PHOTO OF THE MONTH For those of you interested in joining the WWI bunch this summer, here is what a “real man” builds. This particular model is 50% scale. Taking out my handy-dandy Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Aircraft, I think it is a German Pfalz D.III. I included a Wikopedia photo of the real thing for caparison.
PARTICULARS AMA Charter 331 Website: peoriarcmodelers.com PRESIDENT:
Scott “Fergy” Ferguson Phone: (309) 339-3756, ferg88@comcast.net
VICE PRESIDENT:
JD “Capt Crunch” Keenan Phone: (309) 648-1008, jdk737@comcast.net
SEC/TREAS:
“Smokin-Jimmy” Fassino Phone: (309) 361-6828, jfassino@me.com
SAFETY:
Joe “Stitch” Lang joe.a.lang@comcast.net
WEBMASTER:
Terry “The Flamer” Beachler (309) 696-0035, terry@beachlers.com
“Studly” 50% WWI R/C Model.
MAINTENANCE & GROUNDS Roger “Pod Man” Stegall (309) 579-3023, rogerstegall@hotmail.com EDITOR:
Bob “Grumplestiltskin” Wilson (309) 219-4262, wilsorc@gmail.com
AMA CONTEST DIRECTORS: Bob Wilson, Jim Hogan, Jim Fassino
Flying Field Location The flying field is located off Old Galena Road, ½ mile north of the Caterpillar Technical Center on the west side of the road. GPS Location: N40 51.844’ W89 33.788’ File photo of German Pfalz D.III
Flying Hours Flying hours are 8am until dusk, Monday thru Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFO (Wikipedia paraphrase)
Membership Club dues are $100/year. All members and flyers must belong to the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). A $100 new field assessment will be initiated for all new club members in 2011. Beginning in 2012 the new field assessment will expire.
In September 1916, the Pfalz Flugzeugwerke company began producing an airplane called the Roland D.II. In November 1916, the company hired a new designer, Rudolph Gahinger who came up with an original new design, the Pfalz D.111. Power was the Mercedes D.III, 180 hp, 6 cylinder, in line, liquid cooled, engine.
General We are committed to having fun and the safe operation of model aircraft. The Peoria RC Modelers is an equal opportunity, not-forprofit organization and welcomes all new members.
The airplane was all-wood design and extremely strong, although prone to warping if inferior wood was used. Deliveries began to operational units in August 1917. Although a strong airplane, the Pfalz slipped in turns, stalled sharply, spun readily and could not match the performance of the Albatross D.Va and the Fokker D.VII. The Pfalz D.IIIa was a much improved version that lasted until the end of the war.
Flight Instruction The Peoria RC Modelers offers flight instruction as a free service to members. However, flight students are urged to supply their own aircraft, radio and support equipment. Students should also coordinate training schedules with the instructor. A club trainer aircraft is available for special situations. Questions pertaining to flight instruction can be directed at any of the officers listed above.
There are no surviving airframes of this airplane. However, two replicas were built for the movie “Blue Max”. One was built from scratch, the other was converted from a de Havilland Tiger Moth. Both replicas are currently based in New Zealand.
DECEMBER CLUB MEETING
Next up is Jon “Dew Drop” Dewey and his new Corsair with a great color scheme.
Several new airplanes showed up at the December meeting. The “Show & Tell” items are listed below. In addition, our sincere thanks goes out to our retiring President, Vice President and Safety Officer, John Hoelscher, Jim Hogan and George Knight respectively. Two years of great work and the club has come a long way.
Unfortunately while Jim Hogan was showing off his great P47, a rather crude passer-by decided to present Jim with a “pressed ham”. Notice Dewey's Corsair at the left side of the photo. In this photo, Chummer is showing of the newly constructed wing for his ¼ scale Sopwith Pup. Steve Blesin, sitting close by, seems to be strangely distracted by something else.
Last, but not least is George Knight's almost finished Navy Wildcat.
BE THE FIRST TO FLY
When you get older and smarter, comfort and dull is not such a bad thing!
