2013 Event Schedule We need Event Directors Next Event New Years day Fun-Fly December 2012 Online Edition Changes Are Coming FOUR-STAR-40 Photo by Carolyn Schlueter Time to Renew your Membership Charter No. 396 an AMA Gold Level Leader Club our 47th Year Next meeting december 13, 2012 Bridgeton Trails Library, 7 PM This month s Technical Presentations a Look Back at 2012 Minutes from the meeting and much more...
Holiday wishes to all. May this time of year bring you great joy and the opportunity to spend time with your family and loved ones. As you will read in the Meeting Minutes, new committee chairs were appointed by the officers and approved by the membership at the last meeting. Thank you to those members that have stepped up to assist in the operation and maintenance of our club. Special thanks to Ralph Doyle, Gary Graul, and Bob Gizzie for returning to the Board and continuing their roles as, Membership Chairman, Field Chairman, and Volunteer to the Board of Directors, respectively. To our newly appointed BOD members, welcome aboard. One of the greatest things about being the president of our club is having this space each month where I can talk about some of the great things that go on at the Spirits and recognize members for their skill, dedication, and achievements. At our last membership meeting our own Walt Wilson, was presented with the Carl Goldberg Vital People Award. Beginning in 1983 the Club Business Features 3 Meeting Minutes, November 3 New Committee Appointees 4 Events, 2013 schedule 4 New Years Fun-Fly 7 Membership Application award was established to recognize vital people in the background of the modeling movement whose efforts enhance the enjoyment of the hobby and whose accomplishments are seldom formally acknowledged. L-R, Don Fitch, Walt Wilson, M.B. Westhoff Photo by Carolyn Schlueter Please join me in congratulating Walt. His skill, dedication to the hobby, and his service to the Spirits is unparalleled. Well Done! The next newsletter is not until January 2013, until then I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! See you at the January 1st Chosen Frozen. Dress warm. IN THIS ISSUE 2 Stuff Gary Pyles 5 a Look Back, the Spirits in 2012 6 Four-Star-40, Changes Paul Geders 8 Technical Presentations 8 Safety Corner(Staff) 9 Links to stuff in this issue(online only) 10 Items For Sale (Online only) Flight Lines, page 2
Meeting Minutes Meeting Minutes: November 15, 2012 by Dale Buchanan, Secretary Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM by President, Gary Pyles. Attendance: Twenty-seven members and about four guests were present. Announcements: Congratulations to Walt Wilson for receiving the AMA Goldberg Award and a check for $200.00. Walt has retired from the Secretary position after 15 years of excellent service to the club. Don Fitch presented the award to Walt. Bob Gizzie has a transmitter that was left at the field. If the transmitter is yours you can contact Bob at 314-753-6100. Paul Geders discussed the new Sig Four Star 40 ARF. The new Four Star ARF has a 54 wingspan instead of the standard 60. Sig has removed the outer section or bay of the wing tip. Some feel it has an advantage over the 60 because it has a shorter wing and maybe lighter. The new design also has a lower canopy, cowl and sheeting on the turtle deck. There was no voting on the acceptance of this new design at the meeting. Acceptance of this design may depend on how it flies against the 60. The new design will be out in the spring of 2013. New member in attendance: Robert Groeller AMA# 1006221 The members accepted and welcomed him. Secretary s Report, Dale Buchanan, Secretary: Minutes were accepted as published in last month s Flight Lines. Treasury Report, Bill Lindewirth, Treasurer: For the month of October the club had expenses of $2090.00 and a credit of $2017.00. The treasurer s report was accepted as presented. Field Report, Gary Graul, Field Chairman: Gary mentioned that he has taken some of the fan blades off for the winter because they seem to get broken during the cold months. Also the runway will need to have some cracks repaired maybe in the spring. Lee made a suggestion to put the blade back on the tractor in case we get three feet of snow and someone really wants to fly. If anyone is willing to help Gary with the field please contact him. He is out of town a lot because of his job and he could use some help maintaining the field. Safety Report, Duane Youngman, Safety Chairman: Duane was not present. Gary Pyles did mention about firearms being shot in the area because it is Deer Season. Membership Report: Ralph Doyle, Membership Chairman: For 2013, 20 members have renewed and 9 new members have joined. Although the new members were not present a motion was made to accept the new members. Events, Tom Foster, Event Chairman: Not present. The next event will be the New Year s Day Fly-In. 1-1-2013. The Board of Directors will have a proposed event schedule for the year 2013 at the December meeting. If anyone is interested in running an event, they