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President’s Corner for Sep – Oct 2026

Front Page President's Corner
We have refinished our runway, thanks to John Casilio, Andrew Kaperonis, Panos Kaperonis, Scott Fuller, Phil Barlow, and Dwight Filley. This is John’s last maintenance for the club before he moves to the east coast for work. If you see him, please thank him for putting it together.
Before the end of the year, we will put up a safety/run-up table at the east end of the field, so members who need to do maintenance on their models can safely do so. We will also designate a spectators area, which will be near the entrance of the field, where current spectators park anyways.
One of our members (George S) had an idea to showcase our member’s social media accounts to the club. If you have an interesting Facebook or Instagram account that is model airplane related, send it to editor@sefsd.org and we will share it with the club.  (I will begin posting them next month-Ed)
I also want to give a shout out to George Harper, who has been videotaping and updating our YouTube channel SEFSD1. You missed someone’s maiden of their cool F-35, you can now see it online! – Quan

Panos’ Corner for Sep – Oct 2026

Front Page President's Corner

Hello SEFSD, 

We’ve had a great end to August and a great month of September! The Talent Show at the end of August was a lot of fun. There were some very skilled pilots who came out to fly. This is always great to see, and the Talent Show allows our members to demonstrate their skills in a fun way. Overall, the event was a great time, and I’m glad so many people showed up!

This month, we have a much nicer runway. Thanks to John Casilio, we now have a surface that is better for jets and micros to land on, and it looks much nicer overall. Many members are enjoying the new runway, and I would say it has been working out really well.

For T-28 racing this month, it was cool to see the Skyraider in the race. The Skyraider seems to perform really well and gives us a good indication that we will have some great options for racing next year as we see more of the Skynetic planes showing up. I have recommended the Skyraider to several people, and everyone I have talked to about it seems to be loving it. If you want to race and don’t have a plane yet, make sure you grab one of the Skynetic models that we will be using this coming year!

It seems like it will be cooling down pretty soon. The heat has been rough, but hopefully our time at the field will become more enjoyable as we move through the rest of the year! That being said, let’s continue making sure we all bring enough water!

Also, if you have not seen the most recent photo gallery from the Electroglide, go check it out! These are some of the best photos yet!

To finish out the month, we have Warbird Day along with our club meeting! This is a really fun one! Anybody can bring out their warbird and do a demonstration flight. This is one of my favorites! I hope to see everyone there with a warbird!

Panos

Runway Refurbishment

Front Page General Interest

Earlier this month we were treated to a vastly improved runway surface.  You are encouraged to thank one of the hardest working members of the SEFSD BOD.  John Casilio has put in an enormous amount of time and effort coordinating and accomplishing most of the work needed to bring us a smoother and firmer runway surface.  Please thank him if you see him.  Several other Members helped as well.

 

Metal Props are NOT allowed at SEFSD!

Front Page Safety

A word to the wise—metal props on your RC model are not allowed under any circumstances  at SEFSD’s flying site at Mission Bay. The restriction on metal propellers is a safety measure, as metal blades pose a greater risk of cutting injuries and property damage compared to standard wood or composite materials commonly used in model aircraft.

Regardless of the propeller material basic safety procedures apply—from the AMA safety handbook:

PROPELLERS:

Cracked, nicked, or unbalanced propellers or rotor blades should be replaced and not reused!

Stay clear of the propeller arc while starting or running any engine or motor.

Do not stop engines by throwing rags or other objects in the propeller.

Painting tips of propellers a bright color helps you to better see the propeller arc during rotation.

Check the propeller and spinner for tightness before each operation.

Learn about and check for the proper grain patterns in wooden propellers to ensure strength in high rpm operation.

Exercise extreme caution adjusting needle valve settings on engines. Most adjustments should be performed from behind the model, thus avoiding reaching around a spinning propeller.

