|
|
|
|
Download current newletter in PDF
format
The news portion of our newsletter. Ads, schedule etc are available in the download version above The April PGRC membership meeting will be held at the Club House, Tuesday 15 April 2008 at 7:00 PM. Note: New keys to the field gate are available for sale to solo-certified, paid-up members. The lock was changed immediately after the March meeting. If you missed the meeting, you can purchase a key from a Board member for $4. MARCH MEETING. Welcome to the Club House. Dave Turner welcomed the attending members to the Club House, and recapped some of the recent improvements to the premises. He acknowledged Rick Hagen’s initiative in enlarging and mounting an impressive array of PGRC photographs that now grace the walls of the house. Clean-Up Day, Swap Shop. Dave reminded everyone of the upcoming Spring Clean-Up Day on Saturday 22 March, and recapped the successful First Annual Swap Shop held on 23 February at the Club House. We will likely repeat the event next winter. Tuesday Afternoon Flight Instruction. Now that daylight saving time has returned, we will resume our Tuesday afternoon flight training sessions as soon as the weather cooperates. Generally, the sessions start when instructors can arrive after work - typically ~5:00 pm. Last year, instructors Dave Turner, Alan Goodman, Charlie Gettier, and Steve Baker soloed nearly a dozen new and returning members. We are hoping for similar success this year, and urge members needing instruction to come on out. Additional volunteer instructors would also be welcome. Thanks, Stoney. Dave thanked Stoney Jasper for bringing in a hand-painted RC-themed bulletin board that he is donating to the Club. An appropriate spot for the bulletin board will be found in the Club House. Safety Reminder. Alan Goodman read Mike Fitzgerald’s e-mail recounting his unfortunate encounter with a spinning prop (see below), and urged members to use a holder and be careful around starting / running models in the pits, as we head into another flying season. Show and Tell. Rick Hagen brought in a very nice Hangar 9 Spitfire ARF he just completed. The model is powered by an OS .91 that Rick obtained from Bob Cain’s collection. He indicated that the plane, currently a little tail heavy, weighs in at approximately 8.5 lbs and will carry a separate battery to power the retract servo. Rick used LustreKote flat clear to diminish some of the shine of the original MonoKote covering… Steve Baker brought in his Flite-On ARF aerobatic model purchased for $239, including shipping, from Chief Aircraft. The model came complete with a fuel tank and landing gear with tires. Powered by a YS .63 four-stroke turning a Brodak 2.25” spinner, the model weighs 5.25 lbs. Steve will use a Spektrum 2.4 GHz radio for guidance and, following the lead of Dave Turner, fashioned a mini-Steve-like pilot figure for the cockpit. Raffle and 50/50. Rick Hagen won an excellent raffle prize donated anonymously to the Club: a Headwind B old-timer ARF, complete with servos, Axi motor, ESC, and LiPo battery pack. Tim Williams - who was present at the meeting but didn’t ante up for the 50-50 drawing - missed out on a whopping $12.50. SPRING CLEAN-UP DAY. The Club would like to thank the following members who came out on Saturday 22 March, and helped prepare the field for the upcoming flying season: Edgar Hopson, Steve Baker, Steve Shamah, Steven Whitecoff, Dan Myer, Kevyn Myer, Frank Edwards, Rick Hagen, Eric Holmes, James Pursley, Stoney Jasper, Ken Biggs, Matt Real, Ralph Schreiner, Charlie Gettier, Dave Turner, Rodger Binger, Ken Thompson, Tim Williams. Fuller from CCRC is heading up the area clubs’ participation in the Armed Forces Day Open House at Andrews Air Force Base. He is looking for volunteers from PGRC to help man the model aviation booth and bring models for display. Setup will begin Thursday 15 May for the air show events that will run Friday through Sunday. Dave needs volunteers to commit by the end of March. Contact Dave at david.j.fuller@navy.mil if you can participate.GET WELL MIKE (Let’s all be careful out there) From:"Mike FItzgerald" <mikefitzgerald@waldorfford.net> To:"'Charlie Gettier'" <cgettier@comcast.net>, <cgettier@alionscience.com> Subject:out of commission. Date:Sunday, March 16, 2008 10:26:18 AM Charlie, I will be out of commission for the next few months. While working on the engine (dl-50) for my Aeromaster last Sunday I tried to stop the prop with my right hand. I broke two fingers and my thumb. As well as shortened my index finger. My thumb required a skin graft because so much was removed by the prop. I must have 100 stitches in my index finger alone. I had the plane tied off like I always do. When it first started it was held back just fine. When I killed the engine the plane rolled backwards about 5-7 inches down a small incline. I did not notice this and must have moved closer to it to restart the engine. Well it jumped forward and startled me so rather than falling backwards I reached forward. Good thing it was a wood blade