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The Bendigo

Radio Controlled Aircraft Club’s

Central Victorian Newsletter

A L O F T

Vol. 7. Issue 4

REMINDER Next Meeting is on Monday 24th April 2017 at the Kangaroo Flat Y.M.C.A. at 7:30pm.

REPORTSROUNDUP.APRIL2017. WANGARATTA JETS. March 2017 This jet event was held over 3 days, March 31st to April 1st. They had 50 pilots with about 65 aircraft. The facilities at Wangaratta full size airport are great as the VJAA hire the airfield. Safety was a big factor with all forms and cards checked. All models had to do a range check and failsafe check done with turbine running. No more than 5 models were allowed in the air at one time, and that was how it went for all 3 days.

Suppliers on site were Intairco, Booma RC, Model Flight, Kingtech Turbines, and Rebel Jet.

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Model storage at night was in Drage Airworld Hanger that made it a quick pack up each night. The catering was great, just ask Jack. This is supported by Wangaratta City Council and the Victorian Jet Association having the airfield booked for 5 events per year. Report and Pictures by Andrew Thomas. 4 IN 20 GLIDER COMPETITION. (2nd APRIL). Sunday morning brought the first day of no daylight saving, but that didn't stop the wind from howling across the flying field at wing snapping speeds. When we got to the field at 1pm, with only 3 pilots in attendance, it was decided that unless there was a wind drop in the next half hour the competition will be called off, which turned out to be the right call. When I arrived home I again checked the wind speed and below is what was happening at the Bendigo airport, definitely not 2 meter glider weather. Sunday 2nd April 33.3km/h SSE......42.6km/h Gusts Recorded at Bendigo Airport Updated 8 mins ago 2pm, (17.6km away) Report by Bloody Windy.

CLUBBUSINESS PRESIDENT’S REPORT – APRIL 2017. Once again it has been a quite month for the club with flying but with some nice weather, and some wet and windy weather. As the hot weather has now gone, now a little bit of green grass is appearing on the field. Once again the wind has blown out gliders for this month. We will see how the weather holds out for Old Timers this month. Next month in May we have Scanner Racing, Mother’s Day, and Aerobatics so if you are able to help at any of these events put your name down and be part of the event as it will help your club. It was good to see a few BRCAC Club members at Wangaratta Jets on the 1st April with myself entered and flying over the 3 days. Don’t forget Scanner Challenge will be happening soon, Sunday 7th May. Safe Flying President. Andrew Thomas. (AUS 5567).

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SECRETARY’S REPORT Dear Members, I have applied to the State Government for a Defibrillator grant. Hopefully we can be successful as it would be a good asset for the club to have in case of an emergency. Also if successful we will need some people to do the training on the use of it so please keep that in mind. Minutes for BRCAC meeting (27-3-2017):- Open 7:45 PM Apologies: - Ernie Cleijne, Steve Davis, Cooper Davis, Graeme Beagley. Minutes of previous meeting: - Read and moved, Seconded by Jack Andrew. Matters arising from previous minutes: - No word on new bungee. Correspondence In: - Sita x 1 (bin hire)

Bendigo Bank Statements x 2 Optus Account Emails Re: Events Mitre 10 account Wisemans club re: Drones Australian Business Register

Correspondence Out: - Event Emails FWD on to members Correspondence read and moved, Seconded by Terry Pasalaqua Reports

Task A (5th March) o Six flyers turned out and 4 rounds were flown. o 1st Gary Schmedje, 2nd Mark Wicks, 3rd Les Davis. o Thanks to Terry Pasalaqua for running the competition and thanks to the helpers on

the day. Duration Competition

o CD Alan Uren. o Eight flyers turned out on the day weather was good, and some good times achieved. o 1st Shaun Power, 2nd Robbie Marshal, 3rd Les Davis. o Thanks to Alan for running the competition.

