Canberra Model Aircraft Club
supporting aeromodelling
since 1938

Sun 29 August 2010 - Control-line flying re-appears at CMAC

Many club members will have seen the recent high-speed action as Steve Grzeskowiak flies his control-line (CL) model in the reserved area south of the pits. At right are some photos.

Steve kindly supplied to CMAC Website the following explanation of what he's been up to.

"Regarding the CL model it's simply a 70's era style CL combat model that I drew up one evening. Actually I only drew up the wing rib in detail, the rest I made up as I went along. It's balsa & spruce construction (mainly balsa) and made up of bits I had lying around, and that includes the oversize RC MDS 40 engine that I installed. These models used to fly with 2.5 cc diesel engines and were around 34 inch wing span.

I increased the span to 40 inch and a massive 10 inch wing cord to give a bigger wing area to carry the heavy engine and RC style silencer (we never used to have silencers in the 70's!). It's covered in "Bemsilk" (not sure of the spelling) which is the material dressmakers use for the under frills in things like wedding dresses. It tightens well with dope and costs only about $4 per meter length of a 1.5M wide roll (about a tenth of the price of the special model nylon that shops sell) I also use it on some of my RC scale models.

I also increased to line length to 60 feet, rather than the 52 feet 3 inch line length that we used to use in competition. It makes for slower rotational speed which is an issue when one hasn't flown CL for around 30 years. I am finding that three laps straight and level is about enough then I have to do figure eights and the like for a minute before the next set of level flying.

I crashed last week getting too low during inverted straight and level flying. Minor damage, now repaired and ready to go again.

The only things I had to buy for this were the bellcrank, fuel tank and flying lines. The rest I had lying around. Cara, and my wife Kath, have proved to be excellent pit crew and model launchers.

It's surprising how many people at the club have shown an interest in the thing. I might even do a proper CL stunt model next! Need to arrange a bit of flat ground for that as ROG is essential.

Regards, Steve G.

Click to enlarge

Pre-flight

Hand-launch

Wing over

Spot the model

Landing glide

Sun 22 August 2010 - Man walks Big Cat

In a variation on the man-walks-dog theme, our candid camera caught this image of man-walks-panther at the CMAC field one Sunday morning.

Click to enlarge

Wed 18 August 2010 - ACTAA Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of ACT Aeromodellers Association Inc was held at Canberra Services Club, Manuka ACT on Wednesday 18th August 2010.

To download the Minutes of the AGM click ACTAA AGM 180810 Minutes.

For the Minutes of the Committee Meeting held the same night click ACTAA CM 180810 Minutes.

Thursday 05 August 2010 - Election of New CMAC Management Committee for 2010-11

The CMAC 2010 Annual General Meeting was held tonight at the Canberra Services Club, Manuka. An important agenda item at the AGM was the election of the new Management Committee for 2010-11.

The winners were:

Position Person

President GARRETT McDONALD

Vice-President STIRLING JONES

Secretary/
Public Officer VICTOR JONES

Treasurer DAVID HAYCRAFT

Committeeman RAY BOTTEN

Committeeman STEVEN GRZESKOWIAK

Committeeman KENT JORGENSEN

Committeeman ROBERT MIHALYKA

Committeeman JACK PITTAR

Committeeman MACIEK RUCINSKI

For committee contact details see Useful Info > Committee

In a brief speech following his election, incoming President McDonald stated that two of his goals for 2010-11 were

to re-surface a 9 m x 130 m section of the runway at the CMAC Field with green-colored matting
to provide some form of sun-shade covering a section of the pit area at the Field

President McDonald

Thu 16 July 2010 - Solar Powered UAV Stays Aloft For Week

Sixty thousand feet above the Arizona desert, a UAV has been slowly circling the U.S. military’s Yuma Proving Grounds facility for an entire week, breaking previous drone flight records by orders of magnitude.

For more info see Solar Powered UAV or QinetiQ Zephyr UAV

Click to enlarge

Wednesday 15 July 2010 - CMAC goes Digital

A document titled OPERATION OF CMAC SECURITY LOCKS has been emailed to all CMAC 2010-11 Financial Members. Digital combination lock are now installed and operational on the Main Gate and Club House Door at the CMAC Field.

