INtheAIRLATE-BREAKING NEWS FROM THE ACADEMY
AMA Plans Service FAQ
Q: Who do I call for plans?
A: AMA Plans Coordinator John Zgunda. He can be reached at (765) 287-1256,
extension 507 (members may use the toll-free number: [800] I-FLY-AMA, or [800]
435-9262), or at [email protected].
Q: What plans do you offer?
A: There are two main collections available: the John Pond Plans Collection and the
Model Aviation Plans Service. AMA offers other plans that are unlisted, so please call for
availability and pricing.
Q: Are all AMA plans for sale?
A: No. We try not to infringe on other plans services’ copyrights. Our intention is to serve
our members—not put other plans companies out of business. We will supply the addresses
or telephone numbers for other plans services.
Q: How can I get an order form?
A: You can download an order form from the AMA Web site and there is one in your MA.
Q: What type of payment is accepted?
A: Mail-in orders can be paid by check, money order, or Visa/MasterCard. Only Visa
and MasterCard will be accepted at the AMA Convention. Sorry, but we do not accept
other credit cards.
Q: Is there a catalog for the AMA Plans Service?
A: The Old Time Plans Service catalog dated 1999-2000 is used for the Pond plans,
but the prices therein are incorrect. A few catalogs are available from the AMA Plans
Service for $10 or you can view or download a copy from the AMA Web site at no
charge. You can also download an MA plans list from the AMA Web site or you can
purchase a printed copy for $2 from the AMA Plans Service.
Q: Can plans be reduced or enlarged?
A: Yes. Plans can usually be resized to produce the wingspan you want. Call for
special requests and a price quote.
Q: The plans I want are not listed. What can I do?
A: Sometimes we can find a vendor who can fulfill your needs. We will be glad to
pass on the information at no charge.
Q: What is the exchange and refund policy for plans?
A: Once shipped, all sales are final. We do our best to make sure the quality is good, but we
cannot guarantee satisfaction; e.g., kit plans are not always complete with templates.
Q: How will the plans be shipped?
A: Plans are rolled and sent via USPS Priority Mail. Foreign mail is folded and shipped in a box.
Q: How long will it take for me to get my plans?
A: Normal shipping time is two to three weeks.
Q: Do you have “walk-in” sales at AMA Headquarters in Muncie, Indiana?
A: Yes. Plans ordered before 10 a.m. can be picked up after 2 p.m. There is no shipping
charge this way, but Indiana sales tax will be added.
Q: Is there a “show special” for AMA Convention 2006?
A: Yes. All orders taken at the convention will feature free shipping.
Q: Can I see the plans before I order?
A: Not at this time.
Q: Are pictures of models available?
A: You can view photos of airplanes built from MA plans at www.modelaircraft.org/
plans.asp. There are no pictures of models built from the John Pond Plans Collection. MA
—AMA Headquarters
AMA is gearing up for a significant
promotional campaign. The Boys Scouts of
America and the Academy are teaming up
for the Crossroads of America Council Fall
2006 Camporee, Mission: Radio Control!
This all-weekend event will take place
October 13-15, 2006, and is expected to
bring more than 3,500 Boy Scouts and Cub
Scouts to the International Aeromodeling
Center in Muncie, Indiana.
The Scouts will participate in a variety
of hands-on activities such as flying buddy
boxes, driving an RC car, controlling an RC
boat, making kites, and constructing buildand-
take Sky Streak models. Attendees will
also have the opportunity to watch an LED
night-flying spectacle and visit the National
Model Aviation Museum.
AMA is excited to welcome the Scouts
and has high hopes for Mission Radio
Control! MA
—Tom Schwyn
Marketing Director
We Have a Winner!
Bruce Luick (Payson AZ) won the prize
package in AMA’s “Come Fly with Us”
Sweepstakes for the month of October. He
will receive more than $200 worth of AMA
merchandise from AMA’s Cloud 9 Museum
Store.
Bruce is still eligible to win the grand
prize: a Giant Scale ARF—a Hangar 9 TOC
Ultimate biplane—a JR 10X radio, and a
Desert Aircraft DA-150 engine. This is a
$6,000 value!
If you renew your AMA membership by
March 31, 2006, you will automatically be
entered to win! Visit www.modelaircraft.
org/flywithus.asp for more information
about this contest. MA
—Tom Schwyn
Marketing Director
10 MODEL AVIATION
• There is something for every plans
builder this month; four
construction articles include Don
Srull’s beautiful 1935 1/2A Taylor
Cub E-2 spanning 50 inches, Bob
Oslan’s redesigned Ben Shereshaw
Commodore for a .29 engine and
RC for the Old-Time-model lovers,
Nats champion John Jo’s Voodoo
CL Combat design, and Clarence
Haught’s VIT-AR FF Power trainer
called the Sea Power.
• Dave Ritchie takes us back in time
to show us how he mates a Brown
Junior .60 engine, a 1938 Comet
Clipper, and radio control in the
same aircraft. His schematic
diagram shows how to couple the
ignition wiring to the RC.
• Ned Kragness presents a great howto
article about making laminated
curves for wing and stabilizer tips.
A.A. Lidberg shows readers how to
make a simple turning lathe from a
Dremel Moto-Tool.
Twenty-Five Years Ago in MA:
February 1981
INtheAIR
Lithium batteries have become extremely
popular for powering control and power
systems in models because of their high
energy density (capacity/weight ratio)
compared to Ni-Cds or other batteries. With
high energy comes increased risk in their use.
The principal risk is fire, which can result
from improper charging, crash damage, or
shorting the batteries.
All Lithium-battery vendors warn
customers of this danger and recommend
extreme caution in their use. However, many
fires have resulted from the misuse of Li-Poly
batteries, leading to the loss of models and
automobiles. Other property, such as homes,
garages, and workshops, have also burned.
A Lithium-battery fire burns explosively
at several thousand degrees and is an
excellent initiator for ancillary fires. Fire is
caused by contact between Lithium and
oxygen in the air. It needs no other source of
ignition, or fuel, to start.
The following is recommended for
Lithium batteries to preclude ancillary
fires.
1) Store and charge in a fireproof
container—never in your model.
