SEN 1885

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Category: Archive 2014
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Table of Contents - SEN 1885

  1. Sympo Soon
  2. Argentina Video
  3. AMA and FAA
  4. UAVs at state level
  5. Huron Cup
  6. Mike is still looking



National Free Flight Society Symposium Report 2014

The National Free Flight Society Symposium Report 2014 will be released at the end of the month. Lots of great papers from modelers around the globe (Allard van Wallene, Tapio Linkosalo, Louis Joyner, Paul Lagan, Chimed Ganzorig, Peter King...), including a report on the free flight scene in Mongolia, host of the 2015 outdoor WC. Order your copy for $35 plus postage from Bob Stalick, P.O. Box 1775, Albany, OR 97321. For those of you in the British Isles and Europe, Ian Kaynes will have a limited number for sale as well.

Ross Jahnke, Editor



Great Video of Argentina Nats and mega F1C retrieval

http://youtu.be/u08ECavkhPE



AMA and FAA 

I have received many emails in regards to the "drone" issue. AMA has spent much time and money (hundreds of thousands of dollars) in trying to keep ahead of this issue. It has not been a recent thing, but an on going effort for the last few years. As technology increased in regards to the forward view and quad copters, the FAA has seen this as a "possible" problem with large aircraft. As a pilot and a CFI, I am somewhat involved in both sides of this.

Model aircraft have coexisted for many years with our full size counterparts. With the limited eye sight of the human flier, this has never really been an issue. AMA rules state that the maximum ceiling of an RC model should be 400 feet. We all know that the number is very arbitrary as we really have no reference to tell when that hard deck is broken. But, again, the modeler needs to be able to see the aircraft to control it. Normally, not a problem.

Now, with on board cameras, there is the possibility to exceed this altitude. Also, with increased technology (GPS guided flight, cameras, etc) and the low cost of these aircraft, they are being used by non-modelers for possible commercial use. They have been used by realtors to photograph land, by farmers and land owners for looking at crops and such, and other aerial surveillance. This is where the issues are coming in. FAA feels that the commercial use of these devices will create problems because of the lack of guidance by an overall organization (AMA). So, it is no longer just the modeler but everyone that has $500. This is the problem!

A simple Google search will show many videos done with these aircraft. I have to admit that some are very spectacular. It is a remarkable what one can get for so little money. These aircraft have also been simplified in that the flying skills required to fly them has been such that almost anyone can learn to fly them.

So, how does Free Flight and NFFS get involved in this? So far, we are not. We are not flying for commercial compensation. We are flying very light weight aircraft and normally in a location that is far from full size aircraft operations. NFFS and AMA have been in contact (myself and Dave Mathewson just recently had a fairly long talk in this regards) and NFFS is of the opinion that AMA is the central organization to handle these issues.

What can we, as Free Flighters do?

1.) Join AMA! If you are not a member, you are not helping the cause. AMA has a legal group that is spending almost their full time on this issue. Like it or not, this effort runs on money and the way the money comes in is by your dues. If you are not a member, you are not helping. I am sure that donations to help this cause would be accepted.

2.) At any flying site, be vigilant of possible problems. We always keep land owners and neighbors at the top of our list but now we should look in the sky.

3.) Did I say join AMA?

4.) Join NFFS....We are the main link to AMA and by joining you will help us keep AMA knowing that we are behind them.

At the present time, the only site I am familiar with that is in close proximity to an airport is our home field, Muncie. The airport and AMA have had a very good relationship and thanks to the wind gods, we rarely fly towards them. However, if we have the instance that the conditions are "wrong" then we will need to make sure we take measures to insure that we do not interfere with traffic.

One of our members made the comment that we should be tight lipped in regards to our activities and FAA. I ask that, if you comment, do it in such a way that the term Free Flight is not in the subject matter. We and U/C are way out of the realm of what the issue is and we do not need to add our name to the list.

