Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/08
Page Numbers: 7,197

Correction
In President Dave Mathewson’s July column, he wrote that the administration
building is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekends; that should have read “weekdays.” Our
apologies for the error.
—MA staff
Park Pilot Programs Working
I enjoyed your [Ed Anderson’s] AMA piece on
recruiting park flyers and making sailplane pilots out
of them [“Glider Clubs and the Park Pilot Program”
in the June issue]. Our club here in scenic central
Ohio (Mid Ohio Soaring Society) has been doing
just that. We started doing it before AMA had a park
flyer membership category.
And you are 100% correct, it works. Our club
membership is at the highest level since I have
started flying some 16 years ago.
When AMA announced the park flyer
membership category, MOSS passed a resolution in
our annual (and only) indoor membership meeting:
we welcome park flyer members on board, with the
understanding that we are primarily a sailplane club;
that park flyer operations have to accommodate sailplane operations, and not vice versa;
and that the park flyer guys are expected to try flying a sailplane sometime sooner or
later.
So far so good. Pass the word back to AMA.
Tom H. Nagel
Columbus, Ohio
Second Airplane
I recently read your [Michael Ramsey’s] column in Model Aviation June 2008, about
the Extra 330S Mini. This plane seemed to appeal to me very much and seemed like I
would enjoy it alot. Currently I fly a Wilga 2000 as my first RC plane. So I was
wondering if this would be a good second plane, using an electric motor.
I am still a novice at knowing all the plane terms and such. I have made many repairs
to my Wilga though. My remote though is 4-channel, would I have to upgrade to a sixchannel
by chance for the 330S? If you have any other good second planes in mind
please inform me.
Bruno Berry
via E-mail
In my opinion, most of the models in the Fliton line aren’t designed to take a beating
during takeoff and landing. I remember my second airplane, and the landing gear
typically needed straightening every once in awhile.
The Extra aircraft don’t have self-leveling characteristics like your Wilga. I
recommend that you explore the Sport Aviator Web site, www.masportaviator.com, for
ideas about what types of models make a good second airplane.
Have fun!
Michael Ramsey
MA Editor
Move the AGS Retro Tank
I read with interest the construction article, AGS Retro, by Bob Noll and Ken Maroni
in the Feb. 2008 issue of Model Aviation. After inspecting the plans of this cute little
monoplane I noticed that the tank location was shown very low in the fuselage—about 2-
1/2 inches too low, by my measurement.
It’s been my experience that this disparity produces unreliable engine operation (even
with muffler pressure), making the maneuvers mentioned (stall turns, etc.) improbable
without engine flameout due to severe mixture control problems.
Since neither the article or plans mention using a regulated fuel pump—which would
be overkill for this type of model/engine combination in the first place, I wonder if the
following wouldn’t make a better combination using muffler pressure: 1) Invert the engine, effectively moving
the carburetor’s metering-jet down.
2) Mount the tank a bit higher in the fuselage
so its horizontal centerline (center of the fuel
mass) passes 1/4-3/8-inch below the
carburetor’s metering-jet.
This fuel delivery system has shown to
produce reliable performance and trouble-free
operation in the past.
Dave Gierke
Lancaster, New York
Aero Mail
Continued from page 7
You have a legitimate concern
regarding the tank location on the AGS
Retro. When I received your e-mail I had
to check the plane since I built it several
years ago. Sure enough, the tank is
located per the plans. I can’t believe I
did this since I know that the position of
any fuel tank should be located closer to
the needle valve for optimum
performance.
I did not use a pump or pressurized
fuel system. I only used muffler pressure
to the tank. I think I have been lucky in
that I have experienced no problem in
any of my flights, during which I did all
of the aerobatic maneuvers that a plane
like this can do. It is important to note
that I seldom fly until the fuel level is
low.
I contacted the designer, Ken Maroni,
and he agreed that the tank location
shown on the plans should be higher. I
therefore suggest that anyone building
the plane should raise the tank to its
highest position which is easy to do with
this fuselage design.