should contact the club president, Gary Pyles. Flight Training: Gary Pyles, Chief Instructor: Anyone wanting to be an Intro Pilot Instructor should contact Gary Pyles. New Business: 2013 Budget: Bill Lindewirth noted that the club was in the black for the 2012 year. This is the second year in a row where the club was in the black. Special thanks went out to Gary Graul, Gary Pyles, and Walt Wilson for saving the club money with their generous donations. Bill Lindewirth saved $300.00 on the Porta-Potty rental. Steve O Connor and Jim Schuster donated $1500.00 in prizes at the Heli Fun fly that was run by Tom Foster who also donated prizes. A lot of time and donations are given, that aren t seen by the club members. A proposed budget was continued on page 8 Flight Lines, page 3
Below is the proposed event schedule for 2013. At this time these dates and events are tentative pending final discussions with Directors, and approval by the membership at the next meeting. If a Contest/Event Director has not volunteered to run an event 60 days prior to the date of the event, the event will be canceled. Don t forget to visit the website for the current event schedule. Date Contest/Event Director Notes Apr 27 Four-Star-40/Warbirds Paul Geders Field Closed 10:30 till 2 PM for racing May 4 Tailgate Swap meet at Field Need Director $5 per car May 18 Scale Fly-In Need Director Field Open June 1-2 Midwest Auto-Gyro Fun-Fly Gary Pyles Field Open for all aircraft, except 11Am-1Pm Saturday for demo flights Jun 9 Scout Day Need Director Field Open Jun 22 Helicopter Fun-Fly Tom Foster All day event Jul 20 Four-Star-40/Warbirds Steve Cross Field Closed 10:30 till 2 PM for racing Sep 7 Helicopter Fun-Fly Tom Foster All day event Sep 11 Meeting at Field Bill Lindewirth Member appreciation dinner Sep 28 Open House Committee Aug 13 Electric Fly-In Need Director Field Open for all aircraft after 2 PM Oct 20 Four-Star-40/Warbirds Need Director Field Closed 10:30 till 2 PM for racing Spirits Events Page Link Flight Lines, page 4
a look back at the Spirits in 2012 Photos by Carolyn Schlueter and Walt Wilson To see a video slide show of these and many other photos from 2012 visit the Gallery on our website. You can see the video by clicking here. Flight Lines, page 5
FOUR-STAR-40 Changes are Coming - by Paul Geders As a lot of you know Sig has been looking for a new supplier for the ARF version of their popular Four- Star 40 design. However, before just going off and duplicating the existing design Mike Gretz, R& D Manager for Sig, has been working to incorporate requests from many pilots who fly the Four-Star series line which includes the 40, 60 and 120 versions. The number one request was to remove one outer bay from each wing to make it roll faster and land better, and not float like a blimp as they do now on landing. Others requested that the canopy fit the turtle deck better. Solution was to sheet the turtle deck on the ARF version. Another was to lower the stabilizer ~¼ to allow fairings to be added either side of the rudder for streamlining and additional New design SIG Four-Star-40 ARF Note the new canopy design (shown under the old-style canopy), smooth turtle-deck, and the wings are clipped one bay shorter. strength. Lots of guys in the past have put balsa triangle stock in there. Looks like most of you come to me for advice on our racing rules, so here s how I see it. We should allow both the current kitted version built stock (which will continue to be produced as it has been for years), or with the wings clipped one bay on each side to equal the 54 wingspan of the new ARF, and either the kit (tall) canopy, or the change it out for the new low profile ARF version. We won t be allowing the new electric cowling either. Everything else should then be equal. This, I believe, would be the easiest solution to keeping it a one-airplane design race. During the winter months you can take your existing kit built, or older ARF version, and cut one bay off of each wing, and if you want put on a low profile canopy later as they won t be available until the new ARF comes out in April or May of 2013. This would make the plate area the same once again. Plate area is what you see by looking aft from the nose of the airplane. It is the total area that has to be pushed and/or pulled through the air. We essentially, by allowing the suggested changes to the rules, create the same plate area for all Four-Star 40 versions (kitted, and old and new ARFs), and the rest of the airframe is the same. Therefore, the drag counts are the same and everyone should be flying equal airframes once again. You may see a very slight increase in speed with the shorter wing and a lower canopy. Right now our average speeds are around 60 MPH. Just guessing, speeds may go up 1 or 2 MPH. Updated rules are in the works and will not allow any changes to the carburetor. The engine is shall be stock from the factory, without modification. Putting in a spray bar with flattened sides, like the.60 size carburetors, is not in accordance with the race rules or the spirit of the contest. Why, because it effectively increases the throat area, and potentially more RPM/ power. The prop limit is 15,000 RPM, and will be checked more often this coming year. If you have any questions, comments, and/or concerns? Let me know and I will get the information to the known racers for comment and incorporate them into the rules so everyone is on the same page before next racing season. Let s keep the fun in it! Email Paul Corrections: In last month s edition Bill s technical presentation of the Millennium Master airplane was described as Rx-R from Horizon Hobby. The airplane is actually a Tx-R airplane from Great Planes/Hobbico. Flight Lines, page 6
