2012 Membership application form [HERE]


President's Message

We began the New Year a few months back and are now getting back in gear with our club newsletter, Hanger Talk. I want to begin with our thanks to Tommy Hue for taking on this task that will serve to keep us all current with the many events and activities.

Many have heard various updates and potential changes to our site and runway as there have potential issues with our site over the last few months. After various meetings we have been told that we should stay where we are. We still some approvals to obtain to move forward with the new fencing and we expect to complete this in the coming weeks. We just cannot keep bandaging our current safety fence. We also have new boundary materials around the perimeter of our pits and parking area that help to define our site.

The AMA Expo was held in January and we had great support from many of our members who staffed our booth and helped promote our club and flying field. Thanks to those that worked the booth. The Expo was well attended and saw many new planes and electronics on display and for sale. I have seen many of these at our field over the last couple months.

On March 3rd our club participated in the Mission Viejo Up in the Air event for the 2nd year. As with last year the event was very well attended by the community. We worked with the youth in attendance and helped them build and fly FPG-9 gliders. We went through hundreds of these many smiles and enthusiastic new pilots flying their gliders all over the park. In addition to the gliders we had some of our pilots performing flying demonstrations during the event which was clearly a great draw. The safety fence was packed with spectators for every demonstration. Thanks to the volunteers that helped with this event. Our participation in this event helps in keeping our ability to permit flying in this park.

On April 7th we also participated in the Fountain Valley community Easter Egg Hunt festivities that were held at Mile Square Park. Again we worked with the hundreds of youth to build and fly FPG-9 gliders. We also had a team of pilots doing flying demonstrations throughout the entire event. While the flying was being done in a baseball diamond it brought back memories of my days (many years ago) flying at Mile Square Park.

Our next club meeting on May 7th will feature Nitro Planes as our program. Look forward to a great presentation featuring many of the planes our members are currently flying and some new items that you will have to attend to see firsthand. As usual we will have "Show & Tell" and a great raffle.

Some upcoming local events to be aware of are the Harbor Soaring Society Swap Meet Electric Fun Fly and Swap Meet on Saturday, May 12th from 6am - 3pm. I plan to be there and would encourage anyone interested to join me and support this event. This event is free to all that attend and you must have your AMA card to fly. Following this will be the Bob Swenson Memorial Fun Fly at OCMA / Blackstar field on Saturday, May 19th from 7am - 1pm. There is a $20 pilot fee to fly at this event and everyone who attends, and RSVP's, is invited to the free Western Barbecue at the neighboring park right after the fun fly. I will be there and again would encourage anyone interested to attend and enjoy the event.

We have completed the elections for your new board for 2012. Congratulations to Vince Laub, Andy Shields, and Tommy Hue as our new board members. We also completed our organizational meeting where the board nominates and votes on the 4 officer positions and then committee appointments.

Here is your board for 2012:

* President - Greg Stone (yes, you are stuck with me for another year)
* Vice President - Dan Napier (Events and Activities)
* Secretary - Dave Meriwether (Membership)
* Treasurer - Andy Shields
* Board Member - Paul Vann (Field and Site)
* Board Member - Bob Lung (Field and Site)
* Board Member - Steven Penn (Raffle)
* Board Member - Robert Cantu (Safety Officer)
* Board Member - Vince Laub (Education and Training)
* Board Member - Tommy Hue
* Youth Board Member - Nathan Stone
* Associate - Bill Petrulis (Field and Site)


Please join me in welcoming and congratulating your new board and encourage them as they work to support our club and flying site.

Reminders:
In order to make sure we are protecting our site and field everyone must enforce that everyone flying is wearing their badge. This is also required for guests and trainees. There are guest and student badges in the container and these must be checked out each day someone is flying. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this as we have had situations where guests or students are not aware of the field rules and in the case of guests may not have AMA membership. Please note that students are not permitted to fly without an instructor with them for all flights and guests must have current AMA and the card must be placed on the clipboard when they are issued a guest badge for the day.

Wings Program:
All new members are required to pass the Wings Certification prior to issuance of their permanent badge. With safety our number 1 responsibility we must all work to make sure that everyone flying at our field can maintain control of their plane by executing the following maneuvers:


* Take-off (right or left)
* Fly a flat oval pattern clockwise
* Fly a flat oval pattern counter-clockwise
* Fly a flat figure eight
* Land


Field Marshals:
There must be a field marshal on-duty anytime our field is open. If you are the first or only one there please put on the field marshal badge found in the container. Our on-duty field marshals have ultimate authority covering all flight and safety aspects.