Fly Safe!
Steve Neu

Silent Electric Flyers of San Diego YouTube Channel

Front Page General Interest
Please check out the SEFSD YouTube channel.  https://www.youtube.com/@SEFSD1
If you see a video of your plane, please provide a descriptive comment about the model. Comment on video of others planes too. Then like and subscribe. 🙂
When I am recording videos, I will ask if I can post and then ask for your name and plane description.
If you have any video that you would like to share on the channel, send to george.harper@cox.net with a subject of “SEFSD Flying (Plane Description) and your Name”
Please include a link for the video you would like to share, so it can be uploaded to YouTube.
Thank you!
George Harper

Eric’s 3D Printed F16XL

Front Page General Interest

Eric Maglio has this 3D printed jet:

Eric’s 3D printed F-16XL, using ASA Aero. It has a 1m wingspan, is about 1.6m long, and uses a Freewing 90mm EDF on a 6S 5500mAh battery. It is the prototype for a new model that will eventually be released on https://www.loftedaero.com/

“Hey Steve – I fly my various 3D printed designs at the club often so I figured I’d make a discount code for fellow members interested in building any of them. They can use the code “SEFSD50” for 50% off anything here: https://www.loftedaero.com/printable-models”– Eric

T28 Race Results for Sep 2026

Front Page T28 Contest Results

 

The September edition of SEFSD’s long running T28 racing series saw the introduction of the Skynetic A1 Skyrider to the squadron of planes going for the gold. The plane was raced without any of the weapons or fuel tanks on the wing stations—I also elected to change out the stock 4 blade prop for a 2 blade 8×6 APCE prop—either prop is ok for racing with the APC drawing a little less current—speed is about the same. How does it compare to the FMS T28? It is very similar in handling and speed to the FMS T28. There are two other planes by Skynetic in this series which are approve for racing—the Tempest and F4U Corsair. If you can’t find a T28 or want to try something different here you go. Note: that the Tempest and Corsair may need some carving of foam to fit the larger 1200mAh battery packs.

The September edition had a light  summer turnout with several regulars out of town on summer vacation. The smaller field made for a fast a fast paced racing tempo with Jim and Panos handling the running of the races. It is noteworthy that there was not one cut recorded for the entire race! When the dust settled from the preliminary and finals the results were as follows:

Bronze:

1) George
2) John C

Silver:

1) Quan

Gold:

1) SteveN
2) Corey
3) SteveM

The next race is scheduled for October 10th—be sure to mark your calendar! Also be sure to put your racing numbers on your plane—if you don’t have an assigned number send me a email and we will get you one!

Steve Neu

President’s Corner for Aug – Sep 2026

President's Corner

We are in need of volunteers to help with the field maintenance, currently scheduled for Sept 3rd and 4th. In the past (and currently), this task was/is spearheaded by John Casilio and a small team he recruited among SEFSD members. However, John has already moved his family out of state, and soon, he will be moving as well. We all like to fly on a smooth runway, but that doesn’t happen by itself. John will be sending out a separate email blast asking for volunteers again. Thank you to all of those who turned out to help last time, and we look forward to a similar response. Going forward, we’ll be looking for someone who can fill John’s shoes, and coordinate and execute field maintenance.

More broadly, SEFSD is looking for volunteers to serve on the board next year. Don’t hesitate to step up! Anyone can do it, and extensive experience is not a prerequisite. I served as safety officer only one year after joining SEFSD 13+ years ago, and have been on the board ever since. Most companies and nonprofits don’t like to keep board members that long! New blood promotes new ideas, and I feel that it’s time for a new generation of leaders.
With just 3 months left, I’m already a lame duck president, and I’m just focused on closing out by implementing safety changes from the propeller incident from three years ago. The incoming president will start from a clean slate, with many opportunities to shape the next 2 years of SEFSD.
Quan Nguyen
SEFSD President

Panos’ Corner for Aug – Sep 2026

President's Corner

Hello SEFSD,

It has been yet another great month at the field! Don’t Spill the Beans was a blast. It was a very interesting challenge, and getting to use the concepts of physics while attempting not to spill your beans made for a difficult—yet very fun—event. I personally recovered 19 out of 20 beans. To all of you who got 20, great job! It was tough. These types of events seem to bring the community together in a great way!

