Next Meeting: January 14th, 7:30pm at Slim Helson's
(directions at http://www.tshc.org)
We'll have a swap shop and some show-n-tell at this meeting so I
hope to see everyone there!
Presidents Podium
Happy New Year to all as we begin 2003. Hope you all found that long-wanted new kit or goodie under the tree. The way this winter is going there should be no excuse not to expand and fix up your fleet for spring. TSHC hit 31 paid members in 2002 and the way renewals are going 2003 membership should be north of that, possibly a record breaker. Like most organizations we have turnover with some folks dropping out (hopefully temporarily) while new comers sign on. For the newbies, let's try to give them all the help possible so they avoid some of the setbacks and costs we learned the hard way. I would like to see some mentoring if you advanced guys are willing. Last year saw somewhat fewer club activities at Slim's field as more members have 'dual citizenship' with other clubs---this is both good and bad as it takes some of the neighborhood noise pressure off Slim's but it leads to a less cohesive club and less camaraderie. This year we will try to re-balance these activities a bit. While we pump up our own TSHC schedule we will still encourage joint activities with other clubs - a great opportunity to find new TSHC members. Speaking of events in general for this coming year, remember this is the 100-year celebration of the Wright Bros first flight. You couldn't live in a better area of the country to enjoy the various events. In a future newsletter we will share some info on this since we may as well factor this reality into our TSHC planning. My thanks to John Anast for taking the lead on this newsletter---remember, he needs help from all of us to make this a success and from time to time you may get a homework assignment to contribute. If the interest is there we may resurrect the event calendar, swap shop, add some tech columns----it's your newsletter, so let John know what you want to see and how you can help.
Check Six---- Bob Gaerttner Jan 3, 2003
Chopper of Month Piccolo Pro (Bob Belluomini)
My new Piccolo Pro is a collective pitch model. At 20" this one of the smallest aerobatic helicopters produced commercially. It uses an Astro brushless motor and a Schulze Speed controller that has a governor function to regulate the head rpm. The tail is controlled by a fixed pitch rotor blade that changes rpm via a small electric motor to control torque. I am using a Heading hold CSM gyro removed from the case to save weight. The battery is one of the new Lithium Polymer batteries. Each cell is rated at 4.2 volts so I only need to use 3 cells at a total weight of 2.25 ounces for the pack. The ready to fly weight of the model is just 11 ounces, this is with an ounce of nose weight to correct the CG. (Bob promises to show us how it flies at the club meeting...right Bob?? ... so everyone better show up! ...ed)
Chopper History - Fairey Rotodyne (Bob Gaertner)
I was sorting thru some junk and came across a plastic model kit of the Fairey Rotodyne, a fascinating British development of the '50s. I punched it up on internet which had good coverage. It used two turboprop engines that could also provide compressor bleed air ducted to hollow rotor blades for takeoff and hover, then transition to fwd flight using propeller thrust. The rotor blades were driven by mixing fuel with the compressed air and igniting in the rotor blades, then exhausting thru the trailing edge jet nozzles. No torque reaction of course.......The machine was technically 25 years ahead of its time, but in true British marketing fashion, about 20 year before the Wright Bros. Punch it up on internet for details---http://pauldunn.dynip.com/aircraft/rotodyne/
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Fairey Rotodyne Specifications Length: 58 ft 8 in -- Height: 23 ft 2 in Main Rotor: 90 ft -- Gross Weight: 33 000 lbs Max. Speed: 190 mph -- Engine: 2 x 2800 shp Napier Eland turbines |
Chopper Tips (John Anast)
Applying Decals the Easy Way - Have you ever fought with getting decals on your canopy just right, slopping soapy water all over and having it not stick well after wards. Well have I got the tip for you. The no pain approach is simple! Cut out your decal to size with the backing paper still on it. Line it up on your canopy to get a feel for what looks right, then cut off a small corner of the backing paper, maybe 1/2" long. The decal tends to curl up after you do this so you can slide the rest of the decal around on the canopy without the exposed piece touching the canopy. Get the location just right, then tack down the exposed corner. This will preserve the alignment perfectly. Now slowly peel back the rest of the backing paper and smooth the decal on as you go. If the canopy was very clean to start out with you should have a perfect application with - I told you - no pain! I use this all the time now. This is one great tip I got from the master, Ernie Huber, who has to put alot of decals on canopies for his training classes!
Fixing Loose Fuel Tubing - Have you ever encountered a fuel nipple that was a tad small to really grip your fuel tubing. A quick (or permanent) fix for this is to take a small piece of the tubing (maybe 1/4") and slide it over the end on a pair of needle nose pliers or hemostats. Open the jaws to stretch the tubing inner diameter, and push your heli's fuel line into the opening until it is flush with the other side and remove the pliers. Now you have the outer small piece compressing the original tubing. Push it over the nipple and you'll have a nice secure fitting. Got this one from Bob Belluomini many years ago. He's just full of neat tricks.
Checking for a Bent Blade Axel.- Ever wonder if that slight clip of the grass with your fancy new glass blades bent the main blade spindle? I recently botched a cross wind auto and did just that. To see if the spindle is okay take off one blade and insert a driver into the blade grip spindle bolt and give it a turn. If the spindle is bent, you will easily be able to see the blade grip(s) move up and down or lef/right. When turning the blade spindle those grips best not move or you got a bent one (ouch that hurts). Source: I ferget
Web Site Doings (John Anast)
Events Calendar - I'm just beginning to fill in this years events. If you have any, send them to me. As always be sure to visit the web site often for the latest events
Classified Ads - The club offers free classified ads on the web site as well. So if you have some hardware to move let me know and I'll get it posted. Also bring for-sale goodies to the meeting this month for a mini-swap meet
Member's Area - We have a special page with member info, typically a small picture, a list of your hardware and radio channel number. I've posted emails and web sites if supplied. If you don't want any of this info shared let me know and I will remove it asap. Check the info from time to time so we can keep it current.
Road Trips - I try to post pictures from fun flies both local and out of town. If you have some interesting pictures you would like to share with folks, I can post those as well. If you can put some words with the pictures, thats always nice. I'm really behind posting pictures but we've got quite a bit up there already.
Technical Tips - We have a few articles posted already on things like balancing blades and servicing bearings but we could always use a few more. If you have something you could teach others about some area of choppers, please take some time and write it up.
Comments (and help) on the web site are always appreciated!
*** Web Site of the Month ***
The Helicopter Museum - The World's Largest Dedicated Helicopter Museum, and England's Only Helicopter Museum. Located in Weston-super-Mare on the South West coast of England. Super, check it out at http://www.helicoptermuseum.co.uk/index.html Bet you've NEVER seen some of these full size helis!
I hope to see everyone at the Jan meeting!!!!
For more newsletters visit the TSHC Archives
p.s. If you are reading this on paper from the US Mail...don't count on future mailings...send me your email post haste. Come March if you have not renewed your club dues, the newsletter will misteriously stop showing up, so get us your bucks. You ABSOLUTELY MUST have your AMA card when renewing .....john
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webmeister >john anast
posted 1/09/2003