NOVEMBER CLUB MEETING

MONDAY – NOVEMBER 3rd – 7����������������������������

LIVONIA SENIOR CITIZEN’S CENTER 5 Mile & Farmington Roads

Guest Speaker— Howard Kendall Helicopters - Flight and Model Setup

Tremendous Flyer with a Wealth of Knowledge to Share - Please Attend

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President’s Message by Mike Hegyi For those that missed last month’s meeting, we’ve made a few changes with our pilot/student card. There will be one

color card and pilots will have their cards punched at the time it is issued with a special punch. Students will have their cards punched by their instructor when they have been signed off. This should make the Secretary’s job easier as well as reduce any confusion with the cards. Next month we will be electing new club officers, so now’s the time to let us know that you want to help your club. This isn’t hard or time consuming, but it is very rewarding, so don’t be shy.

At this month’s meeting our guest speaker will be Howard Kendall. He will pass along some valuable information about helicopters. I’m sure you’ll find this to be very interesting. Who knows, you may want to try helicopters in the fu-ture.

With the end of daylight saving time comes the end of the Wednesday student program. Many thanks to all those, especially our instructors, who helped out and congratulations to all our new pilots. We will soon be installing the plastic around the pavilion so we can have some protection from the wind this fall and winter.

Stay warm and fly safe!

THUNDERBOLT Ribcrackers Model Airplane Page 2

Ribcracker October Meeting Minutes – OCT. 6, 2003 Meeting was called to order promptly at 7:09 PM. The previous meeting minutes were accepted as written in the newsletter. President’s Report: Sorry about the food mix-up at the picnic. Regardless, everyone had a great time at the fun-fly and for once Ralph was able to enjoy the festivities without having to peer through the thick smoke as he was cook-ing. We have a source for embroidering hats, shirts, whatever. The contact is Gary Schaefer and you can email him at: SSCOLORFUL@CABLESPEED.COM. Web page is progressing well. Next year we are going to differentiate between pilots and student’s membership cards by punching out an airplane shape for the pilot’s cards. This should improve the turnaround and lessen the confusion as students get signed off. Don’t forget that we are still looking for a field. If you have any leads, please let a member of the board know so that we can follow up on it. VP Report: The fields are in great condition. Thanks to everyone that pitched in and helped. The weather is getting colder and it is time to get the tarp put back up. Looking for volunteers and a replacement tarp. Treasurer’s Report: The budget is showing a surplus for the year. Some bills need to still come in, such as porta-potty, etc…. Compared to last year we had a little less money coming in, which was compensated for by having less money go out than last year. New business: • Al Luckham recommended that everyone read the article by Dave Brown in the AMA magazine. • Don Brann is moving to Florida permanently and brought some stuff to raffle off. We wish you well Don, and hope you come to visit when it is warmer. • Anyone interested in taking part in the Livonia Mall show, call Richard Gallagher. No date has been set at this time. • Jim Young brought in a Dehaviland Comet that was in progress. Jim designed it using AUTOCAD and sent the part layout via email to someone who laser cut the parts and mailed them back to Jim. Jim got a one week turn-around. Plane is looking very sharp. • Jim Young also requests that you let him know of any ideas you may have for clinics or guest speakers to jazz up the winter meetings. Dick Galagher won the Raffle. Respectfully submitted – Gerald Klose

A Safety Message for Autumn Flyers from James Newcombe - In the area of Lyme Disease prevention, from the Lyme Disease Foundation regarding removal of the ticks the foundation specifically states to "Clean the bite wound with disinfectant". From the Lyme Dis-ease Foundation's website...."If you DO find a tick attached to your skin, there is no need to panic. Not all ticks are infected, and studies of infected deer ticks have shown that they begin transmitting Lyme disease an average of 36 to 48 hours after attachment. Therefore, your chances of contracting LD are greatly re-duced if you remove a tick within the first 24 hours. Remember, too, that the majority of early Lyme dis-ease cases are easily treated and cured." Yep, ticks are around here, but the threat of Lyme isn't as bad as one would think. Some of those 'pesky mosquitoes' are carrying West Nile disease, so DEET containing repellant is a good idea as the sun starts to go down.

