The R/C Flyer
Volume 49, Issue 12 December 2024
Next Meeting-Gathering – December 12th, 2024
CLUB CHIT
by Fitz Walker
See you at the year end party.
-Fitz, Prez.
NOVEMBER MINUTES
by Rex Beck
Meeting Location Gilruth Center, Mars Room
Members Present 16 (with Bruce Hilty attending)
Membership report 63 Members & 132 guests
Treasurer’s Report Bill Courtright reported JSC-Welby Balance of $6,526.34, however, there was no Port-O-Can bill received this month – usually runs at $109.77.
Safety Report Joe Schmidt reported no flying safety problems, however there’s one flight station with a broken side. Note: JSC has requested that we restrict our flying during the week of November 10th for A&M’s groundbreaking of their building on November 15th.
President Fitz Walker called the meeting to order, and made a motion to approve the October Minutes, which were approved unanimously.
Fitz asked for the status of the Treasurer’s and Membership Reports, which were reported as stated above.
Old Business See November 3rd Newsletter.
New Business The S/E half of our Canopy was removed on November 3rd, but Mike Laible suggested that we delay the complete repair, until we hear more about our field status in the next several months. The N/W half of our canopy is still intact, so we still have some shelter during inclement weather. Last one leaving should place charging unit inside shed.
Fitz asked if there were any nominations for new 2025 Officers for the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. There were none, and all current officers stated they would be willing to remain.
The following 2025 officers were then voted in with a majority approval, and will be published in December Newsletter as follows:
President: Fitz Walker
Vice President: Mike Laible (Newsletter Editor)
Treasurer: Bill Courtright
Secretary: Rex Beck (Minutes)
Safety Officer: Joe Schmidt
Walt Lueke: Membership
Jeff Garner - Website
Regarding our quest for a new site, Rex Beck asked if we’ve received any responses from our letter to Sam Gunderson (Exploration Park), and contacts from Challenger Park, astronaut Hoot Gibson, and Armand Bayou. No responses have been received.
Brian Compopiano mentioned a newspaper release that Armand Bayou has expanded to 1137 acres, out past Bay Area Blvd to Red Bluff, however our prospects into that area look bleak, since much of it is a swamp habitat for birds.
On the brighter side, Fitz and Mike have been working with Bruce Hilty, longtime Deputy Chief Exploration Branch Astronaut Office, regarding the possibility of getting a new onsite flying location on the East side of JSC. Fitz displayed a map of the potential area, with our 600’X1200’ footprint positioned relative to prevailing winds. Bruce has been given the size of our planes and agreed to contact the JSC Facilities Office. Our proposal for this area will be in conjunction with the JSC Rocket Club.
Several members have asked if JSC could change the flying start time during the week from 4:00 to 3:00 because it’s getting dark so early now without DST. Mike replied that the 4:00 start time was established long ago with JSC, based on the 4:00 time that JSC’s first shift ends.
Walt brought hard copies of the 2025 membership application forms to the meeting, noting the $50.00 payment must be made by March 31st, 2025. We need to get the 2025 Application form on the website for others to access, and also email the form to all members.
Fitz, James, and Lars participated at JSCNasa’s Health and Safety Day on October 31st. Fitz said there was lots of interest in jscrcc, however, most did not know we flew behind JSC on our runway.
Bill Courtright brought up the subject of new coatings for foam airplanes, as advertised in AMA’s Flying Magazine.
Upcoming club events at Houston area fields were as follows: 10-2 LSFM indoor hangar flying; 12-7 Woodlands Boat Float; 12-7 Space City Pearl Harbor Warbirds.
The Christmas Party was discussed again, and attendees voted to continue with the optional X-mas ornament exchange. Mike will send out the Xmas Party Flyer and organize a team of 3-4 people for bringing table clothes, plates, drinks, cups, ice, etc. Fitz may invite the guitar singing group from last year.
Show & Tell Longtime Nasa employee, Bruce Hilty, was present at the meeting and showed his glider, a Eflite Adagio, which he’s had a lot of success with.
Bruce has several versions of this glider. Meeting adjourned at 7:45 PM.
Future Business The December 14th meeting will be devoted to the JSCRCC Christmas Party, to begin at 6:00 PM (social) and 6:45 (dinner) at Gilruth Center, Lonestar Room. Attendees may bring a dessert and the ornament gift exchange is optional.
