Pomona Valley Model Airplane Club

You'll definately want to pay particular attention to the June issue of Model Aviation Magazine, which should have already arrived in your mailbox, and is probably sitting there waiting to be read, as mine was.   To my surprise, this issue features  an article about the 2010 Scale Squadron Fly-in, which happens to be hosted by your PVMAC Club at Prado airfield.  Thanks to Randy Wilbur, event organizer and PVMAC Member for writing and submitting this timely article. It has some fantastic photos, and is a great write-up of the event. 

This article should give a huge boost to the 2011 event as this is incredible advertisement.  The 2011 event will be held on June 4-5, and promises to be bigger and better than last years.  Be Sure to check out the event page for more information on the 2011 event.

This week we are featuring expert scale modeler and PCMAC club member, Richard Pandis.  It's always easy to find Richard at the flight line as he always looks to be surrounded by has own mini German Luftwaffe.   His planes are finely detailed, and he is always willing to share his knowledge on his planes, and the history behind them.  Richard is also a frequent participant at most of the warbird airshows the PVMAC puts on, and his airplanes are always a crowd pleaser.  Also, Be sure to check out the High Quality YouTube Video  below Featuring his ME-2621A Project, produced by PlaneVideoArt Productions.

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
   I am a Federal Agent and currently mobilized with NCIS at GTMO working on the detainee issue.
2. How long have you been flying model airplanes?
   I started flying in 1984 with my neighbor Jeff Fassbinder.
3. What was the first airplane you flew and how did it go?
   Kit built Eagle and Jr. Tiger. Jeff helped me build them back then. We were in 8th grade. ARF's really didnt exist yet. 
4. How many different airplanes do you think you've owned since you started?
   Close to 100 maybe more
5. What is/are your most favorite aspects about being involved in this hobby?
   Im a big History buff. Prefer Luftwaffe subjects. I spend more time researching the aircraft and pilot than anything. I enjoy the history almost as much as the flying. My rule is, no hanger queens...If I build it...I fly it.
6. Tell me about the airplane you enjoy flying most today?
   Right now my favorite is my BVM Electra. Really nothing like EDF power and BVM has it all dialed in.
7. What's the best memory you have since becoming involed in this hobby?
   The friends I have made in the hobby.
8. What is the biggest mistake you've made (in the Hobby), and what did you learn from it?
   Not speaking up when I see a new guy doing something dangerous. Made it a rule to help as many less experienced modelers with basic safety when I can. Seen a few fingers lossed at the field and want to avoid that again.
9. What are you working on now?
   I have a 144" wingspan TA-152 H-1 Focke Wulf coming out soon. This was the Luftwaffes last fighter of the war. Only about 8 saw combat around Berlin in May 1945. David Pearson is helping on this project. Final aircraft will be "grun 4" flown by Walter Loos. Will be a show stopper when finished.
10. If you could fly in any real airplane, what would it be and why?
    ME-262. My all time favorite jet. Building one and flying it makes me appreciate it all the more.

Updated 5/2/11

Congratulations to Kyle and Phil Goodwine, and Frank Harris on taking 3rd in the difficult and new Unlimited class, as well as Best Four Stroke Engine Performance and finally runner up for Peoples Choice for Best Military at Top Gun 2011, with your amazing F4F-4 Wildcat. All the hard work, experience and perseverance has payed in spades.  Phil Goodwine said this about the Unlimited class competition, "The top 3 in this class were seperated by 2 points".

As you may already know, Top Gun is a contest put on by world renowned builder Frank Tiano and is designed to find the best RC Scale builder/flyer in the world. If you were at the March club meeting, you got a chance to see the prized airplane, and listen to hopefuls Frank, Phil, and Kyle talk about the daunting task they undertook, and see first hand the level of craftsmanship that is required in order to be competitive and win at Top Gun.    I'm sure there will be more details to come but for now enjoy these beautiful shots of the winning F4F-4 at Top Gun, courtesy of Ken Isaac of RCUniverse.com

click to enlarge

This week, we are proud to feature Lonnie Morrison, who is one of the original founding members of the PVMAC. You can always find Lonnie either at the Prado field or at  Hobby Club USA, where he is always willing to share some of his knowledge about flying or life in general.   

