These are the second and third parts of our program:
Scout Presentation at the shop (Field Trip)
Flying at the Barnyard Buzzards club field We were fortunate to have been invited by Laura Adams to participate in the Cub Scout Pack 433 program to help the scouts with "Collection Achievement" and "Tools for Fixing and Building Achievement" aspects of their program. The scouts meet at the Sunset Elementary School, and we were the program for their January 14th meeting.
The program stared out explaining flight and demonstrating some indoor flight using a Peck Polymers Rocket Boy (Jetex powered), Sky Streak (Rubber Power), and a peanut scale rubber power model.
A Hobbico Avistar with a JR Radio system was used to show the Radio Control parts and operation.
Various tools from the flight kit were shown and discussed, including pliers, adjustable wrench, screwdrivers, and more. R/C specific items were also presented including a Quick Charger, ESV, glow plug wrench and starters. The scouts recognized most of these special items.
Safety was an element of every discussion. The scouts were shown how to fuel and de-fuel the Avistar using the flight kit's fueling system. The poison symbol on the fuel jug was discussed, also.
The scouts got to see and handle various engines. These were part of Ron Swift's engine collection, including:
- Zeus 0.61 CI Alcohol fuel Two Stroke from Russia
- Super Tigre 0.61 CI Alcohol fuel Two Stroke from Italy
- Enya 1.20 CI Alcohol fuel 4-stroke from Japan
- HB 0.61 CI Alcohol fuel Two Stroke from Germany
- Modela CO2 free flight engine from Czechoslavakia
- Quadra 42 (2.52 CI) gasoline Two Stroke from Canada
- PAW 0.15 CI Diesel Fuel Two Stroke from England
- McCoy 0.35 CI Red Head Alcohol Fuel Two Stroke from USA
Following these discussions and hands on sessions, the Hobbico Avistar with its Saito 50 4-stroke engine were used to demonstrate safe engine starting.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the presentation. Each of the scouts was given their own Sky Streak kit (donated by the club). The kits were built and Laura helped the scouts learn to use a hammer and screwdriver to finish the requirements for one of the achievements. They were having lots of fun flying the planes outside the school.
This was the first part of a two part program. On Sunday, the scouts and families will visit Ron Swift's shop to see more tools, planes, and if the weather cooperates, fly a plane using a buddy box system.
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Ron is demonstrating the servo operation using the Avistar. The scouts were very interested in the model and asked some really good questions. |
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With the wing mounted on the fuselage, the plane was easier to see. Keeping clear of the propeller arc and always treating an engine as if it could start up at any moment were explained to the scouts. Again, safe operation was a theme that ran throughout the program. |
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Chuck Guy helped with starting the engine (it is running in this photo). For safety reasons Chuck held the model and all adjustments are made from behind the engine. The Avistar was taxied out a little ways and the engine shut off from the transmitter - again showing safety and R/C control. |
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Laura is helping teach the use of the hammer as one of the boys is readying his rubber powered Sky Streak for yet another flight. The boys trimmed their planes and were getting very long flight times outside. |
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