Radio Control: Sport and Aerobatics
A FEW DAYS ago, I got a telephone call from Bob Pinkus (Dayton, OH) who wanted to talk about the use of aerosol after-run oil. I had mentioned in previous columns that I like to use it because the engine runs on it and distributes the oil throughout its parts. He said that he didn't understand why its use wouldn't also cause corrosion, because one of the chemical by-products of combustion is water. That set me back for a while. I didn't have an answer for him except to say that I hadn't experienced any bearing corrosion since starting the use of aerosol after-run oil (moisture-displacement lubricant). Two days later it struck me-when you burn the after-run oil, the exhaust never gets to the bearings! The part that burns is exhausted from the engine. It's the lubricant that's in the crankcase that gets distributed to the bearings. It works.
Radio Control: Sport and Aerobatics
STANDING corrected. I received a long distance call from Bob Hunt of Flying Models magazine who pointed out a couple of errors in the caption for the picture of Dean Pappas' Maya aircraft which was in the May column. The first error was in identifying the Maya as having all-balsa construction. Bob claims that major parts of the airplane are cored styrofoam which was covered with balsa. He should know because he did the styrofoam work for Dean! The second error was in identifying the radio as a Futaba PCM, when actually he flies a JR PCM. Now that I look more closely at the picture, he's right: the Futaba PCM won't lie flat on the pavement the way Dean's radio in the picture does. Sorry.
Radio Control: Sport and Aerobatics
UPDATE on Sears Filled Epoxy (which isn't in our local stores any longer). Greg Bartling (New Martinsville, WV) wrote to Sears headquarters in Chicago and asked about the chances of having this product sold again or finding out who manufactured it for Sears. He received the following reply from the Merchandising Group: "I am responding to your March 9, 1986 letter to Mr. Brennan (Sears president, RVP.) and Sears. Thank you for writing and expressing an interest in Filled Epoxy, an adhesive we had to discontinue in 1983. This decision resulted from extremely poor sales performance. Sears' source could no longer afford to manufacture the product. In fact, the product is no longer produced at all. Therefore, providing a manufacturer's name would be to no avail. I'm sorry Sears cannot satisfy your request in this area." It was signed by D.E. Alcox, a buyer in the Hardware Department.
Radio Control: Sport and Aerobatics
AS YOU RECEIVE this column, the Nats should be in full swing. Many fliers will be competing in a Nats for the first time. That brings up a curious point: for some fliers, a Nats is their first contest. That's fine, because the Nats is an open contest. It is open to anyone who wants to compete. This point is lost on many fliers; they think that only the best are allowed to compete at the Nats. I am often asked to compare the quality of flying at a Nats with that in many of the local contests I compete in. My response often surprises people: "You see the best and the worst at a Nats." The point is often argued that the best fliers in the United States don't win the Nats, because the best fliers can't get there for various reasons. That may be true, but the top 10 Nats winners can compete with anyone in the country.
Radio Control: Sport and Aerobatics
SQUARE ONE. When beginning Pattern fliers ask for advice, One of the points that I emphasize is the importance of reading and understanding the AMA rule book. After all, the only way to do well at anything is to know what is expected of you. Pattern flying is no different. The rule book tells us what to do and what not to do. Part of the rule book includes the section entitled "AMA RC Pattern Judges' Guide." The Guide describes how each maneuver is to be done and the infractions which should result in downgrades. One of my pet peeves is the judging of the Cuban Eight. Many, if not most, fliers do not fly 45º downlegs. Most downlegs are only 25º to 30º from the horizontal. Inexperienced and experienced judges give good scores for fliers who fly maneuvers with such shallow downlegs, probably because so many fliers do the Cuban Eight that way.
