The Prez Sez

Wednesday, April 15th 2009

Hi All,

I would like to extend a personal welcome to the new and returning members of the Long Sault Flyers.

This is the second year you have elected me as your president. I thought you might have had second thoughts after the first year, (Grin). Thank you for your kind words of appreciation and encouragement.

2009 is now upon us and some of the club members are starting to buzz about the first visits to the field for the year.

Apparently, we are supposed to get some very mild weather this weekend and I think some of us are going to brush the dust off our planes and measure the glide slope in over the trees. I suppose it won’t be much different than last year but it always seems to me like the trees on our approach have grown a lot over the winter.

Thanks to your hard work last fall, the South approach should be much easier this year.

I have not been to the field personally yet this year to see how the winter has weathered our site. Last fall the roadway seemed to be holding up very well against washing out and I hope it has help up through the spring thaw. Speaking of spring thaw, I also don’t know how soft or dry the ground is up there. If someone happens to be by there before the weekend, please let me know the condition of the road/field and I will broadcast to our members… or take the credit for yourself and let us all know.

As discussed at the annual general meeting, we are still looking into moving to the field east of our current location.

Thus far, CLOCA hasn’t been forthcoming in approving the move but we are still holding our breath in case we can start working on that this spring.

I, for one, would be very keen on moving to that veritable Eden of radio control delight. I am sure that with such a perfect location I would never again crash another plane.

I am also, once again, your elected field safety officer. I know that it was a tight battle for this position so thank you for your votes and better luck to my competition next year.

It is each of our responsibilities to stay up to date with MAAC safety rules and regulations in order to maintain our individual insured status.

I will do my best to stay up to date with any changes to the MAAC safety rules and pass them on but if someone else notices a change that I haven’t communicated, please feel free to pass it on.

I tell you how much look forward again to flying with you guys again this year. I was at another club’s fun fly earlier this spring and although they were extremely friendly, I didn’t sense the same closeness and helpfulness that I feel at LSF. Without getting all gushy, I want to thank you guys for making the club what it is.

As we drag our planes and radios out of the garages, basements, and other storage locations to get them ready for another season, let’s remember to cycle our receiver and transmitter batteries and give the planes a good once-over to check for airworthiness. Don’t forget to tug on the control surfaces, check the muffler bolts and prop nuts and check the servos for smooth movement.

It’s also a good time to check the balance on those props. A well balanced prop makes less wear on the airborne equipment, and makes the plane fly better and last longer… assuming nothing like the ground gets in the way.

I will be setting the new combination for the field sometime in the next couple of weeks so if you are still flying on last year’s membership, it’s time to renew so you get the new gate code.

I want you all to know that I have pledged to turn over a new leaf this year. I am resolving to fly high and slow.

Well, I better get my stuff ready in case the weekend turns out as nice as they are promising.

See you at the field,