AMA News District XI - 2012/10
District XI — Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
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?
Lewiston Aerotow Report
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 and glider characteristics:
- 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.
Aircraft at the event included:
- Ted Wilkins’ tug built from an AMR Trainer 50 kit: 104-inch span, roughly 24 pounds, powered by a DLE 55cc engine.
- Will McVay’s Hangar 9 33% scale Piper Pawnee ARF crop duster: 130-inch span, approximately 35 pounds, powered by a DLE 111cc engine.
- John Sandell’s scratch-built Pegasus tug: about 40 pounds, powered by a DLE 111cc engine.
Many of the RC aerotow gliders are scale models of 1930s–40s vintage gliders, although many pilots prefer modern, high-performance designs. Gliders span a wide range of price and features:
- A 33% scale vintage Minimoa (a German glider from 1935) ARF: 220-inch span, 19 pounds, about $975.
- A modern aircraft such as the 40% scale Duo-Discus X all-molded RTF: 315-inch span, around $8,000.
- Many good gliders cost less but still meet the needs of most aerotow 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 against cumulus clouds. 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 half an 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
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
