2021-04-20-RC Airplane Week in Review

This is the week for Modelrama - One of the MIdwest's largest swap meets and auctions.

Here are YouTube videos I enjoyed this week:

• The weather is warming up, and time to get back out to the field. Are you working on your planes getting ready for the Summer flying season? djmoosecom reviews a fantastic benchtop RC Stand.

• Another great TheRcSaylors video. The Dynam Primo is an excellent beginner plane. Here they take it up. The Dynam Primo.

• Mavic just released Air 2 - here is a video from FIRE RC as he chases RC airplanes. Chasing RC Airplanes with DJI Mavic Air 2

• Have you seen this before? I never thought to keep my planes up and away from mice! Don's RC Airplanes ran into a problem. # E-flite T-28 1.2m and a mouse Oh my !!!

Happy Flying!

Wingmasters 2021 Modelrama

Ready to add a plane to your hanger? Want to see what industry vendors have this year? You need to join us for the 2021 Dayton Wingmasters Modelrama. With over 300 tables, Modelrama will be one of the Midwest's most significant RC-focused events.

We are hosting this event Friday from 2:00 - 6:00 and Saturday 9:00 - 1:00 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds (645 Infirmary Rd. Dayton, OH 45417). Based on demand and the desire for social distancing, we have expanded to two buildings. The cost is $10 for the entire show admission, including the auction, and $8 for one day. Our event culminates with an auction on Saturday afternoon.

Hope to see you there.

10 Reasons To Join an RC Club

Spring is here, and you want to get outside and shake off the COVID fog; why don’t you join an RC Club?

 Here are ten reasons why it makes sense:

1. The camaraderie of like-minded hobbyists. - Regardless of your level of commitment or time for the hobby, joining a club gets you the camaraderie of other flyers. Just the ability to interact with other like-minded pilots, being outside, enjoying others, and growing in the hobby. What could be better?

2. Learn from Others – I know our club has designated beginner nights where experienced pilots come out and help newer members or those interested in the hobby. The ability to Buddy-Box with an experienced pilot allows you to grow in confidence and reduce the worry of crashing that brand new plane.

   There is something called latent learning, where you learn from watching others and can put that knowledge and skill to good use. Don’t discount the learning you get from watching others fly, asking questions, and getting those little tips that will significantly improve your flying.

3. You get to fly on a designated RC field. - Typically, the field is Academy of Model Aeronautics (“AMA”) https://www.modelaircraft.org/ certified and insured, has a designated runway (paved or grass), and the fields have areas to work and prep your planes. It beats flying at the local park out of the back of your car, worrying about the families playing, people walking…

4. Fun Flies – Fun Flys are events typically around a theme (warbirds, 3d planes, a give holidays) where the club shows up, and they have food and fly—a great way to meet fellow club members, learn and see the latest planes.

5.  Insurance As a member of AMA, you and your fellow pilots are covered by AMA insurance. As of 2021, the current coverage is:

   • Liability Coverage for the Operation of Model Aircraft, Boats, Cars, and Rockets

   • $2,500,000 Comprehensive General Liability Protection for model activities for members, clubs, site owners, and sponsors

   • $25,000 Accident/Medical Coverage for members

   • $10,000 Maximum Accidental Death Coverage for members

   • $1,000 Fire, Theft, and Vandalism Coverage for members

6.  Try before you buy – Unless you benefit from a local, well-stocked hobby shop, you are relegated to looking at planes, tools, etc., online. Wouldn’t it be great to see that plane in person? Someone at the club may already have it.

7.  We all crash. I don’t know how many times I’m at the field and need a small part or tool, and someone has one. That can be the difference between flying and packing up to go home. The ability to share tools, repair and maintenance insights is fantastic.

8.  Many clubs and fields are multi-discipline - (RC airplanes, Helicopters, and RC cars). Wouldn’t it be great to have all those facilities? The wind kicks up, and you can switch to cars. You might be interested in exploring helicopters, and you can walk over to the helli section and ask questions.

9.  Charge me up, baby – most fields have a charging station. You need power to fly. Unless you stay up all night charging your batteries, the ability to charge while you fly will keep you in the air for much longer. And you don’t have batteries stored a full power which isn’t good for them.

