MODEL AERONAUTICAL ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INC

MODEL AERONAUTICAL ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INC.

Newsletter

NO. 6/2003

The M.A.A.A. Manual of Procedures, which contains procedures, policies and forms, is now on the M.A.A.A. web site. If you require information on any topic relative to the operation of model aircraft, the Manual is a very good place to start. Please be aware that it is a live document and the procedures and forms are updated from time to time. Please note that every document is dated, so if you have downloaded one recently check the date against the version on the web site to ensure you have the latest version.

Mayard Hill of the US has just claimed new world distance and duration records for a model aircraft. The distance being 3039 kms and the duration 33h 39m. 15s. This is pretty incredible when you consider that the model can only have a maximum take off mass of 5kg.

The model flew from Newfoundland in Canada to Ireland. Victorian Peter Garoni once held the distance record. He set it across the Nullabour in 1994.

Internal Navigation Systems

The M.A.A.A. has adopted a policy on internal navigation systems in model aircraft. The policy does not allow the use of any internal navigation device that allows for autonomous flight. This does not include gyros such are in helicopters or stabilisation systems sometimes used to assist in training. However, any model that uses an internal navigation device for autonomous control will be considered as being in contradiction to M.A.A.A. policies. Therefore, it is highly likely that our insurance policies would not be applicable.

The full text of the policy is available in the M.A.A.A. Manual of Procedures on the M.A.A.A. web site.

Frequency Keys & Boards

The M.A.A.A.’s preferred method of frequency control at flying fields is the “Silvertone” © system. The original Silvertone system used 2” of the keyboard to represent 20kHz of frequency bandwidth. These boards were commonly called the “imperial” board. For example, a radio certified for 20kHz bandwidth used a 2” (50.8mm) wide key. This was fine for the 29MHz band but when the 36MHz band became available the width of the keyboard expanded considerably. The original Silvertone board for the 36MHz band was made in two rows. This required the use of “guard” keys for the frequency in the middle of the band where a 2 wide key would have covered another slot but it was on the other half of the board. Some clubs joined the two half rows to make one long board, but most operated with two separate rows for the 36MHz band.

To overcome the problems associated with the 36MHz keyboard being in two halves and the need for “guard” keys Silvertone released a “metric” version of the 36MHz board approximately half the total length of the “imperial” board. With the “metric” board, 12.5mm represented a bandwidth of 10kHz. Therefore, a frequency key for 20kHz for the “metric” keyboard was about half the width of a 20kHz key for the “imperial” keyboard.

As part of the requirements for 10kHz operation, the M.A.A.A. required that if a Club decided to allow 10kHz bandwidth radios to be used at their field they MUST adopt and use a “metric” keyboard. This requirement was designed to reduce the possibility of keys being used wrongly between imperial and metric keyboards with the safety implications that would result.

Silvertone also improved the design to remove the possibility of “metric” keys being used with “imperial” key boards by increasing the width of the tang on the back of the new “metric” keys and to widen the tang slot on all new “metric” boards manufactured. This has the affect that the new “metric” (wide tang) keys will not fit into the “imperial” keyboards. This removes the possibility of their use with the “imperial” keyboards, as they would not fit into it.

It is known that there are several early “metric” keyboards with the narrow tang slots in use at clubs and their members still using the old “metric” narrow tang frequency keys. Both the M.A.A.A. and Silvertone recommend, in the interest of safety and to bring each club to a uniform standard, that the older narrow tang “metric” boards be modified to use the new wide tang “metric” key and all members discard the narrow tang frequency keys and use the new wide tang “metric” keys. To change the frequency board requires a fairly simple task of milling the keyboard slots wider to take the new keys. The new wide tang keys are available from Silvertone. For additional visual recognition the metric keys are manufactured form yellow plastic.

To summarise, the M.A.A.A. requires that the imperial keyboard can only be used for 40kHz and 20kHz frequency spacing with keys of 4” and 2” widths respectively. The metric keyboard can be used at 40kHz, 20kHz, and if the club agrees and in line with the M.A.A.A. requirements, 10kHz frequency spacings with yellow keys of 12.7, 25.4, or 50.8 mm respectively.

Team Trials for World Champs

There has apparently been a little confusion regarding team trials for World Championships. The running of World Championship Team trial/s is the responsibility of the various Special Interest Groups. It is their responsible to advise the M.A.A.A. Secretary and members of the location and dates of the trials so that members have every opportunity to participate.

The M.A.A.A. prefers a single trial system but Special Interest Groups are able to apply for permission from the M.A.A.A. Executive to run a multi trial system. It is essential that Special Interest Groups start planning for team trials at leat one year prior to the World Championship. It also the responsibility of the Special Interest Group to advise the M.A.A.A. Secretary of the members who have qualified for a position in the team.

There is a procedure in the M.A.A.A. Manual of Procedures that details the requirements for Team Trials.

If any member is interested in competing for a position in a World Championship team they should contact the Special Interest group in their state or their State Secretary for the contact details of the special interest group in their state.

World Champ Results

During 2003 5 teams represented Australia overseas. The results of our teams and their members are listed below;

Ranjit Phelan & Rodney Donohue 4^th ; Frank Harrod & Noel Davern 8^th Rodney Donohue & Ranjit Phelan 24^th.

Control Line in USA ; F3J - Gliding in Canada ; F4C - Scale in Poland and F5B & D - Electric in the U.K.

There is also the Asia Oceanic F3A – Pattern - Championships being held at Coolum in Queensland from 15 to 24^th of July 2004. If you are interested in pattern then you should start planning to be a Coolum in July. This will be a rare chance to see some the world best F3A pilots in action.

The centenary of flight, December 17^th, is fast approaching. What is your club doing about it? I know quite a few clubs are planning events to mark this milestone. If your club is not, why not start to plan a get together at your field to celebrate this very historic event. It is amazing to think that flight has come so far in such a short time.

Membership Numbers

Several people have made comment that we will loose members this year due to the large fee increases as a result of the large rise in insurance costs. So far this year the numbers appear to be similar to last year, however it is far too early to get a good idea of the numbers. We all just have to continue to promote the value of membership and that despite the savage increases our insurance it still represent good value for the protection that we get.

Any Association/Club is only as good as its membership. It is vital that we maintain our membership numbers and preferably have them rise. If the number of members drop then it puts pressure on our revenue stream due to the loss of revenue for those that have dropped out.

The best way to ensure we continue as an active Association is to get new members involved in this great sport/hobby. Let us all try to encourage at least one new member to join us each year. Maybe it is a workmate or a friend has shown an interest. Why not invite them down to your field to have a go. Many clubs have instructors that are able to give potential members a trial lesson. Lets get more members into this great sport/hobby so that the Associations can continue to thrive.