For more info see CMAC Flying Field: Change to Access Arrangements

Saturday 10 July 2010 - Solar Impulse night flight makes history

The high-tech single-seater Solar Impulse today completed its first all-night flight. "The plane's flight during the overnight hours of darkness was powered by the charge its batteries had stored during the 14 hours of daytime flight thanks to its array of 12,000 solar cells on wings the size of an airliner's."

For more info see SMH Saturday 10 July 2010

Click to enlarge

Sunday 04 July 2010 - Auction at CMAC Forum

Following the CMAC Member's Forum meeting at the field on a frosty Canberra Sunday morning, a fund-raising auction was conducted by Terry Griffiths. On offer was a collection of old model aircraft kit most generously donated to the Club by former CMAC member Don Lambert, recently retired from aeromodelling.

The collection included two model aircraft, several 27 MHz radio systems, OS and other motors and a complete field box. All items were quickly sold, yielding a total of $270.00 for the Club.

Frost lingers in the shade
of the Barry Ford Exterminator

Club members assemble for the meeting
El Presidente in the shade at left

01 July 2010 - New Field Security System

The CMAC Management Committee has purchased new combination locks for the CMAC field access gate and the clubhouse door. These two locks will be installed soon but the old key can still be used until 31 July to open the field access gate.

On 15 July the new combination lock access codes will be sent by e-mail to each CMAC member who has paid the 2010-11 membership subscription.

Click to download a detailed explanation of the New Field Security System.

Thursday 03 June 2010 - First flight of Jetmach gas turbine model at CMAC

Today Gowrie Waterhouse flew his newly-approved LDS Jetmach 60 model aircraft for the first time at the CMAC field. This is a high-wing turbine trainer and weighs in at about 8kg. The model is powered by a JS1400 turbine running on kerosene with added special-purpose turbine lubricant.

Gowrie explained that this engine spins at up to 160,000 rpm and reaches an exhaust gas temperature of 800 degrees C! Engine management is through a microprocessor control unit that juggles fuel flow rate in response to throttle input while continually sensing engine revs and temperature.

MAAA places additional Gas Turbine Rules on the operation of turbine models, above and beyond those that apply to other classes of powered models.

Most importantly the aircraft and pilot must both be inspected and approved by an MAAA-certified Turbine Inspector. In Gowrie's case this meant a trip to Nowra, where the nearest Inspector is located. Secondly you must have an appropriate CO2 fire extinguisher located right at the starting location. A prominently-labeled Kill switch must also be installed to provide a positive fuel cutoff mechanism in the case of an emergency.

Another interesting requirement is for wheel brakes. These are necessary to hold the model stationary while the engine spools up to full thrust for take-off, and also to help slow the model down on landing. In Gowrie's model the front wheel hub contains a pneumatically-operated drum brake.

Gowrie said that a big problem to master when converting to turbines is the three second throttle-lag. "You really have to pay attention in the landing circuit so as not to get into an undershoot situation."

Gowrie pre-flights the Jetmach
Note the stand-alone exhaust flame deflector
in case of a "wet start"

The business end
You can just make out the turbine blades inside the tail pipe

The control system
Kill switch is located to the right of the fuel pump

Clear for take-off
Small triangular port visible under wing
is an engine air inlet

Airborne at last.

Friday 21 May 2010 - Membership Renewals for 2010-11

Today a Membership Renewal reminder package was emailed to 68 current CMAC members for whom we have valid e-mail addresses. The remaining 14 current members will receive their reminders through Australia Post next week.

This reminder package contains three items

Sunday 02 May 2010 - Informal Club Meeting

The first of a proposed series of Informal Club Meetings was help at the CMAC flying field this morning in mild, sunny Autumn weather. About 30 members and committee attended.

This meeting commenced with a safety briefing from Steve Grzeskowiak, proceeded to a general discussion forum in which questions were put to committee members and wrapped-up with a sausage sizzle.

After the meeting Steve said "I thought that the Club meeting went OK today. Arising from the discussion was an agenda item for the next Committee meeting - to look into the operation of 2.4Ghz transmitters to see if we still need to: a. Use frequency keys and b.keep the transmitters in the TX pound when not in use."