2) Charge in a protected area that is
devoid of combustibles.
3) In the event of damage from crashes,
etc., carefully move the battery pack to a safe
place for at least a half hour to observe.
Physically damaged cells can erupt into
flames.
After sufficient time to ensure safety, the
cells should be discarded in accordance with
the instructions that come with the batteries.
Never attempt to charge a cell with physical
damage, regardless of how slight.
4) Always use chargers designed for the
specific purpose; it’s preferable to have a
fixed setting for your particular pack. Many
fires occur while using selectable/adjustable
chargers that are set improperly. Never
attempt to charge Lithium cells with a charger
that is not specifically designed for Lithium
cells! Never use chargers that are specifically
designed for Ni-Cd batteries.
5) Use charging systems that monitor,
control, and balance the charge state of each
cell in the pack. Unbalanced cells can lead to
disaster if the system permits a single cell in
the pack to be overcharged. This means that
the charging system must provide charge
cessation as each cell reaches the proper
voltage.
If the batteries show any sign of swelling,
discontinue charging and move them to a safe
place—outside. They could erupt into flames.
6) Never plug in a battery and leave it to
charge unattended; serious fires have resulted
from this practice.
7) Do not attempt to make your own
battery packs from individual cells. Use only
professionally packaged and labeled units
which contain safer charging features.
Lithium batteries cannot be handled and
charged casually, as has been the practice
for years with other types of batteries. The
consequences can be serious, resulting in
major property damage and/or personal
harm. MA
—AMA Safety Committee
Welcome, Life Members!
The Academy recently welcomed the
following new Life Members. For
information about becoming a Life Member,
contact AMA Headquarters at (800) I-FLYAMA
([800] 435-9262). MA
—Membership Department
Charles Smith (Chicago IL)
Stanley Friedman (La Mesa CA)
Drew Telford (Sierra Vista CA)
Dan Hansen (Boise ID)
Hai Tran (Colorado Springs CO)
Martin Treat (Queen Creek AZ)
John Bentley (Gilbert AZ)
John Vantuno (Denver CO)
Tom Moore (Palm Coast FL)
William Unghire (Newington CT)
Victor Kanardy (APO AE)
George Beeler (Hampton VA)
David Hoy (Renton WA)
Christopher Bennett (Jacksonville FL)
Thomas Branch (Atlanta GA)
Kenneth Wright (Canyon Country CA)
Jeffrey Walrath (New Carlisle OH)
Charles Zang (Albuquerque NM)
Leonard Ralston (Woodbridge VA)
Walter Russell (Auburn WA)
Kevin Sandberg (El Paso TX)
Michael S. Beguelin (Napa CA)
John Dalton (Topeka KS)
Donald Lacey (Tucson AZ)
George Miller (Lake Charles LA)
Emergency Safety Alert: Lithium Battery Fires
• New products include a mechanical
servo mixer by World Engines for
$5.95, Jemco’s new Master Scale
Series Douglas Dauntless kit for
$165, and Horizon Models’ new
Neptune flying boat for $119. MA
—Rich LaGrange
AMA Librarian
February 2006 11
INtheAIR
Nominations For AMA
Vice Presidents Due
Nominations for the office of vice
president in Districts II, IV, VI, VIII, and X
are due at AMA Headquarters June 15,
2006. Any AMA Open member may submit
a nomination.
To be eligible to carry out the duties of
AMA vice president, a nominee must be a
Leader Member and reside in the district for
which he or she is nominated.
A letter of acceptance and a résumé of
professional qualifications and modelaviation
experience from the nominee must
be on file at AMA Headquarters by June 30,
2006.
See page 168 for more information
about nominating procedures or call Mary
Lou Vojslavek at (765) 287-1256,
extension 201. MA
—AMA Headquarters
The 2005 Nats CD has just been released
and can be yours for $4.95 plus shipping and
handling. If you were not there but wish you
had been or know someone who was unable
to attend, this CD is the next best thing to
being there. Chase away those winter blues
with a look back at one of the most
prestigious and popular aeromodeling events
in the world!
Hundreds of photos capture the essence
and nonstop action. The CD also includes
every issue of the NatsNews daily newsletter,
dozens of bonus photos, the official 2005
Nats Program Guide, and video clips from
the popular AMA aeromodeling DVD series.
Order your copy today by visiting the
Nats section of the AMA WebStore at
www.modelaircraft.org/webstore.asp.
While you’re there, browse AMA
apparel, accessories, books, toys, and
gifts for your family and friends. Or you
can call the Supply and Service
Department at (800) I-FLY-AMA
([800] 435-9262), extension 212. MA
—AMA Headquarters
Relive the 2005 Nats!
ACADEMY OFMODEL AERONAUTICS • INTERNATIONAL AEROMODELINGCENTER • MUNCIE, INDIANA •
W EB SITE: WWW.MODELAIRCRAFT.ORG• E- MAIL: LONNIEE@ MODELAIRCRAFT.ORG
NA TS NE WS NATSN E W S July 8, 2005July 2005
The first-place pilots aren’t letting go!
Grab yourself a cup of coffee and check out the score
sheets. In the Unlimited class, Mark Leseberg has continued
to inch himself away from the competition.
Continuing to pound the sticks, Baron Johnson and Jason
Noll are going for knockouts, throwing punches in the
Known rounds and making every Unknown round count. The
race is so close that segments of a maneuver are all that’s
separating them.
Even the lowest K-Factor maneuver out of any round
could spell disaster for the hope of getting a title position.
Imagine that—over rotate on a roll maneuver, or pull a 55°
line instead of a 45° line, and the contest is all over.
From watching the Unknown sequence, it looked like the
maneuver with a Split-S and the half outside snap on the
bottom is what shook a number of pilots. Snaps happen so
fast, to nail the stops at the half rotation point takes a lot of
skill. Either you have it, or you don’t, and that little part of
the contest definitely showed us who the best pilots were.
So it looks like Mark Leseberg has it all wrapped up. The
finals tomorrow might tell a different story. Mike McConville
is steadily gaining strong support for a top spot. He has a
number of high scores, has even won a few rounds, and
came in only three points behind on an Unknown round.