Page 3 THUNDERBOLT Ribcrackers Model Airplane Club

���������� �������������������������������������� �������������������������������������� �������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������The 40th annual National Championship Air Races are a wrap and the Ribcrackers contingent from box B-6

has finally recovered (I think).

For the uninitiated, Reno is 4+ days of air racing, air show acts, military demonstrations, static displays, sun-

shine, food & drink and did I mention air racing? Each day is filled, 6 different classes race in 12 heats with airshow

and military acts in-between.

Having suffered as “bleacher creatures” since 1987, we upgraded to box seating in ‘96-97. The greatest thing

about the box is the view; it’s located right on the tarmac! Imagine having a trackside seat at a NASCAR event.

During the races you look straight out, not up. When Sean Tucker spins around his Pitts, the prop-blast blows your

hat off! Besides the great view, it’s a pretty cost-effective way to see the races as box seat parking, pit-passes and

cooler delivery service (courtesy of the “Cooler Racing Team”) are included. The “Ribcrackers” box, B-6 has been

the Reno stomping ground for the Brewer clan, Greg and Faye Bessette, Marc Freeland and friends.

The fans arrive as early as 6:00 a.m., however the more leisurely

among us wait until they’ve had breakfast and arrive at 6:30. The tem-

perature is usually 60 deg. in the a.m. warming to 75-80 by noon. By

the time you’re finished with your morning coffee, you’ve seen a cou-

ple of races, it’s time for a refreshing cold beverage and there’s still 7

hours of it to go. Lots of static aircraft diplays, food and merchandise

vendors keep the unfocused entertained during the slower races. The

fanatics can be found in their seats, talking to pilots or rummaging

through the cooler. One of the greatest features of the event is that it

allows unparalleled access to the planes and pilots. With a pit pass

you can take all of the “documentation” photos you like, get your program autographed and talk to the pilots about

“increases in drag due to reflex in the ailerons”. The author had a conversation with Kirby Chambliss regarding stick

inputs required for a “Blender” and “Rolling Harriers” (he tried them but falls out of the Harrier in his Edge).

The Biplane class is limited to “mostly stock” small aerobatic bipes like the Pitts, Starduster and Mong and

are limited to parallel valve Lycoming 360 engines w/fixed propellers. They typically fly the 3.11 mile course close

to 200 mph. although this years winner, David Rose, won the gold at 219.181mph.

In Formula 1, specialty designs like the Cassutt and Shoestring are mated to the 200 cu in. Continental engine

(the same one that drags the C-152 to almost 100 mph.) and raced on a 3.15-mile course. Despite strict weight and

wing restrictions these planes are approaching 300 mph.

The Sport class highlights kit-built aircraft with 650 cu in. or smaller powerplants. Aircraft are limited to pro-

duction kit-built airframes such as the Glassair, Lancair, Long-Ez, and the long-awaited Nemesis NXT. Like the

Unlimiteds there are fewer restrictions on airframe and powerplant modifications, Sport class aircraft have qualified

in excess of 340 mph! 340 mph. would put the diminutive racer right in the middle of the Unlimited Bronze race!

Often referred to as “Unlimited training”, the T-6 class is open only to “stock” North American T-6 Texans

and their derivatives, the Navy SNJ and the British Harvard. With stock P&W Wasp R-1340-AN-1 radials these

trainers typically see 200-230 mph. on the 4.96-mile course. Because the airframes are so closely matched some of

the best battles happen here. 13-mph. separated the top four qualifiers and 9-mph. separated them at the end of the

Gold race. 1.75 mph. separated Nick Macy in “Six Cat” and Mary Dilda in “Two of Hearts”, talk about a battle!

The only turbines allowed on the course, for 2 years now the Jet class has offered some great battles in

“stock” L-39 Albatros trainers. Built in Czechoslovakia, the Eastern-bloc 2-seater was used as a primary jet trainer

and is growing in popularity in the domestic sport jet market. Flying the 6.31-mile Sport course the jets stay in a con-

stant 60-90 degree angle of bank and reach close to 400 mph. Mary

Dilda in “Heartless” came back 40 min. after her defeat in the T-6 class

to win the Jet Gold.

