The Inside Loop - 2011/02

6 MODEL AVIATION
... knocking on your
head ...
Editor Michael Ramsey
[email protected]
hinking warm thoughts is an
occupational hazard at the AMA. Yes,
the chilling temperatures of winter do
cower in the wake of our presence.
Still, the runways are covered in snow and
we’re forced (?) to retreat to a heated hangar
20 minutes away at the airport in Anderson.
With the Anderson Extreme Flyers is a mighty
fine way to spend a Saturday. I hope you’re
doing something similar.
However, keeping things warm is not
something you should do with a Lithium
battery, although many users have attempted to
do just that. Houses have burned down,
airplanes have gone “poof” in the night, and
sand buckets aren’t just for playing at the
beach anymore. Lithium-battery technology is
sensitive, and even more so for us
aeromodelers because we demand more from
the chemistry than any other consumer.
I think of Lithium batteries almost the same
way I do gasoline. Both are absolutely lethal,
hazardous, and taste awful (I’m assuming), but
they are more or less a necessary evil in
today’s world.
I love the power that Lithium batteries offer
today and the way my SUV goes “Varoom” on
high-test. But I don’t mix them, nor do I handle
them lightly. Most of us are familiar with how
to pump our own gas (except for you poor
folks in Jersey), so that second nature of safety
with Lithium power systems isn’t a far cry
from becoming normal either.
Don Apostolico (the “Don” of Don’s
Hobby Shop) works directly with customers on
the latest in technology, on a giant scale. I’d
hate to pay his phone bill.
His knowledge for us in this issue is some
straight talk about Lithium batteries. When
reading it, think of what your football coach
might have said to you after botching a play in
the third quarter. He’s knocking on your head
telling you to “Think!”
I’m from New Jersey, and now that I’ve
moved to Indiana I have learned to pump my
own gas and appreciate someone who has a
blunt, honest approach to an issue like my
mentors from the East Coast. I make lots of
mistakes, but I look at that as a good thing
because I’ve had so many opportunities to
learn. Here’s a chance to do the same with
Lithium batteries.
Model forms are a great way to visit our
history and perhaps, on another tax-bracket
level at least, re-create forms of aviation that
otherwise didn’t quite fit the agenda.
Governments throw money at ideas better than
any institution, and for that we have
outstanding data such as the material out of the
XB-70 project. A more elegant form of metal
to take would be hard to find, but I think that
because I’m “plane” crazy.
Al Clark (remember him from his “Too
Small” RC construction project?) has had a
thing for the XB-70 since his childhood. It
exemplified the pinnacle of technology at one
point, but when its mission went away our
appreciation for the aircraft lived on.
The Inside Loop
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Rob Kurek
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Account Executive Yolanda Jones
Administrative Assistant Lisa Johnson
Assistant Editor Jay Smith
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Director of Design/Production Carla Kunz
Editor Michael Ramsey
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Managing Editor Shelia Ames Webb
Multimedia Editor Chad Budreau
Production Associate Jennifer Orebaugh
Senior Editor Elizabeth Helms
Stan Alexander
Bob Angel
Bill Boss
Paul Bradley
Sal Calvagna
Lee Estingoy
Mark Fadely
Dave Garwood
Dave Gee
Greg Gimlick
A.C. Glenn
Albert Glenn
John Glezellis
Jim T. Graham
Donald Grissom
Jim Hiller
Louis Joyner
John Kagan
Rich Lopez
Joe Malinchak
Dennis Norman
Dean Pappas
Richard L. Perry
Aaron “AJ” Seaholm
Red Scholefield
Gene Smith
Joe Wagner
Editor Emeritus Bob Hunt
Technical Editor Bob Aberle
T
Today Al has brought us a practical version
of the dreamy delta. His article is very
detailed, well enough that a novice builder
should be successful. I look at the design as an
elaborate tail surface—sheet formed with
plank control surfaces.
Al even shares with us the drama of what
happens when a project doesn’t fly right off of
the bench. But you know, that’s what we do—
we learn from our mistakes—and Al’s story
and project are great.
If you’re a fan of foam, I’ll bet that Al’s
model could be constructed almost as well
from Depron sheet. It would be lighter and
might fly really well on half the pack size and
a 300 outrunner motor. It might be good for
flying indoors then.
I don’t like putting political issues in this
space. Playing politics just isn’t the fun stuff I
want to write about. However, I have to point
out a hot topic that calls to all of us at a
significant time.
Here we are, celebrating our 75 years of
service, and as it did in the 1930s, the
Academy is once again called to defend the
rights of every aeromodeler as the FAA
proposes heavy restrictions. See page 9.
You can do your part in a number of ways,
but foremost be a smart pilot; follow the AMA
safety rules, demand that others do the same,
and have a good (safe) time practicing model
aircraft.
Also, the more members we have, the
better we are. So if you believe that the AMA
is the best defense against government control,
pay your dues and get other model pilots to
join up. We’ll all be better for the experience
in the end. MA
Interim Executive Director Joyce Hager
CFO/Treasurer Doug Holland
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