David Moser has a firm grip on seventh place, but
bouncing around him is Frank Noll and coming up fast is Ivan
Kristensen.
Sixteen year old Kyle Woyshnis maintained his sweep in
the Advanced category. Not far behind, Cam McCausey has a
firm grip on second, and Kenny Willis is only 75 points into
third. Could there be an upset in second place? We’ll see.
Intermediate is showing some movement even though
Stephen Hamilton has a permanent grip on first place. Pedro
Jordan,got bumped from second place down to third by
Ryan Gonsoulin.
From the third place spot on
down there’s been some upset
and triumph with Keith
McDonald leaping from tenth
place yesterday into fourth
today. That’s one heck of an
effort that ensured his shot at
Copyright Academy of Model
Aeronautics 2005.
WEATHER
FORECAST
Friday
Hi 86 F
Lo 64 F
Partly Cloudy
Saturday
Hi 86
Low 63
Clear
Sunday
Hi 88
Low 63
Clear
Monday
Hi 84
Low 66
T-storms
Tuesday
Hi 81
Low 66
T-storms
Information courtesy of
www.wthr.com
1 NatsNews
Andy Kane warms the engine up on his YAK-55 prior to flying
his Unknown sequence. The 3.3 meter Composite ARF is a
monster having a wing span of 131-inches. The weight of
this aircraft is around 44 pounds, with is considerably light.
The paint scheme is actually finished in the mold so the
overall surface of the composite skin is as smooth as glass.
Going for the Gold!!
Andy’s Composite ARF YAK-555SP
is adorned with a specially
painted propeller. The propeller
is a Mejzlik three-bladed 31-12
and it suits his Signature Series
ZDZ 210 very well. The Signature
Series engine is special for its
smoother running, easier starts,
and power increase. All of the
performance enhancements are
by "blue-printing" the engine,
which means extra time and
care was taken to exactly size
the injection ports and dress the
casings.
Links on theWeb!
For more news, events,
and information, go to
www.modelaircraft.org.
The Brooklyn Skyscrapers Model Airplane Club was founded in
1936 in Brooklyn (NY) and has been going strong ever since. To
celebrate its 70 years of FF activity the group has planned a yearlong
festival of events for 2006.
There will be a gala luncheon April 1, to which all present and past
club members are invited. Charter members Sal Taibi and Leon
Shulman have already assured the club that they will attend. All
Skyscrapers who want to attend this event should contact Dave Acton
no later than March 1, 2006. (His address is 89 N. Broadway,
Apartment 102, White Plains NY 10603; Tel.: [914] 948-4234; E-mail:
[email protected].)
Although the club’s roots are in Brooklyn, the bulk of its active
members now reside throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut,
Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and they do most of their flying at Bryton
Barron Memorial Field in Wawayanda, New York. Assembled by
Skyscraper Andrew Barron, the nearly treeless site consists of almost
800 acres of open farmland, most of which is planted with sod.
Invitational FF meets scheduled for the site in 2006 are the
Skyscrapers International Challenge (May 27-28); the Eastern US FF
Championships (June 10-11), which was relocated because its usual
site in Maryland was unavailable; the Skyscrapers 70th Anniversary
Annual (July 1-2); the Wilbur & Orville Contest (August date to be
announced); and the Skyscrapers Fall Contest (October 21-22).
The 70th Anniversary Annual will feature a special one-design
event for the 1951 SpitBall 1/2A that I designed as a Skyscraper
member. (See page 119 of Frank Zaic’s 1951-52 Model Aeronautic
Year Book for more about this model.) The event will be run according
to National Free Flight Society Nostalgia rules.
In addition to the preceding contests, the Skyscrapers will sponsor
Record Trials at Barron Field May 11, July 8, August 12, September 9,
and October 14. Log onto the club’s Web site—www.brooklynsky
scrapers.org—for further information. MA
—Bob Hatschek
District II
Brooklyn Skyscrapers at Creedmoor Field in 1938.
A recent shot of some Skyscrapers at a National Free Flight
Society banquet.
Skyscrapers Celebrate 70 Years of Free Flight
02sig1.QXD 12/22/05 10:15 AM Page 11
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/02
Page Numbers: 9,10,11
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/02
Page Numbers: 9,10,11
INtheAIRLATE-BREAKING NEWS FROM THE ACADEMY
AMA Plans Service FAQ
Q: Who do I call for plans?
A: AMA Plans Coordinator John Zgunda. He can be reached at (765) 287-1256,
extension 507 (members may use the toll-free number: [800] I-FLY-AMA, or [800]
435-9262), or at [email protected].
Q: What plans do you offer?
A: There are two main collections available: the John Pond Plans Collection and the
Model Aviation Plans Service. AMA offers other plans that are unlisted, so please call for
availability and pricing.
Q: Are all AMA plans for sale?
A: No. We try not to infringe on other plans services’ copyrights. Our intention is to serve
our members—not put other plans companies out of business. We will supply the addresses
or telephone numbers for other plans services.
Q: How can I get an order form?
A: You can download an order form from the AMA Web site and there is one in your MA.
Q: What type of payment is accepted?
A: Mail-in orders can be paid by check, money order, or Visa/MasterCard. Only Visa
and MasterCard will be accepted at the AMA Convention. Sorry, but we do not accept
other credit cards.
Q: Is there a catalog for the AMA Plans Service?
A: The Old Time Plans Service catalog dated 1999-2000 is used for the Pond plans,
but the prices therein are incorrect. A few catalogs are available from the AMA Plans
Service for $10 or you can view or download a copy from the AMA Web site at no
charge. You can also download an MA plans list from the AMA Web site or you can
purchase a printed copy for $2 from the AMA Plans Service.
Q: Can plans be reduced or enlarged?
A: Yes. Plans can usually be resized to produce the wingspan you want. Call for
special requests and a price quote.
Q: The plans I want are not listed. What can I do?
A: Sometimes we can find a vendor who can fulfill your needs. We will be glad to
pass on the information at no charge.
Q: What is the exchange and refund policy for plans?
A: Once shipped, all sales are final. We do our best to make sure the quality is good, but we
cannot guarantee satisfaction; e.g., kit plans are not always complete with templates.
Q: How will the plans be shipped?