The next meeting has been scheduled in six week's time, that is on Sunday 13 June 2010.

Steve briefs the members
Click to enlarge image

Sunday 02 May 2010 - New Instructors Qualify

Today the current Instructor Training Course concluded with written and flying tests for the students administered by Fred Lambert, the ACTAA-appointed Chief Flying Instructors.

Maciek Rucinski, Steve Grzeskowiak and David Haycraft qualified and are now accredited Instructors for fixed-wing, powered model aircraft.

Many thanks are due to Kent Jorgensen for organising this Training Course and coaching the student instructors.

For an updated list of Instructors see About CMAC > Flying Instructors

Students preparing for written test
phase of Instructor accreditation
Fred Lambert facing camera

Student preparing for flying test phase
Fred Lambert on right

Thursday 29 April 2010 - Change to CMAC Flying Field Operating Procedures

Steve Grzeskowiak - CMAC Safety Officer announced that: "In the last week I have completed the MAAA Incident Report and Accident Investigation forms for the near miss that we had with a Balloon at the Field on 10 April. [Among other actions] we are changing the Operating Procedures to require landing of models in the presence of balloons. [I will be] briefing the club on 02 May on this and related Safety issues."

To download a copy of the updated Operating Procedures, see Useful Info > Procedures & Forms

Monday 26 April 2010 - Washroom/Toilet now in Service

Today Vic Jones - CMAC Flying Field Development Project Manager declared that:

"The new Washroom/Toilet is now in service. [I wish to] acknowledge the following members who have assisted with the fitout.
Tom Ruut donated the full set of materials for the floor tiling; he also donated the nice little cabinet which I mounted today.
Garrett McDonald, assisted by Rob Mihalyka, painted the room inside and out, and Garrett is donating the paint.
While I think of it, Ray Botten - assisted by Peter Noack, I think -- has painted the kitchen area. Which looks really great.
Terry Griffiths has donated a most impressive bench, with a stainless steel top. I propose to mount this bench between the two roller doors, under the two white boards.
I have mounted the "Toilet" sign on the washroom door, and the new sign reminding members to lock up the washroom is mounted on the southern PAD. I ran a power-line from where the generator is to be located, over to "Jack's Corner"; I also fitted a four outlet power board above the bench. I have fitted and tested three low-energy lights inside the Clubhouse - they will also be powered and controlled from near the generator, as will the header-tank pump."
The CMAC committee thanks all involved and especially Vic Jones who, over the past months, has contributed to the project not only his design and product selection knowledge and experience but also many hours of voluntary labour to get the job done.

Completed Toilet/Washroom Fitout

Water pump and 240v Generator

Reminder signage

Click to enlarge images

Sunday 18 Apr 2010 - CMAC Pit Toilet demolished

The old pit toilet - the long drop - at the CMAC field was at last demolished and the pit filled-in and the new indoor flush toilet in the Club House was commissioned. See Photo Gallery >Flying Field for a photo of the demolition crew in action and Photo Gallery >Club House for a photo of finishing work (tile grouting) in the new indoor toilet/washroom.

Friday 16 Apr 2010 - CMAC Informal General Meetings

Seeking to make the CMAC management process more open and transparent to all members, the CMAC Management Committee last night agreed to conduct periodic Informal General Meetings at the flying field on Sunday mornings. These meetings will have three parts:

an introductory presentation by a CMAC committee representative on a current topic
an open discussion forum where members may raise issues of concern with CMAC committee representatives
a no-charge sausage sizzle

The first meeting is scheduled for Sunday 02 May 2010. See Coming Events > Calendar for more info.

Friday 16 Apr 2010 - CMAC Fees for 2010-11

At its quarterly meeting last night, the CMAC Management Committee set the scale of Club Membership Fees for 2010-11. The Committee decided to maintain the fees at their current levels, primarily a renewal fee of $200 for Seniors and $80 for Juniors, with one important exception.

In an initiative to encourage growth in junior membership, the Committee has introduced a new membership grade called "Family Junior". A Family Junior is any dependant child, aged under 19, of a current Senior member.

