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Roaring Runways
News Letter
Vol: 0624
Hi All
Welcome to this newsletter edition of Roaring Runways with the goings-on of our Model Aviation Northland members' articles and other club correspondence.
The mowing register has started:
June:
Doug Shearer, Chris Willemen & Andreas Gabler
July:
George Plesky, Grant Shaw & Neal Moss
August:
Greg McKenzie, Grant Plaisted & Martin Croucher
September:
Harvey Schroyen, Mike Shaw & Carl Hanson
October:
Stien Henderson, Scott Lea & Sven Williams
Club day was a little wet and windy but we still pulled out the BBQ, Andreas & Sven got out their fomies and that was interesting to watch.
There are some Model Flying updates that members should read.
"Please share with me any content that is newsworthy."
Editor/ President
Welcome Travis Crowson as our newest member to Model Aviation Northland,
Our club training is moving forward and awesome to have young and old upcoming pilots in the making.
Congratulations Travis! as passed his basic power & basic glider wings test under the teaching of Grant Plaisted.
Kamov Ka-32 by Carl Hansen
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Q: Why a Kamov Ka-32? A: Mainly because it was part of Matthias Strupf'scustom built Heliclassics stable.
Q: Why Matthias?
A: Matthias has a reputation in the modelling world for on-time delivery plus he has a great personality and goes the extra mile to supply top-of-the-range equipment. He only sources and uses proven quality components in all of his models. For us buying high-end models from the other side of the world can be a risky business but with Heliclassics it has always been a stress-free process. Matthias has built a reputation as the sole manufacturer of exquisitely built bespoke scale helicopters for the discerning modeller. His talents are unique in that his models are superbly engineered, tested and proven for reliability in real flying conditions. The detailing and paint finishing is second to none. As Matthias has built previous models for me, I had the confidence of knowing it would be a practical work of art, exquisitely built and so stand the rigours of flight. No one else in the world had one available. It's so ugly in the air it is beautiful.
- Q: Why the paint scheme? A: The paint scheme was sourced from a website called Airliner.com. I also wanted something to visually stand out and accentuate all the detail - no other reason. Matthias's own words - For the painting, I always use base coat - it's a lacquer compound without hardener, the last layer of clear coat is a soft gloss two-component clear coat, as used for car painting. The steps are the following: • Sanding of all parts with scotch bright
- • 3 component wet in wet primer white (made by SIKKENS) • Base coat (yellow) • Taping for the red stripes • Hours later the red stripes (also with base coat) • Painting of all the markings with the help of a paint mask • Base coat transparent
- • Water slide decals (need to be painted over with transparent water base coat) • Another thin layer of transparent base coat • Weathering • Last but not least the 2 component soft gloss clear coat
One of many demo flights at Tokoroa Jet meeting with Matthias at the controls.
Left to right: Carl Hansen, Don Barker and Matthias Strupf.
Q: How does it fly?
A: It is not too much of a challenge to fly in a scale-like manner, it has plenty of power and is docile in the air with great yaw control. Matthias has been able to master the challenge of stable flight characteristics with co-axial machines, unlike others who have attempted this. Q: What radio equipment do you use? A: Futaba 18MZ Transmitter with all Futaba BLS172 high voltage/30kg digital output servos. Q: What's the onboard stabilisation system? A: Helicommand for the rotor system including yaw control and a separate Futaba Gyro on the large twin rudders.