Reminder: Your AMA & Spirits membership expires December 31. There is NO grace period. If you have not renewed by Dec 31 you MAY NOT FLY until you renew. At the time of this writing only 36 of our 167 members have renewed their membership! If you renew your Spirits membership before the end of the March meeting there is no In Arrears penalty. You must be a current member or guest to fly at Spirits. The Spirits of St. Louis R/C Flying Club, Inc. MEMBER APPLICATION & AGREEMENT FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 201 spiritsofstl.com AMA and Spirits memberships run from January 1 to December 31 st of each year. You must be an AMA member for the year you are applying for membership. (AMA Introductory memberships are not valid) Check New or Renewing Below Check the appropriate box or boxes New Member Full Membership Youth Member Aug./Sept dues $135 $25 (under 19) $10/month ($2.50 youth) Renewing Member Family Membership Associate Member In Arrears Fee $25 $160 $25 (non-flying) after the March meeting Membership includes a subscription to Flight Lines, our monthly newsletter. Check below to indicate how you would like to receive your copy: online @ spiritsofstl.com by US Postal service Do you wish to be contacted by email, by the Spirits, about upcoming events & announcements: Yes No Primary Member Information (please print clearly) First Name: Last Name: AMA No: Address: City: State: Telephone: Email: Age (optional) Signature: Zip: Date: Family Member #1 Information (please print clearly) First Name: Last Name: AMA No: Relationship Email: Age (optional) Signature: Date: Family Member #2 Information (please print clearly) First Name: Last Name: AMA No: Relationship Email: Age (optional) Signature: Date: Family Member #3 Information (please print clearly) First Name: Last Name: AMA No: Relationship Email: Age (optional) Signature: By signing this application you agree that you have read and will comply with the current AMA Safety Code (available at: modelaircraft.org/files/105.pdf) & the Spirits rules and regulations as stated in the latest version of the Spirits Bylaws, Constitution, and Safety Rules available for review at spiritsofstl.com. New members that join in August or September shall pay $10 ($2.50 for Youth Members) for August and or $10 ($2.50 for Youth Members) for September, plus the annual membership dues for the coming year. New members joining after October 1 st pay only the annual membership dues for the coming year. (For example: If you join October 1, 2012 your membership will extend through December 31 st, 2013.) RENEWING MEMBERS: There is NO grace period when renewing! Not renewing your membership by Dec 31 results in your complete loss of flying and voting privileges with the Spirits in the coming year, until you have renewed. Additionally, if you have not renewed by the end of the March meeting you are subject to any In Arrears Fee listed on the membership application. Send this completed and signed application, a copy of your (all family members) AMA card(s) with your check made out to Spirits of St. Louis R/C Flying Club, Inc. (no cash accepted) to the Membership Chair. You will receive your card in about 2 weeks. You may also apply in person during one of our meetings. Check our website for our next meeting time. Mail applications to: Ralph Doyle, 2463 Wesington Dr, Maryland heights, MO 63043 Date: You may contact Ralph by telephone at: 314-878-7914 or email: membership@spiritsofstl.com Flight Lines, page 7
Technical Presentations There were two Four Star 40, type, planes brought to the meeting and one Saito 100 engine. Lee Volmert brought a Sig Four-Star-40 and illustrated how to identify the different types of damage and repair those types of breaks in the Fuselage and wing areas. Bob Gizzie brought in a Clone Four Star 40 and it was compared to the Sig version. It can be purchase at Value Hobby and is legal to run in our club race events. Les Richman brought in a Saito 100 four stroke that he is selling for $225.00. The $20.00 gift card from Mark Twain Hobby Center was won by Lee. Nice job Lee. Lee Volmert diagramming types of breaks and damage to balsa, plywood, and solid wood. Photo by Walt Wilson from Meeting Minutes, page 3 handed out to the members at the meeting. With the estimated budget from Bill, the club should break even for the 2013 