In 2010-11, for Family Juniors, there will be no Club Joining Fee and an annual Membership Fee of $30, the cost of MAAA insurance coverage. A Family Junior will be allocated an MAAA (AUS) number and receive an MAAA Membership Card just like any other member.

To download revised CMAC Membership Application Form and CMAC Fee Structure documents for 2010-11
go to Useful Info > Procedure and Forms

Sunday 11 Apr 2010 - CMAC Instructor Training Course Commences

A four-week Instructor Training Course commenced today at the CMAC Flying Field under the leadership of Kent Jorgensen, an MAAA Instructor. Five CMAC members have enroled for the class: Steve Grzeskowiak, David Haycraft, Laurence Paul, Maciek Rucinski and Tom Ruut.

Course content includes instructional techniques, member protection policy (MAAA MOP041), rules concerning safe operation of model aircraft, basic model aircraft aerodynamics, and administration of Bronze Wings and Gold Wings flying tests. The course will conclude on Sunday 2nd May 2010 with written and flying tests to be administered by Fred Lambert (ACTAA CFI). Students passing both tests will receive official MAAA Instructor accreditation for powered, radio-controlled, fixed-wing model aircraft.

Kent

11 Apr 2010 - Resignation of Secretary

With regret, CMAC President Wight today announced the resignation of the Secretary - Kent Jorgensen - effective immediately. Secretarial duties will be undertaken by other members of the present committee until the forthcoming Annual General Meeting in late July or early August 2010.

07 Apr 2010 - First flight of Solar Impulse

On Wednesday, the 69m span solar-powered Solar Impulse (HB SIA) completed its first full test flight, being airborne for one and a half hours at an altitude of 1,200m above the Swiss countryside.

For a video clip of the flight see Solar Impulse takeoff

For more info see the project web site at Solar Impulse

Solar Impulse

05 Apr 2010 - CMAC Members get new Wings

These CMAC members recently received new MAAA Flight Proficiency (Wings) Awards:

Date Member Award Instructor

30 Mar 2010 Michael Westerman Bronze Wings T Griffiths

02 Apr 2010 Richard Brown Bronze Wings K Jorgensen

02 Apr 2010 Peter Downton Bronze Wings K Jorgensen

05 Apr 2010 Brett Cadwallader Gold Wings K Jorgensen

05 Apr 2010 Tom Ruut Gold Wings K Jorgensen

Gold Wings

For background info on the MAAA Flight Proficiency Scheme see MAAA MOP027 - AWARD OF WINGS

See CMAC Wings for a list of all current CMAC members with Wings

28 Mar 2010 - CMAC supports Model Aircraft static display at Canberra Airport

CMAC was well represented by members at the Canberra Airport Open Day. The static display was coordinated by ACTAA and models were provided by all four Canberra model aircraft clubs. Hobby shops Monaro Models and Nitrodude were also present.

CMAC members who provided models for the static display included Stan and Maciek Rucinski, Ray Botten, Vic and Stirling Jones and Steve Grzeskowiak.

For pictures see Photo Gallery > Events

Model Aircraft stand

23 Mar 2010 - CMAC Management Committee updates Operating Procedures

The Committee has released a new version of the CMAC Flying Field Operation Procedures. Some minor amendments have been made to the regulations part.

22 Mar 2010 - MAAA Publishes Special Tribute Newsletter to Gordon Burford

MAAA Life Member Gordon Burford passed away on 11 March 2010, in hospital, after a fall at home. He will be fondly remembered worldwide as one of the 'great generation' of engine designers and manufacturers and as one of the pillars of Australian aeromodelling.

As a tribute to Gordon, MAAA has published a Special Edition Newsletter

Gordon Burford

19 Mar 2010 - US President's Visit To Canberra

US President Obama's planned visit to Canberra, originally scheduled for Thu-Fri 25-26 March 2010, has now been postponed until "June 2010". Please note that, for security reasons, Airservices Australia will place a restriction on the airspace within and surrounding Canberra for the duration of the visit. As a consequence of this restriction, all model aircraft flying in the Canberra region will be banned while the President is in town.

