August 2002 Newsletter

Roswell Aircraft Fliers

March Newsletter

Did anyone get to fly in February?

Well, if you got to fly any in February, you are ahead of me. The weather was just not great. Or at least not on the weekends or the days I could go fly. What happened there? Well, if the wind doesn't get us in March, then maybe we'll be okay.

Meeting is schedule at Jim's house, March 3rd at 7:00 PM.

For the next year, probably a given for the meeting is going to be a discussion about the runway. How to obtain a lease to keep our current flying site or obtain land for a new site. The club is very serious on the progress of this subject. All input is welcome.

Club clean-up day is also going to be on the agenda. It was going to be held Feb 5th, but was rained out. So I will tentatively put it in the newsletter for March 5th. If there is a change to this at the meeting, I'll send out a notice.

If you have any more concerns or items you would like to bring up as new business, come to the meeting.

For everyone who has paid their RAF club dues, we really appreciate it. For everyone else, please get them in. If you can't make it to the meeting, you can give the money to an officer at the field, or mail a check to Jim.

Membership Drive

It is still on gentlemen. The more members the stronger the club. We have already had a couple of new members get us their dues. Let's try to retain last years members as well as gaining more. All of us know someone who said, "I'd like to try that" when they found out we fly remote control airplanes. Well that is your opportunity to get them out to the field and let the flying bug take over.

Who has been flying?

I really couldn't tell you since I haven't been to the field. So I guess this is just going to be a quick ribbing session. I will have to turn it onto myself. I bought a little electric helicopter from Jim several weeks ago. I finally got it flying when I bought a crystal to match my radio. I was very excited to say the least. Of course this is one of those new Li-Poly packs everything you read on has been saying be careful with. So I was very careful. I took one of my wifes little patio tables to the center of the yard and hooked it up to the charger. It was kind of overcast, but not windy. I checked the battery occassionally and after about an hour of charging, it was ready. Woohoo, I couldn't wait. So I hooked it up. Well the throttle control was backwards, so that gave a little scare. Then I was able to successfully hover. But I couldn't stop at that. I flew it back and forth a little testing it and making adjustments on the programming. I was feeling comfortable and decided to make a lap. Keep in mind I'm doing this in front of my house on the street. Well the radio glitched and I got backwards on the sticks and smacked it into the eve of my neighbor's house. The house is fine, but the helicopter sustained severe damage. But luckily the parts are already on their way here. What did I learn from this experience. Well I learned a several things like wood is stronger than heli and what looks like a large area can close in fast. But the hardest thing I had to learn was a little electric helicopter can cost as much or more to fix than my Raptor. Ouch.

Quick heads up, there are new aerial photos of the flying field. David took some really good pictures. Check them out under the photo gallery link and aerial photo link. Or just go here.

I have also been trying to keep copies of the newsletters under the newsletter link. So maybe I can keep that going.

Send me stuff. Stuff: the universal word. Could mean anything. I mean, could go as far as an article, picture, or even a 40% airplane you want me to test fly and write a review on. Take care guys. See you at the meeting.