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The Bendigo

Radio Controlled Aircraft Club’s

Central Victorian Newsletter

A L O F T

Vol. 7. Issue 7

REMINDER Next Meeting is on Monday 31st July 2017 at the Kangaroo Flat Y.M.C.A. at 7:30pm.

REPORTSROUNDUP.JULY2017. FUN DAY SUNDAY 9TH OF JULY. Fun day had come around again this year, and I had been thinking very hard on what new fun events we could try, but I need to find tasks that are easy enough for all to attempt and so what I have come up with is:-

Task One. A Two minute self-timed flight with two manoeuvres in each of the minute segments.

Task Two. Take off and make three rolls and three loops and land behind the take-off point as fast as you can.

Task Three. Touch and goes. Three attempts to be made in-between the two maker lines with a 3 metres spacing.

Task Four. Dead stick landing. Climb to about 50 metres, shut engine off and land and stop the model between the marked lines.

Task One Results. Timed flight was off first. Jack Andrew and Gary Schmedje managed just 3 seconds off with Les Davis at 4 seconds the 2 minutes. Task Two Results. Loops and Rolls was the next task. Gary managed to complete the manoeuvres in 22 seconds with Les at 29 seconds and Jack with 33 seconds. (L-R) Robbie Marshall and Stuart Sinclair came equal 4th,

Jack Andrew 3rd, Les Davis 2nd, and Gary Schmedje 1st place.

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Task Three Results. Touch and Goes with 3 attempts (must keep the engine running to score). Gary did best with 3 touches and then Les with one touch. Task Four Results. Dead Stick Landing was the last task. This was extremely hard with the amount of wind which had blown up, best result was by Les landing in between the line markers but rolled 4 metres past, next was Gary who fell ten meters short and Jack who was 20 meters short. Results were as follows Thanks to all who came to watch or help and maybe even to learn something. Report and CD by Gary Schmedje. Photos by Andrew Thomas. DISAPPOINTING NEWS. In May this year Model Engines Australia shut the doors and walked away, and this month Airborne Magazine have done the same. That’s right, they shut the doors and walked away. So why is this happening? Read below to what John Rogers the editor had to say at the close of the magazine. Airborne Magazine Australia's No. 1 top selling magazine for the radio controlled aircraft enthusiast Airborne has closed!

That's now two of Radio Control's modellings biggest icons, Gone. And both were Victorian based companies. Is there more to come, I feel that there is. P.S. I was in the first edition (Number 1) with my younger brother Ken (pictured), as a BMAC member, and now the last edition number 274 page 81 where I've got an plug for the Large Scale Racing in the "Airboune Club Events Calendar", as a BRCAC Member. Report by Les Davis.

First Gary Schmedje 14 Points Second Les Davis 12 Points Third Jack Andrew 7 Points

Les Davis attempting to make the dead stick landing

It is with great regret that we have to announce the death of a great magazine. After 46 years and 247 issues the curtain has fallen, due in no uncertain terms to the buying habits of aero modellers forsaking their traditional bricks & mortar hobby shop for the vagaries of a quick and sometimes questionable purchase from an Internet site. These purchasing habits may seem innocent enough, but when these purchases are multiplied, they affect the entire industry from the local manufacturer, (yes, we did have quite a few once!) the wholesalers, the retailers and of course their window to you, our Airborne readers. Next time you wonder why there is no longer a hobby store near you or a hobby magazine to read, check your buying habits and ask "where can I get sound advice, a friendly face and all the nick-knacks that are needed for a model in one place?" If you answer it used to be my local store but it has gone, then more likely you are part of the problem. Support the shops that are still here because without your support they will not be here much longer. Fly safe and goodbye from us all at Airborne.