Thanks for your heads up review of
the AGS Retro. MA
Bob Noll
[email protected]
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/08
Page Numbers: 7,197

Correction
In President Dave Mathewson’s July column, he wrote that the administration
building is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekends; that should have read “weekdays.” Our
apologies for the error.
—MA staff
Park Pilot Programs Working
I enjoyed your [Ed Anderson’s] AMA piece on
recruiting park flyers and making sailplane pilots out
of them [“Glider Clubs and the Park Pilot Program”
in the June issue]. Our club here in scenic central
Ohio (Mid Ohio Soaring Society) has been doing
just that. We started doing it before AMA had a park
flyer membership category.
And you are 100% correct, it works. Our club
membership is at the highest level since I have
started flying some 16 years ago.
When AMA announced the park flyer
membership category, MOSS passed a resolution in
our annual (and only) indoor membership meeting:
we welcome park flyer members on board, with the
understanding that we are primarily a sailplane club;
that park flyer operations have to accommodate sailplane operations, and not vice versa;
and that the park flyer guys are expected to try flying a sailplane sometime sooner or
later.
So far so good. Pass the word back to AMA.
Tom H. Nagel
Columbus, Ohio
Second Airplane
I recently read your [Michael Ramsey’s] column in Model Aviation June 2008, about
the Extra 330S Mini. This plane seemed to appeal to me very much and seemed like I
would enjoy it alot. Currently I fly a Wilga 2000 as my first RC plane. So I was
wondering if this would be a good second plane, using an electric motor.
I am still a novice at knowing all the plane terms and such. I have made many repairs
to my Wilga though. My remote though is 4-channel, would I have to upgrade to a sixchannel
by chance for the 330S? If you have any other good second planes in mind
please inform me.
Bruno Berry
via E-mail
In my opinion, most of the models in the Fliton line aren’t designed to take a beating
during takeoff and landing. I remember my second airplane, and the landing gear
typically needed straightening every once in awhile.
The Extra aircraft don’t have self-leveling characteristics like your Wilga. I
recommend that you explore the Sport Aviator Web site, www.masportaviator.com, for
ideas about what types of models make a good second airplane.
Have fun!
Michael Ramsey
MA Editor
Move the AGS Retro Tank
I read with interest the construction article, AGS Retro, by Bob Noll and Ken Maroni
in the Feb. 2008 issue of Model Aviation. After inspecting the plans of this cute little
monoplane I noticed that the tank location was shown very low in the fuselage—about 2-
1/2 inches too low, by my measurement.
It’s been my experience that this disparity produces unreliable engine operation (even
with muffler pressure), making the maneuvers mentioned (stall turns, etc.) improbable
without engine flameout due to severe mixture control problems.
Since neither the article or plans mention using a regulated fuel pump—which would
be overkill for this type of model/engine combination in the first place, I wonder if the
following wouldn’t make a better combination using muffler pressure: 1) Invert the engine, effectively moving
the carburetor’s metering-jet down.
2) Mount the tank a bit higher in the fuselage
so its horizontal centerline (center of the fuel
mass) passes 1/4-3/8-inch below the
carburetor’s metering-jet.
This fuel delivery system has shown to
produce reliable performance and trouble-free
operation in the past.
Dave Gierke
Lancaster, New York
Aero Mail
Continued from page 7
You have a legitimate concern
regarding the tank location on the AGS
Retro. When I received your e-mail I had
to check the plane since I built it several
years ago. Sure enough, the tank is
located per the plans. I can’t believe I
did this since I know that the position of
any fuel tank should be located closer to
the needle valve for optimum
performance.
I did not use a pump or pressurized
fuel system. I only used muffler pressure
to the tank. I think I have been lucky in
that I have experienced no problem in
any of my flights, during which I did all
of the aerobatic maneuvers that a plane
like this can do. It is important to note
that I seldom fly until the fuel level is
low.
I contacted the designer, Ken Maroni,
and he agreed that the tank location
shown on the plans should be higher. I
therefore suggest that anyone building
the plane should raise the tank to its
highest position which is easy to do with
this fuselage design.
Thanks for your heads up review of
the AGS Retro. MA
Bob Noll
[email protected]