Hood's Up Flyers - Burnaby Lake

NEWS ARCHIVE

BURNABY LAKE NEWS – FLY BY WIRE – October 04, 2006
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As you all know club management has changed somewhat last month and the newsletter is not going to be put together by Doug any more. This time around we are going to try to pitch few ideas on future newsletter content, look and the way it will get assembled and distributed.

One of the ways to share our knowledge, experience, flight stories, buy/sell parts and basically help general club activities is to monthly distribute this information through newsletter. It would be also nice that all club members become forum members and start growing culture to use forum for that purpose. Before we get to more standardized format for sharing this information I suggest all club members participate in forming newsletter and submitting elements for it. Here is few ideas for topics that all members can share information on:

* field events and interesting stories from that month
* information about events and competitions (local and world events)
* comments/reviews and information about new RC aircraft models appearing on the market
* info and reviews on new RC equipment. If you got any new equipment
that you want to recommend drop few lines of text about it
* describe your favorite flight move to club members or reveal a cool trick that you do in
your flight routine. Share some flight wisdom with club members
* tips on assembling, modeling, matching components for RC aircraft
* photographs and video footage. Check latest videos on Hood's Up
* got anything for sale???? Let us know, we will let everyone know.

In attempt to introduce club members to one another better, we decided to put one member under the spot light each month. Here you will learn more about faces you see on the field very often. How many times it happened to you that you know a face but you don't know the name of the person on the field and not to speak of maybe having few useful information about a club member. We may help each other if we just get to know each other better.

So this month the Spot Light has landed on Mr Nikolay Ivanov.
You know him as a heli guy with the camera rig on his MAX 400. Check this link from our FORUM.
He is very active club member and by far the most advanced Arial Camera enthusiasts in the club.
Check his wonderfuly crafted WEB page that promotes his small Arial Photography business. If you have some clients for Nick, let him know. : )
Now ...... I asked him a few questions and here is what he has to say.

(RastaFly for Hoods-Up) Tell us a little about yourself, who are you, what do you do?

(Nick Ivanov) Well, I work as senior software developer for large Canadian company and specialize in database and web applications design and development. My hobbies, beside RC models, are photography and astronomy.

(Nick Ivanov) I build my first plane model as part of a school project long time ago. This was very primitive model (not sure how it is called, but it is a plane attached to a cord and you keep it circling around you by holding the cord, kind of dangerous routine) no radio control or any kind of electronics. I year or so ago I fund how far the current technology had went, and I decided to get my first RC helicopter. I am fascinated by these machines because they are challenging to fly and can do maneuvers that are impossible to do with a plane. I am also interested in full size aircrafts and not long ago I made my first introductory flight as a pilot of small Cessna (with an instructor next to me of course).

(Nick Ivanov) I have 3 helicopters. HB CP2, HB King and Ark X-400 Pro (I call it TreX-400 because many parts there are now from T-Rex). I am planning to buy Swift and maybe a small plane trainer, as I'd like to get into planes as well.

(Nick Ivanov) It is a lot of thrill. It takes a lot of practice but I like the feeling of freedom once I am in control of my helis. It is very rewarding, but also frustrating when you crash. It takes some engineering skills to rebuild your models, and it is a great opportunity to learn how things work.

(Nick Ivanov) Well, here is a tip for the new members (I can use some tips from veterans myself) - be patient, your pilots skills will not develop overnight, even if you are RC genius. If you push it - you gonna crash. Buy a good RC mode simulator and practice as much as you can. The sim is going to save you a lot of money and you are going to progress faster. Good luck.

NEXT WEEK IN SPOT LIGHT ....................... Mr Dave Scoular (if he agrees)

Here are the new night blades for your T-Rex helicopter. You can find these at Jet Hobbies as well as with RCFlightStore.com (just ask Master Yoda at the field he has some).

The experience flying these blades is very intense. To begin with these are very nice carbon fiber blades that will perform perfect with just any motor. They would give it an additional power boost since they are very light to spin. This shot above was taken still during day time and you could see the LEDs preety well. In the distance they tend to dissapear unless it is realy, realy dark.

To fly these blades at night I suggest you become an experienced pilot and also have some more additional lights attached to the canopy of the helicopter. All in all these blades are very cool and they can be very useful.

