As we are starting a New Year and a new executive, I would like to share some of my hopes with you. First I would like to see as many of you as possible at our club meetings.

In order for this club to survive we have to have your input. Starting with the Constitution of this Club. If you do not have a copy please ask for one, read it and make sure it is what you want. If there is any part you do not understand or agree with, lets hear about it.

At anytime if anything happens that you do not agree with, please bring it to our attention at the club meetings. At the end of the year our treasurer will have the financial statement ready. Make sure you get a copy and read it. This is your club money.

This year we’ll be trying to improve the newsletter. But, we will need your participation to make it work. Contact Peter Ludikar pludikar@sympatico.ca to make sure you are on the address list, or if you want to contribute (articles, jokes, bitches, sales items etc.)

We would also like to know how many members are interested in some club activities such as contests, yearly dinner (a get together for anyone) and so on.

Once again it is your club and we need your support, help and input.

Events…Events…Events…Events…

1^st Meeting of season:

7:00pm - Wednesday Jan 28^th, 2004

Father F.X. O’Reilly School, Tottenham, (opposite Country Style Donuts)

Don’t spoil the ship!

One of our long-standing modellers tells the story of going out to fly in the spring following the winter layoff. Great couple of flights then total loss of control and disaster, a rekit job! The cause? Finally checked out to a duff NiCad.

We should be aware that whilst battery technology has moved on in leaps and bounds, it is not infallible. NiCads are the single one item in our sets, which MUST work. No halfway houses here.

The moral, as our long-standing modeller now does, is to throw away NiCads each year and replace with new. To be fair he does work in an aviation transport environment where the rule of replacement of timed life components is compulsory.

You may think it extravagant, but consider: The average flying model combo, i.e. engine, airframe, radio gear etc. must be worth a minimum of $400 - $600, not counting time invested in assembly. This is your loss if the NiCad goes duff. Rx NiCads cost $20-$40. Not much to spend for insurance!

In the words of the old saying, don’t spoil the ship for a ha’penny worth of tar. Think about it!

Found by Bill T, from one of his many RC magazines.

Coming events

Ever wonder where the guys go in winter?

Debriefing (Doesn’t involve dropping of your pants J) get together for serious R/C fliers

12:00 noon – 1:30pm, Saturday Mar 7^th, 2004 At the Loretto Inn (Hwy 50 & Beeton Rd)

Ha Ha corner J

(Help! Please stop Bill contributing these – there must be better jokes out there – Ed)

Bill found these jokes recently in one of the full-size mags. You might chuckle as well!

I gave that landing a 9, ….. on the Richter Scale

An aeroplane may disappoint any pilot, but it will never surprise a good one.

When a flight is proceeding extremely well, you must have forgotten something.

It only takes two things to fly, money and airspeed.

If something hasn’t already broken on your helicopter… it is about to.

How about the three rules of flying?

1. Try to stay in the middle of the air

2. Do not go near the edges of it.

3. The edges of the air can be recognised by the presence of ground, buildings, sea, trees, mountains and interstellar space. It is much more difficult to fly in these locations.

And finally: A great Blackbird story (that’s the Lockheed SR-71 Mach 3 spy plane).

The Los Angeles ATC received a request for clearance to FL60 (60,000ft). The incredulous controller, with some disdain in his voice, asked, “How do you plan to get up to 60,000ft?”

The pilot responded, “We don’t plan to go up to it, we plan to go down to it”.

Following a few seconds silence he was cleared…

What does everyone want?

Your illustrious executive committee (you know, the hapless guys you voted in at the last AGM J) are looking for your opinion to help stoke the club back into excitement.

Bring your views to the next meeting on the following:

Annual Banquet

1. Do you want one (annual banquet that is)?

2. Do you want food?

3. What kind? (Nothing special, something special etc.)

4. Do you want prizes? (One or two main prizes, or something for everyone)

Event organization

1. Do you want organized events?

2. Do you want fun flies? If so, how many a year?

3. Do you want group trips to plane/model oriented places, such as Hamilton Aircraft Museum, Kitchener Model fair [F1] , etc.

4. Do you want regular fund raising activities such as 50/50 draws?

Other

1. How many newsletters do you want?

2. What do you want in the letter?

3. How do you want it delivered? (e.g. email, web site, snail mail)

We’re looking for ideas. Bring your suggestions to any committee member.

For Sale

Contact Peter Ludikar mailto://pludikar@sympatico.ca if you want to advertise. Costs nothing – except for, maybe, the 10 seconds of fame and recognition that comes with standing up and being counted.