By Steve Manganelli
Be careful what you ask for, you might get it! This silly phrase applies to the much celebrated field improvement we’ve been discussing over the past few months. Thanks to the hard work of Larry Kosta, costs are within our reach, but the actual logistics of getting it done are significant and the 500-pound-gorilla-in-the-room question is exactly what would be the long term benefit? Let’s face it: the field is dirt, it will likely always be dirt and adding decomposed granite (dg) is just more dirt! I recognized some sample dg material as that used under my artificial turf. When that was applied by professionals using screeds and compacted using a portable plate compactor it certainly formed an airplane happy smooth surface. It could be walked on (if you were careful) but without the turf topper is certainly nothing that would hold up to being say driven on, poked at with tools, or even walked on repeatedly and randomly. Prior to the turf install, but after the dg, animals significantly disturbed it in a few places illustrating just how fragile the material is. Perhaps if there was a binder additive, it would be better? The bottom line is, the BOD voted to defer action on the project until we can find a precedent for the application for a similar purpose as ours. In the meantime we’ll go forward with our usual “mid-Summer correction” meaning water truck, dust down, and rolling. If anybody knows of an R/C field topped with compacted dg please let us know!
The final epilog on our 2022 Winter Banquet was we had a grand time and spent a lot of money doing it! There were 341 members eligible (at the end of November 2021) to attend and 53 did so. The remaining attendees were family members and guests. Therefore with less than 16% participation, it is imprudent to spend a lot of Club funds on the banquet. As of now, we’re looking at Phil’s BBQ Event Center (same parking lot as Phils BBQ, Pt. Loma) with a per member cost of $25 and a guest cost of at least $30 and a lesser (but still attractive) prize budget. An anticipated turnout of 75 to 100 people will keep us in line with historical expenditures on the banquet. The event will be held early to mid January, 2023.
This Saturday’s “3 Ring Circus” fun event, cleverly concocted by Jim Bonnardel will be recognized by 3 medals awarded for each sub-event plus the usual Discount Hobbies gift certificates. You won’t want to miss that one, however I will! The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Design-Build-Fly (AIAA DBF) competition for teams of undergraduate College students takes place this weekend in Wichita KS. Steve Neu (Pilot) and myself (Design Advisor) will be with San Diego State University with their “Quetzlcoatl” aircraft do to battle with Engineering Colleges from around the country and around the world. See this link for details AIAA Design/Build/Fly | AIAA. Thanks to Chairman of the Board Jovi Murek whom will be conducting the member’s meeting this month.
We will start running the gates with super high powered “hot liners” on the Federation Aeronatique International (FAI) Class F-5B Motor Glider distance course in early May. Some details are contained in my last column but notably, the field and the drone course will be closed to sport flying while this is taking place. Closing the field to practice doesn’t mean closing the field to other members with “hotliners” wishing to try their hand at the course. We highly encourage that and will be happy to provide coaching on this challenging international event to all comers. This is done on a Sunday afternoon to minimize impact to sport flyers. Watch for the announcement blast.
