News of pending regulations from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the hobby of radio-controlled (rc) modeling may leave you with questions about exactly what is happening as well as where you could find more information. While we won’t know the details included in the FAA’s Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) until its release in early 2011, we have been able to map out what we do know, how it applies to our hobby, and how you can become an active participant in the process. Our goal is to help you better understand the issues at hand and to prepare you for what may lie ahead. Some of the topics we cover are:
What are the issues at hand? Does the FAA currently have regulations for operating radio-controlled airplanes? Have any new restrictions been put on model aircraft by the FAA? What is a Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)? What can I do once the Notice of Proposed Ruling (NPRM) is made public?
As military and civilian aviation technology has advanced, so too has technology in rc modeling. Both worlds have been expanding and this is causing us to move closer together and in some ways overlap. One of many questions being raised is at what point does our hobby stop becoming a hobby and instead become what the FAA classifies a an Unmanned Aircraft System? It’s a good question and a question whose overarching concern is public safety. The FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Program Office (UAPO) states the following about UAS: "Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and serve diverse purposes. They may have a wingspan as large as a Boeing 737 or smaller than a radio-controlled model airplane. A pilot on the ground is always in charge of UAS operations. Until recently, UASs mainly supported military and security operations, but that is rapidly changing. Unmanned aircraft promise new ways to increase efficiency, save money, enhance safety and even save lives. Interest is growing in a broad range of uses such as aerial photography, surveying land and crops, monitoring forest fires and environmental conditions, and protecting borders and ports against intruders." Additionally, the FAA states that their primary concern is safety: "The FAA’s main concern about UAS operations in the National Airspace System (NAS) is safety. The NAS encompasses an average of more than 100,000 aviation operations per day, including commercial air traffic, cargo operations, and business jets. Additionally, there are more than 238,000 general aviation aircraft in the system at any time. It is critical that aircraft do not endanger other users of the NAS or compromise the safety of persons or property on the ground." It’s important to note that the FAA does recognize our hobby, our community, and our vested interests. They also understand how much rc modeling technologies have expanded and how they are now a part of a growing UAS market. Which is why model aircraft are directly involved in the pending rulings of the FAA: "The FAA recognizes that people and companies other than modelers might be flying UAS with the mistaken understanding they are legally operating under the authority of AC 91–57. AC 91–57 only applies to modelers and specifically excludes its use by persons or companies for business purposes."
According to an FAA statement, they do not have regulations in place for small radio-controlled or gas-powered airplanes operated for sport and recreation. They do, however, offer guidance for operating our model aircraft in the Model Aircraft Operating Standards Advisory Circular (AC) 91-57 which encourages voluntary compliance with proposed safety standards and leaves safety in the hands of the individual.
As of March 2011, the answer is no. However, the FAA has issued an Unmanned Aircraft Operations Notice whose purpose is to, "…provide[s] information and interim guidance on air traffic policies and prescribes procedures for the planning, coordination, and services involving the operation of unmanned aircraft systems in the national air space (NAS)." This notice primarily addresses military and civilian operations of UAS because, again, there are currently very few federal standards surrounding the operations of model aircraft.
An NPRM is a formal notice to the public by a government agency stating that they intend to create new regulations or modify already existing regulations. When an NPRM is made public, the information contained are not rules being put into place but descriptions of the subjects and issues involved. NPRMs are an important part of United States administrative law, which facilitates government by creating a process of taking of public comment.
Once the NPRM is published in the Federal Register typically you will have 60 days for public comment and an additional 30 days for reply comments. NPRMs are often preceded by a notice of inquiry (NOI) where comments are invited, but no rules have yet been proposed. Comments received in this period allow the agency to better prepare the NPRM by making more-informed decisions on proposals. An NPRM may be followed by a further notice of proposed rulemaking (FNPRM), if the comments from the initial NPRM drastically change the proposal to the point where further comment is required. Rules are finalized when a report and order (R&O) is issued.

Related posts:

1. Midair collision with rc airplane
2. K-MAX heli successfully delivers cargo
3. Remote Control Planes to Study Tornados

Editors Note: Mechanical Engineer, TimBle (his RCUniverse.com handle) has worked in Product Engineering for both Lubricants and Fuels for 2 major petroleum companies over the past 11 years. Prior to his petroleum career he worked 4 years in the Aerospace industry.