A: Plans are rolled and sent via USPS Priority Mail. Foreign mail is folded and shipped in a box.
Q: How long will it take for me to get my plans?
A: Normal shipping time is two to three weeks.
Q: Do you have “walk-in” sales at AMA Headquarters in Muncie, Indiana?
A: Yes. Plans ordered before 10 a.m. can be picked up after 2 p.m. There is no shipping
charge this way, but Indiana sales tax will be added.
Q: Is there a “show special” for AMA Convention 2006?
A: Yes. All orders taken at the convention will feature free shipping.
Q: Can I see the plans before I order?
A: Not at this time.
Q: Are pictures of models available?
A: You can view photos of airplanes built from MA plans at www.modelaircraft.org/
plans.asp. There are no pictures of models built from the John Pond Plans Collection. MA
—AMA Headquarters
AMA is gearing up for a significant
promotional campaign. The Boys Scouts of
America and the Academy are teaming up
for the Crossroads of America Council Fall
2006 Camporee, Mission: Radio Control!
This all-weekend event will take place
October 13-15, 2006, and is expected to
bring more than 3,500 Boy Scouts and Cub
Scouts to the International Aeromodeling
Center in Muncie, Indiana.
The Scouts will participate in a variety
of hands-on activities such as flying buddy
boxes, driving an RC car, controlling an RC
boat, making kites, and constructing buildand-
take Sky Streak models. Attendees will
also have the opportunity to watch an LED
night-flying spectacle and visit the National
Model Aviation Museum.
AMA is excited to welcome the Scouts
and has high hopes for Mission Radio
Control! MA
—Tom Schwyn
Marketing Director
We Have a Winner!
Bruce Luick (Payson AZ) won the prize
package in AMA’s “Come Fly with Us”
Sweepstakes for the month of October. He
will receive more than $200 worth of AMA
merchandise from AMA’s Cloud 9 Museum
Store.
Bruce is still eligible to win the grand
prize: a Giant Scale ARF—a Hangar 9 TOC
Ultimate biplane—a JR 10X radio, and a
Desert Aircraft DA-150 engine. This is a
$6,000 value!
If you renew your AMA membership by
March 31, 2006, you will automatically be
entered to win! Visit www.modelaircraft.
org/flywithus.asp for more information
about this contest. MA
—Tom Schwyn
Marketing Director
10 MODEL AVIATION
• There is something for every plans
builder this month; four
construction articles include Don
Srull’s beautiful 1935 1/2A Taylor
Cub E-2 spanning 50 inches, Bob
Oslan’s redesigned Ben Shereshaw
Commodore for a .29 engine and
RC for the Old-Time-model lovers,
Nats champion John Jo’s Voodoo
CL Combat design, and Clarence
Haught’s VIT-AR FF Power trainer
called the Sea Power.
• Dave Ritchie takes us back in time
to show us how he mates a Brown
Junior .60 engine, a 1938 Comet
Clipper, and radio control in the
same aircraft. His schematic
diagram shows how to couple the
ignition wiring to the RC.
• Ned Kragness presents a great howto
article about making laminated
curves for wing and stabilizer tips.
A.A. Lidberg shows readers how to
make a simple turning lathe from a
Dremel Moto-Tool.
Twenty-Five Years Ago in MA:
February 1981
INtheAIR
Lithium batteries have become extremely
popular for powering control and power
systems in models because of their high
energy density (capacity/weight ratio)
compared to Ni-Cds or other batteries. With
high energy comes increased risk in their use.
The principal risk is fire, which can result
from improper charging, crash damage, or
shorting the batteries.
All Lithium-battery vendors warn
customers of this danger and recommend
extreme caution in their use. However, many
fires have resulted from the misuse of Li-Poly
batteries, leading to the loss of models and
automobiles. Other property, such as homes,
garages, and workshops, have also burned.
A Lithium-battery fire burns explosively
at several thousand degrees and is an
excellent initiator for ancillary fires. Fire is
caused by contact between Lithium and
oxygen in the air. It needs no other source of
ignition, or fuel, to start.
The following is recommended for
Lithium batteries to preclude ancillary
fires.
1) Store and charge in a fireproof
container—never in your model.
2) Charge in a protected area that is
devoid of combustibles.
3) In the event of damage from crashes,
etc., carefully move the battery pack to a safe
place for at least a half hour to observe.
Physically damaged cells can erupt into
flames.
After sufficient time to ensure safety, the
cells should be discarded in accordance with
the instructions that come with the batteries.
Never attempt to charge a cell with physical
damage, regardless of how slight.
4) Always use chargers designed for the
specific purpose; it’s preferable to have a
fixed setting for your particular pack. Many
fires occur while using selectable/adjustable
chargers that are set improperly. Never
attempt to charge Lithium cells with a charger
that is not specifically designed for Lithium
cells! Never use chargers that are specifically
designed for Ni-Cd batteries.
5) Use charging systems that monitor,
control, and balance the charge state of each
cell in the pack. Unbalanced cells can lead to
disaster if the system permits a single cell in
the pack to be overcharged. This means that
the charging system must provide charge
cessation as each cell reaches the proper
voltage.
If the batteries show any sign of swelling,
discontinue charging and move them to a safe
place—outside. They could erupt into flames.
6) Never plug in a battery and leave it to
charge unattended; serious fires have resulted
from this practice.
7) Do not attempt to make your own
battery packs from individual cells. Use only
professionally packaged and labeled units
which contain safer charging features.
Lithium batteries cannot be handled and
charged casually, as has been the practice
for years with other types of batteries. The
consequences can be serious, resulting in
major property damage and/or personal
harm. MA
—AMA Safety Committee
Welcome, Life Members!