RSVP Rex Beck @ 832-628-9473 or email kingsrex@aol.com.
WHAT’S UP AROUND THE CLUB
by Mike Laible
Well, here we are, the last newsletter of 2024. The Christmas Party is less than two weeks away and I hope to see everyone there. Flyer at the end of the newsletter.
So with that what is up around the club. First up is the Lone Star LSFM indoor RC demonstration. Joe Scmidt organized this event and several of our members participated.
First up is Mark Mendez. Now if you know Mark he is not short of RC aircraft. Well, as you can see he took it to the next level. Behind him is his knew large scale EDF. Can’t wait to see it fly. The batteries had to cost a fortune.
and Rex doing some demonstration flights.
Next set of photos were taken from the group me page. First up is mark after he used his incredible shrinking sauce.
Joe
Russ Shanks looking for a screew he dropped!! Not really, just excited his new F9F was up and down.
I have shown pictures and talked abou the B25 I have been building. Well, she is complete. Ran the engines and everything is working. Need to get a couple more tanks through, build my travel holder and she will be ready.
The next three pics show the completed model. She is ready to roll, 101” ws, 32.5 lbs, CG slightly forward. The weathering is done with pastel chaulk.
In addition to the B-25 I have made great progress on the Decathlon. She is assembled and the CG check is left. I am really looking forward to flying this plane
The last couple of weeks I’ve been test flying for another company, high altitude drone. The cool thing is we had to develop a device to perform captive flight test. Below is a far view showing the captive device on a Tesla, all electric
First test was for me to drive in a car next to the Tesla, trying to trim it in the center, doing 20,25, 30 mph runs. The second test after trim was to test power requirements (DRAG) We accomplished this by achieving a speed where the test plan was centered to and fro in the craddle. In addition we captured stall speed. It was so much fun and we acheieved all the goals.
This photo is a close up. Red arrows showing up and down, left and right capture. The yellow arrow shows the +-forward movement.
Final pic is the complete structure. It’s a big bird. Designed for high altitude flying.
I hope you enjoyed this newsletter. This year has seen some changes. I reviewed last years december newsletter and I was all excited knowing Fitz was president and it would be a new beginning Little did I know that within months we would get the notice of possible field closure.
Wow, what a year. So lets forget about all this and have a good year end party. The flyer and directions for ornament exchange are at the end of this newsletter.
Until we meet again, Godspeed,
Mike
The JSCRC Club Cordially invites all Club members and their families to the Annual Christmas Party on December 12, 2024, social 6:00 pm, dinner at 6:45 pm. The festivities will take place at the Gilruth, Lone Star Room.
The main course (lasagna) and salad will be provided. If you desire, each attending family can bring a small desert.
Please RSVP to Rex Beck at 832-628-9473 or email kingsrex@aol.com
Come and help share in the Holiday spirit. We will also have the (optional) ornament exchange and door prizes.
The ornament exchange rules are:
1 – Each person that brings an ornament will get one half of a ticket
2 – Tickets drawn randomly for order of exchange.
3 – Person chooses a gift, unwraps and puts on display for all to see
4 – Next person drawn has two options – steal an available gift or choose an unopened one
5 – If your gift is stolen you must choose another or steal another
6 – Gifts can be stolen TWO times, a gift is frozen with the third owner
7 – If the first person has the gift they started with they can trade with any unfrozen gift
Upcoming Events
12/7 Space City Pearl Habor
12-31 Hockley - NWHRCC – Night Fly
Club Officers
President:
Fitz Walker 817-797-9192 (Cell) flying_fitz@yahoo.com
Vice-President: Mike Laible 713-542-0987 (Cell) mrlaible@sbcglobal.net
Treasurer:
Bill Courtright
Secretary: Rex Beck
Committees
713-253-0895 (Cell) b2crtrt@comcast.net
832-628-9473 (Cell)
Membership: Walt Lueke 281-788-6461(Cell)
Safety Officer: Joe Schmidt 281-300-1211(Cell)
Instructors
Chief Instructor:
Tom Altmyer: 713 591 2859
Fixed:
Mike Laible: 713-542-0987
James Lemon: 832-385-4779
Fitz Walker 817-797-9192
Larry Ammons 832-385-3374
Gary Wilkerson
Heli& Fixed:
Brian Campopiano: 832-524-9590 (Cell)
Russell Bear: 281-757-3251
The R/C Flyer
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