The T-28 racing was also a lot of fun. We had a pretty rough midair between two T-28s, which left John to finish the race by himself. That’s the first time I’ve seen that happen! Additionally, the Electroglide was great as usual. It’s nice to have some consistency in our events each month, and I know all of our members really appreciate what the club does to provide everyone with a great time at the field.

As we gear up for racing next year, I am excited to see the new planes coming into the racing lineup. I’ve already recommended the A-1 Skyraider 800mm to a few people, and I am really enjoying flying mine. If you don’t have one, you should definitely look into getting one. It’s a lot of fun to fly around, especially for those of us who love scale aircraft!

I also want to take a moment to thank Frank Sutton. The photos he takes are just amazing and give our members a chance to look back on all the great times we’ve had at the field. Frank takes some of the best RC airplane photos I’ve ever seen, and it’s especially nice that he goes the extra step to put together the memories video at the end of the year. Thanks, Frank!

This coming weekend, we have the Talent Show. This is always a fun one. The idea is that you get to demonstrate your piloting skills in front of everyone at the club. Love your scale warbird? Show us your scale flight. Have a showstopping 3D performance in mind? Go for it! The sky is the limit. I’ve attended the Talent Show before, and it’s right up there with Propchella in terms of how much fun it is.

Overall, this month has been great, and I am really looking forward to September. I’ll see you all this weekend!

Panos

Talent Show

Events

The Monthly Event is

Talent Show

Aug 22, 10AM

Dear SEFSD Pilots,

I hope this message finds you in great spirits! I am excited to announce that this month’s event will be a spectacular “Talent Show”. The stage is truly YOURS this time! We invite all of you to come down, own the runway, and show off your incredible skills, unique style, aircraft prowess, or any other R/C talent you may possess.

This is a wonderful opportunity to shine and showcase your talents in front of fellow enthusiasts. Whether you have a hidden skill, a flair for performance, or simply want to flaunt your favorite aircraft, we encourage you to participate and make this event memorable. Let’s celebrate the creativity and passion of our community together!

Looking forward to seeing all of you there and witnessing the amazing talent in our midst!

Jovi

Visit Report by JR Schiager, AMA District X Vice President

General Interest

 

Frank Sutton w/ AMA District X Vice President JR Schiager

 

SILENT ELECTRIC FLYERS OF SAN DIEGO

Another Great District X Fly Field Visit – Silent Electric Flyers of San Diego!

While spending the weekend in the San Diego area, my first stop was the Silent Electric Flyers of San Diego (SEFSD) at their Mission Bay Model Aircraft Park near SeaWorld. Club Secretary John Casilio took the time to show me around the field and share some of the history of the club and flying site.  I also learned about Steve Manganelli, who helped found the club around 1995. Today, the club has approximately 300 members, a 500-foot runway, and operates with a 200-foot flying ceiling. One of the first things that stood out to me was just how active this flying field was.  The Pilot benches and pit area were nearly full, with members preparing airplanes, flying, and simply enjoying time together at the field. There was also a tremendous variety of electric aircraft.  Walking through the pits, I saw everything from smaller sport and aerobatic airplanes to warbirds, twins, scale aircraft, and some very impressive electric jets.

The pictures really tell the story.  There were airplanes everywhere! The location itself also makes this a pretty unique flying field.  You’re flying in the Mission Bay area surrounded by palm trees and beautiful San Diego scenery, with SeaWorld visible nearby.   I also learned something interesting about the history of the property.  From approximately 1952 to 1959, the site was used as a Class I landfill before eventually being covered and, years later, becoming the model aircraft flying site members enjoy today.

More than anything, I enjoyed walking around, meeting members, talking airplanes, and seeing another healthy and active model aviation community. That’s one of my favorite parts about traveling throughout District X.  Every flying field is different, and you really don’t understand what makes a club special until you get out there and spend some time with people who call it home.

A huge thank-you to Jon Casilio and everyone at the Silent Electric Flyers of San Diego for welcoming me and allowing me to spend some time at your field. It was a great first stop during an incredible San Diego weekend!