Q: What electronics and battery system are you using and why? A: We use twin Robbie Roxy Lipo 2S 2200 mAh batteries through a Power Box Evolution System to ensure dual redundancy in case of a battery failure. The Turbine Battery is a 3600 mAh 3S Robbie Roxy. Battery choice was decided by the manufacturer due to proven quality & reliability. The flight stabilisation system is Helicommand Rigid due to its proven reliability and suitability for scale flying. We use 9 Channels with 7 Servos in total, 3 channels on Cyclic & 2 on the yaw control, 1 on the rudders and one micro servo for the lights which are electronically triggered. Q: How heavy is it? A: Dry weight is 30.5 kg which puts it into the over 25 kg category requiring NZ CAA Certification as an unmanned aircraft. The model already carried German Certification to fly. Q: Any problems with the seemingly daunting task of getting CAA approval? A: None whatsoever, with great guidance from the CAA, Model Flying New Zealand and our own large turbine model helicopter inspector. Q: What turbine and mechanics are in the model? A: The turbine is a 2-stage PAHL Taurus turboprop delivering 12 KW (16 Shaft Horse Power) Mechanics are built by Heliclassics specifically for Co-Axial Rotor Helicopters. (The prototype mechanics had over 50 hours of developmental flight testing to prove reliability.) Q: How did you feel about flying such a large unfamiliar machine? A: As I was in Germany on business, I visited Matthias Strupf at his workshop and was invited to fly his first Kamov Ka-32. I was made to feel comfortable with just over an hour's flight time under Matthias' guidance. Matthias is as good a flyer as he is a builder, which helped immensely with this process. Q: How much Fuel does it carry? A: 5 Litre main tank and a 1.5 Litre hopper tank giving a comfortable 18 minutes flight time with lots of fuel left in reserve
SPECIFICATIONSRotor 2.5 metres diamètreRotor RPM 830 RPMLength 2.32 metresWeight 30.5kg's unfuelledEngine Pahl Taurus TurbineFuel 12 Kw with kerosene start 6.5 litres total capacity
Flight Time Comfortable 18 minutes (with plenty left in reserve)
2018
TMAC Model Auction Sunday 16th June
Add description here.2018
Club Day "30th June" Last Sunday of the month
Add description here.2018
Club Day "28th July" Last Sunday of the month
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Club day was a wee bit windy and wet, but the hearty soles turned up and the BBQ was on fire & Alert surely enjoyed the BBQ.
Our grass has started to grow
Model Flying NZ Wings Program Changes
The upcoming changes to the MFNZ wings scheme have created quite a bit of concern and debate amongst our members. The reality is this is not actually an onerous change and should be relatively straightforward for most of us to achieve.
Discussions with small groups of members were held at a recent flying event about the Wings Renewal Program (WRP) and other issues MFNZ members might be facing. Some were immediately receptive while others were quite negative to start.
However, without exception, by the end of the chat, all accepted the need for the WRP and acknowledged that it shouldn’t be too hard to get through. Discussions included;
Traditional model flying practices have been under threat for many years.
That threat level intensifies on an almost daily basis. Each story of a drone preventing firefighting aircraft, for example, hardens the resolve of the CAA and the public to ‘sort out the drone problem’ – and we as responsible model fliers are wrapped up in that drive to more regulation.
In the case of New Zealand, a degree of that lack of awareness of the threat to our continued normal model flying may be down to the efforts of a handful of folks such as Jonathon Shorer and Chris Jackson who have been in continuous dialogue with relevant Government agencies and officers in an effort to retain as many freedoms as possible for MFNZ members.
If you have any doubt about the success of those campaigns to date, have a look below at the state of play in other Western countries.
In the UK – Model fliers have to complete an online CAA test to get a registration number that then has to be displayed on every model. There is an annual fee of NZ$21 to remain current. They are currently fighting to resist having to install a $600 ID device to models and have geofencing imposed.
In the USA – Anything weighing more than 250g must be registered with the FAA, $5 per aircraft and fliers must be over 13 years of age. If you are not flying in an FRIA (FAA Recognised Identification Area) you must install a Remote ID (RID) module in each aircraft, which retails for around $ 100 USD each. FRIAs are flying areas that are sanctioned by the AMA (and are very difficult to get!)
In Japan – Anything weighing more than 100g must be registered with the Japanese CAA, fees vary but around $ 12 USD per aircraft. Everything weighing more than 100g must have a RID module. Fines are $ 3000 USD and a year in jail. The nearest flying site to
Tokyo is now 2 hours drive and shared with microlight aircraft.