What is the difference between castor and synthetic rc fuels? Does it matter which one you use and when you use it? And why has there been raging debate over which one is better? Control Chat interviews Fuels and Lubrication Specialist, TimBle, about these long standing and often heated questions.

What is the primary difference between Castor oil and synthetic oil?

Castor Oil is a vegetable fatty acid based oil, similar to many other vegetable oil derived oils from the beans of plants.

Synthetic oil can be derived from nearly any source e.g. crude oil, vegetable oils, petroleum wax, pyrolysis of waste materials. Synthetics are termed such due to the altering of the base structure to create a set of molecules that retains advantages or improves on them but minimises the disadvantages of a simply processed oil. Castor Oil would be considered a simple processed oil.

Why use Castor oil?

Castor oil has been used as a lubricant for decades. Its chemical structure allows it to polymerise at high temperatures to form a sticky wax type material often referred as castor varnish. This wax still has lubricating properties. In the event of oil starvation the wax still separates the metal surfaces for a short time.

Why use synthetic oil?

Synthetic oils typically offer high film strength without the wax formation. Wax formation can be undesirable in ringed engines where the wax build up can result in ring sticking which will lead to a ring failure and subsequent engine failure. Synthetic oils also tend to keep the insides of the engines cleaner which results in more consistent combustion.

Can you switch from running an engine on a fuel containing Castor to a fuel containing synthetic? Or vice versa?

Yes, Castor oil is compatible with all Synthetics, especially the Poly glycols and Di-ester types used as engine oils for RC engines. When switching from castor oil to synthetic lubricant, it is not atypical for an engine to pick up rpm as there is less viscous drag with synthetics than there would be with castor oil. What also often occurs is  removal of the castor varnish due to the high solvency of the synthetic oils.

Is one oil  better to use with a 2-stroke engine? 4-stroke engine?

There is a lot of debate around this question in RC forums, often resulting in the closing of threads because people are really passionate about what works for them. There is also a lot of misinformation around synthetics. When considering an engine oil for an rc engine, the first thing to consider is the mechanical design. Is the engine an ABC/ABL type engine or does it have a compression ring?

If it is of the former type i.e. ABC/ABL, then it is wise to use some castor oil in the fuel. These engines are typically 2 stroke engines. However there are also 2-stroke engines that are ringed engines and this is typically where the debate rages into fisty cuffs and degrades into a “hand bags at dawn” type disputes.

Two Stroke methanol engines are quite tolerant of the lubricant because they are oil lubricated but fuel cooled. In the hot cylinder environment, the fuel evaporates leaving the lubricant behind to do its job.  This lubricant needs to be able to separate the ring from the liner effectively. You will be surprised to know that with a ringed engine the type of oil is less critical because the lubrication comes from the ring riding an oil wave much like a water-skier being pulled over water.

This is called hydrodynamic lubrication. In ringed engines, the oil can escape  behind the ring resulting in effective oil flow under ring to maintain that hydrodynamic wave. In an ABC type engine the oil is pushed away along with the piston, also hydrodynamic but the distribution of pressure in the oil is different. In the ABC type engines, the castor is beneficial here since its highly polar nature allows for it to cling very strongly to the walls of the cylinder ensuring you have that one layer thick oil film to provide separation.

Four strokes are typically ringed engines so the above applies to them as well. However we also need to consider where that oil feed comes from; the top of the piston or is it recirculated oil?

Now we know that 4-strokes draw fuel and oil in from above so lubricating the bore below the piston crown is tough. Hence it is even more important to use an lubricant that can flow past the compression ring i.e. an oil that does not get continuously more viscous and forms wax, but one that is stable under increasing temperature and pressure. Synthetics meet that need. Some 4 strokes recirculate the lube oil and reintroduces the oil via the crankcase. These are a little more tolerant of different lubes but essentially high quality stable viscosity oil is best.

Some people have argued that Castor oil is better than synthetic oil. Historically this argument stems from the manufacturing process of rc engines. Why is this?

