AMA Chartered Club #1140 The Tail Spinner Greater Southwest Aero Modelers P.O. Box 1171 Bedford, TX 76095 http://www.flygsw.org February 2018 President... Darrell Abby... (817) 692-7380 Vice President(s)... Lewie Moore... (682) 553-2806 Secretary... Frank Rowell... (817) 265-2471 Treasurer... Bob McDuff... (817) 939-6131 Newsletter Editor... Roy Baker... (817) 455-0922 AMA Gold Leader Club The Greater Southwest Aero Modelers, Inc. is a nonprofit organization. Membership is nondiscriminatory and open to anyone who agrees to abide by Club By-Laws. A condition of membership for insurance purposes is current affiliation with the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). Our flying field is located at 6903 Randol Mill Road, 1/4 mile east of exit 26 off of Loop 820 at N 32 46.895 W 97 12.361. Visitors are welcome whenever the gate is unlocked. Free flight training instruction is available to members from 6:00 PM to dusk on Monday and Wednesday while Daylight Savings Time is in effect. Regular Club meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 PM at the McDonalds Restaurant, 769 Airport Freeway, Hurst TX 76053. The McDonalds is on the south access road just east of Precinct Line Road. Next Meeting: February 13, 2018 7:30pm McDonalds Central #10230 2100 Central Park Blvd. Bedford, TX 76022 President s Notes We had good attendance at the January meeting at the new temporary McDonald s location. We think the regular location remodel will be completed for our April meeting. During the winter season, we have to keep a vigilance on the weather and get out to the flying field when the opportunity arises. Despite the brutal periods there have been some good days in the 50 s and favorable winds. Put on your sweatshirt/coat/hat and come join us. Be sure to review the article elsewhere in this newsletter concerning a couple of proposed additions to the GSW Safety and Operational Rules. Then come to the club meeting prepared to discuss them. Just for kicks, here are a couple of current one-liners from that document: membership card shall be displayed prominently on the pilots person or transmitter and pilots of maiden or test flights should inform/alert the flight line pilots of such. This document is posted at the field and on the web site for your periodic review and highly recommended for our new members. My winter building project is finally beginning to look like an airplane. I hope yours is making progress as well. If you are not building, don t forget that this is a good time to overhaul/check fuel tanks, check batteries, fix dents/ holes, FAA registration number, and any other maintenance tasks. The prime spring flying season will arrive before you know it. A Friendly reminder: While at the field introduce yourself to anyone that you don t know. We have many new members coming on board; help keep up our hospitality tradition. See you at the field. Darrell Abby, President
Tail Spinner Submissions Items for the Tail Spinner are due by the 25th of the month. Remember that ads are free to members. Send them to: Roy Baker (817) 545-4031 (817) 455-0922 (cell) (e-mail) reb2ntx@verizon.net GSW 2018 Event Calendar Date Event Coordinator Sat after Work Day 09:00 every Saturday following GSW Officers Meeting the monthly meeting Check the Website!! April 28 TAG (Take-Off and Grow) TBD May 19 Biplane Fun Fly (S) Darrell Abby Jun 2-3 US Scalemaster Qualifier (S) Lawrence Harville June 30 Independence Day Fun Fly Chuck Rovell?? Sep 8 Big Bird (S) - Model Aviation Day Event?? Oct TBD All-Scale Fly-In Barry Ponder?? Anyone can be an event coordinator. New type events are welcome with club approval. Fun-fly s are totally informal volunteer and coordinate with me; Any date including a Sunday. (S) Indicates AMA sanctioned event. Jimmy Stanford, Event Coordinator (202) 725-5565 or rescuejim@yahoo.com Tim Lovett?? Nov TBD NEED Food Drive Chuck Rovell Nov TBD Control Line Event Stephen Jeansonne Nov 4 Annual party Location TBD GSW Officers Dec TBD Toys for Tots (may move to earlier date) Chuck Rovell?? February 2018 Tail Spinner Page 2
January Secretary s Report The January business meeting was called to order by President Darrell Abby, 7:30PM at the McDonald's Restaurant #10230 2100 Central Park Blvd, Bedford, TX 76022 Business Meeting Minutes The November 2017 meeting minutes were approved as written by attending members by a show of hands. Secretary Frank Rowell reported that GSW has 67 renewals and 6 new members as of this meeting. New Members/Visitors New member Brian Wilson was welcomed and said that he has crashed or flown numerous aircraft. The members are encouraged to meet and introduce themselves to new members and show them where and how flying is done at the field. Treasurer's Report Treasurer Bob McDuff reported that all bills are paid. We have new funds from renewals and are in good financial shape. Field Report Vice-President Lewie Moore reported there are no weeds in the runway and no active fire ant nests. Tru-Green service has been worth the money spent. There will be no work party Saturday. However the trees that have been cut down need to be removed. Dave Ek said he has spoken with a contractor and is waiting for a price estimate for removal. Newsletter Report Tail Spinner Editor Roy Baker said the newsletter will be sent only to those who have joined or renewed their membership as of the end of this month. Upcoming Events Reporting for Event coordinator Jimmy Stanford, Darrell