Esher & District Model Flying Club

President: D.A.E. Smith B.Sc. (Eng.), C Eng., F.I. MECH. E.
Vice Presidents: M. Charles Esq. J.S. Barker Esq.

COMMITTEE

October 2003

From the Chair

Obituary – Dave Smith (1923 – 6^th July 2003)

It is with great sadness that I have to report the loss of our dear friend and President who passed away after a short period of illness. We all send our deepest regrets to Jo and all of their family.

Dave joined the club around 1970 and had been an active aeromodeller since the thirties, apart from a spell with the R.A.F. during WW2. On joining the club he took up RC and soon learnt to fly on a Super Sixty with a Merco 61.  His main interest was scale. Between 1973 and 1990 he made some wonderful models, some from kits or plans including a BE2, a Fokker D7 and a Sopwith Pup, but his scratch built Hawker Hart (or Hind) took first place at Old Warden c. 1986. The plan was published in a model magazine and is still available. His attention to detail and finish on all of his models was admired by everyone.

In recent years Dave suffered from arthritis in his fingers which meant that he was unable to build or fly, but he still took an active interest in the club and hobby. Dave was also actively involved with the RAF Association and the ATC,

We will miss him.

As you all know, Mick Charles who was our Vice President also passed away which was a great shock to all of us and our sincere condolences go out to his wife and family.

Flying Fields – Attendance at the Reigate Field has been disappointing but the strip is getting better and plenty of good flying has taken place. The last session will be 25^th October.

Winter Farm – We will return to this site on Saturday 1^st November.

After much arm-twisting we are pleased to announce that Dave Ward has agreed to be the new Club President.

Dave has consistently worked very hard, and for many years, both at the flying field and at many, many club shows including lots of preparation work often over weeks or months making buildings and preparing pyrotechnics for special displays.

I am sure you will all join me in extending him a very warm welcome.

 BMFA Achievement Scheme – Unfortunately there seems to be no interest at present but hopefully some of you will get your finger out once we are back at Winter Farm. 

See you at the AGM on the 12^th November.                                                       Tony Major

AGM

This will be held on Wednesday 12^th November at 7.45 sharp.  Please try to be there.

The meeting will be held at The London Fire Brigade Sports Ground in East Ewell.

1. Apologies for absence
2. Minutes of 2002 AGM
3. Matters arising
4. Chairman's report
5. Comp Secs report
6. Newsletter editors report
7. Treasurer's report
8. Election of officers
9. Fixing of subs
10. Brooklands Days
11. Any other business

Please let the Secretary know of any nominations for the committee.   Keith

Xmas Dinner 2003

The Annual Club Dinner is on Saturday 6^th December at the Surbiton Golf Club, Clayton Road, Chessington. 7:30 for 8pm.

It will be Christmas fare at approximately £18 per head. Contact Alan Dobson for details.

Spinning What is a spin? As promised last issue I’ve written a bit about spins. A spin occurs when an aircraft has the wing on one side, or part of it, stalled while the other is still flying. A stalled wing has high drag, which causes the aircraft to yaw strongly towards the stalled wing and start rotating.  Once an aircraft is in a spin it can be a surprisingly stable flight condition, a full size light aircraft can easily lose 1000ft recovering from a spin. The most common way a pilot accidentally spins an aircraft is shown right: Note that one wing remains stalled in a spin so there is a lot of drag and descent is relatively slow - even if the nose of the aircraft is pointing at the ground. If speed continues to increase in the descent the aircraft is in a spiral dive and not a spin. What sort of aircraft will spin? Most aircraft types fitted with a rudder (and some that are not!) can be made to spin with the exception of deltas and most canards. Four things will make it difficult to spin an aircraft. Centre of Gravity well forward Small elevator and/or small amount of elevator travel Small rudder and/or small amount of rudder travel. Aircraft with a large fin or a lot of side area behind the centre of gravity Additionally biplanes with negative decalege (higher incidence on the bottom wing) may not spin.  By contrast (at model scales) aircraft that have highly tapered or elliptical wings are very prone to tip stalling and hence spinning. How do you get an aircraft to Spin? The correct approach is to throttle back and maintain level flight with elevator (as if flaring out to land). Just before the aircraft stalls apply full rudder (left is best with the normal direction of engine rotation) and full up elevator. How do you tell the right speed?  If you were going too fast the aircraft would flick roll and may then spin. If too slow the aircraft will just stall. Where an aircraft is reluctant to spin, deliberately flick rolling it and keeping the rudder and elevator on may promote a spin. Use of Ailerons Simple answer - don't! If you are trying to promote a left spin, you are trying to force just the left wing to stall. Left aileron as well as left rudder (as I saw a number of people use) will lower the angle of attack of the left wing making it much less likely to stall; A spiral dive will usually be the result. If a 'plane is reluctant to spin then some right aileron with left rudder may help.

Next issue I’ll tell you how to get out of a spin once you are in it!    Keith

Diary

01/11-Sat        The date that we will return to Winter Farm.

12/11-Wed      AGM

06/12-Sat        Christmas Dinner - contact Alan Dobson.

27/12-Sat        Slope Soaring Day – Club field will not be open. Contact any of the committee for further details.