Make a resolution NOW to begin 2011 with your fellow dysfunctional friends in a day of flying, buying and lying. The soccer complex across from the Mossville grade school will again be our venue for reckless mayhem New Year’s Day from 8AM until 5PM. To date, only 3 tables have been reserved for selling winged and dinged RC items that the Salvation Army wouldn’t accept. If you would like to reserve an 8’ table for $10, immediately call Roger Stegall (229-0054) and he will try to make arrangements for you to sell your crap. Donuts, coffee and hot chocolate will be available for a nominal fee. Lunch orders will be taken that will include a drink, a gondola and a bag of chips. Various flying contest will be held during the event to give all participants increased opportunities to destroy everything they own. Weather permitting, outdoor flying is a possibility for airframes that do not quality for indoor flying (electric planes less than 18 ounces and electric helicopters of 450 size or smaller). Participants who fly outdoors are encouraged to remove their snot-sickles prior to entry into the building. All club members should be advised that the Peoria Police department is strictly enforcing a ban on “yellow snow.” The best way to start a new year is to forget about all the idiotic things you did last year and begin a brand-new list of idiotic adventures. Remember -- the sooner you become irresponsible, the longer you have to recover. See you Saturday morning January 1st. Roger Stegall
THERE IS A MORAL HERE A C-130 was lumbering along when a cocky F-16 flashed by. The jet jockey decided to show off. The fighter jock told the C-130 pilot, “Watch this!” and promptly went into a barrel roll followed by a steep climb. He then finished with a sonic boom as he broke the sound barrier.
FW 190A-5/U3 FLIES AGAIN December
The F-16 pilot asked the C-130 pilot what he thought off that?
2, 2010 — On Wednesday afternoon, December 1, the Flying Heritage Collection’s (FHC) reported on its Facebook page that its Fw-190A-5/U3 fighter made its first post-restorative flight, marking the first time it’s been airborne since 1943 when it was shot down near Leningrad during World War II. Veteran test pilot Steve Hinton was at the controls as the aircraft took off in Tehachapi, California, and tested all major systems during a 20-minute flight. The pilot reported that the aircraft passed its trial flight with flying colors, stating, “The plane is very light, fast, and responsive…This lived up to the history books."
The C-130 pilot said, “That was impressive, but watch this!” The C-130 droned along for about 5 minutes and then the C-130 pilot came back and said, “What did you think of that?” Puzzled the F-16 pilot asked, “What the heck did you do?” The C-130 pilot chuckled, “I stood up, stretched my legs, walked to the back, took a leak, then got a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll.”
Paul G. Allen, FHC owner, wrote on his Twitter page Thursday, “Yesterday saw FHC Warbird Fw 190A5 fighter fly for 1st time since WWII; Steve Hinton at the controls, pretty amazing.” Adrian Hunt, FHC executive director, told EAA the plane flew again on Thursday and that plans are to paint-seal the airframe in the spring, then get it ready for its first public flight in the early summer at FHC on
DEAR AMELIA These are real questions from real members about RC pilot concerns. Amelia Airhead will answer all questions and give unique insights from an area of the brain little explored. Address questions for Amelia directly to the editor. Amelia Airhead is the pen name of Roger “Pod Man” Stegall
NOTE: There was No...Zippo...Nul...Zug write-ins for Amelia this month, so I chose a relevant story on the Amelia mystery pulled from the EAA newsletter.
Actual photo of the restored FW-190 on its maiden flight. Paine Field Airport, Everett, Washington. Aviation legend Bob Hoover, who will be honored with a special day on Tuesday, July 26, at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2011, famously escaped a German POW camp, stole an FW 190, and flew it to safety in the Netherlands. Hunt, asked if there was any chance we might see the aircraft in Oshkosh next year to participate in the Hoover tribute, replied, “Paul’s philosophy is to keep the planes close to home.”
ROGER STEGAL STUFF FOR SALE 1. U-Can-Do 60 ($375) OS 91 FX Hitec HS-6465 MG on rudder Hitec HS 545BB everywhere else 1200 mAH battery (10 flights) Aluminum spinner 2 Y-connectors Remote fueling valve External charge fitting 2. Edge 540 - 76" WS ($450) OS 1.60FX motor (great running - easy starting) Expert SL571 servo on rudder 2 Futaba S3004 Servos on elevator halves 2 Hitech 605BB - High Toraque servos on ailerons Futaba S3003 servo on throttle Remote fuel valve Remote glow fitting Pilot figure 3" Aluminum spinner Pitts style muffler Reversing Y-harness (for elevators) 8 servo extensions
FOR SALE 2 METER ICEPOINT PATTERN AIRPLANE $150.00 No engine, no servos, no batteries, no tuned pipe, no voltage regulator...just the airplane. Bob Wilson (309) 219-4262
THE PRESSURES OF THE JOB After two years of service, both the outgoing Prez and VP will take a well deserved rest.
2009-2010 Prez John Hoelscher conducts his final meeting and seems a bit grayer!
2009-2010 Vice President, Jim Hogan, experiences a melt down during the last meeting. Actually, he was just trying to figure out whether to order the super burger with cheese or the pasta combo.