Abby announced the event schedule for this year. April 28; TAG; Date in April to be determined. Mike Kopf, coordinator. A Civil Air Patrol chapter will bring 20 cadets to the event. The club will plan demonstrations of fixed wing, control line, drone and FPV flying. May 19; Bi-Plane Fun Fly. Darrell Abby, coordinator. June 2 and 3; US Scale Masters Qualifier. Lawrence Harville, coordinator. June 30 ; Independence Day Fun Fly. Please note the date has been changed to the Saturday preceding the 4 th. Chuck Rovell, coordinator. September 8; Big Bird Fly-In. Tim Lovett coordinator. There are additional events scheduled. Please see the club website for the dates. Old Business Thanks to Chuck Rovell for a successful Toys For Tots event. It went very well with a collection of 438 toys. The slow service by the Marines for the pick up of the toys was because GSW is not a priority for the overall event. The toys were picked up late but within the time allowed. Thanks also to Chuck for making the arrangements for our temporary meeting place. We are probably going to have two more meetings here before remodeling of our regular meeting place is completed. Thanks to Dave Cooke for setting up additional barriers of netting at the drone track which will provide safety for the FPV pilots. Darrell Abby asked the members to mind the gate. When you are the last person out, lock the gate. If you open the gate leave the lock open and hang it on the gate. When there are only a few members at the field please check that the one to leave last has his key, or make sure YOU leave the lock open. Darrell said that plans for cameras to increase security and for viewing current conditions at the field are being made. The order of proceeding is that we need to have a signed renewal of our lease by the city of Fort Worth. We can then proceed with cameras. Controls will need to be in a secure box. An internet connection needs to be provided. The overall cost should be around $1000. Sonny Colemen is working to get the system in place. Dave Cooke and Herb Koven brought up a safety issue and a discussion ensued about preventing the arming of electric powered aircraft under the shelter. It was pointed out that pilots need to have a transmitter controlled disconnect switch which will prevent premature starting of an aircraft's motor. Glow and gasoline powered aircraft need to have a throttle cut operated from the transmitter. A sign may be needed to remind pilots about this danger. It may also be necessary to ad a rule to the field regulations. If an aircraft is being armed when you are around please say something so an accident may be prevented. Appointed Officers The appointed GSW officers for this year are; Safety Officer; Chuck Ezell Field Marshall; Barry Ponder Training Coordinator; Bob McDuff Event Coordinator; Jimmy Stanford Model Of The Month Dave Ek presented a small airplane he bought at the Denton swap meet. He said he paid fifteen bucks for it and is happy because it flies well. He has not figured out what to call it. So for now its just a Small Plane. Steve Rogers presented his bi-plane constructed of Corplast. The material is plastic corrugated sheet. It forms easily but nothing sticks to it. Not paint or glue stays put. The plane has two six foot wings. It is powered by a DLE 35 gas engine and weighs 17 pounds. Steve has flown his Captain America several times and is also happy with the way it flies. The model of the month prize goes to Steve Rogers Respectfully Submitted Frank Rowell, Secretary Proposed Field Rule Changes During the January business meeting a proposal for dealing with a safety issue was discussed. The following is the language of new safety and operational rules that address this issue. A vote will be taken among the members present at the February meeting to adopt the new rules. These proposed rules do not require a change to the bi-laws." Possible additions to GSWAM Safety and Operational Rules (June 2017) Rev. 2 Under B. Field Rules a. For electric aircraft, do not arm/disarm the aircraft/plug in the battery in the pit area or on work tables. Do the arming/ disarming at the starting stand or after reaching the flight line. b. All nitro and gas powered aircraft must have a means of engine cutoff from the transmitter using ignition kill, throttle cutoff switch, or by the transmitter operated choke servo. Club Shirts Bill Bradford reports that he has a waiting list for shirt orders. The shirt company needs a minimum of six shirts per order and he currently has three on the list. Contact Bill if you would like a club shirt. They are $20 and $25 if you want your name embroidered on the shirt. February 2018 Tail Spinner Page 3
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The Tail Spinner Greater Southwest Aero Modelers P.O. Box 1171 Bedford, TX 76095 Inside This Issue Presidents Notes Event Calendar January Meeting Notes Club Shirts Proposed Field Rules Club Members Flying Massey McDonald s Is proud to support Greater Southwest Aero Modelers Please visit us at one of the following locations: Euless #2182 105 Airport Fwy Euless, TX 76040 Harwood #6598 3350 Harwood Rd. Bedford, TX 76021 Handly Ederville #10145 7305 Airport Fwy Richland Hills, TX 76118 Our Meeting Place > Precinct Line #25720 769 Airport Fwy. Hurst, TX 76053 Central #10230 2100 Central Park Blvd. Bedford, TX 76022 Centre Port #34234 14100 Centre Station Dr. Fort Worth, TX 76155 February 2018 Tail Spinner Page 6