Safe Flying and Safe Landings!

JR Schiager

AMA District X Vice President

Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Motors!

General Interest

By Steve Manganelli

The outcome of the conclusion of our “Legal Situation” suggests the need to emphasize the hazards associated with unintended motor starts both on and off the flying field. Okay, if I intend to run the motor someplace other than on the runway, I know to restrain the plane, right? Not only that, but stay behind the prop arc and ensure no others are in the prop arc prior to doing so, right again? So how do we prevent something that we don’t intend to happen in the first place? By controlling the adverse consequences of the occurrence with some general precautions. 

First a little historical perspective, before Electric Propulsion became prevalent over Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) and microprocessors went into everything, all connected servos moved to the position commanded by the transmitter stick position as soon as the receiver and transmitter were turned on (assuming they were on the same frequency and brand). There was no linking or binding back then. If you turned the Rx on first, the servos would jitter randomly or just move about 10 degrees and then stop. In the ICE days (Ice Age?) one of the servos would be connected to the carburetor butterfly valve and its position did not instantaneously command the engine running/prop turning. If you wanted the engine to run, you had to put in fuel, attach a glow plug battery and either flip the prop by hand or force an electric starter motor into it; in other words have strong and deliberate intent to run the engine and restrain the model one way or the other. You generally move the throttle stick to idle position before doing this. There was virtually no way to have an unintended start of an ICE.

As we evolved to E-power things changed. Our early “ESC”s were just relays connected to servo amplifiers. The motor would start (full throttle) when the pulse threshold was reached and the relay closed. We tended to use an “arming plug” in series with the motor circuit as a safety measure. There was no BEC back then, the separate Rx battery would energize all the aircraft functions (servos) and you could listen for the relay clicking to know when the motor would turn on. When satisfied, install the arming plug (if applicable) and/or the motor battery and you’re ready to fly.  However, even if there was no arming plug, we considered this configuration “armed” as in an armed bomb! You made the final connection behind the prop and you made sure spectators were clear of the prop arc when you carried your model to the runway. Our first brush commutation variable speed ESCs would still start on command and we respected these even more as there was an audible signal  as a prelude to operation.

Jump to the present : we have microprocessor controlled ESCs that are designed not to arm unless a low throttle pulse is detected.  Our receivers are designed to either do nothing or a specific (programmable) thing if there is no signal from its bound Transmitter. It’s very easy to consider your power system completely benign until you want it to operate. I often find myself with elbows spread trying to un-mate XT-60 connectors with one forearm inevitably in the prop arc…Here are my personal recommendations for control of unintended motor starts:

  • Heed the directions that come with your model regarding throttle/ESC adjustments and set it up with the prop removed from the aircraft. Why? Because there is a good chance the motor will be running on your home workbench while you make adjustments to ESC and radio settings. Bring it to the field configured and ready to fly.
  • The field work benches are for aircraft final assembly and battery installation. Install battery from behind the prop and stay behind it as you carry it to the runway. Avoid placing others in line with the prop arc as well.
  • Control the Transmitter as the model is carried to the runway. Knocking over the transmitter with the model and possibly advancing the throttle is a hazard to be avoided. As long as we are holding on tight to the airplane, no accident, right?
  • Regarding retrieving your small model after landing or placing it on the runway : Carry the transmitter in your left hand with your left thumb pinching the throttle stick to low. As long as I have this feeling, I know I’m not brushing the TX against my belt or other articles of clothing and unintentionally starting the motor. I’ve been doing this for years and it has become a habit. If your thumb is anywhere else but pinching the left stick down, it will feel “wrong”.

So there you have it: my recommendations to control unintended motor starts. This kind of safety precaution doesn’t lend itself to sound bit admonitions; it’s more of a cultural thing evolved from respect for hazard and potential consequences.

Torry Pines Gulls Newsletters

General Interest

Recently someone sent me link to the June 2026 Issue of the TPG Newsletter.  Of particular interest was the article on the history and anniversary of the TPG Gliderport, page 19.  Click the cover page of the June N/L issue below to find all the outstanding TPG back issues.  

