Aero Mail
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 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 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 a lot. 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 six-channel 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 a while.
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 nor 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:
- Invert the engine, effectively moving the carburetor’s metering-jet down.
- 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 been shown to produce reliable performance and trouble-free operation in the past.
Dave Gierke Lancaster, New York
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]
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
