Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Set Up and Test Flights

One of the ways MRFA helps our fellow modelers is by providing help with setting up an aircraft and doing the maiden flight. If you have an aircraft that you need help with, please feel free to contact us and we'll arrange a time to check out your aircraft and conduct a test flight.
Help us help you. If you arrange an appointment, we ask that you please make sure that you have the following items or have performed the following checks:

Before we will help set up an aircraft-
  • Have your batteries (transmitter, receiver, and main) fully charged.
  • Bring the documentation that came with your radio and your aircraft.
  • If going to the field for a set up, bring any tools or materials you may need.
  • If it is a combustion engine that needs checked, bring fuel, glow igniter, starter, and your field tools. A spare glow plug (and wrench) would be helpful too.
Before we will do a maiden flight you need to verify that-
  • all batteries are fully charged.
  • all your controls and servos work correctly, and that the proper throws have been set.
  • all mechanical linkages, fuselage parts, and hatches are properly secured.
  • prop(s) are the correct size and pitch, balanced, and tightened correctly.
  • landing gear functions properly.
We do not test fly planes with retracts, high-speed models, or do 3-D tests. We do test helicopters. 
When one of our pilots agree to test fly your aircraft, you accept full responsibility for its airworthiness. Unsafe or malfunctioning aircraft will not be flown. We suggest that you bring your tools or spare parts with you if you want to make any corrections to your aircraft after the initial test flight. 

Thursday, August 25, 2016

September Meeting Date and DCAMA SWAP MEET

HEY MRFA members!

The September meeting is coming up on Wednesday, September 7th at 6:00 PM. Members are encouraged to be there to discuss the new runway, repairs to the club house, and other important items.

In other news...

MARK YOUR CALENDARS- Darke County Aeromodelers 12th Annual Swap Meet and Indoor Fly-in:  SUNDAY, October 30- 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Vendor setup is at 7:00 AM.

Darke County Fairgrounds Youth Building, 800 Sweitzer Street, Greenville Ohio
For table reservations, contact Todd Hartzell at (937) 337-4135 or Randolf North at (937) 417-1382 (sparky@embarqmail.com)

Table rentals: 10 ft. tables, $8.00 if pre-paid before October 26 - $10.00 at the door.

Guys pay $3.00 admission; Women and children under 12 are free!




Sunday, August 21, 2016

Family Picnic and Westerville NASA Scale

Thank you to everyone that came out to share in the  good time today at the family picnic. The food was far better than burgers and dogs- especially the dishes brought by members. We were also honored by the presence of our friend from DCAMA, who came all the way out from Greenville to share in our celebration.
Mmmm. Pulled pork, slaw, beans, potato and pasta salad, fruit, chips and dip, cup cakes...there goes the diet.

The weather was beautiful- sunny, warm, but the wind wasn't exactly cooperating with our flight plans. The intermittent gusts were changing direction unpredictably, causing turbulence and tricky flying. HA! We didn't let that stop us- helicopters, nitro planes, and even an electric warbird took to the air. Of course, it wouldn't be an MRFA event without combat wings!


On Saturday, Dick, Bill, and Rob went out to the Westerville club at Alum Creek to see the planes at the NASA scale competition.There were some outstanding models at the event, Including a Jenny with an electric starter (NEAT!), a P-61 Black Widow, a beautiful shiny Beechcraft C-45, and a big P-38 Lightning.



If you are looking for a safe place to fly, and friendly people that share your interest in model aircraft, contact us by filling out the form on the JOIN tab of this web site, and we'll set you up with a membership.



Saturday, August 13, 2016

AIR RACES INFO

See the flyer link on the right of the main web page for more info!

Friday, August 12, 2016

Resources Page Repaired

Hey fellow modelers-
The Resources page of the web site had some broken links- but they ought to be working now!

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Dog Days of Summer

We did not have an official August club meeting due to lack of attendance. Why? Because of all the events happening at the close of the summer season: Nats, IRCHA, Champaign County Fair, the start of school next week, to name a few. We'll wait until the September meeting to discuss business.

In other association news, Mike Unger placed fifth among tough competitors in the AMA Nats Sportsman Helicopter competition. Read about it at: http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/080216.pdf

A few of us found time to come out to the field to enjoy the beautiful weather and great flying this weekend. Here is some video shot by association Secretary Rob Crawford using his new Vivitar camera mounted on the landing gear of his Flyzone scale Cub. The view is looking backward at the tail wheel. Not too shabby for a $40 camera.
[If you are using iOS, then the Flash Video may not play on your device- click HERE instead.]


Thursday, August 4, 2016

Associaton News

Geotextile Runway Plans!

VP Mark Mowry checked with a supplier in Columbus about using geotextile (that's the technical term for landscaping fabric) for a runway, and here is the breakdown:

"The cost $1.45 per sq. yd. shipped for 2 rolls.  A roll is 15ft x 300ft = 500 sq yds = $725 per roll.  I have attached aerials that show coverage of 2 rolls of material, one at 60ft x 150ft and the other at 30ft x 300ft.  The cost of landscape staples and field prep would also need to be considered." 

Links to the aerials are below. Questions and suggestions can be sent to flyurbana@gmail.com or asked on flying days at the field.

Example of a geotextile runway

  • We have another prospective new member!
  • The MRFA site has had more than 4000 views since the redesign at the end of April.