and not carbon fiber otherwise I am sure I would have lost my thumb and index finger. Lesson learned? Always pull the plane against the restraint prior to starting. Share this with anyone you want. Maybe a reminder of the dangers will be good for us all. See you guys in a few months, I don’t plan to come around until I can fly again. It will be too depressing. I should be good by the Open House. Depends on therapy. Mike Fitzgerald NEW BOARD MEMBERS. Rodger Binger (a Board member from many years gone by), and new PGRC member Byron Smith have agreed to fill the remaining terms of Harvey Gross and Jake Flory who found it necessary to leave the Board. Congratulations and good luck to Rodger and Byron. Thanks and best wishes to Harvey and Jake. Dear Family and Friends, Jerry died yesterday (March 26th) afternoon and had been quiet and peaceful all day. In this past year you helped him feel connected to life with your visits, e-mails, VP visits, cards and special treats. Your love and support were needed and appreciated by both of us. In accordance with his wishes, there will be no services. He would like you to share memories when you are together and to remember him by doing something you enjoyed doing together through his life. Jerry was very fortunate in having a full year of knowing how much he meant to so many people. Jerry was impressed with the care and kindness we received from Hospice of the Chesapeake during these last three months. I depended on them and you. Love, Shirley 17TH ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE FLY-IN. Mark your calendars for our 17th Annual Open House on Saturday 10 May. As in the past, we are inviting all our neighbors and friends from our local RC flying clubs to come share a day of flying and camaraderie. There are no landing fees – just bring your favorite plane(s), friends and a good appetite for food, fun, and good conversation with old and new friends. Hope to see you all there! OPEN HOUSE FUN-FLY EVENT. Rick Hagen has again volunteered to organize a Fun- Fly event at the Open House on May 10. Last year we ran a little long, so this year we'll combine our two events (golf ball drop and dead-stick spot landing): Take off, drop golf ball on target, kill engine and dead stick closest to the target. Lowest combined distance from the target wins! Glow-engine trainers or high- or low-wing sport planes will be the weapons of choice, although last year we had a biplane and a 40% Yak participate! Electric aircraft are allowed, but must be of .40 glow size or larger (need to have the power and structural strength to carry the cup and golf ball). The main idea is to have fun and entertain the spectators. However, a prize will be awarded for the overall winner. Please let Rick know if you are interested in participating and/or helping out so he can make the necessary preparations. rick@kinQuest.com 410 257-5327 PGRC HALL OF FAME. The Board has deemed it appropriate to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the Club and to model aviation over the years. In that regard, we have established the PGRC Hall of Fame with an initial slate of inductees. Some are still with us and others have passed on, but each has made a mark on the Club that deserves this recognition. The Board has commissioned a plaque, a facsimile of which is shown below, that has been mounted under the pavilion at the field. This month, and in successive months, we will publish a short paragraph highlighting the accomplishments and contributions of each inductee that led to his selection. This month we recognize Hall of Fame inductee Rick Moreland. Over the course of the Club’s history, Rick Moreland has made unprecedented contributions in helping establish and perpetuate PGRC as a viable organization in PG County. As long-time Board member and multiple-term President, Rick was the visionary behind the Club’s major projects and campaigns. He assumed a lead role in the field search after loss of our Central Ave. facility, and was primarily responsible for identifying the Swanson Rd. property as an ideal model aviation flying site. He then took the lead in negotiating with the City of Bowie and other political entities to acquire the site for the Club. Acting as the PGRC point of contact for City and PG County government entities, he played a lead role in securing the necessary clearance for facility improvements such as the access road, pavilion, equipment shed, and runway. Rick was the Club’s prime mover and key negotiator with the City of Bowie during the reforestation project that threatened the viability of the flying field. Rick has been a constant and productive asset to the Club through the years by helping to establish and maintain PGRC’s nationally renowned Pylon Racing Program. He continues to promote the Club in Bowie City and PG County circles through planning and participation in the Club’s public relations events, such as the annual Bowie Fest and Memorial Day Parade.
For information about scheduled events see our Schedule page. |
Copyright 2004-2007 by PGRC
|