14 Mar 2010 - ACTAA Scale Rally hosted by CMAC

Twenty-seven entrants from the four Canberra clubs participated in the inaugural ACTAA Scale Rally held at the CMAC flying field. ACTAA provided the trophies and prizes were donated by Monaro Models, Nitrodude, Toyworld and Jack Pittar (raffle prize).

ACTAA President Anthony Robinson handed out these awards:

Static/Flying Trophies

Civilian Military

Scratch ARF Scratch ARF

1 Greg Lance NSFC Stirling Jones CMAC Dave Millar CMAC Bob Raadts BMAC

2 - Anthony Ogle CMAC Anthony Robinson NSFC Tony Coe QMAC

3 - Mat Chambers CMAC Steve Grzeskowiak CMAC Ken McDonald QMAC

Pilot's Choice
Dave Millar (Zero)

Best Flight
Stirling Jones (Ultimate Biplane)

Most Memorable Flight (Judge's Selection)
Max Brown (WW1 Monoplane)

The judges explained that "the most memorable flight went to the WW1 monoplane for nearly killing its pilot on a terribly too-close pass. He managed this twice!

For more Scale Rally pix see Photo Gallery > Events

Three Judges with ACTAA Secretary Ken McDonald at right

Mat Chambers receives his trophy from ACTAA President Anthony Robinson

CMAC Event Coordinator Steve Grzeskowiak reported:

"Sunday 14 March dawned with low cloud and intermittent drizzle in the Canberra region - despite this there were around 25 models entered into the inaugural ACT Aeromodellers Association (ACTAA) Scale Model Rally. The idea for an ACT Scale Rally had been some time in the making but finally here we were. The intent of the Rally is to promote the building and flying of Scale RC models among the Canberra based clubs. It's open to ARF and Scratch built models to encourage people to have a go. We seem to have achieved this aim with some people participating for the first time in a model flying event. The style of the event was informal with flying off the peg throughout the day and the judges wandering around to form an opinion of how the trophies and prizes should be awarded. This seemed to work well.

Fortunately the weather was kind to us with only a couple of short periods of rain that turned to sunshine and clear conditions at around midday. The rally was held at the CMAC club but it is intended that it will rotate around the Canberra clubs and hopefully we will have two rounds per year. There was a great variety of models present from foamie electric jets to highly detailed scratch built warbirds. The most popular class was the ARF Civilian category with a fair number of IMAC style machines. Overall the standard of flying was good with models being presented in a safe and realistic way. Some significant prizes were donated by the local model shops and trophies awarded to the first three in each class. Only one trophy was awarded in Scratch built Civilian as there was only one entry - I'll be building a scratch Civilian model for next time!

The ACTAA were pleased with this first Scale Rally and there are plans being made for the next event. Thanks go to all those who made the Rally possible both on the day and in the lead up to it."

28 Feb 2010 - First flight of 3m Ultimate Biplane

Vic Jones reports: "Don't know if Stirlo's Bipe was the heaviest ever flown at CMAC, but I am confident it was the largest. The maiden flights for both the 3.0m Hanger 9 Ultimate Bipe and the Comp-ARF 2.6m Extra 260 went off perfectly. Each model had two flights, in Stirlo's capable hands, and both flew really well."

Watch a movie of the maiden flight of the Bipe at Photo Gallery > Videos and read more about the Bipe at Hangar 9 46% TOC Ultimate ARF

Hangar 9 46% Ultimate ARF

25 Feb 2010 - Facebook CMAC Group Site commences operation

Stirling Jones (Stirlo) invites you to join the new Facebook Group "CMAC" he administers. He says:

"Hey Guys,If you're on Face Book then join the new CMAC Group and pass on the word to other CMAC members. Note: this group is only open to CMAC members.".

To find out how to join the new group see Facebook Group.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Facebook is a social networking website. Since September 2006, anyone over the age of 13 with a valid e-mail address can become a Facebook user. Users can add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves. Additionally, users can join networks [or discussion groups] organized by city, workplace, school or college [or a special interest group such as CMAC].

21 Feb 2010 - Snowy Hydro Southcare Base Open Day

Steve Grezkowiak reported on the CMAC stand at Sunday's open day:

"Thanks to Stirling and Ray for bringing some models to the display at the Snowy Southcare open day today. We had a long and hot day, but a chance to meet and talk to many people. In particular I met up with one Philip Chown from the Australian Air league who is interested in some form of relationship with CMAC and the Canberra branch of the Air league - a youth organisation aimed at introducing youngsters to aviation in its various forms.