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WANGARATTA JET MEETING. 15TH – 16 JULY. I headed over to Wangaratta on the Saturday morning and got to the airfield at 8.30am to find it was fogged in and cold. Pilot briefing at 9.30am and then waited until the fog cleared at about 11.00 am when 25 pilots were all ready to go flying. The flying was set with a Maximum of 5 pilots in the air at a time. There were many nice planes and some great flying over the two days. We were also fogged in until 11.00am on Sunday but had a great days flying after that time. Shane Bartlett

and his A10 was one of the great scale models of the weekend. The hanger had a nice full size WW2 Kittyhawk and Ryan in the hanger this trip. I had 4 good flights with my Viper jet and look forward to the next weekend at Wangaratta.

Report and Photos by Andrew Thomas TOMBOY POSTAL COMPETITION. Each year two of our club members enter the World Postal Competition that is run out of Italy, for the Vic Smeed designed Tomboy aircraft. There is 3 or 4 classes, but two of our members only enter in two of the classes. The 36 inch and 48 inch wingspan class for electric powered, and we (Bendigo RCAC) have had good success again this year. Would you like to know who placed in this international competition and in which of the classes. Well go to the last page and all will be revealed. If there is anybody out there who would like to have ago at this world postal competition with one of Vic Smeed's Tomboy, either electric of diesel powered, check with Les Davis for all the details and how to enter. There are no entry costs and the event runs for eleven months of each year. You only have to record your flight times over the eleven month period, and then send in your best time, then wait and see how you went.

Shane Bartlett and his A10

Andy's Viper jet looks ready to make some noise.

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CLUBBUSINESS PRESIDENT’S REPORT – JULY 2017. It seems to have been a quite month without VMPRA and just the one fun day club event but it left more time for general flying. We have made a few changes to the kitchen area by lifting the oven by 200mm so it will be good to see how it works out for the Large Scale Racing weekend next month. With the AGM coming up at the end of this month this is my last report. Thanks to Gary Schmedje for all the work that he has put into the club as Secretary & Treasurer over the last 12 months and thanks to all the other committee members and club members that contributed to the success of events and running of our great club. I will have a full report at the AGM. Safe Flying President. Andrew Thomas. (AUS 5567). SECRETARY’S REPORT Dear Members, Thanks to all members who paid there fees by June 30th. It makes the job of processing them much easier. We currently have 32 members, which is a little down on previous years but is still a good number. Below are the minutes of the June meeting. Cheers Gary Schmedje Minutes for BRCAC meeting (26-6-2017):- Open 7:50 PM Apologies: - Robbie Marshall, S Davis. Minutes of previous meeting: - Read and moved, Seconded by Noel Frost. Matters arising from previous minutes: - Winch is in Bendigo and is available for use. Correspondence In: - Sita x 1 (bin hire)

Bendigo Bank Statements x 2 Optus Account Emails Re: Events Mitre 10 account Letter from VAMPRA Re: Cancellation of event. Bill Hughs Letter Norfolk Island Holidays Fun Fly

Correspondence Out: - Event Emails FWD on to members VMAA Fees Correspondence read and moved, Seconded by Jack Andrew.

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Reports

Thanks to Terry McCleary for mowing the field pre scanner day. Andrew Thomas is working on the oven and rodent problem in the canteen. Thanks to Graeme Beagley for his work he has done recently for the club facilities. It is very

much appreciated. Steve Davis CD’ed the sport pylon day. We had 6 entries in CPR and 8 in Sport Pylon. We had

good close racing and results are CPR 1st Mark Wicks, 2nd Les Davis, 3rd Stuart Sinclair. STP 1st Mark Wicks, 2nd Les Davis, 3rd Shuan Power.

Raidian competition was CD’ed John Newman. We got 4 entries, for the cold and windy day with variable lift. 4 x 4minute rounds flown and results are 1st Stuart Sinclair, 2nd Les Davis, 3rd John Newman.

Terry Pasalaqua reported on his trip to the Jerilderie Glider weekend. With 67 entries and great weather there was nonstop flying for the 3 days. Terry placed 40th overall and 5th in his class and 1st in spot landing. A full report is on our web site.

General Business

A motion was moved to donate $100 to the newsletter editor to help purchase a new printer and was passed in favour.

