============================== January 2004 =================================

The January club meeting will be at the Jack-in-the Box in Moscow at 7pm on Tuesday, January 6 (contact club vice president Bruce Bumgarner for information or to add items to the agenda (208) 882-7126).

• Planning for club events: Snowfly, Mall Show, Picnics, etc.
• Bring any new or interesting planes, engines or radio components, or tip/techniques that you’d like to share.

• President: Dave Walker
• Vice President: Bruce Bumgarner
• Secretary/Treasurer: Colleen Bumgarner
• Newsletter Editor: Don Hart
• Safety Officers: Joe Bolden and Bob Boettcher

There was a hearty round of applause for outgoing officers Les Grammer (sec/treasurer) and Mel Colvin (VP) - many thanks for your time and effort for the club!

While the Palouse Ridge Runners is a name with lots of history dating back to the 1960s, the name causes confusion. The final list of names were put up on the wall and everyone present voted for three favorites (3 votes for first, 2 for second and 1 for third choice). The name receiving the most votes was Palouse Region R/C Flyers! The club name will officially change when we send in the charter for 2004 (due in March), or immediately if minutes of the meeting with the name change is sent to AMA.

Dave Walker says there will be no further progress until the Moscow city council approves the plan for the new park. Something we might be considering is naming the field???

Dave Walker and Joe Bolden manned a display with a R/C trainer and a computer flight simulator at the Palouse Discovery Science Center in the Sweitzer Engineering building in Pullman. It was a big hit with the kids.

Planning for the mall show should start soon! Wally Bigelow offered a special price on a Sig Astro Hog to be built at the mall show if we decide to accept. We will need to line up builders and tools to keep the model building project manned and progressing. The mall show is the second weekend in March at the Palouse Mall.

Dave Walker covered basic flight trimming of center of gravity (CG) location and engine thrust settings for a typical R/C trainer.

1. Start with the CG at the location recommended in the instructions for the trainer. If no instructions are available, start at 25% back from the leading edge of the wing (usually on the wing spar).
2. Before takeoff make sure the rudder is straight (aligned with the fixed vertical fin) using transmitter trim. Trim for straight and level flight at cruise speed (about 3/4 throttle) using transmitter trims.
3. Test for proper CG location: at about 200 feet altitude, reduce the throttle setting to about 1/3. Keeping the wings level, push over into a 30 degree dive and allow the control stick to return to center. The plane should slowly return to level flight. If it climbs rapidly, the CG is too far forward (up elevator is required to maintain level flight). If it continues in the dive, the CG is too far back for a trainer (but fine for a aerobatic plane). If the dive angle increases, the CG is too far back. Adjust the CG as needed and repeat until satisfied with the CG location.
4. Test for proper engine thrust angle: from level flight at high throttle pull to vertical flight and allow the control stick to return to center. If the plane continues in a straight line as the speed slows, the engine thrust is good. If the plane pulls to the right, there is too much right thrust; if it pulls to the left, the engine needs more right thrust. Adjust engine thrust (use washers to increase or decrease right thrust) and repeat the vertical climb test until satisfied with engine side thrust. If the plane pulls toward the canopy after the engine side thrust is adjusted, the plane needs more down thrust. If the plane pulls toward the belly, it needs less down thrust. Use washers to adjust engine down thrust. Repeat the vertical climb test until satisfied with engine right and down thrust.
5. Level flight test for engine thrust angle: from straight and level flight at high throttle, reduce the throttle to idle. If the plane climbs, there is too much down thrust (up elevator is required for level flight). If the plane dives, there is not enough down thrust. Adjust the engine down thrust and repeat tests.

Note that there will be interaction between CG location and engine down thrust in these tests. Tests should be repeated several times before and after making CG or thrust adjustments. Tests will be most accurate if flying in calm or very light wind conditions.

Upcoming Events:

Northwest Model Expo - Puyallup, WA

01/31/04 - 02/01/04 -Puyallup, WA (E) Northwest Model Expo. Site: Western Washington Fairgrounds. For info: Bob Brownell, PO Box 73939 Puyallup WA 98373 PH:253-847-5721. Manufacturers, vendors, large swap meet, live demos, static displays, clubs. Sat 9AM to 5PM, Sunday 9AM to 4PM. Adm $7 at the gate, $6 advance, youth 12 & under w/adult free. Free parking, Advance tickets & info at www.nwmodelexpo.com . Swap meet reservations Don Sweasy PH:253-445-4763. Sponsor: MOUNT RAINIER RADIO CONTROL SOCIETY

Go to the PRR web site and click on the "events" link for more information.