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May, 2000
BILL JONES Although our work party scheduled for April 16th was cancelled due to rain, we all met at the Field on April 30th and built new set-up tables, put up the shade covers and generally gave the field a thorough cleanup. Thanks to all the members and friends who showed up to help. We had twenty three people helping (one of our biggest crowds so far) that included: Bill Jones, Jack Collins, Gary Whitt, Gary Child, Larry Frank, Mike Shreve, Dale Chiaroni, Dave Stephens, Hai Nguyen, Steve Cole and his friend, Susan, Robbie Jensen, Larry Miller, Larry Carson, Roy Reedy, David Reedy, Leo Shvarzberg, Greg "Neel, Justin Neel, Jim Neel, Nate Boblitt and Jeff Costa. If you were also there and did not sign the roster, thank you for your help also. The field looks really great and is now ready for our Opening Day on May 6th. Our Opening Day will include plenty of flying, new planes and a Bar-B-Que. I hope you will all come join us to officially open the field for the 2000 season. Our next event scheduled will be the "Learn To Fly" Day on June 3rd. We will have trainers on hand to teach new people to fly and another Bar-B-Que for everyone. If you know of anyone who would like to give this great hobby a try, please invite them to this free flying experience. Please be aware that the Club has buddy boxes for use by new trainees. The Futaba buddy box does not need a battery in it to operate, only the master radio needs to have a battery. The JR box does use a TX battery. Please remember to disconnect the buddy cord after each flight. If the cord is left connected, the battery will fully discharge and then go into reverse polarity, which ruins the battery. If you are not sure about the use of the buddy boxes, please contact one of the Board Members for help. MEMBER PROFILE--JEFF COSTA
Please excuse my vanity (or lack of it) in the selection of this month's Member Profile. Due to a tremendous workload at my job and my own business the past 3 weeks, I have been unable to meet with any member to do a profile, so I thought I would profile myself. I have been a member of Wine Country Flyers since December of 1996. I have been married to my wife, Maridee, for 9 years. She has become the consummate "airplane widow" since I really got hooked on this hobby. I work at Agilent Technology (formerly Hewlett Packard) in Santa Rosa where I have been employed for almost 20 years. I also have my own auto detailing business. My hobbies, other than building and flying model airplanes, are home gardening, home improvement and physical fitness. I got started in this hobby out of simple curiosity. I walked into the old Toy and Model store that used to be in Coddingtown and saw some model airplanes. I thought that it would be a lot of fun to fly one. So for Christmas the following year my wife asked me what I wanted and I told her that I wanted to try my hand at flying one of these things. My first plane was an Avistar 40 made by Hobbico. Since it had a semi-symmetrical airfoil and very little dihedral, it was not the ideal trainer. Upon a recommendation of our Club Secretary, Larry Miller, I purchased a Tower Trainer 40. I found this to be considerably easier to handle. Larry endured buddy boxing with me for approximately four months until I was ready to solo. I then moved back to my Avistar and I was on my way. I have had numerous planes since that time. I presently have in my personal hangar an Advance 40 by Hangar 9, a Great Planes Patriot, a Great Planes SlowPoke, a Great Planes Dazzler and my newest that I have yet to fly, an Extra 300 by Hobbico. If I had to pick a favorite from these, I would have to say it is probably my Patriot. It was by far the most challenging to build and is certainly the most exhilarating to fly. My next winter’s project will be a Great Planes Aeromaster biplane kit. My most memorable moment in this hobby was also my most harrowing. Some of you were probably at the field when it happened. I was flying my Advance 40 with the wrong frequency pin on my radio when another member turned on his transmitter which was on the same frequency as my plane. Two radio's on one airplane, total chaos. I had everyone ducking for cover as my plane flew inverted very low right through the pits at full throttle. Miraculously, no one got hit and the plane survived. I don't care to ever repeat that feat again. I have enjoyed this hobby tremendously. I not only enjoy flying my airplanes, but also the many really nice people I have met. The members have unselfishly given me their time and assistance and have helped me with the numerous questions and challenges I have had with the few planes I have built. To all of you, thanks a bunch. RED'S CORNER ROB JENSEN Hi all. Looks like flying season is in full swing! There are many new faces and planes at the Field. This month I would like to tell you all about a new gadget. Many of you like to put lettering on your planes, and are limited to "off the shelf" numbers and graphics. I suffered from this same dilemma for years until