Christchurch and District Model Flying Club
 

Chairman’s Musings

Another year draws to a close. Time to get cracking building another model!

September 17^th saw 12 members taking their gliders up in the blue yonder at a Wessex Soaring Association slope site for our late summer club slope day out. Lovely sunny weather made the change of site, for many C&DMFC members, enjoyable. The wind was north easterly, not a favoured direction. A couple of models came to grief in the turbulent conditions.

My Apache came in for an out of sight heavy landing. Cause? My 5 cell 6 volt Rx battery that was only just over a year old failed after about 5 minutes flying. I’ve only had this experience 2 or 3 times in over 40 years of flying.

Battery was charged followed by a check prior to launching. All 3 servos worked perfectly, as did the 7 channel Spectrum receiver. The servos slowed up on a turn, like flying with rates at 10%, then after leaving the Tx alone for a few seconds the servos responded for 2 seconds. Unfortunately I just couldn’t control the model enough to land it. Just one wing broke a little out from the centre, including the plywood spar I had added during building. One new Hitec wing servo, 3 plywood spars, fibre glass and epoxy later she’s ready to reach for the sky again.

The 5 cell battery has been stripped apart to ascertain the problem. After a full charge each cell shows 1.2 volts. A good cell would show around 1.4V. The charged battery was left for a short while and rechecked. Now it indicated 90%, 10 minutes later 80%. I bought a 4 cell Nimh, 2200mah ready for its next outing. For £8.60 it isn’t worth messing with an untrustworthy set, plus starting again with a new lead and plug.

My latest project has been assembling a Multiplex Cularis. Will enlarge a little more after she has been flown.

My second model recently acquired is a 2.2 metre wing span Apollo II. Just a R/E electric glider for flying in the Wessex Electric e600 soaring league during 2010.  Standard 600 brushed motor powered by a 7 cell battery. A much cheaper alternative for electric glider flying.

Well, must slip out Christmas shopping. Now what would my lovely wife like from a model shop?

Wishing you all the best for Christmas and the New Year.

Don’t forget the quiz night being held at our January meeting, Wednesday 6^th. The Club FREE draw will be on the same evening AND sausage roll, etc.

Safe flying and happy landings to all.

Terry

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