 

Dwight is Asking for a Little Help

General Interest

Test Pilot needed

My name is Dwight Filley and I have several modified kit aircraft that I would like to test, but I can’t because my vision is too poor.

I would like to offer an hourly payment to one of the pilots who is qualified to fly the V 1200.

If you’d like to give it a try, please contact me:
Filleydwight@gmail.com

I will prepare the aircraft and preflight it. The flights are about 2 1/2 minutes long and there are about three or four flights per session.

Please contact me at Filleydwight@gmail.com.

Thank you, Dwight.

T28 Race Results for Aug 2026

T28 Contest Results

We had a good turnout for the August edition of long running T28 racing series with 10 planes and pilots entering—sadly not all would exit alive. The was a epic midair in the silver  race group with Cory and Jeff being involved in a mid air collision that resulted in Cory’s T28 being reduced to a cloud of scrap foam bits floating down on to the runway and Jeff’s plane making a controlled landing on the runway with little damage other than a broken prop and cracked cowl. John had to fly the rest of the race solo to claim first in the silver class. The Gold class winner started out with a SteveM crossing the finish line first only to be knocked out by  ”excessive cuts”  giving the win to Otto.

On the availability question for the T28s I got  e-mail notice  from FMS on Monday the 17th that they were back in stock with “limited availability” —unfortunately two days later they were again sold out with no indication if more would be available in the future. It looks as if we will soon be seeing the 800mm A1D Skyraider and Tempest in the racing line up! You can get a look at them on the Motion RC web site: 

A1D Skyraider: https://motionrc.com/products/skynetic-a1-skyraider-800mm-31-5-wingspan-pnp-sky1064-001

Tempest: https://motionrc.com/products/skynetic-tempest-800mm-31-4-wingspan-pnp-sky1065-001 

Now to the results:

Bronze class:

1) George
2) Paul

Silver class:

1) John
2) Jeff (midair)
3) Cory (midair)

Gold Class:

1) Otto
2) Max
3) SteveN
4) SteveM

Next race is scheduled for Sept 12th @ 10am

Chairman’s Corner for July/August 2026

President's Corner

Hey Flyers!

We had a great turn out for Tacos on the 4th of July, I hope you were able to make it if desired.

I have been out with some medical issue over the last several weeks. I would like thank you to those that reached out to check on me.

I’m not sure how often I will be out between now and Labor Day as treatment continues. On that note, There are generally one or two persons bringing their broken planes to me on weekends – hoping I will get them back in the air. Generally I don’t mind too much when asked to help. Over the next several months, when I do make it out with a plane or two, I would ask that you let me fly my plane – and take your repair requests to someone else – or figure out the fix yourself.

I lot of you like to talk to others as soon as they get to the field, kind of like your weekly update. Please save your questions and discussions away from persons as they are assembling their planes. LET THEM CONCENTRATE ON THE TASK AT HAND! Two more wood/carbon planes went into the air this month without a wing latch engaged. Luckily, they weren’t destroyed – but the potential was there.

  We all started out in this hobby at some point. We have all made mistakes at some point. We have a couple of people that will not comply to our basic rules as much as we hope common sense will prevail. Like I said to Alan last week – Before putting a plane in the air, take a look at who is flying and how they are doing. If you see that they aren’t flying the pattern, are strafing the fenceline, or are being outright dangerous – YOU CAN MAKE A DECISION to stay on the ground until that person lands. If you see him flying opposite pattern and take off anyway – is he really the only one at fault for the midair crash? Does he deserve the dozen or so F-BOMBS screamed in his face? If he takes off after you are already in the air and is flying like a knucklehead, you have the option to land immediately and let him do his nonsense without risking your aircraft – then finish your flight after he is done. People see me doing just that with larger planes quite often when I know the person in question would happily destroy an eight thousand dollar plane with their aero scout and have no remorse… Also, standing at gate 3 screaming at someone flying from gate 6 to “FLY THE PATTERN!” May not get the desired result. Land your plane, and walk over to calmly explain it to him. Remember how long it took you to learn how to use the rudder while taking off? Were you screamed at every day?