Does anyone know about the Air league in Canberra, have we had links with them before? It is likely that some of them will show up at the Scale Rally on 14 march.

Everyone I spoke to was aware that we fly where we do and had seen the models on their way past. About half of the people were surprised when I said that they could pull in for a closer look and a chat. So hopefully we might some more people stopping by.

I met quite a few people who had tried park flyers with various levels of success, so I invited them along and said that a club member would be happy to check over their park flyer and help get it sorted. On the off chance that this happens we need to assist as we can as I believe that if people get interested through park fliers they might well want to move up and eventually join in with a club.

A few other club members dropped in for a chat during the day which was nice.

We also noticed that our models are quite easy to see form the Snowy helicopter field!

For pictures see Photo Gallery>Events

20 Feb 2010 - Field Development

Vic Jones reported that the grading and laying of matting on the taxiways and starting areas was completed over the weekend of 20-21 February 2010. He said:

"I wish to record my personal thanks to Byam, Garrett, David, Rob, Justin, Doug, Stirlo and a new Club member whose name I do not know [Peter Dowton], for their commitment and a really great effort over a long day on Saturday 20th (plus Sunday morning for Garrett and our new member), when we managed to lay matting on all of the taxiways plus the two starting areas. Both the amount we got done, and the quality of the result, far exceeded my own expectations. (Byam was confident we could get it all done, but I thought we would be doing well to get the two starting areas covered.)

[...]I am sure that we have just taken a major step forward in terms of making the CMAC Flying Field one of the best model flying facilities in the

The next step in this project is to lay matting over the pits area (using material already on hand) and finally to cover the entire north-south runway (when more matting comes available from the supplier, APM, in Albury.

For pictures see Photo Gallery>Events

30 August 2009 - CMAC Scale Aerobatics Bulletins

Given the current and growing interest that various Club members are showing in Scale Aerobatic models, your Webmaster and the Club Secretary have decided to pool their resources in order to add a new element to the CMAC Website. Commencing immediately, you will find that the Clubs website carries CMAC Scale Aerobatic Bulletins. See Bulletins.

The Scale Aerobatic Bulletin is not intended so much to provide "news" of current events in Australian Scale Aerobatics, although from time to time it obviously will include commentary on such events. The Bulletin's role is to act as a source of material (information, advice, commentary, etc) which is of interest and assistance to modellers who build, fly, or would just like to own, a Scale Aerobatic model.

In seeking to get the Newsletter "off the ground", our Club has been fortunate to gain the support of Mr Shayne Lysaght, a professional Pilot who blends his career as a 747 Captain with flying advanced model aircraft at the highest level in Australian IMAC competitions. As modellers, we are indeed fortunate that Shaynes passion for "flying machines" includes the desire to assist others who wish to extend and expand their own knowledge of these wonderful beasts. He has compiled a number of articles on diverse topics all related to the building and flying of model aircraft, and he has agreed to allow us to publish a series of them as CMAC Scale Aerobatic Bulletins.

In addition to a brief note to introduce Shayne Lysaght, the first edition of the Newsletter includes one article written by Shayne about Ducted Cooling for Model Aeroplane Engines and another article about an IMAC model being flown by one of CMAC's own members.

30 April 2009 - Field Redevelopment

The CMAC Field Redevelopment project is finally underway.

After the Club’s Building Application was cleared on Monday 6 April, the concrete slab was poured on Tuesday 7 April.

The final components for the new shed were delivered two days later, and a small team lead by Lawrie Paul began the construction task on Easter Saturday. Good progress was made on both the Saturday and the Sunday; the building's frame is up and wall sheeting has commenced.

Construction of the new shed is now expected to be completed over the next two or three weeks, and then the old shed must be dismantled and removed, and its site restored to natural ground level. Installation of a complete set of safety fencing will commence shortly after the shed construction is complete. Once the new fencing is in place, the new pit-layout, the new car parking and public areas, and the new way of operating at CMAC Field will be defined..