If we consider the demographics of the RC hobby, I think you’ll find it s is mostly 40 to 60 something’s who are most active. When these folk started in the hobby, manufacturing techniques where not dominated by CNC (Computer Numerical Control)  machinery but by manned lathes and mills. Engines were mostly cast  and liners were not very accurate. These components were not “close fit” as they are today. The use of castor oil would result in a varnish layer on the components that effectively took up some of the tolerance and provided sealing and hence compression.

Today engines are not made this way. CNC allows millions of components to be produced within a very tight tolerance and very little deviation of dimensions from the intended specification. Modern Rc engines being close fit, actually benefit from as little varnish as possible coating engine parts.

The other dogma driving castor oil is that somehow some folk have it in their heads that castor is still in widespread use today in automotive lubricants. This is simply not true. Although vegetable oils are continuously being developed and reviewed for suitability, they see less than 1% volume use in modern motor vehicle engine oils.

Castor blend fuels often coat the inside of an engine with what is called a ‘varnish’. What is this and is it bad?

The castor varnish is essentially a polymer of castor formed by the oxidation of the castor oil. It still has lubricating properties hence people feel that this is a good thing. However in modern engines where tolerances between parts are much finer, the buildup of castor varnish can lead to a degradation in engine performance.

What is one benefit to using Castor?

It is fairly easily available over the counter and it lubricates well enough.

What is one benefit to using synthetic?

Synthetics oils tend to be more thermally stable at the operating temperatures of RC engines and they don’t leave  residue  behind in the engine.

Is mixing your own fuel recommended for a beginner?

Unless one can ensure a reliability of supply and quality of the components, I would advise against home blending. Varying fuel quality will lead to constant fiddling with mixture settings when what a beginner needs is stick time, not needle time.

What is the best fuel advice you can give to a beginner?

Pick a reputable brand and learn to work with your engines on that brand. Ensure that you keep Nitro, and oil content constant in the fuels to minimise the variables when tuning the engine. It matters not whether you opt for fuel with a little castor, a lot of castor and or full synthetic, just keep using the same fuel blend until you are comfortable with understanding your engines “moods”.

Related posts:

1. Prop’r Propellers
2. Beginners Toolkit
3. Radio Control for Beginners

Additionally, take a look at trends in the rc industry. Demand and adoption rates of electrics have been sky-rocketing especially with brushless motors which are now eclipsing older brushed technology. This isn’t to say one is better then the other (though some will attest). They both have their place in the rc world. Regardless, more rc pilots are looking into today’s electric technology as a clean and powerful alternative to fuel driven engines. So what’s the big difference between brushed and brushless motors? In a micro nutshell, here are a few key differences.

Brushed Motor	While durable in construction, they are less efficient then a brushless. Have parts that will need to be replaced from wear but, are cheaper then brushless motors.
Brushless Motor	While efficient, they are less rugged, more complex, and more expensive the brushed motors. Provides more torque and has a reduced noise level.

For more information on the mechanical specs of brushless and brushed motors, visit Wikipedia for a few good sources:

Brushed DC electric motor -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brushed_DC_electric_motor

Brushless DC electric motor -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brushless_DC_electric_motor

Related posts:

1. Electric RC – Outrunner vs. Inrunner
2. Electric RC – Electronic Speed Control
3. E-flight Ascent Brushless PNP

Electronic Speed Control (ESC)

Think of an electronic speed control (ESC) as acting like a 1) power manager, 2) and a brake.

First, the power supplied by your batteries, to your motor, is either “on” or “off”. So without something between your motor and the battery, regulating the current, you are either running at full power or not. An ESC acts like a power manager and allows you to control the amount of current (or power) that you want to go to your motor giving you your throttle.

So why would you need a brake on an electric motor? You need a brake on your motor if you are using, for example, a folding propeller on a powered glider. Activating the break (via the ESC) ‘locks’ the motor in place and prevents the motor from spinning. This, in turn, prevents your propeller from spinning freely, allows it to fold, and helps increase your aircrafts aerodynamics.

An important thing to remember when choosing an ESC is to properly match an ESC to your motor. Most all electric rc motor manufacturers provide this information for you in the manual. Additionally, be sure to purchase the right ESC for the right motor. You cannot use a brushed ESC with a brushless motor or vice versa.