I always say how happy I am to be in a club with Low Drama. This past month has been a low point – even though I spent most of it hospitalized.

I have been speaking with several of you about becoming officers of the club for 2027. Due to term limits and life circumstances we will be needing 4 or 5 new members to fill Board Of Directors positions. We need new blood and new ideas. I would like to have the 2027 BOD identified by September 30th to comfortably move ahead without angst. If there are more than 5 interested, we traditionally vote on Veterans Day in November.

Being on the BOD will take maybe 2 hours of your time Monthly, and give you a chance to share your vision of what you want from our club. If you are interested, Reach out to Quan and he can send you a zoom link for the next meeting- on August 5th at 6:30 PM, and you can get a first hand look at what occurs. While the meetings are hosted in someone’s home each month, we understand that people are busy, and there is always a Zoom link for those that would like to dial in remotely.

I’m not sure if I will make it out this weekend, so hope everyone has fun at the “Don’t Spill The Beans” contest on Saturday the 25th – starting at 1000, Followed by the Monthly club meeting at the field, and Hotdogs. Mark may need a bit of help with the hot dogs – if Lisa stays home with me.

Brad

President’s Corner for July/August 2026

President's Corner
This month, I’m pleased to announce we have an activity packed Saturday! First we have our fun contest, Don’t Spill the Beans, a member favorite, followed by Dart Drop, where you will have more opportunity to win money! The club is putting in $50 to start the pot. After that, we will have our field meeting- the first one I will be presiding over this year after six months of not being able to fly Saturdays. I’ll be present the rest of the year through the end of my term.
We finally amicably resolved a propeller-related incident that happened three years ago, and the AMA had our back from start to finish to make sure we can continue to enjoy this flying site. No fault was found on the part of SEFSD. However, there is an opportunity for us to improve our culture of safety when repairing our models on the bench. Have respect for the spinning propeller, and the potential for injury. As an all-electric club, we do not have the “safety poles” found on the benches at gas clubs that hold the plane in place when the motor is running. Look in front of you when arming your plane, and be prepared to arrest your model should the motor start up unexpectedly. It can happen, so be prepared.
Anyone who sees something that violates our rules can report it in writing to the board, and it will be followed up and investigated.
August is when we begin planning our Winter Banquet. I heard that the 94th Aero Squadron is closed indefinitely, so we need to find another venue (return to the Air & Space Museum?)  
Lastly, we are looking for new members to serve on the board for next year. If you enjoy the club, the activities, and the camaraderie of SEFSD, well, all that doesn’t happen without leadership! If you have any desire to volunteer, speak to myself or any board member.
-Quan
President, SEFSD

Panos’ Corner for July/August 2026

President's Corner

Hello SEFSD, 

June ended on a high note and July has been great so far! Let’s start off on a really positive note. Those of you who have wanted to race, your time is almost here! Recently the board decided to add three new models to the pylon racing for next year. Well, you may say “I have a T-28. Do I have to buy a new plane?!” No, the T-28 will still be allowed for racing! However, there are three new options (that you can actually get your hands on). They are Skynetic models: the A1 Skyraider, the Tempest, and the Corsair. And before you ask, yes, they are all in the same class as the T-28, ranging from 750mm-800mm with the same 3s power system (so no new batteries needed for those of you who already have or had an 800mm T-28!). I enjoyed the demonstration flights of the A1 and the Tempest at the field, so I decided to go with the A1. Overall, I’m excited that everyone who wants to race now has the opportunity to do so, and even better, we now have four awesome options to choose from! 

Propchella–where do I even begin?! This event was amazing. Huge thanks to Jim Bonnardel for putting this together. All of the different parts of this event were so much fun and I felt it brought our community together more than any other event we’ve ever had! Plus, the pizza was just the cherry on top! Good job to all those pilots that did a solo performance! John, Davis, and Brad, I had a great time flying with you guys for the “3D All Up” portion!