Jack Andrew went to the Avlon Airshow and gave a report to members. General Business

Glider Competition (2nd April). CD Les Davis. 1pm start. Old Timer Competition (24th April). CD Alan Uren. 1pm start. Working Bee (29th April) at field to clean up before Scanner day. New vinyl for the clubhouse floor motion moved and carried. Les Davis reported on a fire that had occurred while charging batteries at NFG. A member was

injured so take care when charging batteries. Question Time

Nil. Meeting closed 8.30 pm Gary Schmedje. Secretary Secretary@brcac.asn.au

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WOT’S COMING UP. With Kal Endar. Sunday 23rd April Old Timer Competition. Club Texaco.

CD Alan Uren Marong International Flying Field. 1pm Start.

Monday 24th April Club Meeting Lockwood Rd Kangaroo Flat YMCA. 7.30pm Start

Sunday 7th May Model Engines Scanner Challenge. Marong International Flying Field. 10am Start.

Sunday 14th May Mother’s Day. Saturday 20th – Sunday 21st May Victoria State Championships – Aerobatics

All Day Both Days Marong International Flying Field.

LittleBitofGoss. From the flight line to the grapevine. Way Back When…. Way back when we used to make things here is Australia, well you would have heard that catch cry many times, well below is a model engine report by Peter Chin, (England) Peter did all the engine reports way back when we only had magazines for information, pre-computer days. The interesting words in the report on the Taipan Glo engine by Peter was that it was made in Australia, and Australia made and exported Motor Cars, Lawn-mowers and Electrical goods, so why wouldn't we make model engines. Below is Peter's Engine review, but sadly now we make No Motors Cars, No Lawn-mowers, No Electrical Goods and No Model Engines productions, in Australia any more.

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This Battery Explodes and Fire. Here’s what can happen when a battery explodes (I believe it was not a Lipo type) the battery was on charge in the trailer, and something has gone wrong with either the battery or it may have been the charger. We may never know. We are handling very volatile materials and products. Please treat these products with all the care and safety that's possible. Things that are volatile explosive and can catch fire like, NiCad, NiMh, Gel cells, Lead acid and Lipo Batteries from over or incorrect charging and or course from crash damage. ESC's are another item that can short out and go up in smoke, as well as the fuels we use like Petrol, Methanol, Nitro and Either in Diesel fuel can explode and catch fire, so beware of the dangers of what products your handling, and treat them with respect and stay safe Beware of Lipo(s). These pictures and text came up on Facebook page "Proper Lipo Safety, Care And Practices" the other day of a modeller who was apparently plugging in a lipo when it exploded, so if you use Lipos please beware of what can happen with all these batteries. Proper Lipo Safety, Care And Practices added 4 new photos. March 5th 2017 I Want Everyone to Take a GOOD LOOK, At These Photos. This is a Friend of mines Brother. I'll Not Mention any names, But, THIS is what CAN Happen if you are Not Careful & Edify Yourself With the Proper Care and Use of Lithium Polymer (Lipo) Batteries. This Young Man Had Been Playing with his Off road truck, using a "Puffed" Lipo Battery. After he Ran it, He went to charge it again & THIS Was the Result. It Did not just Spew, & Then Blow & Catch fire, it Was still in his hand when it Blew. It Sprayed Burning Lithium on him & his clothes & skin were on Fire. I've heard Several "Experienced" Drivers say, there's nothing wrong with using a "Puffy" Battery. I have Argued this point blue in the face, online before. . . I CANNOT, Force

Terrible burns on his eye, belly region and inside his right arm.

Note, there were at least 8 aircraft in the trailer at the time of the fire, all destroyed.