The kit includes charger with wall and field connectors. Charging is quick and charge lasts for a long time. I had at least 6 flights with the same charge over a period of several days and blades were still well lit. (RastaFly)

For now Richard is preparing set of advices/rules that we will let you know about as soon as they are available. Meanwhile PLEASE use common sense and follow some general rules that we always want you to follow:
* never fly over the cricket pitch if cricket players are using it.
In genereal never fly over people on the field
* make sure your aircraft is always in front of you. In other words never go behind the flight line.
Do not ever attempt any maneuvers that will get your aircraft behind the flight line
* if you see three pilots on the flight line and you intend to be the fourth one,
   make sure you have a spotter with you. This is the rule of the common sense.
   Even very good and skillful flyers like to fly with spotters.
   This way you can focus on the aircraft and do "your thing" while spotter makes sure
   that other air traffic will not be in your way. It's like having a private butler, hehehehhe
* If there is five pilots on the flight line make sure you WAIT until one of them lands.
Remember there can be only 5 pilots on the flight line.
* If you are flying a helicopter make sure you are located at the far end of the filed facing the wind.
This means you will be first or the last guy on the flight line depending on the wind direction
* If you are flying a helicopter consider your flight style and adjust it to the given situation.
If you are not flying the circle (like planes) but rather performing some 3D moves, make sure you
are on the far end of the field and that all other pilots are aware where you are and what you do
* If you are flying a 3D plane follow the same rules applicable to helicopters
* NEVER turn your radio ON unless you make sure your frequency is free.
Go to the board, put your pin on the board and turn your radio ON.
After your flight take the pin off the board and turn OFF your radio.
* DON'T DO ANYTHING ON THE FIELD THAT YOU WOULD'T LIKE
ANYONE ELSE TO DO WHILE YOU ARE FLYING

Recently several new members enquired about training program in Hood's Up club. Well ........... the truth is we don't have one in place but we are working on this. Richard, as a new president will put in place so called "Wings" program that will allow new flyers to follow the organized set of instructions with the appointed trainer. Since this is in works and our new members and interested flyers would need to get some help ASAP we have come up with list of trainers that are willing to donate their time and expertise upon request.
Potential students should use the appointed trainers to help them get comfortable flying their aircraft or just simply enhancing their flight skill or testing the new aircraft if in any doubt about it.

Richard has approved following people to help new flyers:
Brad Trent - btrent@shaw.ca
Jeff Franchini -
David Scoular - trainedas@telus.net
Ellis Pang - elliswin@shaw.ca
Russel Tront (also for helicopters) - rtront@telus.net
Geoffrey Dryer - gdryer@webnotes.ca
Dejan Stanisavljevic (also for helicopters) - dejans@shaw.ca

............. so Students email your trainers and ask them to help you.
It is always helpful if they know which radio system are you using as well as what kind of aircraft you are attempting to fly.

Also every Sunday I will bring a laptop computer to the field loaded with REFLEX flight simulator so you can try your flight skills without crashing any balsa or shredding any foam ......... : )

Have a nice flight

Our new Fall/Winter schedule is now in effect. Please insure that you observe others rights to the field if they have an allotted scheduled event. Members disregarding this will be severely penalized and could lose their flying privileges.

These are our official, (scheduled) allotted times. No one else may use the fields during these times other than flyers and your executive worked hard to get these days for you, make sure that they’re used!!!

Wednesdays: the whole day until Dark
Saturdays: the whole day until Dark
Sundays: the whole day until Dark

Monday, Tuesday, Thirsday and Friday are casual times.

This usually works on "first come first served" basis. If no one is using the field we should be able to use it as long as we put signs and take them away once we are done. If lawn mover man is working on the field go and talk to him. They are usually fine with either taking a brake (they like to sit and watch us fly) or quickly finishing that side of the field.

ANNUAL Swap Meet

Date: 4th November, 2006
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00PM

Location: Kamloops Calvary Temple Church Rogers Way, Kamloops, BC
(Opposite side of Hwy #1 from Aberdeen mall. Turn right off highway,
then 1st right onto Rogers Way. Church on left approx. 1 block)
Cost: Toonie
Table rental: $10.00 per table. Can be shared between 2 people if limited items are for sale.
Limited concession onsite.
Lester's Hobbies will be in attendance.

For further information, go to our club website at: www.highcountryflyers.homestead.com
For table rentals please contact the undersigned at: refwcf75@telus.net
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Event Co-ordinator - Ron Flack

I would like to encourage our members to send me links to interesting articles, videos and stuff generally related to flying RC aircraft.
This month we just started so I will add only few links to get this whole thing started.

Roger Milne sent me a great link to video that shows a very cool setup for flying RC model having a cockpit view that even emulates the head movement of the pilot. This way you can fly around the park not even having your aircraft in sight. Very, very cool. Don't attempt this on 2,4 GHz radios. If anything occludes your aircraft you go down. : (
Flying RC model having a cockpit view

If I forgot to say something this time around I will add it to the next Newsletter so stay tuned and PLEASE help creating this Newsletter. Send me some content I will work hard to place it here.

Some nice photos comming next week from Dean Stoney and Fero Zatko