Battery Eliminator Circuit (BEC)

The battery eliminator circuit (BEC) is designed to deliver electrical power to other electronics in your aircraft without the need for a separate battery. Unlike the ESC which allows you to vary the voltage (i.e. throttle) to your motor, the BEC maintains a fixed voltage to your radio and servos ensuring you have control over the aircraft.

So what happens when your battery is dead or nearly dead by the end of your flight? Do you loose control of the aircraft? Go into a death spiral? No. All BEC equipped ESCs have what is called a low-voltage cut-off feature preventing you from draining the battery so much that you no longer have control of the aircraft.

When your battery voltage becomes critically low, the BEC will continue to provide proper power to the controls but, at the expense of the motor. In turn, the power reduction to the motor tells the pilot it is time to land before they completely loose all power to the aircraft.

On thing to keep in mind: If you are using LiPo (Lithium Polymer) batteries to power your model, you never want to completely drain the battery during flight. Completely draining the battery can result in battery damage to the point where it will no longer hold a full charge or not charge at all.

It’s always best to land immediately once you begin to realize you are loosing power to the motor.

Related posts:

1. Electric RC – Brushed vs. Brushless
2. Electric RC – Outrunner vs. Inrunner
3. Selecting your first rc airplane

Inrunner
Inrunners are constructed with the magnets attached directly to the shaft, which is surrounded by the copper windings. Because the magnets are close to the shaft it spins very quickly.

This means they produce high rpm but low torque. Inrunners are efficient and powerful, but need a gearbox to spin large propellers. Inrunners are best suited for use with smaller propellers for faster flying speeds.

Outrunner
Outrunners are constructed with the copper windings on the inside. The shaft is attached to a “bell”, or casing that contains the magnets, which spin around the copper windings. Because the extra weight of the bell and magnets are further out from the shaft it acts like a flywheel. In general, outrunners have a lower rpm but a higher torque than inrunners.

This higher torque enables an outrunner to spin a larger prop. Outrunners are best suited for larger aircraft needing larger propellers.

Another thing to note: There is a key difference in the housing of an inrunner and outrunner electric motor. While the housing of an inrunner electric motor does not spin, the housing of an outrunner does. Therefore, an inrunner can come in direct contact to a surrounding surface and not damage it. However, an outrunner requires ample space surrounding the motor to allow the motors housing to spin.

Related posts:

1. Electric RC – Brushed vs. Brushless
2. Electric RC – Electronic Speed Control
3. Selecting your first rc airplane

Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the rc pilot in your life? Check our picks from pocket-sized stocking stuffers to ultimate luxuries for the most discerning pilot.
	E-Flite Blade mCX Ready to fly right out of the box, this little helicopter is a great buy for the aspiring rc pilot. Designed to fly indoors, the E-Flite Blade mCX is tough enough to withstand the punishment of an inexperienced pilot yet gentle enough that it won’t damage anything in the event of an unfortunate crash. The RTF kit comes with everything you’ll need right in the box. We recommend an extra battery as a bonus stocking stuffer!
	Husky Large-Mouth Bag Constructed of durable SpunTuff fabric, 9 internal pockets, 8 external pockets, dual-zipper top, and water resistant shell, this Husky bag is the perfect field tote or rc tool storage location for any rc pilot. Small enough to hand carry yet large enough to hold batteries, propellers, and fuel. It’s the perfect gift for the one without.
	Tower Hobbies Power Starter The Power Starter from Tower Hobbies will save your beloved pilots hands and sanity. No more manual starts. The easy-press start switch requires very little pressure to activate and the finger guards ensure a safe start. If your aviator flies fueled aircraft, this is a holiday treat from the skies!
	Multiplex MiniMAG Looking for a more serious electric rc airplane for a beginning pilot? Look no further then the Multiplex MiniMag. Constructed of durable ELAPOR Foam and optional ailerons for more experienced flight, the MiniMag is flexible enough to grow as their skills grow. Available as a kit requiring assembly or ready-to-fly out of the box, your rc pilot will appreciate the size, looks, and the fun they’ll have with the Mulitplex MiniMag.
	Hobbico VoltWatch2 The perfect stocking stuffer for any fuel powered flier. This little device saves time and in some cases, airplanes. It plugs into any unused port on their receiver and when turned on, instantly shows your pilot accurate battery voltage for their airplane batteries. Never again will they wonder if they have enough battery power to fly through the day.
	O.S. 65LA Glow Engine With a tried and true history of excellence in engines, O.S. offers this powerhouse 2-stroke engine with a convenient remote needle valve to keep your hands clear of the spinning propeller. Additionally, the size of the O.S. 65LA fits most all .40-.65 sized aircraft. Give them the love of extra power at a reasonable price.
	Silicon Fuel Tubing Really? Yes, really. There isn’t a fuel powered flier out there that couldn’t use few extra feet of silicone fuel tubing in their stocking this year. Plus, it’s the added reminder they’ll need to perform the oh-so-important yearly maintenance inspection on their engines and fuel lines.
	RealFlight RC Simulator When the weather outside is frightful the glow of the computer monitor is quite delightful! RealFlight Basic gives pilots all of the essentials needed for an ultra-realistic experience. Choose from a variety of aircraft and flying sites & enjoy flight physics like no other. Developed for over 11 years, Great Planes RealFlight is as real as it gets.
	Spektrum DX6i The cost conscious DX6i digital rc radio offers full range technology for both airplanes and helicopters that’s robust enough to use in large models and parkflyers. With 10 model memory, they’ll run out of space to store airplanes before running out of storage capabilities this radio offers. Sweeten the holiday experience by tossing a Microlite 6-Channel receiver into the stocking and they’ll love you forever. Spektrum Microlite receiver
	Hobbico Self-Healing Cutting Mat Hobbico’s Builder’s Cutting Mat is a must-have. Whether your hobbyist needs a surface to cut on or to protect during gluing or soldering, a cutting mat takes care of the job. They come in various sizes for all types of needs and are ultra-durable.
	Lipo Charging Bag If you have an electric flyer amongst your holiday crowd, a charging bag is a great gift for safety and peace of mind. With the LipoSack they can safely charge batteries in a non-flammable bag through a vent at the top seam. Batteries can burst even during proper charging practices so having the right equipment adds an extra level of safety we all can appreciate.
	Window Cleaner & Paper Towels Think twice before you chuckle at this stocking stuffer. We dare you to name one fuel flying rc aviator that doesn’t have a need to keep these cleaning items in stock at all times. Give the gift of humor & cleanliness.
	Hobbyzone Super Cub EP Another ready to fly kit, the Hobbyzone Super Cub EP was built for the do-it-yourself pilot who wants to learn to fly on their own but, needs a little help getting there. With built in Anti-Crash Technology (ACT) it’s like having a co-pilot by your side to give you an extra boost of confidence to take to the skies.
	Hobbico Custom Radio Case Help protect a valuable asset in their line of flight equipment with a sturdy transmitter case. The custom foam cushion interior, lockable latches with keys, and hard edge enclosure keeps all things safe inside from dings, nicks, and potential breakage.
	Gift Certificates Still unsure of what to get your rc hobbyist for the holidays? Get them a gift certificate from either the local hobby store or from a few of the largest online suppliers. Either way, you won’t go wrong and they’ll certainly thank you for it. Hobby Lobby Tower Hobbies Horizon Hobby – Call (800) 338-4639

Related posts:

1. Radio Control (rc) Trainer Airplanes
2. Beginners Toolkit
3. Castor Oil vs. Synthetic Oil

According to video of the accident and multiple witnesses, the radio controlled airplane was maneuvering over runway 12 when the bi-plane (seen flying from the left to right in the video) collided; substantially damaging the Shpakow SA 750 bi-plane and completely destroying the model aircraft. The bi-plane was able to land without further incident and upon examination the bi-plane revealed that the left lower wing spar had been crushed

In an article published by the Brighton Standard Blade in Colorado, Dick Knapinski, communications director for the Experimental Aircraft Association, said if the air show was at a public airport, there would have been rules in place. But because it was at the Van Aire air strip and was a radio-controlled event, then no rules governed the event.

“While the FAA does have authority over radio control aircraft, there is seldom a need to exercise such authority,” he said. “I can’t speak to exactly what the particular circumstances were at this event as to how it was controlled or whether the R/C (radio-controlled) model or the pilot of the aircraft was supposed to be in the airspace. It is a situation I don’t recall ever happening before.”