The Academy recently welcomed the
following new Life Members. For
information about becoming a Life Member,
contact AMA Headquarters at (800) I-FLYAMA
([800] 435-9262). MA
—Membership Department
Charles Smith (Chicago IL)
Stanley Friedman (La Mesa CA)
Drew Telford (Sierra Vista CA)
Dan Hansen (Boise ID)
Hai Tran (Colorado Springs CO)
Martin Treat (Queen Creek AZ)
John Bentley (Gilbert AZ)
John Vantuno (Denver CO)
Tom Moore (Palm Coast FL)
William Unghire (Newington CT)
Victor Kanardy (APO AE)
George Beeler (Hampton VA)
David Hoy (Renton WA)
Christopher Bennett (Jacksonville FL)
Thomas Branch (Atlanta GA)
Kenneth Wright (Canyon Country CA)
Jeffrey Walrath (New Carlisle OH)
Charles Zang (Albuquerque NM)
Leonard Ralston (Woodbridge VA)
Walter Russell (Auburn WA)
Kevin Sandberg (El Paso TX)
Michael S. Beguelin (Napa CA)
John Dalton (Topeka KS)
Donald Lacey (Tucson AZ)
George Miller (Lake Charles LA)
Emergency Safety Alert: Lithium Battery Fires
• New products include a mechanical
servo mixer by World Engines for
$5.95, Jemco’s new Master Scale
Series Douglas Dauntless kit for
$165, and Horizon Models’ new
Neptune flying boat for $119. MA
—Rich LaGrange
AMA Librarian
February 2006 11
INtheAIR
Nominations For AMA
Vice Presidents Due
Nominations for the office of vice
president in Districts II, IV, VI, VIII, and X
are due at AMA Headquarters June 15,
2006. Any AMA Open member may submit
a nomination.
To be eligible to carry out the duties of
AMA vice president, a nominee must be a
Leader Member and reside in the district for
which he or she is nominated.
A letter of acceptance and a résumé of
professional qualifications and modelaviation
experience from the nominee must
be on file at AMA Headquarters by June 30,
2006.
See page 168 for more information
about nominating procedures or call Mary
Lou Vojslavek at (765) 287-1256,
extension 201. MA
—AMA Headquarters
The 2005 Nats CD has just been released
and can be yours for $4.95 plus shipping and
handling. If you were not there but wish you
had been or know someone who was unable
to attend, this CD is the next best thing to
being there. Chase away those winter blues
with a look back at one of the most
prestigious and popular aeromodeling events
in the world!
Hundreds of photos capture the essence
and nonstop action. The CD also includes
every issue of the NatsNews daily newsletter,
dozens of bonus photos, the official 2005
Nats Program Guide, and video clips from
the popular AMA aeromodeling DVD series.
Order your copy today by visiting the
Nats section of the AMA WebStore at
www.modelaircraft.org/webstore.asp.
While you’re there, browse AMA
apparel, accessories, books, toys, and
gifts for your family and friends. Or you
can call the Supply and Service
Department at (800) I-FLY-AMA
([800] 435-9262), extension 212. MA
—AMA Headquarters
Relive the 2005 Nats!
ACADEMY OFMODEL AERONAUTICS • INTERNATIONAL AEROMODELINGCENTER • MUNCIE, INDIANA •
W EB SITE: WWW.MODELAIRCRAFT.ORG• E- MAIL: LONNIEE@ MODELAIRCRAFT.ORG
NA TS NE WS NATSN E W S July 8, 2005July 2005
The first-place pilots aren’t letting go!
Grab yourself a cup of coffee and check out the score
sheets. In the Unlimited class, Mark Leseberg has continued
to inch himself away from the competition.
Continuing to pound the sticks, Baron Johnson and Jason
Noll are going for knockouts, throwing punches in the
Known rounds and making every Unknown round count. The
race is so close that segments of a maneuver are all that’s
separating them.
Even the lowest K-Factor maneuver out of any round
could spell disaster for the hope of getting a title position.
Imagine that—over rotate on a roll maneuver, or pull a 55°
line instead of a 45° line, and the contest is all over.
From watching the Unknown sequence, it looked like the
maneuver with a Split-S and the half outside snap on the
bottom is what shook a number of pilots. Snaps happen so
fast, to nail the stops at the half rotation point takes a lot of
skill. Either you have it, or you don’t, and that little part of
the contest definitely showed us who the best pilots were.
So it looks like Mark Leseberg has it all wrapped up. The
finals tomorrow might tell a different story. Mike McConville
is steadily gaining strong support for a top spot. He has a
number of high scores, has even won a few rounds, and
came in only three points behind on an Unknown round.
David Moser has a firm grip on seventh place, but
bouncing around him is Frank Noll and coming up fast is Ivan
Kristensen.
Sixteen year old Kyle Woyshnis maintained his sweep in
the Advanced category. Not far behind, Cam McCausey has a
firm grip on second, and Kenny Willis is only 75 points into
third. Could there be an upset in second place? We’ll see.
Intermediate is showing some movement even though
Stephen Hamilton has a permanent grip on first place. Pedro
Jordan,got bumped from second place down to third by
Ryan Gonsoulin.
From the third place spot on
down there’s been some upset
and triumph with Keith
McDonald leaping from tenth
place yesterday into fourth
today. That’s one heck of an
effort that ensured his shot at
Copyright Academy of Model
Aeronautics 2005.
WEATHER
FORECAST
Friday
Hi 86 F
Lo 64 F
Partly Cloudy
Saturday
Hi 86
Low 63
Clear
Sunday
Hi 88
Low 63
Clear
Monday
Hi 84
Low 66
T-storms
Tuesday
Hi 81
Low 66
T-storms
Information courtesy of
www.wthr.com
1 NatsNews
Andy Kane warms the engine up on his YAK-55 prior to flying
his Unknown sequence. The 3.3 meter Composite ARF is a
monster having a wing span of 131-inches. The weight of
this aircraft is around 44 pounds, with is considerably light.
The paint scheme is actually finished in the mold so the
overall surface of the composite skin is as smooth as glass.
Going for the Gold!!
Andy’s Composite ARF YAK-555SP
is adorned with a specially
painted propeller. The propeller
is a Mejzlik three-bladed 31-12
and it suits his Signature Series
ZDZ 210 very well. The Signature
Series engine is special for its
smoother running, easier starts,
and power increase. All of the
performance enhancements are
by "blue-printing" the engine,
which means extra time and
care was taken to exactly size
the injection ports and dress the
casings.
Links on theWeb!
For more news, events,
and information, go to
www.modelaircraft.org.
