Mid-Virginia Radio Control Club

Mid-Virginia RC Club is having

FUN FLY- – SATURDAY – - MAY 9th

Ft. Lee Flying Field–Petersburg, Virginia

FROM THE NORTH;

I-95 towards Petersburg, take exit # 54 (right) to Temple Ave ( VA-144), past Southpark Mall. continue on 144 past Harley Davidson dealer and over the railroad bridge to River Road stop light. (Ft. Lee construction on the right). Turn left onto River Road to MVRC Flying Field entrance gate, just past the field, on the right.

FROM THE SOUTH;

I-95 towards Petersburg, take exit # 53 to Temple Ave. (VA-144), right onto VA-144 past Harley Davidson dealer and over the railroad bridge to River Road stop light. (Ft. Lee construction on the right). Turn left onto River Road and continue to MVRC Flying Field entrance gate, just past the field, on the right.

GASOLINE — GLO – - ELECTRIC

FIXED WING — AND —HELICOPTERS

- NO LANDING FEE –

- BURGERS – DOGS – DRINKS

I have seen two mid-airs in my years of participating in the hobby before today. Both resulted in relatively minor damage despite the few moments of terror that the participants experienced. But today I was witness to the most violent collision between two models that I have ever seen. More inside.

Let’s join together as a club and visit the 7th Annual HRCFC Swap Meet and 1st Annual Indoor Fly-In with our fellow hobbyist to the North. The location is a quick hop up I-295 on Rt. 360, West of Mechanicsville. Check out this page on their clubs Web site for the details.

C’mon all you micro and flat foam jockeys, This is an afternoon of fun that willl not need a rain (or wind) date!

The full slate of officers for 2009 were approved without the need for individual voting for each position. All that has changed is Lowell Carrington and Lyle Evens are swapping President and Vice President roles.

Here we are on post, guarding a magnificent giant-scale P-47B on the flightline of the 2008-Fly-for-Tots near Raleigh, NC. There was an wealth of Carolina blue sky and model airplane action. Click though for more pictures and links about this up-and-coming annual event.

Even though stormy weather brought the day to a premature end, I think everybody who participated in our static display had a great time and considered it well worth the effort. A big “Thank You” to Robert A. Lee for taking the lead on this and working hard to bring it together.

Dear MVRC members,

It is with great sadness that I must inform you that one of our members, Ray Baker, passed away suddenly in January 2008. Ray was a dedicated member of Mid-Virginia Radio Control Club and a close friend to many of us.

Throughout his membership with MVRC, Ray was always helpful and willing to serve our club. Ray was mostly known as a RC helicopter pilot. Ray was a regular attendee at our club meetings and took great pride and seriousness in his responsibility to make sure our Wagoner Field was mowed on a regular basis. We will always remember Ray as an easy going fellow that always had a soft joke or joyful remark to share that earned smiles from his fellow modelers.

On behalf of the Mid-Virginia Radio Control Club, we offer our sympathy and condolences to Ray’s family and the many friends he leaves behind. We will all miss him.

Lowell Carrington
President, Mid-Virginia Radio Control Club

If you’re interested in traveling for your hobby bargains, the Central Penn Aeromodelers Association will hold its 28th Annual Flea Market on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at the Fairgrounds in Lebanon, PA. This event ti touted as the Largest RC Flea Market in the USA with 602 tables covering 41,000 square feet indoors! The flyer with detailed information and a selection of photos from past events is available on the CPAA Web site.

I spent the morning configuring the list-serve on our club’s server and I’m minutes away from hitting the “go” button. What’s a list-serv? That’s the Internet geek term for an email distribution list. It’s a simple concept: send a message to one address and everybody gets it. Much more convenient than managing an email header with a bunch of addresses.

Everyone who has given us an email address is being subscribed. I’m going to allow non-members (from nearby clubs) to subscribe by request.

Take a moment to read the guidelines for using the list.

Bill Hempel, creator and distributor of some fine giant scale RC aircraft, started off the year BIG by announcing his new 50% Clipped-wing J3 Cub ARF. That’s right! FIFTY percent! That’s one-half scale. I won’t post any details here, there is a Flying Giants thread covering the announcement with much discussion including numerous posts from Mr. Hempel himself, pricing and specifications. Initial delivery is slated for late February/early March. If you plan on using any yellow Oracote, better order it fast. There will soon be a world wide shortage!

After a couple of frustrating and costly rounds of having the padlocks cut and being locked out by Range Control (and I must admit to being responsible for one instance), I will attempt to redeem myself by posting the Gate locking instructions here. Please review these procedures and make sure you understand the so that we may avoid any further inconvenience.

Hanover RC Club will hold it’s 6th Annual Richmond Swap Meet on March 22 at Fairmount Christian Church in Mechanicsville. More information including directions here.

We have received our license to use Fort Lee for 2008. Deer season ends after January 5, however, there is a big activity planned for Jan 5 & 6. We cannot use the field on those dates. (as of noon 01/06 Len informed me that the exercise is over – we can fly today!) We are scheduled for full weekends starting Jan 12 through Jan 27. Starting in February we should be able to get back on our regular schedule of weekends and weekdays by calling Range Control at 765-2286 or 2287 in advance. Please observe the locking procedure on the gate. Our lock is interlaced with Fort Lee’s so that removing one lock opens the gate. Be careful and make sure we lock up correctly. The BRAC construction is not seen as a problem for us now. Range Control will let us know if there is a construction issue affecting our flying.

See you at the next meeting or at the flying field.

I couldn’t let a whole month go by without updating…

First off, I’d like to apologize for letting the site languish over the summer. It has been too hot, hot, hot much of the time to stay enthusiastic about standing in the sun to pursue the hobby. But the spin of the big blue marble we call home is about to bless us with a turn in the weather.

This coming weekend marks the start of the fall flying season. Although we’ll be losing Fort Lee on Saturdays for the short term, the crisp September sky is ours seven days a week at Wagner. Let’s take advantage of it! Haul out that hardware and fly slow circles or huck it hard. Fall is for flying.

The majority of our membership have paid their dues for the upcoming year. But there are quite a few that have not. Remember that there IS A $25 initiation fee if you let your membership lapse. If you have not paid by now, you have officially lapsed. C’mon guys, you enjoy some of the best flying facilities in the state! Re-up and take advantage of ‘em.

In other news… The Hobby Corner at 360 West has now reopened under new ownership. I’m working on a story, with photos, to bring you the scoop on the new management and the remodel. The coolest thing is Yvonne is still there, part-time! Watch for the full story coming soon. In the meantime, drop in and check it out. They’re open six days a week and building new inventory all of the time.

I am also working on a pilot training program for the club that will offer 60-days of instructor-supervised flying to interested individuals using their own, or a club-supplied and maintained plane. The plan will require the student pilot do a bit of paperwork to be covered by the AMA liability insurance and qualify for the program, so it’s definitely not a walk-up thing. We will be actively recruiting at least three instructors for this program, so embrace your inner teacher, dig out those nerves of steel and volunteer.