I tried a custom sign shop. All of the lettering and numbers on my Super Corsair and Miss Ashley II are custom cut vinyl. A good set of vinyl graphics will really make a plane look great. The only drawback is having them custom cut is very expensive! I recently got a hold of a modelers sign cutter that will make professional quality graphics 9" wide by any length! The machine is called a Stika Plus. It runs about $500, and works much like a drafting pen plotter. It has a cutter blade that moves back and forth, while simultaneously rolling the vinyl back and forth to produce a cut of any shape. This sounds expensive for a sticker machine, but when you consider the limitless possibilities of color schemes and graphics that can be created it soon will pay itself off. I have spent the equivalent price tag at sign shops just to do a few planes, so for me it is worth every penny. It runs on its own windows-based software, but it will import many other types of files. This allows you to create a design with a standard program like Paint Shop, or use a CAD program, then load it into the cutting program. I will be offering full decal sets for my MA2 kit as well as doing custom orders for a reasonable price. Need a custom set of AMA numbers any color? How about your name below the canopy? A full set of sponsor decals for your giant scale? Give me a call and I'll cut anything you need! NAME THE PLANE How about a question from the "Why on Earth did they Do That?" file. Name the only plane (to my knowledge) that was entirely inflatable. It was supposed to be unfolded, inflated with air (NOT a blimp!) And flown away. I believe it was intended to be dropped to downed pilots. MINUTES OF APRIL MEETING LARRY MILLER The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. There were 17 members present. New member, Ronald Arnrein, was introduced to the group. Dale Chiaroni gave us his Treasurer's Report which was followed by the Secretary's Report. 0l Business: Dale found a solution to our water and hand washing problem. He is working to get it operational as soon as possible. He is also going to pick up a couple of new wind socks for the field. We spent a little more time working on the final plan for the "Learn To Fly Day." A flyer with all the pertinent information will be enclosed in the Newsletter. All member are encouraged to participate. If you have an old flyable trainer aircraft still sitting around, bring it along and help a novice learn to fly. New Business: Planning has begun on the May 6th Opening Day Bar-B-Que. This will be a Club social picnic to celebrate the beginning of the summer flying season and to try out those new models you spent all winter building. A work party was scheduled for Saturday morning, April 15, at Larry Frank's house to build 8 more set-up tables for the field. On Sunday, the 16th, we will meet at the field to assemble and paint the new tables. Volunteers were encouraged to meet and help out. Richard Lange was recognized and thanked for all the mowing he did several weeks ago at the field. Our host at El Portal Mobile Estates, Bob Bames, updated us on his search for a new meeting room. There was no Name The Plane contest and no one brought anything for Show And Tell. We held the drawing for the door prize. Lucky Jeff Costa won a free gallon of glow fuel. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Update: On Saturday morning, April 15th, Bill Jones, Dale Chiaroni and Larry Miller met at Larry Frank's garage and cut out the materials for 4 new set-up tables. Due to poor weather conditions, the other 4 tables will have to be done at a later time. The work party that was scheduled for Sunday at the field was cancelled, also due to weather. We need to get the shades put up, the new tables put together and painted, more mowing done, the pennants hung and other clean-up items at the field. Don't forget to visit our web site at www.wcflyers.com. Dino House has spent a lot of effort to establish and maintain our web site and it is updated regularly UPCOMING EVENTS
Technology High School 1601 E. Cotati Ave. Rohnert Park, CA 94928 707-792-4825 Scot_Wigert@Crpusd.sonoma.edu April, 11 2000 Wine Country Fliers Dear Members, On behalf of Technology High School, I would like to thank the Wine Country Fliers for their support in helping us with our flight unit. Larry Frank visited our school on Friday, March 6 and gave a talk about model airplanes and the basics of flight. Three weeks later, on Friday, March 31 Larry returned to our school this time with Rob Jensen. Rob gave a talk on the airplane design process and a demonstration of a radio controlled airplane. Both Rob and Larry also made themselves available to help our students with their airplane projects and testing that they are doing for class. Once again we sincerely appreciate your members taking the time to answer our questions over the phone and for taking time to come out and help us on our campus. We look forward to doing this unit again next year. Sincerely, Scot Wigert Teacher |
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
