BMAC Announcements


Monday, February 28, 2011

UPDATE: Write a Letter to Congress

57,744 Letters Sent So Far!

If You haven't done so yet, visit the , AMA page and make your voice heard.

Help keep model aviation free of unnecessary government regulations.


 

 

 

Friday, February 25, 2011

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Tell Congress to Protect Model Aviation

Write a Letter to Congress

The FAA is developing new regulations that may place onerous and unnecessary restrictions on the hobby, sport and educational pursuit of model aviation.

It is extremely important that all aeromodeling enthusiasts stand up and tell congress to protect model aviation from pending federal regulation by the FAA.

 This up now on the AMA web site. Please do this now and help protect our hobby from government intervention. Follow the link to send a letter to your representative.



http://amagov.modelaircraft.org/4077...all-to-action/.


Sunday, February 20, 2011

HUGE 177" RC Plane The Flying Boxcar C 119 NAMFI 2010 flight 1


This 177" Plane is Carl Bachhuber's latest creation.

Via Tony Harris

Giant Scale Gee Bee R-2 1/2 Scale! WIPE-OUT!!



Yooowee Gee Bee lovers--here's a 1/2 scale R-2 that's bound to get you going!
Too bad it was lost on the second flight--still can't figure what went wrong--perhaps the elevator servo--takes a lot to push a 10 ft. wingspan Gee Bee that weighs 121 lbs. around. Especially when it's being powered by a limbach 280-gear drive hanging on the nose! 


Via Tony Harris

80% Scale Caudron Racer



This is a HUGE 20 ft. wingspan RC aircraft called an Aerions Caudron Air Racer from the 40's.
Has an electric start JPX320 reduction drive motor-turning a 42x12 prop-weighs 264 lbs. And to date, he has NOT taken his son up for a ride-at least not to my knowledge!
Quite a 2 year project-on board camera. 


Via Tony Harris

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Hummingbird UAV flies by flapping its wings

From New Scientist:
A tiny new unmanned air vehicle with flapping wings can hover, fly at high speed and negotiate indoor and outdoor environments while sending back video imagery, even though it weighs just nineteen grams


 Complete story with video available at New Scientist here.

Pretty cool stuff. Would like to see more of the electronics involved.

More Photos Of Larry Rakes Fly Baby Bipe




Thought you might like to see Club member Larry Rakes winter build. He did it in about 3 months [ He's a Beaver ] LOL! The plane is a 1/3 scale Balsa USA Fly Baby Bi-Plane with a DL 30cc gas motor. Maiden flight when the weather breaks.

Via Tony Harris

Friday, February 18, 2011

Important Update On Pending FAA Regulations

Posted on AMA site today. Read the original here: http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/PR-Senate-2-2011.pdf

Sounds like some good news.

**************************************************************************************************

AMA Works to Amend Reauthorization Bill Providing Relief for
Model Aviation from sUAS Rules
M U N C I E, I N – Sen. James Inhofe, OK, successfully sponsored S.223 in the Senate
yesterday with an amendment specifying a “Special Rule For Model Aircraft” that
provides an exemption from regulation for model aircraft operating within the following
parameters:

* Flown specifically for recreational, sport, competition, or academic purposes;

*Operated in accordance with a community-based set of safety guidelines within
the programming of a nationwide community-based organization;

* Limited to 55 pounds or less unless certified through a design, construction,
inspection, flight test, and operational safety program currently administered by a
community-based organization.

“On behalf of our 140,000 members I want to thank Senator Inhofe, Chairman Jay
Rockefeller and Ranking Republican Kay Bailey Hutchinson for their leadership in
shepherding the FAA reauthorization bill through the U.S. Senate,” said Academy of
Model Aeronautics President Dave Mathewson. “Aeromodeling is an exceptional family
recreational and education activity that has traditionally been a stepping stone for our
children to careers in aviation and aerospace. With the Senators’ help we hope model
aviation will continue to help provide that impetus for future generations of engineers,
pilots and astronauts.”
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, which is expected to rule on the
matter in the very near future.
AMA has contended that the purpose and operation of model aircraft flown for
recreational purposes is uniquely different from the operation of the growing number of
commercial small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for which the FAA is drafting
regulation. Aeromodelers operating under AMA’s guidelines have earned a reputation of
being one of the safest, if not the safest users of the National Airspace System. This
exemplary safety record spans more than 75 years.
The Academy of Aeronautics, founded in 1936, charters 2,400 clubs across the country,
sanctioning more than 2,000 events and competitions as a member of the National
Aeronautic Association. It is dedicated to promoting aeromodeling as a recreational,
competitive and academic pursuit.

# # #
Via AMA

Large Model Aircraft Program

On January 25, 2011, AMA’s Executive Council (EC) approved an update to the Large Model Aircraft program. This program includes some significant changes. 

One of the most prominent changes is the weight increase to 125 pounds for prop-driven models (LMA) and 100 pounds for turbine-powered models (LTMA). There are four classifications referenced within the program: LMA-1, LMA-2, LTMA-1 and LTMA-2.

Another important change is that classifications LMA-1 and LTMA-1 (55 pounds to 77.2 pounds) will allow for a self-inspection by the owner of the LMA . It will require two demonstration flights in front of two observers. The owner can serve as one of the observers, as long as he/she is not the pilot of the model. The other observer has to be an AMA Contest Director (CD), Leader Member (LM) or Large Model Aircraft Inspector (LMAI). 

As an LM or CD, you can reduce the travel time and coordination required of an LMA-1 owner.  While it is a voluntary action, if you are asked to help with observing a test flight, it would be helpful for your fellow modelers and the AMA staff if you could accommodate the request.  You would not be inspecting—just verifying that the test flight was completed successfully.

Classifications LMA-2 and LTMA-2 will require inspection by an LMAI, followed by demonstration flights observed by the inspector.
 
To review the complete program go to http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/520-a.pdf.

Via AMA Safety & Member Benefits Department
S

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

The Boeing 314 Flying Boat

Luxury air travel from the 1930's. Would be a great scale project if one had a big pond to fly from.
Lot's of cool pictures here.




















Via Air Show Buzz

Monday, February 14, 2011

OOPS!



Via Tony Harris

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Wythe County RC Flyers First Annual Swap Meet

Just received word of this one via E-mail. Wytheville VA, Saturday March 5th 2011.

Full details are available here.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Tony Harris' Swordfish



Our intrepid secretary and resident biplane enthusiast reports on his latest project:

Here are some shot's of my Fairy Swordfish project I have been working on this winter. This was the British plane that put the first torpedo into the German Battleship Bismark in WWII. It was an old plane even back then. They use to call it "The String Bag" [pocketbook] because it could carry a big assortment of weapon's. Just finished the work on the pilot, gunner and navigator/radioman. Didn't want them all to have the same face so I did a little putty work. Still have a bit of work to do touching up the rough area's around the cockpit and paint. Need to put the leg's on the gunner and navigator. Have to mount the torpedo and flying wire's and I think that will be it. She's powered by a Zenoah 38cc gas motor. Wing span is 85.5". It took me awhile but she should be ready to maiden when the weather breaks. Hope you all enjoy the picture's.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Spektrum Goes DSM-X

Just came across this video and thought it might be of interest.



Via RC Universe

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Flying Hillbillies Get Some Good Publicity

Our friends to the north had a very nice story in the Charleston-Gazette and the online edition even has video.

http://www.wvgazette.com/News/Putnam/201101300807