year. That is just an estimate. Nominations for new Committee Chairs were: Field Chair: Gary Graul Safety Chair: Russ Watts Contest/Event Chair: Vic Bunze Membership Chair: Ralph Doyle Newsletter Editor: Gary Pyles Webmaster: Steve O Connor Volunteer: Bob Gizzie A motion was made to accept the new Committee Chairman as presented and was accepted by the membership. Meeting was adjourned at 8:39. The next Meeting will be December 13 th at the Bridgeton Trails Library at 7:00, meeting room 1. Safety Corner *Fire extinguishers currently on run-up tables will be removed. Two fire extinguishers will be available in the pavilion. For fire extinguisher requirements please refer to Spirits Safety rule 14. Operators of gasoline- powered aircraft must have a fire extinguisher within 8-10 feet of the aircraft and in view of all flyers. An ABC type extinguisher is recommended. *Too many flights are occurring too close to the Pilot s Box causing unsafe flight conditions and presenting the possibility of a major injury/accident. Please refer to the AMA Safety Code dated 1-1-2011 Section B6: With the exception of events flown under official AMA Competition Regulations, excluding takeoff and landing, no powered model may be flown outdoors closer than 25 feet to any individual, except for the pilot and the pilot s helper(s) located at the flight line. Also refer to Spirits Safety Rules: 18. No flying, landing, or taking off between pilot s box/stations and edge of runway. 23. (excerpt) All flying, except touch and goes, will be done on the far side of the runway. High-speed low passes over the runway are not allowed. Flight Lines, page 8
Links to stuff in this issue & other things From Page 2, Carl Goldberg Vital People Award Click here to read more about this award and our own Walt Wilson. Click here to see all of the elected officers, Board of Director positions, and the chairmen that administer the club s affairs. Click Here to go to the Spirits Events Page and see the list of events that are scheduled. Click Here to visit the Local Events Page where we list events in the surrounding area. If you know of an event, send it and a flyer to the Webmaster. There are more an more complaints of people flying behind the Flight Safety Line and even more distressing are the accounts of people flying their planes directly toward the Pilot s Box. This activity is against club Safety Rules and makes for an unsafe environment for all of us. We have all had times where we flew behind the Flight Safety Line or at the Pilot s Box unintentionally. The acts referenced here are intentional and must cease immediately. Please review the following links: AMA Safety Code Spirits Field Layout Spirits Bylaws Spirits Safety Rules Click Here to view or download a Spirits, Membership Application for 2013. Reminder: Your AMA & Spirits membership expires December 31. There is NO grace period. If you have not renewed by Dec 31 you MAY NOT FLY until you renew. At the time of this writing only 36 of our 167 members have renewed their membership! If you renew your Spirits membership before the end of the March meeting there is no In Arrears penalty. You must be a current member or guest to fly at Spirits. Click here for a link to value Hobby and the Clone- Star-40 presented by Bob Gizzie at the last meeting. The NEW SIG Four-Star-40 Arf will not be available until spring. Click above for a link to SIG s website. Transmitter found at the Field. If it is yours contact Gary, gp@gtpltd. com Flight Lines, page 9
Spirits Advertising Section If you have something you wish to advertise for sale please in the next Online newsletter please send it to the editor with photos, and your contact information. Offered by: Gene Jones, 314-291-5823, gjones4829@att.net Item #1: horizon hobby christian eagle has 7 hitec 652mg servos, turnigy 52 overbore engine, sullivan smoke system, spectrum 7ch rx engine & smoke & rx imcluded but not installed $375.00 Item #2: SIG Rascal 110 Saito FG21 (26 cc) spectrum rx All batteries, ready to fly NO TRANSMITTER $600.00 Item #3: HORIZON DECATHALON Zenoa 26cc engine, spectrum rx,all batteries Ready to fly NO TRANSMITTER $350.00 Item #4: HURRICANE aerobatic shoulder wing Turnigy 52 overbore engine Sullivan smoke system installed Spectrum rx installed, all batteries NO TRANSMITTER $350.00 Support your local hobby shop! If you don t, one day they won t be there when you need that critical part to go fly! Offered by: Bruce Omans, 314-786-5818, Bmanfly@hotmail. com Blade MCP X V2 BNF Flown twice. Extras are new in packages. Extra custom canopy and tail fin, 2 extra lipos, 1 extra tail boom, extra Blades, $216 dollar value Blade-2 $90 OBO Offered by: Gary Pyles, 314-680-2786. gp@gtptld.com JR 11X, 11 channel DSMX/DSM2 transmitter Purchased as a backup for my other JR 11X, programmed my models into it but never used at the flying field. Warranty card still in the package. No receiver. Like new because it is. Priced to sell JR 11X picture Read more about the 11X at Horizon Hobby click here. $450 OBO Flight Lines, page 10