The Brooklyn Skyscrapers Model Airplane Club was founded in
1936 in Brooklyn (NY) and has been going strong ever since. To
celebrate its 70 years of FF activity the group has planned a yearlong
festival of events for 2006.
There will be a gala luncheon April 1, to which all present and past
club members are invited. Charter members Sal Taibi and Leon
Shulman have already assured the club that they will attend. All
Skyscrapers who want to attend this event should contact Dave Acton
no later than March 1, 2006. (His address is 89 N. Broadway,
Apartment 102, White Plains NY 10603; Tel.: [914] 948-4234; E-mail:
[email protected].)
Although the club’s roots are in Brooklyn, the bulk of its active
members now reside throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut,
Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and they do most of their flying at Bryton
Barron Memorial Field in Wawayanda, New York. Assembled by
Skyscraper Andrew Barron, the nearly treeless site consists of almost
800 acres of open farmland, most of which is planted with sod.
Invitational FF meets scheduled for the site in 2006 are the
Skyscrapers International Challenge (May 27-28); the Eastern US FF
Championships (June 10-11), which was relocated because its usual
site in Maryland was unavailable; the Skyscrapers 70th Anniversary
Annual (July 1-2); the Wilbur & Orville Contest (August date to be
announced); and the Skyscrapers Fall Contest (October 21-22).
The 70th Anniversary Annual will feature a special one-design
event for the 1951 SpitBall 1/2A that I designed as a Skyscraper
member. (See page 119 of Frank Zaic’s 1951-52 Model Aeronautic
Year Book for more about this model.) The event will be run according
to National Free Flight Society Nostalgia rules.
In addition to the preceding contests, the Skyscrapers will sponsor
Record Trials at Barron Field May 11, July 8, August 12, September 9,
and October 14. Log onto the club’s Web site—www.brooklynsky
scrapers.org—for further information. MA
—Bob Hatschek
District II
Brooklyn Skyscrapers at Creedmoor Field in 1938.
A recent shot of some Skyscrapers at a National Free Flight
Society banquet.
Skyscrapers Celebrate 70 Years of Free Flight
02sig1.QXD 12/22/05 10:15 AM Page 11
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/02
Page Numbers: 9,10,11
INtheAIRLATE-BREAKING NEWS FROM THE ACADEMY
AMA Plans Service FAQ
Q: Who do I call for plans?
A: AMA Plans Coordinator John Zgunda. He can be reached at (765) 287-1256,
extension 507 (members may use the toll-free number: [800] I-FLY-AMA, or [800]
435-9262), or at [email protected].
Q: What plans do you offer?
A: There are two main collections available: the John Pond Plans Collection and the
Model Aviation Plans Service. AMA offers other plans that are unlisted, so please call for
availability and pricing.
Q: Are all AMA plans for sale?
A: No. We try not to infringe on other plans services’ copyrights. Our intention is to serve
our members—not put other plans companies out of business. We will supply the addresses
or telephone numbers for other plans services.
Q: How can I get an order form?
A: You can download an order form from the AMA Web site and there is one in your MA.
Q: What type of payment is accepted?
A: Mail-in orders can be paid by check, money order, or Visa/MasterCard. Only Visa
and MasterCard will be accepted at the AMA Convention. Sorry, but we do not accept
other credit cards.
Q: Is there a catalog for the AMA Plans Service?
A: The Old Time Plans Service catalog dated 1999-2000 is used for the Pond plans,
but the prices therein are incorrect. A few catalogs are available from the AMA Plans
Service for $10 or you can view or download a copy from the AMA Web site at no
charge. You can also download an MA plans list from the AMA Web site or you can
purchase a printed copy for $2 from the AMA Plans Service.
Q: Can plans be reduced or enlarged?
A: Yes. Plans can usually be resized to produce the wingspan you want. Call for
special requests and a price quote.
Q: The plans I want are not listed. What can I do?
A: Sometimes we can find a vendor who can fulfill your needs. We will be glad to
pass on the information at no charge.
Q: What is the exchange and refund policy for plans?
A: Once shipped, all sales are final. We do our best to make sure the quality is good, but we
cannot guarantee satisfaction; e.g., kit plans are not always complete with templates.
Q: How will the plans be shipped?
A: Plans are rolled and sent via USPS Priority Mail. Foreign mail is folded and shipped in a box.
Q: How long will it take for me to get my plans?
A: Normal shipping time is two to three weeks.
Q: Do you have “walk-in” sales at AMA Headquarters in Muncie, Indiana?
A: Yes. Plans ordered before 10 a.m. can be picked up after 2 p.m. There is no shipping
charge this way, but Indiana sales tax will be added.
Q: Is there a “show special” for AMA Convention 2006?
A: Yes. All orders taken at the convention will feature free shipping.
Q: Can I see the plans before I order?
A: Not at this time.
Q: Are pictures of models available?
A: You can view photos of airplanes built from MA plans at www.modelaircraft.org/
plans.asp. There are no pictures of models built from the John Pond Plans Collection. MA
—AMA Headquarters
AMA is gearing up for a significant
promotional campaign. The Boys Scouts of
America and the Academy are teaming up
for the Crossroads of America Council Fall
2006 Camporee, Mission: Radio Control!
This all-weekend event will take place
October 13-15, 2006, and is expected to
bring more than 3,500 Boy Scouts and Cub
Scouts to the International Aeromodeling
Center in Muncie, Indiana.
The Scouts will participate in a variety
of hands-on activities such as flying buddy
boxes, driving an RC car, controlling an RC
boat, making kites, and constructing buildand-
take Sky Streak models. Attendees will
also have the opportunity to watch an LED
night-flying spectacle and visit the National
Model Aviation Museum.
AMA is excited to welcome the Scouts
and has high hopes for Mission Radio
Control! MA
—Tom Schwyn
Marketing Director
We Have a Winner!
Bruce Luick (Payson AZ) won the prize
package in AMA’s “Come Fly with Us”
Sweepstakes for the month of October. He
will receive more than $200 worth of AMA
merchandise from AMA’s Cloud 9 Museum
Store.
Bruce is still eligible to win the grand
prize: a Giant Scale ARF—a Hangar 9 TOC
Ultimate biplane—a JR 10X radio, and a
Desert Aircraft DA-150 engine. This is a
$6,000 value!
