New Field Rule – Attention All Pilots!
With the dramatic increase in campers at the Lums Pond campground and the close proximity of the Lums Pond Flying Field to the campground, complaints about aircraft noise have been on the increase. In a proactive move to retain the superb flying field that has served us so well for over thirty years, the Park management and the Club Board have jointly agreed to the following new park rule:
Beginning May 1, 2003, all model aircraft flying at Lums Pond State Park R/C Flying Field will be restricted to:
1) electric power ONLY (internal combustion engines prohibited) after 6 P.M. on Fridays, Saturdays, and the nights before major holidays.
2) during the electric-only restricted periods, flight patterns that do not extend South of the North/South runway, or over the tree line from the midpoint of the North/South runway and to the South of that midpoint.
Questions should be addressed to the Manager of Lums Pond State Park and to the Officers of the Delaware R/C Club.
Park rangers will be directed to enforce this new rule, and to also enforce park permit and flying insurance (AMA membership) requirements.
Matt Chapman And The Joe Nall Event – A GREAT Story And An Event Not To Miss!
At the editors’ request, Matt has graciously provided the following information:
“As you may know, I was able to raise $1300 dollars last year at the Joe Nall by raffling off one of my airshow flight suits. I did it to help raise money for the Youth Masters. The Youth Masters is held once a year at Triple Tree. The event is for kids 16 and under. They are invited to come and participate in a weekend of friendly aerobatic competition on two levels. We supply the aircraft. Right now we have two IMAC type and two pattern type aircraft. All of them have been put together from donations from hobby manufacturers. This helps all the kids compete on an even playing field. If a kid is not up to the level of flying, we put him on the buddy box with one of many top RC flyers that attend. During their stay, they have talks with the pilots and learn about flying, good sportsmanship, opportunities in aviation and an overall job well done.
I wanted to help again this year. We need to get and keep kids involved in RC flying. As you know, it's where or future pilots are borne. I'm living proof of that.
So, this year I have raised the bar. I have gone to my friends in the airshow world to ask for donations of cool things that the RC fan might like to have. Here is the list:
· 30 minute ride in a TF-51, Crazy Hours, in Kissimmee FL. All expenses paid round trip airline and hotel for one. You will get to take the controls of the plane and fly the P-51!
· $500,00 worth of Klein Tools and a ride a day in the Klein Tools Extra 300-L
· An autographed copy of Bob Hoovers book, Hat and a die cast P-51 (Old Yeller) flown by Hoover.
· An autographed copy of Patty Wagstaff's book "Fire and Ice" as well as other PWAS things.
· A beautiful carved mahogany B-29 Bockscar display model, autographed by Maj. Gen. Charles W. Sweeney, USAF Ret. Sweeney was a crew member on the B-29 that dropped the second bomb.
· Autographed copy of "Basic Aerobatics" and "Advanced Aerobatics" by Mike Goulian.
· Two sets of limited edition Lycoming posters autographed by pilots Sean Tucker (Challenger), Patty Wagstaff (Extra), Kirby Chamblis (Edge), Mike Goulian (CAP 232), and, of course, Matt Chapman (CAP 231EX)
· A six foot by four foot wall photo of my CAP 231EX used for exhibition booth.
We will have a few other things coming in the next few weeks as well. All of the raffle tickets will be $1.00. We will draw each day for the Extra ride. And the rest will be drawn during the halftime show on Saturday. The P-51 ride will be it's own raffle. The tickets for this will be $25.00 each and we will only sell 200 total. Good Odds!!”
This is great for our hobby! Some of our Club members plan to attend – get there if you can! Click on the Joe Nall website address in our events listings for more information.
And, some additional related information . . .
The Discovery Wings channel will also be at the Joe Nall filming for a story about Matt’s interest in RC and how it played a part in his full-scale flying career. While there, they will be filming other pilots flying, and interviewing some in attendance. The show will air on the Discovery Wings channel later in the year.
Matt has also announced that he has a new sponsor for his aerobatic shows – FUTABA.
Around the Pattern
Welcome To New Members
The officers and members of the Delaware R/C club extend a warm welcome to our recent new members: Stephen Bradley, Jr., Wilmington, DE; returning members Mickey, Jan, and Michael Morrow, Earleville, MD; and Gregory Tarta, Plymouth Meeting, PA.
Summer Club Meeting Location
As in past years, the June, July, and August Delaware R/C Club meetings will be held at the Lums Pond Flying Field on the second Tuesday of each month, starting at 7:30 pm.
Quickie 500 Race Dates Slated
CD Skip Crain has set a schedule of seven races for the 2003 season, which is included in the events calendar on the last page of this newsletter. The first race has already been held. Skip and Club member Gene Bass are putting their heads together to develop a 3-pylon racing for the May Quickie event similar to the Q40 racing format seen at Bowie, Maryland and at other venues across the country – check out the details on the Club bulleting board at the field.
Driveway Stone and Other Spring Housekeeping Items
Thanks to member Kent Eagle, a load of stone has been delivered to the flying field lane at no cost. Several Club members have been helping to spread the stone to fill in the holes that developed over the winter. Member Carl Cantera is in the process of arranging to have our runways rolled; Carl has been the “angel” who has provided this critical benefit since anyone can remember. On April 27, a work crew “unwrapped” the pavilion and otherwise prepared it for the new flying season. Other items are still in need of attention; please volunteer to help as the need arises.
Herb Crossan Sighting
Many of you are familiar with Herb and the untiring and extensive effort he extended to keep the Flying Field off-runway grass at a “walkable” level and the “aircraft retrieval” trails through the woods open throughout the primary flying season. You may also be aware that Herb moved to North-Central Pennsylvania last year. You may not be aware that Herb has remained a member of the Delaware R/C Club and, as such, is our most distant member. We were delighted that Herb and his wife were in town over the Easter weekend and that Herb was at our field both Saturday and Sunday of that weekend. He reported that, at home, he was unable to fly from late October until just recently, as he was unable to see the ground due to snow and ice cover.
Support the New Garden Air Show
Check out the information about the New Garden Air Show on the poster below. The show benefits the non-profit museum on the field as well as promotes aviation to the local community. The fixed costs for the museum and airport, which include insurance, have gone up over 100%; the success of this air show and subsequent ones is important for the health of the field. Some of us first caught the R/C aviation bug through attendance at this show and checking out Joe Patterson’s display. And, you even get the chance to see Matt Chapman’s aerobatic show!