10.  One person’s discards are another’s Treasures - Ability to buy, swap planes, transmitters, etc. Wouldn’t you rather get a used plane or piece of gear from someone you know? Exactly!

 I hope this helps, so get out there and find an RC Club to join. What are some benefits you see from your club? 

Add them in the comments below.  

The Key to RC Club Membership Renewals

 How do you encourage active members to renew their memberships?  How do you ensure that only active members access the field? 

 We use a key exchange.

 Traditionally on January 1st the Dayton Wingmasters hold a Freeze Fly.  With warm coffee and snacks, it is an excellent way for us to start the new year.  On the 1st, we also rekey the front gate, power station, and restroom locks.

 At the Freeze Fly, renewing members bring their FAA, AMA {link] registration information along with the completed renewal form and the annual membership fee and renew their memberships.  With the renewals, they get this year’s key.   We stamp the keys with the year, so there are no misunderstandings on which key is active.

 We have packets with keys in controlled envelopes at our local hobby shops for renewing or new members who can’t attend the Freeze Fly.  The Hobby Shops check registration information and issue the packets.  We have Club officers collect the payments and renewal forms regularly. 

 As we have monthly club meetings throughout the year, we also take renewals at the meetings, 

 Our annual key exchange is a great, controlled, and objective way to renew our memberships, ensures everyone’s registrations and contact information is current,  and ensure that only active members use our facilities.

 What creative ways do you use for renewals?  Let everyone know in the comments below. 

10 Qualities of a Great Club Member

You’re a member of an RC, Social or Non-profit Club. You want to be a good club member, so what do you do?  Here are ten qualities of a great club member.  

1. Contribute Your Unique Skills – You all came together with a common interest or passion. But each of you also has unique skills and backgrounds. Are you a finance person? Have excellent webmaster skills? An awesome fundraiser? Carpentry skills? Use your skills to enhance the Club. Utilizing your skills can also significantly reduce the Club’s operating costs, leaving more funds for the core mission. 

2. Be Positive – Always have the betterment of the Club in mind. When you question something, do it towards improvement or change. Nobody likes a complainer. Remember, if members push collectively in a positive direction, others will gladly join in; offer positive feedback. Question positively. 

3. Respect -  Respect the mission of the Club. Respect the officers (remember they are probably volunteers contributing their talents and unique skills). Everyone joined the Club for a reason, so don’t stray too far from that collective mission. 

4. Communicate with Confidence - Great team players communicate their ideas honestly and clearly and respect others’ views and opinions on the team. Clear, effective communication done constructively and respectfully is the key to getting heard.

5.  Trust by Verify – We continuously see the news on the latest club fraud. As a club member, you do have a responsibility to understand and question the finances. Pay attention during the Treasurer’s report! Everyone has a responsibility to make sure the Club’s finances are appropriately controlled and spent. If you happen to be the club treasurer, see my post on being a good Club Treasurer.

6.  Positively Build your Club’s Community – Create a welcoming club. Members are typically on different journeys with their skills or desires. Help these club members grow and advance in the Club. Be a bridging vs. an exclusive Community. This post is written during the global COVID pandemic, so community needs have never been greater. 

7. Teach - Grow the members’ skills. Maybe within your RC Club, flying is your passion, or perhaps you understand the technical side of the tools, whatever your unique talent, actively helping the membership.  

8. Embrace all your Stakeholders – Understand how your Club can mutually benefit and contributes to your stakeholders, be they your local community, close neighbors, or a broader group or organization. Be a good citizen, and things will be much easier. 

9. Consistent and Reliable – Displaying genuine commitment and reliability is a great way to drive your Club forward. Create positive relationships within your Club and do this consistently. 

10. Reliable Volunteer – Don’t be the volunteer that never volunteers! They volunteer in name but never show up. When you volunteer, do more than asked, adapt quickly and easily, come with a 110% commitment to getting things done. Remember, you are either part of the problem or the solution, don’t be a problem.

Embrace these attributes, and there is no doubt that your Club will move forward. Maybe incorporate these operating principles into your charter or bylaws. That may be a subtle way of building these attributes into your Club’s culture.