RADIO CONTROL ELECTRICS
Bob Kopski 25 West End Drive, Lansdale, PA 19446
This Month's Topics
This month's topics include a meet announcement and Electrics' Top Ten.
DEAF Electric Fly-In (Meet Announcement)
Greg Judy of the Dallas Electric Aircraft Fliers (DEAF) club of Dallas, TX wrote to announce the 12th Annual DEAF Electric Fly-In, scheduled for October 3–4 at the Dallas RC Club. This event combines serious competitive events with "fun" events—something for everyone.
Scheduled activities include:
- LMR for Seven-Cell Sailplane/OT and 30-Cell Sailplane
- AULD
- Speed 400 pylon race
- Lightest to Make
- Ten Minutes
- Weight Lift
- Best Scale
- Lots of fun-flying
Amenities: paved runway, pond, food, and a free evening buffet.
Contact: Greg Judy — (817) 468-0962; E-mail: thejudys@flash.net; http://web2.airmail.net/warner1/deaf/
Fifteenth Anniversary and Electrics' Top Ten
This issue marks the 15th anniversary of my association with and writing E-things for Model Aviation. My writing began in the September 1983 issue with an intended five- or six-part Electric series that eventually grew to ten parts. As the series was drawing to a close, Model Aviation invited me to continue with a monthly column—evidence that readership response to Electrics was favorable. Carl Wheeley, MA's boss at the time, wondered if there would be enough Electric stuff to write about into the future. That has never been a problem!
My Electric experience began around 1972—a time of very little E-activity in the U.S. I feel it's fair to say that I've seen E-power's birth and growth in this country during this time. From this perspective I now offer what I feel are the Top Ten things that have happened to or within Electric aeromodeling. (What follows is in no order of importance, except for the first item.)
- AstroFlight (Bob Boucher)
AstroFlight is, in my view, the primary reason Electric is what it is in this country today. I see Astro as the catalyst for it all—beginning in the early 1970s, when virtually no one had an Electric interest, Astro came on the supplier scene with a few humble products and a massive conviction that there was a future here—and made it so. Bob Boucher persevered through difficult times, gradually expanded and improved his product line, and we've all benefited. We're here today because of Bob Boucher and his company. Bob, thank you for bringing so much hobby pleasure to everyone who enjoys this rewarding, quiet, powerful, high- and fast-flying part of model aviation.
- Cobalt motors (Astro)
Cobalt motors, introduced by Astro in the 1980s, represented a major leap forward in performance for Electric flight and typified Astro's innovation. These motors targeted the shortcomings of lesser motors of the day and were on target. Walk any flightline now and you'll find a predominance of Astro cobalt motors in all sizes, geared to power all kinds of Electrics. Astro originally marketed "can" ferrites; the introduction of cobalts was the beginning of the end for Astro ferrites.
- Early writings and construction articles (Mitch Poling and Jim Zarembski)
The writings of early columnists Mitch Poling (Model Builder) and Jim Zarembski (RCM) were significant. I remember hanging on every word these modelers put on paper—never dreaming I'd ever share E-thoughts of my own in Model Aviation. Mitch and Jim also published several E-construction articles; Mitch published a book, and Jim had some designs kitted. Jim's Sky Knight is still marketed by Aveox. Both were major influences on my early years within E-power.
- The Goldberg Electra (early dedicated E-power kit)
The Goldberg Electra was one of the first dedicated E-power kits by an established kit manufacturer. It was a daring move at a time when so few were into Electric. Properly built, the Electra flies well—just what you'd expect from Goldberg. A customized and refined Electra won AULD at KRC in the past. The Electra was also the forerunner of several more kits-in-kind by Goldberg, Great Planes, and Airtronics. Many E-fliers owe their start to this initiative.
- Sanyo batteries
Sanyo brought continually improving, high-quality battery products to the aeromodeling scene. Growth in cell quality, capacity, and variety, combined with other E-products, has been a key part of E-modeling growth. Sanyo Ni-Cd cells powered the image growth of Electric from "Electrics don't fly well" to the convincing performance we routinely enjoy now.
- Futaba Electric-dedicated radio
Futaba introduced an Electric-dedicated radio system about a dozen years ago, and in my opinion was very helpful in the growth of Electric. The receiver, with its built-in speed control, BEC function, and simple installation, got many modelers over their first installation hurdles. For years, KRC routinely offered this radio in most of its Electric Fly raffle airplanes. Some accomplished E-modelers used this product as a lightweight installation in Speed 400 designs. It saddens me that Futaba chose to discontinue this product.
- Joe Usati and Jomar speed controls
Joe Usati and his Jomar company were, to my knowledge, first to publish and then manufacture a "serious" speed control for Electrics. His SC-1 control, which appeared in the early 1980s as a Model Aviation construction article and later as a Jomar product, led the way in this product area. Joe introduced the concept of "high rate" speed controls—now recognized as the way to go in ESCs. He continued to expand his product line and advance the state of the art in model motor control. (Jomar designs continue today under EMS ownership.)
- The KRC Electric Fly
The KRC Electric Fly, founded in 1980, was the first club-sponsored Electric meet in the country and has grown to become what is believed to be the largest E-meet in the world. It set the standard for essentially all other E-meets that followed. Many skilled E-modelers got their start as spectators at earlier KRC meets. I'm proud to have been associated with this affair over the years.
- Sermos connectors
Sermos connectors were introduced in the early 1980s and quickly became the de facto standard for E-modeling wiring interconnects. Introduced by John Sermos at a time when the hobby desperately needed this product, these high-performance connectors remain the most popular on the flightline. The Sermos connector is based on an established product by Anderson but improved in several proprietary ways for our modeling use. If I were in charge, I'd dictate that Sermos connectors become the standard for all E-products—except perhaps for the tiniest of models.
- Aveox brushless motors and modern chargers
Aveox introduced a new technology with its brushless motors and associated controllers, pushing the state of the art even farther upward with higher performance and enhanced durability. Other manufacturers followed with brushless products. At the same time, chargers have grown in technological accomplishment. High-performance, high-quality products such as the SR Smart Charger have made "fueling" Electrics easy, pleasant, and technically sound. Earlier, confusing charging approaches that often resulted in poor performance or fried packs have all but disappeared. Today's foolproof peak-charge detection systems virtually guarantee the best power-system performance, flight after flight.
So ends my Top Ten pick of people and products that have made this a remarkable Electric quarter-century. I can hardly wait to see what the next quarter-century brings!
So begins my 10th year with Model Aviation—and you. Thank you, everyone, for making this so! Please enclose a SASE with any correspondence for which you'd like a reply.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
