RC Flying Today: Sailplaners Unite
NEWS FLASH-December 1992: The National Soaring Society (NSS) has offered to represent all sailplane fliers. Through communications with Robert Massmann, president of the NSS, I've learned that the plan is to create an AMA SIG (Special Interest Group) for Self-Launched Sailplanes (SLS), under the guidance of the NSS SIG. In support of this, my friend and fellow SEFLIer, Steve Anthony, has been invited to contribute a bimonthly electri-flier column to the NSS Newsletter, Sailplane. There are several motivations for this change: 1) 35% of the NSS membership are already electri-fliers. 2) Sailplane contestants (long the largest group in any AMA Nats) are dwindling in number. 3) Electri-flying shows the most growth in model aviation. 4) Most electri-fliers already fly sailplanes in addition to their other models.
RC Flying Today
ELECTRICS: For the past two years I have been very enthusiastic about electric-powered airplanes. They are so quiet and peaceful. You should try one. It's dead! My electric motor controller succumbed to crash damage. It is (was) an STW, which is a high-rate (4 kHz), soft-start, on/off power controller with BEC (battery eliminator circuit), designed to handle 10 cells and 25 amps for F3E (FAI class for electric-powered sailplanes) competition. It includes opto-isolation with low-voltage and high-temperature cutoff and is small and light. It worked very well, but repair is a problem because it is made in Germany.
RC Flying Today: What Is A Special Interest Group?
EIGHTEEN Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are listed on the back of the Academy of Model Aeronautics Membership Manual. When I asked, "What is a SIG?" I got as many answers as the people I asked. When I called AMA Headquarters (HQ), I was sent an application form. As far as the AMA application form is concerned, a SIG has officers who are elected at least once every two years, has written bylaws, has AMA members, and has applied to the AMA Executive Council for recognition-which has been granted. There's more to it. Here are some details:
RC Flying Today
PROBLEMS, I have problems. I need a plane that can travel and perform well in practically any situation. Equipped with floats and wheels, the Laser manufactured by Lanier R/C served me well on my Alaskan trip (see Model Aviation, February 1990). But carrying liquid fuel in my van is such a nuisance! It manages to ooze out, no matter how I store it. If I give away leftover fuel, I have to buy more at the next stop and that isn't always easy to do. Another nuisance is oil dripping from unexpected places.
RC Flying Today
PILOT and airplane, chugging along "fat, dumb and happy." Problems . . . frantic action . . . doubt. Flying is hours of boring through the sky, punctuated by moments of stark terror. The pilot survives, or doesn't, and the writer explains how he got into trouble in the first place. "I Learned About Flying from That" was my favorite column in Flying magazine. So it was for many pilots. Since this column is scheduled for the dead of winter, you might enjoy an introduction to others of my favorite books. After reading them, the best thing you can do is to give them to someone under the age of 15.