The AMA organization responded by saying, “…clearly [this is] a situation where the use of a spotter was appropriate [and that] the single largest contributing factor in this mishap was the decision to allow concurrent full-scale and RC operations.”

Additionally, in a communication sent to its members the AMA stated, “There has been a fair amount of finger-pointing as a result of this incident; however, there’s little to be gained by assigning blame. It’s extremely fortunate that the outcome of this incident was not more severe, and it’s important that we learn from this experience and apply the lessons toward ensuring the safety of future aeromodeling operations.”

For more information regarding this incident and ongoing investigation visit the FAA’s Aviation Accident Database and search for the NTSB Identification# CEN10LA487A.

Related posts:

1. Pending regulations on radio control (rc)
2. Selecting your first rc airplane
3. Airplane Tie Down

The K-MAX will go from moving mountains to moving Marine’s cargo with a design specifically geared to the service’s special requirements. The Marine Corps recently issued a request for proposals for an unmanned cargo aircraft, to which Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems and Sensors business and K-MAX manufacturer Kaman Aerospace Corporation are preparing to respond. K-MAX has already successfully demonstrated its ability to resupply troops at forward operating bases in Afghanistan. Under a contract with the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, Lockheed Martin and Kaman spent three days this past January flying the at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, meeting or exceeding the requirements that were set.

“We’ve paired Lockheed Martin’s mission management system with the rugged K-MAX airframe, which will give Marines the lift and reliability they need in theater,” said Dan Spoor, Lockheed Martin Aviation Systems vice president. The aircraft offers significantly reduced operational and logistics costs compared to transporting cargo by convoy or manned helicopter. “More importantly, it keeps our Marines readily resupplied and out of harm’s way.”

During the Dugway flights, the unmanned K-MAX demonstrated its ability to hover at 12,000 ft. with a 1,500-pound sling load, deliver 3,000 pounds of cargo well within the six-hour required timeframe in two 150 nm round-trip flights, fly remotely controlled, perform a precision load delivery by a ground-based operator in either day or night conditions and upload a new mission plan to the aircraft’s mission management system during flight.

The team also showcased the unmanned K-MAX helicopter’s four-hook carousel, which enables multi-load deliveries in a single flight. The aircraft flew to three pre-programmed delivery coordinates loaded up with 3,450 lbs of cargo, and released a sling load autonomously each location. At the Marine’s request, the fourth load delivery was performed under manual control by the ground operator.

The manned version of the K-MAX has accumulated more than 255,000 flight hours in the commercial logging and firefighting industry. Recently, the aircraft moved 2.5 million lbs of boulders in just over 40 hours at 10,000 ft altitude. Kaman designed the K-MAX helicopter to deliver sling loads up to 6,000 pounds at sea level, and 4,300 pounds at 15,000 ft. Lockheed Martin’s mission management and control systems give the K-MAX helicopter unparalleled flight autonomy in remote environments and over large distances. The team has flown the K-MAX nearly 400 hours in unmanned mode since joining forces in 2007 and submitted a competitive and cost-effective proposal to the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command on Oct. 21 for the Marine Corps Cargo UAS Services request.

For more information on the K-MAX unmanned helicopter visit Lockheed Martin at http://www.lockheedmartin.com

Related posts:

1. Remote Control Planes to Study Tornados
2. Pending regulations on radio control (rc)

May 27, 2010 — EAA and the Academy of Modeling Aeronautics (AMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Oshkosh Monday pledging to work collaboratively on programs and initiatives to expand participation in aviation.

The MOU, signed by EAA Chairman/President Tom Poberezny and AMA President Dave Mathewson, calls on the two organizations to collaborate on youth engagement efforts; pursue opportunities to work together at the local level by encouraging AMA clubs and EAA chapters to work together and promote participation in aviation; and actively encourage their members to participate in each other’s activities, including EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and the annual AMA Expo.

AMA is the world’s largest model aviation association, with a membership of more than 150,000 people and over 2,500 model airplane clubs in the U.S. AMA headquarters is in Muncie, Indiana.

“We look forward to beginning this relationship with AMA,” Poberezny said. “Model aviation is an important part the flying community and since many of our members are actively involved in modeling – or initially became interested in aviation through modeling – we see this new relationship as an opportunity to further engage people in aviation.

