John Lee

Posted by jrman on 04/06/2015 19:23:22: Worth checking with your examiner on the day. This extract from the "guidance notes" clearly refers to "first flight of the day". This to me would infer a range check is advisable. (a) Carry out pre-flight checks as required by the BMFA safety codes. The pre-flight checks are laid out clearly in the BMFA handbook. The candidate should also go through the pre-flying session checks, also laid out in the handbook. Ask the candidate to go through their checks as if the test flight was their first flight of the day.   I think you infer too much. The Handbook states for those checks: PRE FLYING SESSION MODEL CHECKS On arrival at the flying site: (1) Check airframe for any transit damage. (2) Check that servos and linkages are secure. (3) Check undercarriage for secure fixing and correct alignment. (4) Check propeller for damage and secure fixing. (5) Check receiver aerial for damage and secure fixing and, with 2.4 GHz equipment, that the aerial orientation is correct. and then goes on to the normal pre-flight checks. There are no tricks, nuances or catches on the A (or B) tests. It's just checking you are doing what you should normally do. Edited By John Lee on 04/06/2015 19:59:40

Nice grown up coverage in the local paper.

There is no requirement in the A test to conduct a range check. You are required to conduct the pre flying session model checks & checks before each flight as detailed on page 37 of the BMFA Handbook. However you may be asked in the questions session how to conduct a range check, which should be in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendations. Edited By John Lee on 04/06/2015 13:33:46

I'm going to AeroExpo at Sywell on the Friday & rather than battle the Friday evening traffic back to the North West I've booked a local Travelodge & will take in Long Marston Saturday morning. Never been before so good to read the positive comments.

It does applies here BEB but the power goes through the Clubs & regions. As I stated earlier: "The members control the company. In our case we control it through Clubs and Areas. The structure is explained on pages 5-10 and 80-81 of the BMFA Handbook 2010 printed edition."

You can be a member of a club, buy how can you be a member of a company? BEB Under Section 22 (2) of the Companies Act (That was the 1985 Companies Act, the reference may have changed under subsequent Acts, I've not kept up to date with the legislation in recent years) which states: "Every person who agrees to become a member of a company, and whose name is entered in its register of members, is a member of the company" Edited By John Lee on 17/05/2015 21:22:35

If its a company limited by guarantee then the members (ie ALL BMFA members) are the "electorate" and entitled to attend and vote in the AGM - However I note from the BMFA web site that the SMAE acts as a holding company - How that would affect things I am not sure No we cannot vote as individuals at the AGM, only through an affiliated club - I refer again to the BMFA Handbook, page 9 'Voting'. BMFA & SMAE Ltd are one & the same - see Handbook Page 5 'The SMAE & BMFA'. Edited By John Lee on 17/05/2015 20:07:33

Posted by Dave Hopkin on 17/05/2015 19:04:23: Posted by Dickw on 17/05/2015 18:25:24: As pointed out earlier in this thread, the BMFA/SMAE is:- "Private company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital" That is stated on the front page of the "articles of association", which is the legal document explaining how it works and no mention of shareholders. Dick Share capitalisation is a different beast from share holders - under UK Company law there has to be at least one shareholder No there does not. A Company Limited by Guarantee does not need any shareholders, they have members who have a liability to the company if it becomes insolvent. In our case this is £1. The members control the company. In our case we control it through Clubs and Areas. The structure is explained on pages 5-10 and 80-81 of the BMFA Handbook 2010 printed edition. Edited By John Lee on 17/05/2015 20:01:43

Posted by Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator on 09/05/2015 21:20:33: I reckon there are at least a few plane flyers out there that might fancy a go at a quad if they could get one which wasn't just a toy that presented no challenge, at a reasonable price and there was a bit of guidance about how to put it together. Count me in that category. I got the last one from the UK warehouse this morning plus a Micro Wii. 'Janet & John' style for the programming please!

Novel way to rig a Wots-Wot Photos 3 & 4

I've used it for years without the slightest problem, so it certainly is for everyday use.

I use acetone on a cotton wool swab.

It was discussed on this thread DSM2 is dead (on new Spektrum radios) earlier this year. Horizon Hobby UK shows DSMX modulation only in the product specs of all their radios now on their website.

SLEC do a dozen different ball links, there should be something there that will do the job. Put 'ball' in their search box. The small cup links are my favourite.

Kwick Fli 3 for me back in the 80's. As an examiner 9 out of the last 10 tests I've conducted have been with electric foam models - Acro Wot, Wot 4 & Funcub.

You are not alone Russ, it has been discussed under 'subscriber queries' in this thread. I had similar problems which mysteriously were solved overnight after posting!

Yes, no problem the Rx will work in any orientation. I have mine mounted just above the vent hole with the long antenna clear taped along the bottom of the fuselage. You can mount the Rx adjacent to a servo but keep the antennas so that they have the best possibility of seeing the Tx without obstruction. There's a good 'how to' video on the Horizon Hobby site.

Posted by Paul Marsh on 25/02/2015 22:47:39: DSM X tx's will also work as well, as they will go to DSM 2 if the rx being bound is DSM2, but not the other way. But not recent Txs sold in Europe with the latest firmware. These are DSMX only since Jan 2015 to comply with EU regulations and are not back compatible with DSM2. This thread discusses. Edited By John Lee on 26/02/2015 11:50:26

Yes it will work. Rx Manual is available here: DSM2 2.4GHz Receivers

Jr did do a 7 channel RD 721 for a time but I think you will be lucky to find one now.

One I'd suggest avoiding is the BlueBird BMS-555DMG, I had 4 in my MiniVec (similar size to the Sunbird) and after a couple of years 2 lost neutral & started wandering. I've swapped them out for KST 135MG's from Hyperflight which so far so good.

Posted by David P Williams on 17/02/2015 16:01:48: On a related matter, what's the best way to de-static a vac formed canopy (or shrunk pop bottle in the current case) prior to attaching, so that it isn't full of bits. A few drops of fabric conditioner in a bowl of water does the trick.

I use a nano carbon volatile optical memory - AKA a pencil

I recently went through the same debate myself and in the end opted for the Angel 50e. In my case it was influenced by the Angel taking standard size servos & I had 4 high quality servos sitting doing nothing. I would have needed new servos if I had opted for a Wind or Mythos & that would have added considerably to the cost. I got mine from Dumfries Model Flying who were excellent.

Like Geoff H I use the recommended 13x4 prop. No it won't hover, but for me that's not the point of this model. Edited By John Lee on 12/02/2015 11:47:05