Radio Control: Electrics
By Bob Kopski
25 West End Dr., Lansdale, PA 19446
THIS MONTH'S TOPICS:
- The Electric Connection Service
- Upcoming meets — Dallas, Texas, and San Jose, California
- The June LVRCs (Pennsylvania) meet
- Does Electric need (want?) a SIG?
- Concluding hype
Electric Connection Service
This month the Electric Connection Service offers the names of five E-modelers who would like to connect with others in or near their locales. If you're enjoying electric flight — or would like to give it a try — contact these folks. This could be the beginning of an electric club in your neighborhood.
- David Alexander
3205 W. 21st St., Lawrence, KS 66047 Telephone: (913) 843-3960 David is the only E-flier in his club, the Jayhawk Modelmasters. He’s eager to find others interested in electric flight. Dave has tried several electrics and now has a Skyvolt on the bench. He sent three pages of information and questions — he’s very enthusiastic. You’d do well to hook up with Dave and share the joy electric brings.
- Mark Garvey
701 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 Telephone: (319) 398-6207 Mark flies several model types including glow power, sailplanes, indoor free-flight, control-line, and electric power. Known locally as “Mr. Mercy,” he represents Mercy Medical Center and performs magic shows in schools, often including models. He reports kids love the planes, especially the Pennyplane, which can hang over the audience for several minutes. Mark would like to hear from other E-fliers in his area — tell him “Bob sent ya.”
- Mark Sheehy
3121 Ferncliff, Royal Oak, MI 48073 Telephone: (313) 288-4530 Mark is a glow RCer who wants to try quiet electric power. He’s asked questions and would really like to connect with established local E-fliers to get over the rough spots in the transition. Michigan has a lot of E-activity; I’m sure local fliers will contact him.
- Ned Snead
3006 Gabriel View, Georgetown, TX 78628 Ned is looking to associate with modelers interested in electric-powered sailplanes and seaplanes. He’s been flying an original eight-foot, over-six-pound Vultur on Sullivan foam floats, powered with a belt-drive Graupner 600 BB Turbo turning a 12 x 6 prop. Ned has other electrics in the works — maybe you can connect and get some silent power craft in the air down that way.
- Walt Staff
823 E. Shady Lake Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84106 Walt has been enjoying electric flight for a while and is interested in finding a few other quiet-powered modelers. He wrote some nice comments about this column and about what he’s flying, and he would like to be connected with other E-oriented folks. I don’t recall all specifics, but I’d like to see an electric club form in his area.
Please send me a note about how these connections work out — good or not-so-good.
Upcoming meets
- Sixth Annual Electric Fly-In (DEAF) — October 3–4
Sponsored by the Dallas Electric Aircraft Fliers (DEAF). Plenty of fun-flying both days with some low-key events, limited motor-run battery-allotment activities, Old-Timers sailplanes, and All-Up/Last-Down events. Awards: Best Scale, Best Multi-Motor, Most Impressive, etc. The club field has a paved runway and is spacious. October in Dallas is beautiful. Contact: Frank Korman, 5834 Goodwin, Dallas, TX 75206-6106; telephone (214) 821-0393 (after 5 p.m. and on weekends).
- Third Annual Electric Carnival (SCCMAS) — October 24, 1992
Held at the SCCMAS club field in San Jose, CA. Events include an All-Up/Last-Down and a raffle (including a Futaba radio). The field has a 600-foot asphalt runway, a snack shack, and power for charging. Contact: Vic Renon (CD) at (415) 325-3017, or Bob Ortman, 631 Sobrate Way, Campbell, CA 95008; telephone (408) 379-3864.
LVRCs June meet (Easton, PA)
I flew the June 13–14 LVRCs meet near Easton, Pennsylvania — it was a great time. The meet, run by Ellis Grumet and Nelson Gould, presented plenty of low-key competitive activity across both days. In all, there were 34 registrants. Many pilots flew newly built larger electrics, and there was a lot of anticipation for first flights. Ovations followed several successful flights.
I was fortunate to fly one of the bigger ships — Bob Afflerback's Electron — and it performed superbly, retracts and all. That high-capability Pattern design felt like a thoroughbred; it’s obvious many experienced pattern pilots are moving to larger electrics and enjoying the added challenge and performance.
The takeaway: electric power is long past the “will-it-fly” stage. If your electric model isn’t working well, concentrate on what you might be doing wrong — electric systems are capable and reliable when set up properly.
Does Electric need (want?) a SIG?
Back in July 1991 I asked for reader comment about a Special Interest Group (SIG) at the AMA — the Electric and Aeromodelling Association (EAA). Response was sparse, but since then there have been efforts to reestablish an effective SIG that better represents both lone electric fliers and electric clubs.
Jay Putt is trying to get input before moving much further. He has some ideas for reestablishing a SIG focused on a wide range of electric model types and activities, including competition and sport flying. Jay would like to know:
- Do you want a Special Interest Group for electric within the AMA?
- What would you like such an organization to do? Focus on competition and rules, on sport flying, or both?
- Should there be a newsletter? If so, what should it offer?
- What would it take to get you to join?
If you’re interested, write to Jay Putt, 123 Sheep Pasture Rd., Setauket, NY 11733, or telephone (516) 689-6420. Tell him “Bob sent ya.” Jay wants input — do your part if you’re interested. He’ll share results, and I’ll pass along the information in a future column.
Late-arriving meet announcements
- Gulf States Electric Fly-In — October 24–25 (near Folsom, LA)
Contacts: Ben Mathews, 101 Mulberry, Metairie, LA 70005; telephone (504) 833-5589 or (504) 366-4511. Or Boyd O’Brien, P.O. Box 7153, Metairie, LA; telephone (504) 835-5212.
- 18th Annual Astro Champs — November 7–8 (Mile Square Park, Fountain Valley, CA)
This meet features several new fun events this year. For full information contact Astro Flight, 13311 Beach Ave., Marina del Rey, CA 90292.
Please remember: announcements must be submitted early to get into this column in a timely fashion.
Final notes
Please enclose an SASE with any correspondence for which you'd like a reply.
If you haven’t tried electric flight — do so. If you tried and were disappointed, try again — it really works. If you already enjoy electric flight, consider moving up to a bigger system for even more fun.
And — whatever you fly, happy landings!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