We are getting Field Marshal training back on a regular schedule and you will see email updates in advance of each session. I encourage everyone to attend who has not attended one of these sessions. The Field Marshal's (and every member's) responsibility is to enforce and oversee the following key aspects in addition to field oversight:

* No Badge / No Fly
* All flying must stay beyond the edge of the runway and out over the grass.
* No taxiing in the pits or spectator area
* Communication on the flight line (pilots calling out takeoffs and landings)
* Everyone must have their own fire extinguisher out and accessible in their pit area
* NO EXCEPTIONS to any of the above

Greg Stone, President
949-413-0920 Mobile
Email president@ocrcc.com

 


Notes:

Flight Safety:
Everyone must be diligent in maintaining safe flying in compliance with our rules. All flying must be done beyond the edge of the runway and over the grass. To protect the safety of members and visitors no plane should ever fly behind the flight-line (orange fence). In the event a plane breeches this line the pilot must land the plane immediately and determine the cause of this over flight. We must always maintain a safe zone for all behind the flight line.

Radio Interference:
I still hear about some downed planes where radio interference has been mentioned as the possible cause. If possible, while being safe, look over the crashed plane and see if the receiver LED is blinking, solid, or out. Depending on your radio brand this can help indicate if a brownout or lockout occurred. We want to document when and where communication issues occur. If this happens to you or someone else make sure it is logged in the Field Marshal (red) notebook in the bin. I also want to mention that there are many pilot created reasons that this could occur based on any of these situations:

* Receiver antennae must be away from metal objects and wires. I have seen antennae and satellite receivers placed along servo wires or beside lipo's or ESC's. Any of these could cause diminished or blocked reception at times. Check your radio manufacturer's specifications for placement criteria.

* Verify your ESC and receiver voltage and load criteria. Most of us are flying with ESC's that provide both motor power and power for the receiver and servos. ESC's and Receivers have voltage and load specifications with most rated at 4.8 volts and load rated for 4 or 5 servos. If you have digital servos these draw more power. If you have more servos or load than the rating you could experience brownouts, or low power to the receiver and servos that would result in loss of control.

Field (Our #1 Asset) Safety:

With our ever increasing attendance and use of our field we must all be diligent with all aspects of safety. This includes overall safety while flying and personal safety with our planes and batteries. We must all be aware of what is going on around us when flying or just relaxing in the pits.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the field and meetings. Please communicate anything of interest or concern to myself, any board member or field marshal.

Enjoy everything you fly!!!


2012 Membership

2012 membership and liability waiver form are available now under the "CLUB INFO" tab. Don't forget to renew your AMA membershp as well!

Club Meeting

Next club meeting is at 7PM every first Monday of the Month at Norman P. Murray Community & Senior Center in Mission Viejo. The address is 24932 VeteransWay, Mission Viejo, CA 92692.


Precision Flying Clinic

On Sunday, May 20th we will hold a precision flying clinic at the field from 10am-noon. This will be conducted by our southern area AMA Associate Vice President, Tim Attaway. Tim is also the Southwest Director for the International Miniature Aerobatics Club, or IMAC. He brings a wealth of knowledge and teaching for anyone desiring to grow their flight skills and enhance control of their planes.



AT6 Texan has been used extensively in air races. Highly modified ones such as this are seen at racing circuits hitting speed in excess of 100mph!

F16 models such as this have been popularized with advancements in electric ducted fan (EDF) technology. This particular model can reach speed of 140mph!

This is a highly sophisticated micro RC helicopter, Align T-Rex 250. Capable of full 3D aerobatic routine, yet small enough to fit on the palm of your hand!

One of the more popular scale warbird at the field, F4U Corsair, has distinctive gull wings. This is an all foam E-Flight model coming in for landing.

Truely a classic, the Cessna Skylane 182 was introduced in 1956 and has taught tens of thousands how to fly. This scaled version is also a good trainer for the RC pilots.

This Andrew Jesky designed "Slick" is a high performance 3D aerobatic plane. In the hands of capable pilots they can perform just about any manuevers.

One of the more well known axis warbird of the World War II era, German FW-190, makes its way onto the Great Park taxi way.

A great racers of 1930, the Granville Brothers Gee Bee, is faithfully reproduced by this scale model kit.

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May 12th, 2012