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someone to "Error on the side of safety". . . I KNOW, This Young Man, And his Family Wishes he had Taken the Proper Precautions & Not used That Swollen Lipo Pack. The Doctors were Seriously Concerned that He was going to permanently, Lose Sight in his Right Eye. My Prayers are with him & His Family. . I Would like to Thank My friend, For Giving me these Photos to Use Publicly, in Hopes of Preventing This, Or Worse, from Happening to Someone else. . New Battery Breakthrough. Lithium-ion battery inventor John Goodenough touts "New Battery Break Through". Not all tech geniuses are barely old enough to shave. For proof, look no further than John Goodenough, who was 57 years old when he co-invented the lithium ion battery, which is very likely the power source for, among other things, the device on which you’re reading this. But that was 37 years ago. Now, at the spry age of 94, Goodenough, a professor at the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, has one-upped himself. Goodenough and senior research fellow Maria Helena Braga recently announced the development of an all-solid-state battery that beats lithium-ion in every way imaginable. It’s cheap, it has a longer life cycle, it charges and discharges quickly and, best of all, its non-combustible — meaning it won’t explode and burst into flames. Are you listening, Samsung? Goodenough and Braga, who are seeking several patents, hope the technology could revolutionize the powering of electric vehicles and energy storage devices, according UT News. The all-solid-state battery cells have at least three times as much energy density as lithium-ion batteries, which could greatly extend how far an electric vehicle can travel before it needs to be recharged. The new battery can be charged and discharged more times than a lithium-cell battery, meaning it will last longer. And charging and recharging can be accomplished in minutes, not hours. This item came off the Google website so let’s follow it and see what and when it happens, and if it does happen will we all be using electronic powered aircraft, there may be some interesting times ahead.

This photo shows his left hand that was holding the lipo.

John Goodenough (The University of Texas at Austin).

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The Friday Old Farts Vs Old Tarts. Friday Aviation Retries Training Society or better known as the old FARTS

Model Engine Scanner Challenge. (May 7th) The Model Engines Scanner Challenge is just over a week away, if you haven't got your entry in by now you may miss out. I need time to work out who will be flying in which heats, got to get all the fast ones together and the slower ones together. Race day is Sunday the 7th of May so let the Scanner fun begin. So where’s yours??? You have to be Joking. Finally, the blonde joke to end all blonde jokes. A blonde woman was speeding down the road in her little red sports car and was pulled over by a women police officer, who was also blonde. The blonde cop asked to see the blonde driver’s license. She dug though her purse and was getting progressively more agitated. "What does it look like?" She finally asked. The policewoman replied, "It's square and has your picture on it." The driver finally found a square mirror in her purse, looked at it and handed it to the policewoman. "Here it is," she said. The blonde officer looked at the mirror, then handed it back saying "OK, you can go, I didn’t realize you were a cop." (Joke given by anonymous reader so Editor does not write about you know who.) Expressions of Interest for ANZAC Day 2018. This Anzac Day will have almost come and gone by the time this ALOFT newsletter comes out, but I'm looking forward to next years 2018 for interested people who would like to buy, borrow or build, a WW1 fighter aircraft to fly and celebrate Anzac Day next year which is the Centennial year 1918-2018 of the Anzac's.

The Friday Old Farts enjoying one of their Social days. Note:- The Editor is there, it must have been something

special. Oh deary! I think we have opposition, the old Tarts, maybe we should invite them out to the "Marong Airfield" for

morning tea?

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Are you interested? In taking part in this Centennial Anzac Day event, does anybody have suitable aircraft to fly or are you willing to obtain suitable aircraft to participate, with aircraft like, SE5A, Sopwith Camel, Bristol, Albatros, Nieuport, Avro, Vickers, Westland, these are just some of the more commonly known ones. There is plenty more to choose from, these don't have to be any more than stand-off scale, just look a likes will be fine. This Event is 12 months away but it may take that long to get suitable aircraft together. This event if organised could get us in the papers and on the TV for more club exposure, and because we are community minded, and also maybe the only Radio Controlled club to do it, but we do need your help if it was to proceed. It would have to be decided by November this year if it was at all possible to have such a day. There is a few things to work out, is it possible for us to conduct this Anzac event, and when would it be? In the morning when the march is on, or in the arvo when the sporting events are on.

Please think about it, we would need I think a minimum 4 or 5 aircraft (not park flyers, a little larger please) so we could manage to get at least 3 aircraft in the air at one time, or maybe it’s just wishful thinking. To pilots outside of the Bendigo Club who receive this complimentary ALOFT newsletter, if you are interested in joining us with this flying celebration event for Anzac Centennial Day, please contact us through the newsletter, we'd love to hear from you as well.

It’s That Time again. Oh No, my Lipo’s are going flat. I better come in for a

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

Anzac biscuit tin was what brought this idea on. Let’s try and celebrate what those brave pilots did for us.