If you renew your AMA membership by
March 31, 2006, you will automatically be
entered to win! Visit www.modelaircraft.
org/flywithus.asp for more information
about this contest. MA
—Tom Schwyn
Marketing Director
10 MODEL AVIATION
• There is something for every plans
builder this month; four
construction articles include Don
Srull’s beautiful 1935 1/2A Taylor
Cub E-2 spanning 50 inches, Bob
Oslan’s redesigned Ben Shereshaw
Commodore for a .29 engine and
RC for the Old-Time-model lovers,
Nats champion John Jo’s Voodoo
CL Combat design, and Clarence
Haught’s VIT-AR FF Power trainer
called the Sea Power.
• Dave Ritchie takes us back in time
to show us how he mates a Brown
Junior .60 engine, a 1938 Comet
Clipper, and radio control in the
same aircraft. His schematic
diagram shows how to couple the
ignition wiring to the RC.
• Ned Kragness presents a great howto
article about making laminated
curves for wing and stabilizer tips.
A.A. Lidberg shows readers how to
make a simple turning lathe from a
Dremel Moto-Tool.
Twenty-Five Years Ago in MA:
February 1981
INtheAIR
Lithium batteries have become extremely
popular for powering control and power
systems in models because of their high
energy density (capacity/weight ratio)
compared to Ni-Cds or other batteries. With
high energy comes increased risk in their use.
The principal risk is fire, which can result
from improper charging, crash damage, or
shorting the batteries.
All Lithium-battery vendors warn
customers of this danger and recommend
extreme caution in their use. However, many
fires have resulted from the misuse of Li-Poly
batteries, leading to the loss of models and
automobiles. Other property, such as homes,
garages, and workshops, have also burned.
A Lithium-battery fire burns explosively
at several thousand degrees and is an
excellent initiator for ancillary fires. Fire is
caused by contact between Lithium and
oxygen in the air. It needs no other source of
ignition, or fuel, to start.
The following is recommended for
Lithium batteries to preclude ancillary
fires.
1) Store and charge in a fireproof
container—never in your model.
2) Charge in a protected area that is
devoid of combustibles.
3) In the event of damage from crashes,
etc., carefully move the battery pack to a safe
place for at least a half hour to observe.
Physically damaged cells can erupt into
flames.
After sufficient time to ensure safety, the
cells should be discarded in accordance with
the instructions that come with the batteries.
Never attempt to charge a cell with physical
damage, regardless of how slight.
4) Always use chargers designed for the
specific purpose; it’s preferable to have a
fixed setting for your particular pack. Many
fires occur while using selectable/adjustable
chargers that are set improperly. Never
attempt to charge Lithium cells with a charger
that is not specifically designed for Lithium
cells! Never use chargers that are specifically
designed for Ni-Cd batteries.
5) Use charging systems that monitor,
control, and balance the charge state of each
cell in the pack. Unbalanced cells can lead to
disaster if the system permits a single cell in
the pack to be overcharged. This means that
the charging system must provide charge
cessation as each cell reaches the proper
voltage.
If the batteries show any sign of swelling,
discontinue charging and move them to a safe
place—outside. They could erupt into flames.
6) Never plug in a battery and leave it to
charge unattended; serious fires have resulted
from this practice.
7) Do not attempt to make your own
battery packs from individual cells. Use only
professionally packaged and labeled units
which contain safer charging features.
Lithium batteries cannot be handled and
charged casually, as has been the practice
for years with other types of batteries. The
consequences can be serious, resulting in
major property damage and/or personal
harm. MA
—AMA Safety Committee
Welcome, Life Members!
The Academy recently welcomed the
following new Life Members. For
information about becoming a Life Member,
contact AMA Headquarters at (800) I-FLYAMA
([800] 435-9262). MA
—Membership Department
Charles Smith (Chicago IL)
Stanley Friedman (La Mesa CA)
Drew Telford (Sierra Vista CA)
Dan Hansen (Boise ID)
Hai Tran (Colorado Springs CO)
Martin Treat (Queen Creek AZ)
John Bentley (Gilbert AZ)
John Vantuno (Denver CO)
Tom Moore (Palm Coast FL)
William Unghire (Newington CT)
Victor Kanardy (APO AE)
George Beeler (Hampton VA)
David Hoy (Renton WA)
Christopher Bennett (Jacksonville FL)
Thomas Branch (Atlanta GA)
Kenneth Wright (Canyon Country CA)
Jeffrey Walrath (New Carlisle OH)
Charles Zang (Albuquerque NM)
Leonard Ralston (Woodbridge VA)
Walter Russell (Auburn WA)
Kevin Sandberg (El Paso TX)
Michael S. Beguelin (Napa CA)
John Dalton (Topeka KS)
Donald Lacey (Tucson AZ)
George Miller (Lake Charles LA)
Emergency Safety Alert: Lithium Battery Fires
• New products include a mechanical
servo mixer by World Engines for
$5.95, Jemco’s new Master Scale
Series Douglas Dauntless kit for
$165, and Horizon Models’ new
Neptune flying boat for $119. MA
—Rich LaGrange
AMA Librarian
February 2006 11
INtheAIR
Nominations For AMA
Vice Presidents Due
Nominations for the office of vice
president in Districts II, IV, VI, VIII, and X
are due at AMA Headquarters June 15,
2006. Any AMA Open member may submit
a nomination.
To be eligible to carry out the duties of
AMA vice president, a nominee must be a
Leader Member and reside in the district for
which he or she is nominated.
A letter of acceptance and a résumé of
professional qualifications and modelaviation
experience from the nominee must
be on file at AMA Headquarters by June 30,
2006.
See page 168 for more information
about nominating procedures or call Mary
Lou Vojslavek at (765) 287-1256,
extension 201. MA
—AMA Headquarters
The 2005 Nats CD has just been released
and can be yours for $4.95 plus shipping and
handling. If you were not there but wish you
had been or know someone who was unable
to attend, this CD is the next best thing to
being there. Chase away those winter blues
with a look back at one of the most
prestigious and popular aeromodeling events
in the world!
