AMA News District XI - 2012/10

AMA and District XI lost a longtime
modeler: Chris Barker. Chris was a
friend to all and was always present
when there was a task to be done that
furthered the sport of model aviation
and our enjoyment thereof. Chris
will be remembered with a brick in
the AMA Walk of Fame among other
tributes.
Before he passed away, Chris
asked me to help him plan for the
disposition of his modeling assets. We
agreed to do this on July 4. On that
day he told me that he was too sick
and we would have to do it later. He
died the next day.
Like many of us, Chris accumulated
lots of stuff over the years and those
left behind are trying to guess what he
might have wanted. The point of all
this is that we should all make some
sort of plan for this day which we and
those we leave behind will face. Your
plan should be written and left with
someone you trust, and updated as
required. This is in addition to your
will—you do have a will, right?
Don Hart, secretary of the Lewis-
Clark RC Model Club in Lewiston,
Idaho,
reported on
the club’s
aerotow
event held
June 2-3 at
the club field
5 miles east
of Lewiston.
Aerotow is
an aspect of
RC modeling
that emulates full-scale glider towing.
Large-scale or purpose-built tug
models tow large-scale Gliders to
altitude where they are released to
search for lift.
Tug gas engines vary from 50cc to
200cc displacement. Tugs can also be
electric powered. Tug wingspans vary
from 8 to 20 feet. Glider wingspans
vary from 8 to 30 feet. Most gliders are
in the 10- to 18-foot range. Smaller
tugs and gliders can participate if the
tug has lots of power for its size and
the glider has ailerons. Both the tug
and glider need RC tow releases.
There were several glider tugs at the
event including Ted Wilkins’ that was
built from an AMR Trainer 50 kit. It
has a 104-inch span, weighs roughly
24 pounds, and is powered by a DLE
55cc engine. Will McVay brought his
Hangar 9 33% scale Piper Pawnee ARF
crop duster. The Pawnee has a 130-
inch span, weighs approximately 35
pounds, and has a DLE 111cc engine.
John Sandell scratch-built a 40-pound
Pegasus tug from plans, powered with
a DLE 111cc engine.
Many of the RC aerotow Gliders
are Scale models of 1930s-40s vintage
gliders, although many prefer modern,
high-performance aircraft. The
gliders span a great range of price and
features. A 33% scale vintage Minimoa
(a German glider from 1935) ARF that
has a 220-inch span and weighs 19
pounds costs $975. A modern aircraft
such as the 40% scale 315-inch span
Duo-Discus X all-molded RTF costs
approximately $8,000. Many good
gliders cost less, but will still meet the
needs of most aerotow glider pilots.
Friday had great weather; it
rained all morning Saturday, but the
afternoon was partly cloudy with lots
of strong lift. The Giant Scale Gliders
were beautiful with cumulus clouds in
the background. Pilots paid a landing
fee, which was later converted to pizza
for all.
A Lewiston Tribune reporter and
photographer came out Saturday
afternoon. A nice story with pictures
appeared in the Sunday edition. There
were many successful tows and some
great glider flights—some almost halfan-
hour long. Bob Buttenhoff flew his
TG-8, a Scale model of a World War
II troop glider trainer built by grafting
a two-place glider cockpit onto a J-3
Cub fuselage.
There were positive comments
from the spectators and participants.
Don’s full report can be found at
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/88960859/
Aerotow%20Report%202012.pdf.