In Canada – Mandatory qualification (Basic RPAS certification) from Transport Canada and registration for everything above 250g. MAAC has been stripped of approvals for an exemption to the qualification and all other privileges due to not overseeing flying site registration in accordance with Transport Canada’s requirements. RID coming soon.
CAA NZ has an official policy of being a “fast follower” of overseas legislation.
It is worth remembering the wins that MFNZ have made recently:
● We can fly within 4km of an airfield (if we follow the rules)
● No age limits
● No registration or remote ID
● We can fly at Night
● We can conduct Shielded BVLOS
● We can have models heavier than 25kg
● We can fly above 400ft if we meet the airspace requirements.
● Our renewal requirement isn’t every year
These benefits are far from common around the world now and we need to protect them, they were all hard fought for over many years and we are well-legally armed to protect them in the future.
The MFNZ Wings Renewal Program... MFNZ need to have the WRP process documented and in place by 1 Jan 2025.
Wings renewal will then occur in the following 5 years on a timeline to be confirmed.
This will be a 3 step process;
Part A
An online open-book test of 20 multichoice questions. Each question has a hyperlink to the relevant section of the Airspace and Rules Syllabus. This is designed to refresh and extend your knowledge of the Airspace we share with manned aviation and also MFNZ rules.
Once the test has been taken, a pass will be valid for 12 months. If you fail you can re-sit as many times as necessary to get a pass. The test would provide immediate feedback on your results. The pass mark is 80%.
Some of those invited to review the exam thought they could pass the test without referring to the reference material – few passed! By simply reading the relevant short section of the reference material the correct answers can quickly be found.
Part B
This test will be a simple demonstration of your competency. It will include preparing your aircraft for flight, performing a takeoff, and executing left and right turns followed by a landing. The complexity and duration of the test will be at the discretion of the
examiner.
If you have either a higher level wings qualification such as Large or High Speed then the test would need to be conducted on that type of aircraft.
Part C
Finally, there’s an oral test. This will be done concurrently with the practical component of the test (outlined above). The examiner will ask ten questions from the Club Rules about the flying site they were using. These could cover local airspace, site boundaries, pit rules, flight line rules, local hazards, noise level rules, spectator rules, observer rules, site relations with neighbours and allowable aircraft types.
Wings Examiner role...
Our Wings examiners will be an essential part of this program. Currently, there are 222 Wings examiners, hopefully, they will all wish to continue in the role. The task of renewing members should not be too demanding when considering the number of wings holders in your club spread over 5 years. 2 or 3 tests could easily be conducted in a morning flying session.
Current and future Examiners will need to complete a short training program which will include watching a video about the process and completing the Wings Renewal exam. This should take about an hour and will need to be completed by November
1st this year. The content will be available in August.
Once complete and certified by MFNZ, examiners will be available to other clubs if requested.
The Wings renewal program is an important exercise in refreshing airspace knowledge and demonstrating continued flying competency. This will ensure our continued compliance with CAA requirements and our access to continue with the flying freedoms we enjoy.
Large Model Changes
As your responsible committee, we will be monitoring (if applicable) members who operate Large Models ensuring they have current permits as required under the Model Flying NZ Large Model Code of Practice as new regulations for inspections came into play January 2024.
In particular, the introduction of a "user pays" system for operating Large Models.
To find out more and the reasons behind this visit the link Model Flying NZ Large Model Code of Practice
The Tauranga Model Aircraft Club Model Auction is set for Sunday 16th June, check out the weblink
https://taurangamodelfly.org/annual-auction/ The auction will be held at Classic Flyers Museum, Mt Maunganui Gates open at 7.30 am and start at 10.00 am
Future transmiter for RC flying
Doug Shearer
Carl Hansen
Model Flying NZ
Airbourne Magazine