Hundreds of photos capture the essence
and nonstop action. The CD also includes
every issue of the NatsNews daily newsletter,
dozens of bonus photos, the official 2005
Nats Program Guide, and video clips from
the popular AMA aeromodeling DVD series.
Order your copy today by visiting the
Nats section of the AMA WebStore at
www.modelaircraft.org/webstore.asp.
While you’re there, browse AMA
apparel, accessories, books, toys, and
gifts for your family and friends. Or you
can call the Supply and Service
Department at (800) I-FLY-AMA
([800] 435-9262), extension 212. MA
—AMA Headquarters
Relive the 2005 Nats!
ACADEMY OFMODEL AERONAUTICS • INTERNATIONAL AEROMODELINGCENTER • MUNCIE, INDIANA •
W EB SITE: WWW.MODELAIRCRAFT.ORG• E- MAIL: LONNIEE@ MODELAIRCRAFT.ORG
NA TS NE WS NATSN E W S July 8, 2005July 2005
The first-place pilots aren’t letting go!
Grab yourself a cup of coffee and check out the score
sheets. In the Unlimited class, Mark Leseberg has continued
to inch himself away from the competition.
Continuing to pound the sticks, Baron Johnson and Jason
Noll are going for knockouts, throwing punches in the
Known rounds and making every Unknown round count. The
race is so close that segments of a maneuver are all that’s
separating them.
Even the lowest K-Factor maneuver out of any round
could spell disaster for the hope of getting a title position.
Imagine that—over rotate on a roll maneuver, or pull a 55°
line instead of a 45° line, and the contest is all over.
From watching the Unknown sequence, it looked like the
maneuver with a Split-S and the half outside snap on the
bottom is what shook a number of pilots. Snaps happen so
fast, to nail the stops at the half rotation point takes a lot of
skill. Either you have it, or you don’t, and that little part of
the contest definitely showed us who the best pilots were.
So it looks like Mark Leseberg has it all wrapped up. The
finals tomorrow might tell a different story. Mike McConville
is steadily gaining strong support for a top spot. He has a
number of high scores, has even won a few rounds, and
came in only three points behind on an Unknown round.
David Moser has a firm grip on seventh place, but
bouncing around him is Frank Noll and coming up fast is Ivan
Kristensen.
Sixteen year old Kyle Woyshnis maintained his sweep in
the Advanced category. Not far behind, Cam McCausey has a
firm grip on second, and Kenny Willis is only 75 points into
third. Could there be an upset in second place? We’ll see.
Intermediate is showing some movement even though
Stephen Hamilton has a permanent grip on first place. Pedro
Jordan,got bumped from second place down to third by
Ryan Gonsoulin.
From the third place spot on
down there’s been some upset
and triumph with Keith
McDonald leaping from tenth
place yesterday into fourth
today. That’s one heck of an
effort that ensured his shot at
Copyright Academy of Model
Aeronautics 2005.
WEATHER
FORECAST
Friday
Hi 86 F
Lo 64 F
Partly Cloudy
Saturday
Hi 86
Low 63
Clear
Sunday
Hi 88
Low 63
Clear
Monday
Hi 84
Low 66
T-storms
Tuesday
Hi 81
Low 66
T-storms
Information courtesy of
www.wthr.com
1 NatsNews
Andy Kane warms the engine up on his YAK-55 prior to flying
his Unknown sequence. The 3.3 meter Composite ARF is a
monster having a wing span of 131-inches. The weight of
this aircraft is around 44 pounds, with is considerably light.
The paint scheme is actually finished in the mold so the
overall surface of the composite skin is as smooth as glass.
Going for the Gold!!
Andy’s Composite ARF YAK-555SP
is adorned with a specially
painted propeller. The propeller
is a Mejzlik three-bladed 31-12
and it suits his Signature Series
ZDZ 210 very well. The Signature
Series engine is special for its
smoother running, easier starts,
and power increase. All of the
performance enhancements are
by "blue-printing" the engine,
which means extra time and
care was taken to exactly size
the injection ports and dress the
casings.
Links on theWeb!
For more news, events,
and information, go to
www.modelaircraft.org.
The Brooklyn Skyscrapers Model Airplane Club was founded in
1936 in Brooklyn (NY) and has been going strong ever since. To
celebrate its 70 years of FF activity the group has planned a yearlong
festival of events for 2006.
There will be a gala luncheon April 1, to which all present and past
club members are invited. Charter members Sal Taibi and Leon
Shulman have already assured the club that they will attend. All
Skyscrapers who want to attend this event should contact Dave Acton
no later than March 1, 2006. (His address is 89 N. Broadway,
Apartment 102, White Plains NY 10603; Tel.: [914] 948-4234; E-mail:
[email protected].)
Although the club’s roots are in Brooklyn, the bulk of its active
members now reside throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut,
Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and they do most of their flying at Bryton
Barron Memorial Field in Wawayanda, New York. Assembled by
Skyscraper Andrew Barron, the nearly treeless site consists of almost
800 acres of open farmland, most of which is planted with sod.
Invitational FF meets scheduled for the site in 2006 are the
Skyscrapers International Challenge (May 27-28); the Eastern US FF
Championships (June 10-11), which was relocated because its usual
site in Maryland was unavailable; the Skyscrapers 70th Anniversary
Annual (July 1-2); the Wilbur & Orville Contest (August date to be
announced); and the Skyscrapers Fall Contest (October 21-22).
The 70th Anniversary Annual will feature a special one-design
event for the 1951 SpitBall 1/2A that I designed as a Skyscraper
member. (See page 119 of Frank Zaic’s 1951-52 Model Aeronautic
Year Book for more about this model.) The event will be run according
to National Free Flight Society Nostalgia rules.
In addition to the preceding contests, the Skyscrapers will sponsor
Record Trials at Barron Field May 11, July 8, August 12, September 9,
and October 14. Log onto the club’s Web site—www.brooklynsky
scrapers.org—for further information. MA
—Bob Hatschek
District II
Brooklyn Skyscrapers at Creedmoor Field in 1938.
A recent shot of some Skyscrapers at a National Free Flight
Society banquet.
Skyscrapers Celebrate 70 Years of Free Flight
02sig1.QXD 12/22/05 10:15 AM Page 11