I also want to mention the heat. This summer has been hotter than usual for San Diego and even more humid! Please remember to wear sunscreen, a hat, and bring plenty of water! I can’t emphasize this enough–staying protected and hydrated is essential!

Let’s talk about the runway. The condition of the runway is brought to my attention almost every time I come to our field. Please know that we are actively working to smooth out the surface and are experimenting with new ways to create a stronger and more durable runway. I am confident that the extra time and effort will be well worth it! 

This coming weekend we have “Don’t Spill The Beans” to look forward to. This is a fun event and there are cash prizes for those who don’t spill their beans. I look forward to seeing you all there. As usual, I’ll be there selling 50/50 raffle tickets. Thank you to everyone who continues to support the raffle and help make our annual banquet even better! 

I look forward to seeing all of you very soon! Let’s finish July on a high note and make August another fantastic month at the field!

Panos 

Don’t Spill the Beans and Dart Drop

Events

The Monthly Event is July 25th, 10AM

Beans start flying at 10 am

Club meeting and BBQ to follow.

Typical 3S 2200 style airplane preferred. Not an event for Micro, or Large Scale.

________________________________________________

AND THEN:  it’s DART DROP!

Don’t forget!!
THIS SATURDAY! Don’t Spill the Beans, AND… back by popular demand, the $50 DART DROP!
That’s right, you can take your BEANS CASH and buy darts to drop, to win $50!
Darts drop directly after BEANS so GET YOUR DROPPER READY!

F5B Eurotour Competition in Anthisnes, Belgium

General Interest

The USA F5B team, represented by SEFSD members Lenny Keer & Artie Means packed up our gliders for the June Eurotour competition in Anthisnes, Belgium.

The Eurotour is a 5 race series, spread across Europe. As F5B is a class dominated by the Swiss & Germans, we unfortunately travel a long way to (hopefully) learn from the best.

The CRPAL (in French, ‘Club Royal Petite Aviation Liégeoise’) hosted a great event with 5 rounds of competition. Beautiful grass field, great flying conditions, and plenty of Belgian beer for the after-competition dinner.

The event was won by Heiko Greiner (GER) and followed by the World Champions Thomas Waeckerlin & Marco Cantoni in 2nd & 3rd (SUI). Lenny & I finished up 12th & 14th

Back stateside, we have our next team practice at the SEFSD field on August 16th. For September, we have an event at ‘Lenny’s sod farm’ outside Denver on Sept 5-6

Come down on the 16th to see the planes or even fly a few laps. We now have a ‘loaner’ plane (slightly tuned down) ready to go for anyone that wants to try their hands at a 10s, 200+ amp, 180mph glider……    It’s available for the 16th or really any afternoon when the field isn’t crowded, just fire me a txt or email and we can coordinate.

-Artie

 

 

T28 Racing Roundup for July 2026

T28 Contest Results

 

We had a nice turnout of 10 pilots for our July edition of the long running T28 racing series inspire of several of the regulars being unable to attend. Jovie did a great job keeping things  running smoothly and efficiently. 

Following the usual excitement of the hard fought preliminary rounds the flight orders for the 10 lap finals was set with the following results:

Bronze class:

1st : Carl
2nd: George
3rd: Paul
4th: Brad

Silver class:

1st: Glen
2nd: John
3rd: SteveM

Gold class:

1st:  Max
2nd: SteveN
3rd: Otto

As some of you have discovered the FMS 800mm T28 has become a rare bird —we have been told by several sources that FMS has exited  the model plane market all together. We are looking at expanding the range of planes allowed to be used in addition to the FMS T28. We have found  several similar planes from Motion RC that are the same size  and weight and use the same battery as the FMS T28. SteveM and I bought a couple to see how they compare—we have had a few head to head races between my T28 and Steve’s Tempest. So far it looks like they are close in speed and turning ability. There are 3 different planes available in this “War Bird” series ( Tempest, A1 Skyraider and the Corsair) We will do many more flights before making any decisions. To be clear we are not replacing the T28s—just increasing the options for new pilots who want to join the fun racing.

The next T28 race is on the schedule for August 8th starting at 10am.

Steve Neu