A submission was entered by Les Davis to hold a day at the field for Bendigo Seniors Week 8th to 15th October. We will see what eventuates.

Funday 9th July. Gary Schmedje to CD. VAMPRA has cancelled its event this year and hope to run a biannual event from next year

which is the opposite year to their World Championships. AGM next meeting

Question Time

Nil.

Meeting closed 8.45 pm

Gary Schmedje. Secretary Secretary@brcac.asn.au

WOT’S COMING UP. With Kal Endar. Monday 31st July

Annual General Meeting and Club Meeting Lockwood Rd Kangaroo Flat YMCA. 7.30pm Start

Saturday 19th – Sunday 20th August Large Scale Racing 10am Start on Saturday. 9am Start on Sunday Marong International Flying Field.

Little Bit of Goss. From the flight line to the grapevine. Quiz Time Question 1 Who was the first woman to fly from Britain to Australia?

Question 2 What year was it when she did fly Britain to Australia?

Question 3 What was the aircraft she flew?

Question 4 Which BRCAC member is a World Champion in this year’s round of the Tomboy Postal Competition?

Answers on last page.

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Guess Who Got A New Canon? That's a Canon printer of course. Why it’s our Chief Editor "Mr Noel Frost", so that he can keep suppling the hard copies of the ALOFT Newsletter to our club members who are still on Snail Mail, and or any other necessary printing of club requirements.

The club made a grant of $100.00 plus a member donation of a further $20.00 to assist Mr Noel in his purchase, as his previous one gave up the ghost last month. That's why your club ALOFT Newsletter was late in arriving last month. (In case you didn't realise) (Editors Notes: - I would like to thank the Club and the kind Member who donated me some of the money to purchase my new printer so I can continue to make and print the hard copies of the ALFOT newsletter for the few remaining club members who don’t have email. I just hope this Canon does not go Bang!) Twins Did you know the Germans and the Poms had designed a twin aircraft the BF -109Z and the Spitfire Twin which was similar to that of the F-82 twin Mustang, although we are not sure if any of these saw air time. Bf 109Z-1 This experimental aircraft was essentially two Bf 109F airframes joined together by means of a new wing centre section and new tailplane, both of constant chord, in a manner paralleled by the F-82 Twin Mustang. In the preproduction model, the right fuselage cockpit was faired over and the pilot flew the aircraft from the left side fuselage. Additional modifications included setting the main undercarriage hinges further inboard, with associated strengthening of the fuselage and modifications to the wing forward structure. Four variants of this aircraft were proposed. Only one Bf 109Z was built, and it was never flown, having been damaged in its hangar during an Allied bombing raid in 1943. The project was permanently abandoned in 1944.

There's a black Canon in the Box. Looks like Noels Laboratory, wouldn't you say? (It is a continuous ink Supply System)

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Twin Spitfire PR Mk 99

OQ-2 Radioplane. You'll remember last month I told you about Norma Jean (aka Marilyn Monroe) had a job working on assembling drones before she was famous, well here is what those drone are all about. The first large-scale production, purpose-built drone was the product of Reginald Denny. He served with the British Royal Flying Corps during World War I, and after the war, in 1919, immigrated to the United States to seek his fortunes in Hollywood as an actor. Denny had made a name for himself as an actor, and between acting jobs, he pursued his interest in radio control model aircraft in the 1930s. He and his business partners formed "Reginald Denny Industries" and opened a model plane shop in 1934 on Hollywood Boulevard known as "Reginald Denny Hobby Shops".

Note, this picture shows twin tailplane Spitfire, but is the picture real?

The drawing indicates they were proposing a single tailplane version

This F82 Mustang twin did see air, and may have been used in combat.

Reginal Denny in his hobby shop.

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The shop evolved into the "Radioplane Company". Denny believed that low-cost RC aircraft would be very useful for training anti-aircraft gunners, and in 1935 he demonstrated a prototype target drone, the RP-1, to the US Army. Denny then bought a design from Walter

Righter in 1938 and began marketing it to hobbyists as the "Dennymite", and demonstrated it to the Army as the RP-2, and after modifications as the RP-3 and RP-4 in 1939. In 1940, Denny and his partners won an Army contract for their radio controlled RP-4, which became the Radioplane OQ-2. They manufactured nearly fifteen thousand drones for the army during World War II.