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
   I am a 70-year-old retired diesel mechanic. My dad owned El Monte Tree Service and I worked with him until I was drafted into the army in 1963, when I spent one year in Vietnam. I have done many improvements to my home including building an oak mantle and staircase. I enjoy working with wood. But what brings me the most pleasure in life is my almost-4-year-old great-granddaughter, Bailey. She is the sunshine in my life.
2. How long have you been flying model airplanes?
   I started when I was 14 years old flying U-control planes. I have always been interested in airplanes and flying.
3. What was the first airplane you flew and how did it go?
   My father-in-law helped me build my first Cub after I got out of the service. The plane was OK but the electronics in those days were not very dependable. It lasted a few weeks, then I started building another plane. 
4. How many different airplanes do you think you've owned since you started?
   Too many to count. At first it took months to build a plane from kits or plans. Now I can build one in days. I have many today in my garage and trailer.
5. What is/are your most favorite aspects about being involved in this hobby?
   I like building as much as flying. The friendships I have made since starting with PVMAC are what I enjoy most. Another favorite thing is helping new pilots learn to fly and helping them with their planes. I enjoyed racing the Unlimited RC pylon planes for several years. I am also flying IMAC in contests. Now that I am older, my favorite thing to do is sit in my chair at the field holding a cup of coffee in one hand and watching the planes fly and visiting with my friends.
6. Tell me about the airplane you enjoy flying most today?
   My favorite planes to fly today are the giant scale IMAC planes. They are easier to see and fly and are much more stable.
7. What's the best memory you have since becoming involed in this hobby?
   My best memory is helping with the Toys-for-Tots event that we have held at the field for many years. I have enjoyed this and I especially like teaching young people the basics of flying.  My best memory is helping with the Toys-for-Tots event that we have held at the field for many years. I have enjoyed this and I especially like teaching young people the basics of flying. 
8. What is the biggest mistake you've made (in the Hobby), and what did you learn from it?
   Another member and I were racing T-6 40 size planes of the same color, and when the planes came around a pylon they touched. Both planes went out of control and crashed. When I retrieved my plane I realized that it wasn't mine. We had both tried to control the wrong plane. We laughed about that for a long time. I learned that I have to keep my eyes on my own plane. 
9. What are you working on now?
   I am working on a giant scale P-51 Mustang with DA 60 motor. It will have smoke, flaps, and retractable landing gear and tail wheel.
10. If you could fly in any real airplane, what would it be and why?
    I would fly in a P-51 Mustang. That has always been my dream.

We've just added the History of the PVMAC to the website.   This was written by board member Steve Parolla a few months back, and we're just getting around to posting it.  If you've ever wondered how it all began, this is the page you'll want to visit.  Its permanent home is under the "About PVMAC" menu item.  

By the way, the vintage photos of rc magazines and ads featured on the history page are courtesy of http://www.airplanesandrockets.com/,   who graciously allowed me to post a few on our history page.  They have a large collection of old rc magazines and vintage articles up there for you to peruse.  Enjoy.

As one of the largest RC flying clubs in the West, with over 450 members strong, its difficult to know everyone.  In an attempt to bring the club closer together, we're introducing a new feature on the website called "10 Questions".  Every so often (no promises on the frequency) we will feature one of our friendly club members who has some knowledge to share.  The questions will always be the same, and there are no rules on how to answer them, so the featured pilot can be as  brief or lengthly as he/she likes.

This week, we feature Stanly Wagner, who is a frequent flyer at the Prado Airpark.  Stan is always willing to lend a helping hand, so I thought who better  than with Stan to kick off this new feature.

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
   I'm 63yrs old. I've been married for 42 years. I have 5 children and 10 grandchildren. I was born in California and have lived here all of my life. I have been involved in Drag racing since 1964. My other favorite hobby is model "N" guage trains.
2. How long have you been flying model airplanes?
   On and off for over 50yrs.
3. What was the first airplane you flew and how did it go?
   The first model airpalne I was a control line profile plane powered by a .09 size engine.
4. How many different airplanes do you think you've owned since you started?
   100's
5. What is/are your most favorite aspects about being involved in this hobby?
   Helping others with the hobby and introducing new people to the hobby.  I also enjoy modifying and flying odd types of planes (pizza, surfer, witch on broom)
6. Tell me about the airplane you enjoy flying most today?
   My favorite type of plane is float or seaplane. My favorite plane is the Canadair CL415 superscooper twin engine seaplane.
7. What's the best memory you have since becoming involed in this hobby?
   Having a friend of mine get me back into the hobby. I was out of the hobby for over 20yrs. A friend convinced me to go float flying with him at a local lake. He flew his plane for awhile then landed. We watched others fly their planes then he took off with his plane, flew it around the pattern then put the transmitter in my chest and said to fly it and walked away. I flew it then landed it and the rest was history. I was hooked and now own over 40 planes.
8. What is the biggest mistake you've made (in the Hobby), and what did you learn from it?
   Trying to fly a autogyro. Not to impluse buy just because you think you have to have something different.
9. What are you working on now?
   A new CL415, with a tank in it to pick up and drop water in flight.
10. If you could fly in any real airplane, what would it be and why?
    Probably a Stearman, I have flown in open cockpit planes before and there is nothing like that felling.