Everyone comes to see the Unlimiteds. This class is open to any piston

driven aircraft. (Notice the emphasis on the period). Modified and

stock WWII fighters as well as custom race only designs show up to

hustle around the 8.27-mile course. Mustangs, Sea Furies and Bearcats

need to qualify faster than 300 mph. on the course just to get in. This year Rare Bear #77, the super-modified F8F-2

Bearcat threw down the gauntlet with a 495.039 mph. qualifying run! Dago Red #4 responded with 492.722 mph.

Just happy to be there was Tom Camp in a stock FM2 Wildcat who snuck in at 303.018 mph. With the race record

507 mph. lap there was a 204 mph. disparity between fastest and slowest. You think NASCAR is exciting? How

about the 1st place finisher lapping the last place finisher twice, at 500 mph., 50ft. above the desert floor!

Some of the airshow highlights this year included the Air Force Thunderbirds, Kirby Chambliss and his

Edge 540, Ken Pietch’s comedy act in the Interstate S-1 Cadet, the Gene Soucy and Theresa Stokes biplane wing

walking routine and Scott Hammock in the Air Force Reserve jet-powered dragster. Previous acts have included

Wayne Handley in the Turbo-Raven, Sean Tucker’s Challenger bipe, Patty Wagstaff and her Extra 300, Julie Clark in

the Mopar T-34 Mentor and Jimmy Franklin in his jet-powered Waco. This year we had fly-by’s of a B-52

“BUFF” (Big Ugly Fat Fella), A-10 “Warthog”, F-16 “Vipers” and the F-117 “Woblin Goblin” courtesy of your Fed-

eral and State governments. (Yes I know there are other “official” nicknames for the previous aircraft, but that might

get you beat up in some circles). The Alaska National Guard opened each show at noon with parachute jumpers from

a C-130 proudly displaying our flag during the National Anthem. You can tell a lot about a man by the way he re-

sponds after our Anthem; “play ball”, “gentlemen, start your engines” or “hand me an oat soda”.

If you’re interested in the races check out www.airrace.org, www.aafo.com, www.warbirdaerpress.com.

If you’re interested in joining the Ribcrackers box at Reno 2004 contact me at chris300s@yahoo.com or

(248) 356-2610

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The 24th Annual US Scale Masters Championships by Dennis Robbins September 24 - 28 saw the U.S. Scale Masters Championships being held at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. The event was too prestigious,, huge and close to pass up. And even though the day I went saw gray skies, the planes and flying were incredible. Below are just some of the planes that were competing for prizes. I hope you like the pictures.

This month and soon – Nov 2 Swap Meet Northville Parks & Rec. Rudi Midwest RC 700 W. Baseline Rd (new location 248-643-4509 Nov 3 Ribcracker Club Meeting Livonia Senior Citizens Center Mike Hegyi Monthly Meeting 5 Mile & Farmington Rds 248-669-7583

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R I B C R A C K E R M O D E L A I R P L A N E C L U B � NOVEMBER 2003 �������

Overhead Safety - Comment from one of your Safety Officers We all know that it is against the rules to fly without a spotter at Ray Field due to small planes frequently ap-proaching the South Lyons airport on a landing ap-proach. Safety dictates that if you see or are told of an approaching plane, you MUST drop your altitude (immediately) and leave the approaching plane’s flight path. Well at Lang we don’t need a spotter, however small planes still occasionally fly by very low and ap-proach “our air space”. This is not an arguable or ne-gotiable point...you MUST drop your altitude and give the full scale “open air”. The life of the pilot may de-pend on it, in addition to flying RC anymore. FLY SAFELY GUYS!

Winter’s Coming - Time to get out the winter gear for cold weather flying! That includes warm socks (maybe 2 pair), waterproof boots, layers of pants and shirts / jackets, a warm hat and a pair of gloves to keep the wind off your hands. Skis are preferred if there’s snow on the ground (in Michigan???). More on winter flying coming soon - so start getting your gear together!