The OQ-2 was a simple aircraft, powered by a two-cylinder two-cycle piston engine, providing 6 horsepower (4.5 kW) and driving by two contra-rotating propellers. The RC control system was built by Bendix. Launching was by catapult only and recovered by parachute should it survive the target practice. The landing gear was used only on the OQ-2 versions as sold to the Army to cushion the landing by parachute. None of the drones including the improved variants shipped to the Navy had landing gear. It was at the Van Nuys Radioplane factory that in 1944 that Army photographer David Conover saw a young lady named Norma Jeane, and thought she had potential as a model. This "discovery" led to fame for Jeane, who soon changed her name to Marilyn Monroe. General characteristics:-

Wingspan: 12 ft 3 in (3.73 m) Length: 8 ft 8 in (2.65 m) Gross weight: 104 lb (47 kg) Powerplant: 1 × Righter O-15-1, 7 hp (5 kW) Endurance: 1 hour 0 min Maximum speed: 85 mph (137 km/h)

Mass production or better known as AFR's? Production Total: 14,891

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Marong Rapid Growth. Did you read this in the paper the "Bendigo Weekly" on the 9th of June? Marong residents want to retain the rural feel of the town as residential developments expands its urban boundaries. In commenting on the draft Marong township structure plan, the clear majority of the residents supported "Western and Northern bypasses" and upgrade to High St, Boulevard.

891 Drawings from model magazine “AAM"

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The draft plan has been developed on the basis of planning for an ultimate population of 8000 in Marong which is likely to be reached by the years 25 to 30. However the alignment of these bypasses would be subject to extensive investigation, and to overcome the planning challenges, the council has suggested it could build bypasses, and rezone to provide for appropriate development for up to 600 new homes. Large Scale Racing. 19th-20th August. Entries are coming in for our Large Scale Racing, and again we are racing with 4 classes, Goodyear F1 (the fastest Class), Nemesis 35 F2 (the newest Class), AT-6 Texan (the nicest Class) and Redbull (the smallest Class). The racing will start at 10am Saturday weather permitting and again on Sunday at 9am, to finish by about 2pm Sunday. This year will be the eleventh time (11) we have run this form of racing, and I believe this is the longest running continuous event for Large Scale Racing in Australia. Tomboy Postal Competition Results.

Tomboy 36 Inch Class 1st Gianfranco Lusso (Swiss) 28m 20s 2nd Brian Deason (Bendigo) 27m 08s 3rd Stephare Couvoisier (France) 26m 12s

Tomboy 48 Inch 1st Les Davis (Bendigo) 47m 57s 2nd Brian Deason (Bendigo) 25m 20s 3rd Gianfranco Lusso (Swiss) 21m 25s

The competition is open from the 1st of July to the 30th of May each year. Congratulations to both Brain Deason and Les Davis for these great performances in this worldwide competition run out of Italy. Quiz Answers.

Question 1 Who was the first woman to fly from Britain to Australia?

Answer Amy Johnson.

Question 3 What was the aircraft she flew? Answer DH 60 Gipsy Month (G-AAAH).

Question 2 What year was it when she did fly Britain to Australia?

Answer 1930 .

Question 4 Which BRCAC member is a World Champion in this year’s round of the Tomboy Postal Competition?

Answer Les Davis. Well done.

It’s That Time again. Make sure you get to the Large Scale racing that is on between the 19th and 20th August. I heard the

AT-6 Texan’s can be a bit of a bugger to get a prefect

President: Andy Thomas 5447 3291 Vice-president: Graeme Beagley 5449 7769 Secretary: Garry Schmedje 5448 5630 Treasurer: Garry Schmedje 5448 5630 Website: www.brcac.asn.au Editor: Noel Frost noel.frost@esc.net.au