NFFS will continue our conversations with AMA and I will keep our membership up to date. This is just one of the many things that we have basically no control over but we need to keep our feet in the water.

Thanks

John Lorbiecki
President, NFFS






UAVs at the State level ?


Roger,

I thing the AMA and the FAA have a good working relationship and that the
AMA is looking out for us. My concern is at the state level.  My state
senator proposed legislation banning drones over private property. It
failed in committee only because researchers are beginning to use them to
do coastal mapping and to study erosion, oil spills etc., big concerns here
in Louisiana. My senator then attempted to attach his bill as an amendment
to a "stand your ground" bill, allowing citizens to shoot down drones over
private property. This amendment also failed. He was on a local radio show
and I asked him about model airplanes. He said they're a great sport and
totally different, suggesting the presence of a camera makes the
difference, though earlier questions about banning telephoto lenses was
dismissed as missing the point of the legislation. How do you tell a UAV
from an F1A? How do you know there's a camera from 100 yards away? Wait,
does that say USA in big letters on the wing? BANG!


Editor's comment - so Ross because the F1A has USA on the with the AMA number it makes it a stealth government drone that is  spying on the swamp people or is it the duck guys . Hmmm , I can see it, on reality  TV real soon now.  With the hysteria this is not too far fetched.

Huron Cup

Roger,
Can you post this flyer please about the Huron cup?
Please mention that anyone wishing to attend from the USA should contact me
with their contact info. We have another nearby field in case of certain
wind directions and we may decide to change locations.

Thank you
Tony Mathews CD
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Last Minute chnage - Q moved to Sunday - Check with CD for details

The Toronto Free Flight Group

Presents the 14th Annual

Huron Cup

An Americas and World Cup FF Competition


Dates:Saturday, July 19th and Sunday July 20th 2014

Place: Brayford Sod farm, Alliston, Ontario, Canada (aprox 1 hr, 15 minutes North of Toronto)

Events: F1A, F1B, F1C, F1Q, F1G, F1H, F1J/P

Entry Fees: $20.00 for F1A, F1B, F1C $10.00 for F1G, F1H, F1J/P

Juniors $5.00 all events!


CD: Tony Mathews

2 Tralee Street, Brampton, Ontario L6Z 2X4 cell: (705) 754-5553

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


SaturdayJuly 19th

F1A/B/C/Q Round 1 8:00 am – 9:00 am 3 minute maxes

Round 2 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Round 3 10:00 am – 11:00 pm

Round 4 11:00 pm – 12:00 pm

Round 5 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Round 6 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Round 7 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

F1A/B/C/Q Fly-offs7:00 pm (weather permitting)

F1G/H/J/P Round 1 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Round 2 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm 2 minute maxes

Round 3 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

 

Sunday July 20th

F1G/H/J/P Round 4 7:00 am – 8:00 am

Round 5 8:00 am – 9:00 am 2 minute maxes

Fly-offs9:30 am(To be determined by necessity and weather conditions)


 

Map showing entry to field see 2nd page

(Sunrise for July 19th - 5:52 am Sunset - 20:57 pm)

Test flying possible for Friday July 19th at sod farm call for details

Sod farm rules:

  1. Do not drive or park on the grass ever!!

  2. Access is in the area labeled A on the map below

  3. No motorcycles or motorized vehicles of any kind allowed on the grass

  4. No tents, sunshades, tables, or Bar B Q’s allowed on the grass

  5. Do not leave any garbage (including rubber motors) on the grass!

  6. Parking is available talk to CD

Sod Farm location:

GPS co-ordinates: 44.157142°,-79.880588°

Alliston, New Tecumseth, ON L9R, Canada

Hwy 89 and King Street North are the main intersections.






Mike is still Looking for F1C motor Mount

Hello;
Thanks for posting my ad. Only one reply, but not correct pan. Now, I know there are a bunch out there
in your shop guys. Still need 2 EV pans that fit my frontends. If you have one or two not being used
please let me know. Thank you. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


......
Roger Morrell