“Working together will also provide added value for EAA and AMA members, especially for those who want to participate in aviation in new ways,” he added.

Earlier this year the EAA AirVenture Museum debuted “Little Wings…Big Dreams, Sport Aviation in Miniature,” a new, year-long exhibit that highlights the craftsmanship and ingenuity of model aircraft builders.

Mathewson commented, “The Academy of Model Aeronautics is excited about the opportunities that entering into this partnership with the Experimental Aircraft Association present. Both organizations have a strong history of supporting aviation enthusiasts and, working together, we will be able to further those efforts.

“Flying models has been a stepping stone for many to eventual careers in aviation and aerospace,” he continued. “AMA is especially looking forward to working together with EAA on programs that will use both full-scale and model aircraft to reach out to the younger members of our communities with the intent of sparking that initial interest in aviation.”

As part of the agreement, through December 31, 2010, EAA members receive free admission to AMA’s National Model Aviation Museum in Muncie, while AMA members get free admission to EAA’s Oshkosh museum. More reciprocal benefits will be announced.

To learn more about AMA, visit www.modelaircraft.org.

Related posts:

1. AirVenture 2009
2. Midair collision with rc airplane
3. One Six Right – The Romance Of Flying

Scientists plan to launch unmanned aerial vehicles over the Great Plains May 1 to June 15 in hopes of getting a better idea of how tornadoes form.

The remote-controlled planes, known as UAVs, will be part of a broader tornado study — VORTEX 2 — that will start its second phase May 1, says Don Burgess, a research scientist with the University of Oklahoma.

The study will take place in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and Missouri, says Keli Tarp, a spokesperson with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Partners in Norman, Okla.

VORTEX 2 (Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment 2), which began last spring, is the largest-ever tornado experiment, Tarp says. The original VORTEX study in the mid-1990s helped inspire the Hollywood film Twister.

The UAVs are able to provide data high above the ground, providing a unique look at the storm, Burgess says. They are being added to the project as researchers believe they might be on the verge of a discovery about tornado formation, says Josh Wurman, president of the Center for Severe Weather Research in Boulder, Colo.

In recent months, scientists have been able to get a closer look at data collected about a June 5 Wyoming tornado intercepted during the project’s first phase last spring, Wurman says. The Wyoming storm showed them a “surge” — a secondary gust front — that formed shortly before the storm spawned a tornado, he said.

A single gust front is common in supercells, which are storms capable of producing a tornado. The discovery of the second gust front — and its potential role in creating a tornado — is what has researchers intrigued, Wurman says.

Until now, this second gust front has not been studied in great detail because it was difficult to detect without the sophisticated radar and other equipment that was in place last spring during the Wyoming storm, Wurman says.

The UAVs should provide an even better look, says Adam Houston, an assistant professor of meteorology at the University of Nebraska. They can measure temperature and moisture above the ground in the vicinity of a tornado, he said.

If researchers can prove that a secondary gust front is associated with the creation of a twister, they can focus on key questions such as how common the phenomenon is, and whether it leads to persistent and dangerous long-lasting tornadoes, Wurman says.

The Federal Aviation Administration approved the unmanned data-collecting airplanes for flights up to 1,000 feet in remote parts of Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska in the past year, says Brian Argrow, director of the Research and Engineering Center for Unmanned Vehicles at the University of Colorado. The UAV in this study, named Tempest, is a lightweight propeller-driven airplane with a 10-foot wingspan, he said.

One UAV will be flown at a time, but the scientists will have backup planes with them in case one is damaged. “We need to sample more storms, and hopefully in 2010, we’ll get that opportunity,” Burgess says.

Total funding for the Vortex 2 project is about $12 million from various sources, including the National Science Foundation, Burgess says.

This year, 76 tornadoes have been reported, which is 36% of the average, according to Greg Forbes, severe weather expert at the Weather Channel. “We will expect to see an increase in storms as we move toward May,” says Greg Carbin of the national Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla.

Martin reports for the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, S.D. Contributing: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

Related posts:

1. 2010 Holiday Gift Guide
2. Pending regulations on radio control (rc)
3. Selecting your first rc airplane