Letters to the Editor
5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
Web-site Address Correction
The correct address for Magellan RC, referenced on page 94 of the July 2000 issue, is www.megatechinc.net.
Elexaco Rules Update
The investment in flying electric using a 400 motor is nominal; an existing radio with at least three channels is all that is needed. What makes it really interesting is that the performance of a seven-cell battery pack with a 400 motor system is outstanding.
Using alkaline battery cells in the transmitter makes the model always available for flight when stored in the trunk of your car. Due to the small size, it is stored assembled.
When traveling to where a field is located (a football field will do), simply stop, charge the flight battery for motor and receiver power (via BEC [Battery Eliminator Circuit]), and fly, as the alkalines for the transmitter are always ready.
To add interest, a simple endurance competitive event was designed that can be decided at the flying field. All that is required is a stopwatch. To establish equity the Elexaco event is offered, making it easy as it defines specifically the hardware.
Final revised Elexaco rules (6/2/01):
- Dymond plastic propeller with Max 4-400 motor with in-capacitors must be used.
- Seven-cell Sanyo 250–350 mAh Ni-Cd is required.
- Aspect ratio of wing (wingspan divided by center chord) must be less than eight.
Flight rules: Timed from either takeoff or hand-launch, the motor is allowed to run for two minutes and is shut off by radio. If motor is shut off prior to two minutes, it is not to be turned back on—if turned back on, the score is zero.
Flight time is timed continued for a maximum flight time of 15 minutes to landing and scored at one point per second (maximum 900 points). Exceeding the maximum results in a penalty of one point per second.
Joe Bestar Oradell, New Jersey
Kanones for the Dornier Falke
Kudos, huzzahs, and a Kanone or two to our aeromodelling editor and to Dave Linstrom on the No-Cal model design in the June issue of Model Aviation.
To one of the best gum-banders of our time, Dave Linstrom, my thanks and I am certain the thanks of many more modelers who are into the No-Cal model types.
The selection of the Dornier Falke is a great one, especially for the beginning modeler who has found the No-Cal type of model to be a good starting design. A model with square wingtips and straight lines is a blessing to those who have problems with trying to laminate those 1/32 x 1/16 strips to follow the wingtip and tail configurations of many of the designs.
Oh, I know that there will be those out there who say "no problem," yet the person just getting his skills together looks at that type of thing as somewhat intimidating. So many a modeler has spent many hours in attempting to find a model with squarish lines or with little or no laminating required.
Well, in this article Mr. Linstrom has found the perfect model for the neophyte or even the seasoned rubber flier. I am certain that many FACers will find this a good model, and we will probably see many at the flying sites.
Dave, a Kanone or two for this design.
What, you do not know what a Kanone is? Perhaps you had best join the Flying Aces gang at the address listed in this article.
Fran Puszczakiewicz Tonawanda, New York
Who Pays the Price?
I just read the letter to the editor submitted by Francis Smith of San Diego, CA, subtitled "Victims of Cheapness," published in your July 2001 issue. I am moved to write, as I too am located in Southern California.
What got me in Frank's letter was his comparison of our hobby costs to that of other forms of family recreation, such as golf.
Our club prided ourselves in keeping costs (membership and runway fees) to a bare minimum to accommodate the wide range of membership we attracted (kids to retirees). There is no gain in putting a price tag on membership unattainable to new members or those on fixed incomes.
Our club and its hobby have been interviewed numerous times by local newspapers. The number-one question raised by each editor was the cost factor of getting started and learning to fly model aircraft. We took pride in the fact that we could honestly tell these editors that a new hobbyist could get started for a moderately low investment compared to golf.
This was of extreme interest to them because it seemed to lend itself to being newsworthy to parents of interested youngsters as well as those a bit older. (I think we all know the stigma associated with "boys and their toys.")
My question: Wouldn't it be more advantageous for those individuals who have vested interests (businesses) to support the very industry that is keeping them alive rather than expecting each club on an individual basis to politically duke it out with professional politicians?
It is my understanding that the number of licensed model-aircraft pilots is greater than that of licensed full-scale-aircraft pilots. If we look closely at the model aviation magazine industry, you'll note advertisers spending thousands of dollars every year marketing their products to hobbyists—their prospective buyers.
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to do the math.
One thing the AMA has is numbers. The AMA itself is dependent on annual membership dues for its very existence. It seems to me, especially in California where land is so overpriced to begin with, that all of us interlinked with this hobby should be negotiating with county and city officials—nonideological—from a position of strength (our numbers), not weakness.
I've been fighting with local county and city officials' red tape for three years! It keeps going, and going, and going, and I can honestly say that their policy is to ignore us in the hope we'll go away.
My question for all of us enthusiasts is this: How much longer do you think our hobby (and supporting industries) can exist with this penny-wise, dollar-foolish attitude? What I'm saying is this: Without a field to fly from, you'll have no members. Without members, products will not be bought, nor will dues be paid.
For the past 10+ years, I have been an active member in the 30-year-old aeromodeling club, the Conejo Valley Flyers (CVF), within the city of Thousand Oaks. Originally started by a division of Northrop as an employee club, the CVF later grew to encompass the community at large to a high membership approaching 200.
Our once healthy club of 200 members is now reduced to 45 due to our being without a field for 2½ years. And our prospects of locating a new field aren't looking good at the moment either. That's pretty tough when you consider that landing is mandatory.
Remember, our hobby can only grow at the rate of involvement that includes as many new interested parties as possible.
In closing, I agree 100% with Frank in that I feel we, all of us hobbyists and supporting industries, are "victims of cheapness." Ultimately, we will all pay the price.
Joseph Martin Thousand Oaks, California
September 2001
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
