Bean Hill Flyers Newsletter, May/June 2013

Bean Hill Flyers Pages

Newsletter Editor: Dalton Hammett Secretary: Greg Rodney Plans Librarian: Bill Hayes

There seems to be a feeling of Spring in the air, finally. The birds are singing, the breeze is warmer, and Mike Ditrich showed tip at the flying field. These are signs that Winter is over at last. Hopefully we are all in the final stages of our winter building projects because the time to fly at club events and at the field on a regular basis is starting very soon. So spray or brush that last coat of dope, or iron on that last piece of plastic or whatever it is you do to "get her done" because it's just about time to fly.

We have a close timing issue with two events in June. We need participation at the annual Meadville EAA gathering this year as it falls on the Sunday following the week long Brodak gathering. This is close timing but for those that don't go to Brodaks, or went and didn't get enough flying in, this is a great opportunity. It is also one of the best public exposure events we get the chance to do as a club. We always get some interest there if the weather is decent. So let's give it the best showing we can.

It was great to see some of you at Annual Sharon Swap Meet. The Bean Hill Flyers had a table and it seemed well used. There was lots of buying and selling going on and lot of "catching up" with friends you don't get to see so often. Thanks to Pat Rowan and Les Nering, I came home with more stuff than I was planning to, but that's what it is all about and if you weren't there, you missed some fun. It was great to see Dalton Hammett go from selling cars to selling planes. But then I have seen him do both at the same time.

The field behind Champion Ford is very dry so flying has been pretty regular on Saturday mornings at 10 am. It's a good place to start the year flying if you haven't been one of the crazy ones flying there all winter. Bring out your stuff - It's Time To Fly!

It's finally nice out after that long, cold winter and that of course means it's time for some serious flying. The weather has been cooperating rather nicely and there have been several opportunities to get out and fly on the weekends. We had a lot of fun - and a few follies. One in particular struck me as odd. While holding a. flight streak for El Presidente', the engine decided to break the chains of oppression, that is the propeller, and show what it's really capable of.

This OS .25 LA seemed as mild mannered as any other, but we were in for a surprise. The engine was a little grumpy starting but it fired up and took off only to sputter and died several laps later. Well we tried again and this time the engine backfired, the prop loosened up and, in what can only be described as unadulterated awesomeness, the engine said "FINALLY I GET TO RUN!" This thing went from 0 to 50,000 rpm in a heartbeat. That's a guess, but it's probably not too far off. The thing sounded like a cat ate a bunch of woodscrews and got caught in a garbage disposal. In other words - It was screaming.

Before my reaction to throw the plane and run away could kick in, our fearless leader grabbed the plane and shoved its crankshaft in the dirt to stop the engine. Crisis averted. I don't know if this was really safety related, as in I'm not sure if it was actually dangerous to anything but the engine, but it was worth sharing. Woke me up I know that much. I'll call it a lesson in quick thinking. This whole thing had a happy ending too. The engine was fine and ran great for the next flight.

We also practiced starting an inverted engine plane and the choreography associated with various handoffs to flip an inverted plane into launching position. I had brought a new (for me) airplane to the field that was inverted. Having never started one previously, it was worth talking about first. Joe Maxwell and I talked it over and did several dry runs prior to starting it. It worked perfectly the first time. The plane didn't fly but 2 laps, but we got it started like we knew what we were doing. Anyway, it goes like this:

1) Once in the circle at the launch point, invert the plane so that the bottom is up and the top is down.

3) The pit man then holds the plane vertically such that the nose is pointing towards the sky.

4) The pilot grabs the plane from the pit man and the pit man walks around to the same side of the plane that the pilot is on

5) The pit man then grabs the plane while it is still vertical and gives the prearranged signal for the pilot to release the plane.

7) At which point the pitman then lowers the plane to the ground on its wheels and launches as one would with a profile or upright engine.

There are other ways to do this, but this is a good outline. Whatever you do, practice with your pitman such that there are no mistakes, i.e. blood and gore or flyaway planes. Stay safe everyone and let me know of any topics you may want me to touch on in future columns .

Building Session at Maxwell's Hobby starting at about 4:00. This is the last building session currently scheduled and if you have something you would like Joe to include please let him know.

Brodaks annual event. If you are signing up for the club JYW team please be sure you let Joe Maxwell or George Towns know. The team to sign up for is the "Bean Hill Conspiracy".

The annual EAA event at the Meadville, Pa. Airport. This one is going to be difficult as it is just after Brodaks so if you can participate please let Randy Shaffer know.

The annual Bean Hill event will include the Winter Building planes, skill level stunt, Foxberg race and our old Coxberg race. We will get more information out on this later but wanted to get it on the schedule.

Fun-Fly in NY will include free hot dogs, soda and water. For information contact Denny Thomas.

***We don't know if there is going to be an Air Show at VoTech this year and haven't heard from the Dan Rice Days group.

Bean Hill Flyers Newsletter - May/June 2013Erie, Pennsylvania

Bean Hill Flyers Newsletter - May/June 2013
Erie, Pennsylvania