If you're faced with a forced landing, fly the thing as far into the crash as possible.

- Bob Hoover

October, 2005

Correction

Let’s start this month by getting things straight from last month. It has been brought to my attention that I misidentified Larry Cain’s big green Piper Tomahawk as a Warrior. Sorry for the mix up. I knew it was one of those Indian names & I should have known better because I own a Pawnee, which looks something like a Brave but nothing like a Cherokee or a Cheyenne, which shouldn’t be confused with an Arrow, a Papoose, a Comanche, or a Navajo. Lots of us fly Cubs but I don’t know anybody who has a Colt. Man, I sure feel better, now that we have that cleared up.

September Meeting Notes

The September meeting of the Monroe County R/C Club was called to order at 7:02:00 P.M. (Eastern Standard Time), on September 14, 2005 with twenty-five people in attendance.

Mark Sexton reported on a good club picnic that was held on September 11. Lots of good food, flying, & weather. Thanks to all who helped & participated.

Michael Sexton is getting a new mowing machine with a side discharge. The globs of grass on the runway will soon be a thing of the past.

The club voted to not allow anyone under the age of eighteen to hold an email address at monroecountyrc.org for legal reasons. Mr. Vargha Manshadi is setting up email accounts for members over eighteen, who are interested, at monroecountyrc.org. You should have received a notice about this via email. If you have any questions you can contact Vargha at administration@monroecountyrc.org.

Club elections are coming up in November. Randy Byers, Damon Ferguson, & Bob Shireman are the nominating committee. If you wish to run for a club office or would like to nominate someone, contact Randy, Damon, or Bob.

The club voted to have it’s annual Christmas party/dinner/meeting at Hoosier Bar & Grill in Ellettsville again this year.

Options for a buffet style dinner will be investigated. That would mean committing & paying in advance. We’ve been down that road before so be prepared.

Sunday, February 26 was the date chosen for the 2006 Monroe County R/C Club’s annual swap meet. Bob Watson will confirm the date with the Monroe County Fairgrounds & details will follow soon.

Haley Ferguson earned her solo certificate on Tuesday 9/13/05. Congratulations Haley!

Figure 1:

Here's Haley, pictured with her solo certificate.

Tim Mellott passed his coveted “Dork Award” to Delbert Davis for flying out farther than his eyes & fingers could coordinate an R/C aircraft. Delbert surmised that he might receive an award at the meeting so he dressed for the occasion.

Figure 2:

Tim and Delbert, pictured with the Dork Award.

If you are thinking about doing something stupid at the field, beware because Delbert will be watching for the next recipient.

The meeting was closed at 7:35 so Matt Fornefeld could conduct the show & tell program on his ME-109 project by flashlight.

Figure 3:

Matt is pictured, holding his new ME-109.

Interesting Bits

We had a great time at the Paragon Homecoming fly-in. Bill Black put up the Monroe County R/C Club banner & Randy Byers put up his home sewn windsock. Haley Ferguson signed up interested spectators for an intro pilot flight while Tim Mellott gave some preflight buddy box instruction. Randy Byers assisted the nearly thirty pilots during their first flight. Randy also gave trailer rides to the kids (Joe Rogers) from the parking area to the flight-line.

Figure 4:

Here's Randy, taking Joe on a little trailer ride.

The crowd seemed to enjoy the show & Mr. Richard Finney of the Paragon Homecoming committee asked us to return for next year’s event. Best crash of the day went to Mr. Richard Anderson when he demonstrated some close-in, down-low, maneuvers. Roll left, rudder right, knife edge flight. Roll left, rudder left, plane crash.

Figure 5:

Several MCRCC members are having fun at the Paragon Homecoming fly-in.

Mrs. Tina Rogers did a fine job on the post event publicity & got us on the front page of the Martinsville paper. Tina is also in charge of publicity for the Nebo Memorial Fall Festival Fly-In on October 8. Thanks Tina! Those of you who left early left hungry because Mr. Mike Habig took us over to the festival & bought us dinner. Thanks Mike!

We also had a great time when we traveled to Vincinnes to fly with the Tri-County Aero Club on September 16 & 17. They have a nice field & a bunch of really nice people. Their field is a full scale airport & we had a good time checking out the real deal.

Figure 6:

A few MCRCC members are enjoying themselves at the Tri-County Aero Club.

AMA assistant vice president Frank Roales is a good host & was also the CD of their warbird event on Saturday. It was a little breezy on Friday as Dave Poland tested the wheel hubs on his Waco biplane. Seems that the plastic wheels don’t hold up well under the constant spray of hot oily exhaust but that five-cylinder radial Saito sure sounded good. Randy Byers was limited to flying his Kadet when he realized that the transmitter for his Ag Wagon & his F6F Hellcat was still charging in his basement some eighty miles away. Bob Shireman has a little damage to repair on his Fokker Dr1 triplane after his Supertiger 4500 decided to quit in a bad position (in the air).

Figure 7:

Here's Bob, flying his Fokker Dr1.

Jimmy Vanvleet got a valuable lesson on battery maintenance. It wasn’t on an aircraft but on his motorcycle. He rode down to Vincinnes on Saturday afternoon but had a dead battery when he got ready to leave. After a push start, he got about three miles before it died in the middle of 6th street in Vincinnes. After giving the battery a much needed drink of water & letting it heal itself for an hour or so while we packed up our airplanes, it took right off with another push start & made it home just fine. Good thing Jimmy had his cellphone with him. It would have been a long walk home.

Michael Friesel has finished his version of the flying boat that everybody has been seeing in the internet & talking about. It flies great & looks good on the ground & in the air. Here’s Michael with his creation.

Figure 8:

Michael is pictured with his new flying boat.

For Sale

Mike Habig still has a few items for sale. The big Nosen trainer bit the dust at the club picnic when a parachute got hooked on the tail at release, but he still has a Supertiger 75 (UIB) for $35.00 and a Hobbico Air Boat with a .46 engine for $30.00. Call Mike at 765-342-7874.

Michael Hinz has a MDS 48 engine he wants to sell for around thirty bucks. Contact Michael at mhinz@hotmail.com or call him at 574-904-9077.

Bill Nicholson has a new Nexstar trainer, ready to fly, with field equipment. Call Bill at 812-879-9593.

Figure 9:

Lane is having a great time in Vincinnes.

Event Calendar