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THE PREZ SEZ
Hi everyone
First apologies to you all for not
making the last meeting. After a 12 hour day and 350 miles of driving I
really didn't feel up to it. All I was good for was a cold beer and a
hot shower. I'm sure you all managed fine without me, maybe even better?
So after a couple of rough weeks at
work I decided to take a week off, before I went postal on the next
customer who looked sideways at me, and that allowed me to get in some
weekday flying just like you guys without jobs.
The field is looking really good thanks
to a lot of hard work by Tommy Fenn moving dirt around and Don Adams
building the new start up tables. Great job guys.
I had a request from John Startt at the
city that only one person acts as spokeperson for the club. So if you
have any requests that needs to go to him make sure you let me know.
I'll either pass it on or arrange a joint meeting between us all. Last
year Eric and myself had meetings with John about the open house and he
was very happy to help with that arrangement.
To close here's a timely article from
the AMA on safety.
Mick
ON THE SAFE SIDE
Safety Reminders for the New Season
by AMA Staff
AMA would like everyone to have a safe
flying year with no accidents. Here are some items that might help in
that regard.
The first is the use of Li-Poly
batteries in our models. If you are flying electric airplanes with
Li-Poly batteries, it is highly recommended that a fire extinguisher be
kept in your car. Fire caused by Li-Poly batteries can happen through a
shortage, improper charging, or crash damage. Standard household
extinguishers (Class A, B, C or a combination of these) will not put out
a lithium fire. Rather, it can increase the blaze. Class D extinguishers
(metal/sand) are the only type capable of putting out flammable
metal.
If a class D fire extinguisher cannot be
obtained for your vehicle or flying site, at the least, keep buckets of
sand ready and available should a fire start. (The sand must be dry
because water reacts with lithium fires to make them worse.)
Second, remember to cycle the batteries
in transmitters and airplanes to ensure they are up to par. Airplanes
can go down because either the transmitter or the flight pack batteries
have failed. If you should by chance get your airplane to respond long
enough to land, do not taxi back toward the pits. Get it down and kill
the engine. A running airplane with dying batteries is little more than
a loaded gun waiting to go off and injure someone.
Most folks have a winter project that is
now ready for a test flight. New airplanes mean new additions to the
transmitter. Remember to always check to ensure it is the correct one
for the airplane. Always look to see that the control surfaces are
moving in the correct direction when you are ready to taxi out. Also, as
a new project, make sure it has been finished with your name and address
or AMA number.
Lightning produced by electrical storms
can travel amazing distances. If you are flying and should see lightning
in the distance, just think of that radio antenna as a lightning rod.
Lightning has been known to come 10-20 miles across the sky and strike a
person just standing there—and that is without a 3-foot lightning rod in
his or her hand.
Engine failure on takeoff is a common
occurrence. Every time, when you taxi out, always think, “What am I
going to do if the engine quits?” Remember that the best way to land is
into the wind and with the wings level. If that means a walk out in the
weeds a couple of hundred yards to get your airplane in one piece,
that’s much better than taking a broom or shovel out to the middle of
the runway to scoop up the pieces.
Lastly, it is strongly recommended that
members do not fly alone. In a hobby where things can go out of control
with the slightest of error, potential dangers are not far behind. It’s
helpful to have an extra set of eyes to watch for any interferences or
problems the pilot may not be able to see while following his or her
model. Better to be overly prepared then under prepared. At the very
least, you have a buddy to talk to and show off for!
MEETING
The next meeting of
the MMRCC is scheduled for April 3, at 7:00 P.M. All members should
make an effort to attend the meeting. The meeting will be held at the
Northrop Grumman facility. Personnel are required to sign-in and sign
out for security purposes.
See you at the
meeting……………….Will
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