick Hallett |
|
|
from the
|
Soaring on a cloudy day |
by Bob
McCarty |
|
Need sunshine and calm air to
soar? Nope! I’ve been reading about how to find and stay in thermals with
model RC sailplanes. It all sounded pretty simple—three things give you
stronger thermals: sunny weather, light wind, and low humidity.
The first one makes sense.
Sunlight falling on plowed fields, cut grass, woods, or parking lots gives
you uneven heat, which generates thermals. The second one does too,
because the lighter the wind, the less damage done to beginning thermals.
Never did figure out the humidity part, but under-standing two out of
three isn’t bad! My first sailplane flights
as a novice pilot supported this theory. Everytime the weather was sunny
with light wind, I hit the flying fields and practiced. Then one day, I
headed out to the Wingmasters field even though the weather was not
“right” for soaring. There were storm
clouds building and a steady wind at about 15 mph. I loaded the airplane
up with ballast and let her rip. As soon as it flew off the high-start, I
knew it was in strong lift. After only three turns in the core, the
airplane was so high I could hardly see it. It was going up like a rocket.
What was that about the strongest lift on calm days? I flew for 15 minutes on
that flight, and I almost lost my airplane because I could barely see it.
Then in November, I went out to the RAMS field at Wright-Patterson AFB for
one last flying session before winter. With a solid overcast and a dark
sky, I launched toward the North. After launch, I realized that my
sailplane was slowly gaining altitude. I started flying in big
circles, drifting slowly downwind. I flew to the limit of my vision and
then headed back toward the point where I first caught lift. I found
another thermal, and rode it down the same path the first one had
followed. I landed after almost 35 minutes in the air—my longest flight to
date. So much for theory! Now I’m
going to fly whenever I get the chance—forget the weather. |
|
|
|
One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of
the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between
each name.
Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could
say about each of their classmates and write it down.
It took the remainder of the class period to finish their
assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the
papers.
That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each
student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said
about that individual.
On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before
long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard whispered. "I never knew
that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much."
were most of the comments.
No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She
never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it
didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were
happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved
on.
Several years later, one of the students was killed in
The church was packed with his friends. One by one those
who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to
bless the coffin.
As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as
pallbearer came up to her. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. She nodded:
"yes." Then he said: "Mark talked about you a lot."
After the funeral,
most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and
father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.
"We want to show you something," his father said, taking a
wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We
thought you might recognize it."
Opening the
billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had
obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without
looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good
things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.
"Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As
you can see, Mark treasured it."
All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around.
Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the
top drawer of my desk at home."
Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our
wedding album."
"I have mine too,"
Marilyn said. "It's in my diary."
Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook,
took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry
this with me at all times," Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she
continued: "I think we all saved our lists."
That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She
cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him
again.
The density of people in society is so thick that we forget
that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will
be.
So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they
are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.
Remember, you reap what you sow. What you put into the
lives of others comes back into your own.
May Your Day Be Blessed As Special As You
Are
|
|
Event | Date | Time | Location |
DSC Club Business Meeting | Saturday, 6/11/2005 | 9am coffee/pastry, 9:30 Business meeting, 10:30 Show & Tell (Slope afterwards?). | Bookland Coffee Shop, Cooks Corner, Brunswick *See Note 1 |
DSC Club Business Meeting | Saturday, 7/9/2005 | 9am coffee/pastry, 9:30 Business meeting, 10:30 Show & Tell (Slope afterwards?). | Bookland Coffee Shop, Cooks Corner, Brunswick *See Note 1 |
DSC Club Business Meeting | Saturday, 8/13/2005 | 9am coffee/pastry, 9:30 Business meeting, 10:30 Show & Tell (Slope afterwards?). | Bookland Coffee Shop, Cooks Corner, Brunswick, ME *See Note #1 |
September DSC meeting cancelled. | Saturday, 9/10/2005 | Cancelled because Great State of Maine Airshow and Electric Fun fly scheduled for same day. | Cancelled because Great State of Maine Airshow and Electric Fun fly scheduled for same day. |
BAM/DSC Maine Electric Powered Event | Saturday, 9/10/2005 | 8-5 Saturday and 10-3 Sunday | BAM Club Field Topsham |
BAM/DSC Maine Electric Powered Event | Sunday, 9/11/2005 | 8-5 Saturday and 10-3 Sunday | BAM Club Field Topsham |
c/o President / Newsletter Editor James T. Armstrong III 292 Foreside Road Topsham, ME 04086 Address Here: |