Thursday's Internet Edition, September 09, 2010.
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| Dr. Albert "Chip" Friday gave local Rotarians a warm up lesson non the hobby of Radio Controlled Airplanes last week. Friday, who has been flying R/C airplanes for many years, is trying to get a local club established here. Above, he explains how to fly two of his airplanes. A, not so hard glider aircarft (in his hands) and a more challenging P-51 aircraft (inset). His experience qualifies him to serve as an instructor as well. |
- For most folks here in Van Horn, flying a real airplane is simply out of reach. First, because there are no airplanes based here, and second, because of the cost involved.
There is, however, an alternative. And compared to actual flying the cost is minuscule.
What am I talking about? Radio-Controlled Flying. Flying an R/C airplane is just like flying a real airplane except you do it with a radio controlled transmitter.
The airplanes come in a variety of sizes and shapes to satisfy your particular craving for flight. There are small ones for the beginner, and there are big ones for the more skilled flyers.
They have a variety of power sources for you to select from. There are electric engines, driven by a lithium-polymer battery, there are gasoline engines, powered by a mixture of methanol and gas, and there are, for the advanced flyers, jet powered engines.
For the beginner, most folks start with an electric powered airplane. They’ll stay airborne for 15 to 30 minutes depending on the airplane and the pilot. The electric powered airplanes normally are made of pressed foam board to keep them light enough for the electric engine to maneuver them. And, damage is at a minimum because of the construction material.
For the gasoline powered airplanes, they are normally bigger and weigh more but they fly the same. There are a few more extras required to fly the gasoline powered airplanes, such as fuel, glow plug igniters, and electric prop starters.
The radio transmitters vary by the size and complexity of the airplane. Some only control elevator and rudder, while others control ailerons, flaps, elevator, rudder, and nose steering.
Most transmitters are bonded to the specific airplane so that there is little possibility of overlapping coverage while folks are flying.
For the beginner, it is best if you have an instructor hooked up with you. That way, if you get in a jam, the instructor can take over control of the airplane without enduring a major accident.
Because, as with any sport, there will be accidents and you will want to keep them at a minimum. You can get spare parts for most airplanes and all you have to do is wait to get them and then install them
Airplanes today, for the most part, come as ready-to-fly (RTF) kits which require no more than an hours to finalize their assembly. The almost-ready-to-fly (ARF) airplanes do require substantially more time to assemble.
Cost is a concern, even if you’re not flying real airplanes. Most of the RTF airplanes can be purchased for $179 up to $300. And, they come with everything. There is nothing else to buy in order for them to fly. It’s assemble and you’re flying!
And, for those wanting a little more of a challenge, you can always try your hand at R/C helicopters. They cost is a bit more and if they crash, well you get the picture.
Here in Van Horn, Dr. Albert “Chip” Friday is the resident expert instructor. He has been flying R/C airplanes for years and is eager to teach others how to enjoy this growing hobby.
Larry Simpson, a novice pilot said, “As for myself, with Chip’s help, I’ve just about got the hang of it. It took me a while because flying one of these is just not the same as flying a real airplane. But I’m having a ball and we hope that this might inspire you to come join us.”
By the way, for those wanting to improve their proficiency without the risk of a crash, you can purchase a simulator program that ones on a computer and it can teach you some of the finer points before actually trying your hand on the real thing. Cost is about $120.
We fly at the local airport and that is great. It does not have so much actual traffic as to impend us. In fact, most evenings and weekends we have the ramp to ourselves.
Come see how much fun you can have flying R/C airplanes with us!
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
The little bit of rain we got last night was nice but the amazing thing was the lightning to the north. Did you happen to see it? What a fantastic light show God put on. He was really showing off I’d say. All the way from the West to the East in the northern sky was the most incredible lightning I’ve ever seen. The weather channel showed the huge thunderstorm to be just south of the Guadalupe Mountains. It might have been a little frightening if you were closer to it, but for us it was just a real show for over an hour.
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Someone requested that we put the contact information for our Senators and our Congressional Representative in the newspaper. It’s certainly a critical time for us to be sharing our feelings about a number of things going on in Washington. In fact this Health Care issue is very unsettling. Just remember that our government is one that is FOR the people and BY the people. That means that they are supposed to listen to our opinions and they can’t do that unless we let them know. Sometimes they don’t anyway but unless we make our wishes known they certainly won’t. And if we feel that they are not listening to us, well, there’s always the next election.
Here is the information: Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, phone: 202-225-4511, email: http://www.rodriguez.house.gov/indexphp? Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, phone: 202-224-5922, email http://hutchison.senate.gov/contact.cfm. Senator John Cornyn, phone: 202-224-2934, email http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfn? Since they will be in recess soon, hopefully he will make it to Van Horn and we can visit with him face to face.
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Jim Childres is in Illinois for a very special event. His son, Seaman Recruit Naethaniel Childres, USN, Division 937, has been selected as the Honor Recruit for his division. Naethaniel will be recognized as an Honor Recruit during the Graduation and Pass-in-Review ceremony on Friday, July 31st. This selection is based on his individual performance of duty in all phases of basic training including leadership, initiative, military bearing, response to orders, sportsmanship, qualities of a good shipmate, and high overall scholastic standing.
Prior to his joining the Navy, Naet as one of the workers on the El Capitan project. In fact, he built the counter to resemble the one at Mr. Duncan’s El Paisano Hotel in Marfa.
Congratulations to Seaman Childres, and thank you for your willingness to serve your country. And congratulations to Jim on this news. As a guest of an Honor Recruit, Jim will be escorted to the review and then will meet up with his ‘Sailor’ after the ceremony.
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Jeffrey Hensley is spending a few days here at the Western Bank. He is nearing completion of college and will be following in his father’s footsteps in the banking industry. I asked him about golf and he said he does still play a lot of golf. Welcome ‘back home’, Jeffrey.
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The news of the movie being shot here is welcome news indeed. The exposure to our beautiful country is always a good thing to get out there to movie producers. Others might get interested in coming here to film western-themed movies.
If you are new to Van Horn, you might not realize that there have been at least three movies, or portions of movies filmed here. There was Blue Sky, starring Tommy Lee Jones and Jessica Lange filmed here in 1985 and ten years later the made-for-TV movie, Dead Man’s Walk, from the story by Larry McMurtry. Both of these were filmed mostly on the McVay Ranch. Just a few years ago Tommy Lee Jones directed and starred in “The Three Burials.....” It’s always a boost to our economy, so let’s hope this one attracks some attention to us!
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Thought for the Week: “When you relinquish the desire to control your future, you obtain happiness.”
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
July 30th - Nothing scheduled at press time.
July 31st - Nothing scheduled at press time.
August 1st - Nothing scheduled at press time.
August 2nd - Attend the church of your choice.
August 3rd - The Van Horn Eagles start two-a-day football practices this morning at 7 a.m.
August 4th - Members of the Van Horn Rotary Club are slated to meet today at noon at Chuy’s Restaurant. Members of the Van Horn City Council will meet this evening at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
August 5th - Nothing scheduled at press time.