SEN 2422
- Watts in charge ?
- Still More Fab Feb Pictures
- Spring at Wawayanda
- Skyscraper’s Annual
- Hatcheck International Challenge May 19-20, 2018
- Old Rhinebeck Squadron Flying Aces at Barron Field
Watts in charge ?
From: Roger Morrell
Recently one of my flying buddies found a new battery that looked good for his F1B. This battery was the size of some 150mah batteries but professed to be a 240mah. He wanted me to test it. I use CBA (Computerized Battery Analyizer) from West Mountain Radio. This discharges the battery at a constant rate to voltage you specify. I use 3 volts for a single LiPo. It is connected to a PC via a USB cable and it gives a graph of voltage against time or voltage against amps consumed. I assumed the batterywas charged so did a test. It showed a capacity of less than 100 mah against the 240 mah claimed. I know the claims can be “optimistic “ but this seemed too much. I noticed the initial voltage was low at 3.7
So I recharged the battery using a regular ‘heavy duty’ charger I have that has many options , charge rates, number of cells etc. When I put the battery back on the CBA after the charge the initial voltage was higher at 3.9 volts and the capacity was almost 100 mah. Better but still way off.
I have another charger that I use for the batteries of the timers in my F1B models, this is an older charger, less option and is not made any more. This time after charge the CBA showed and initial voltage of 4.15 volts and a capacity of 170 mah. Big difference, still not at 240 but probably realistic for the size of the battery and probably usable in an F1B. Both chargers I used had a cut off at 4.20 volts.
Lessons learned
1. Some battery makers are optimistic about the capacity of their batteries. Which I guess we knew anyway
2. Some chargers work a whole lot better than others, something that is a lot less well known. Clearly this is not only important for the batteries like this one that is intended for the onboard systems: timer, tracker, GPS, Altimeter, RDT, etc but also for the batteries that power F1Q and F1S models. Maybe the performance of the chargers differs over the range of number of cells and battery capacities ? This is a little surprising because battery charging technology is well known and there are lots of off the shelf parts that are supposed to do this properly.
Next step – check some more of the chargers I have.
Still More Fab Feb Pictures
From :Norm Furutani on FB
https://www.flickr.com/photos/136383551@N04/sets/72157664219719097/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/136383551@N04/sets/72157665825815978/
Two new photo albums from the Isaacson Winter Classic. These are courtesy of my junior high friend Tom Faith. We met in 7th grade homeroom and because we were often sat in alphabetical order, I would end up always behind him! An unlikely pair, Tom was a jock, setting league records in cross country and I was in the band. Our hobbies came together in a biology project. Tom had acquired a bag of dog bones from his veterinarian and asked me for help assembling it. I figured it was like building a model plane so sure, why not! Finished in our senior year of HS, we presented it to an amazed biology teacher. We reconnected several years ago and Tom has been a great help in putting on the Winter Classic. We’ve been very fortunate to have so many talented photographers document this event and this includes Tom’s pics.
This was my 29th and final year of directing the Ike and the plan is for Tom, my son Brian and myself to actually get out and compete in more of the contests. Because this was my last year, Tom thought he should include more shots of me, but once you get past those there are many of you folks that attended this year and for many years in the past.
Thanks to all of you for your friendship and support!
Spring at Wawayanda
From: Andrew Barron
Dear Free flight friends,
Thanks to Rich Mattera from the Brooklyn Skyscrapers here is a schedule of
some of the meets at Barron Field in Wawayanda, New York, including a
couple of upcoming contests. All are welcome!!
If you would like to join the Skyscrapers, send a note to Dave Acton. It
is a great club.
In any case, all free-flight fliers are welcome to come fly at the field.
Thanks,
Andrew Barron
*TO ALL CLUB MEMBERS:*
Attached is a letter from Dave along with the Skyscraper’s Annual
schedule that will be held on June 23rd and June 24th. Also attached is
the Flying Aces event to be held at Barron Field on May 19th and 20th.
Both events will be held at Barron Field in Wawayanda New York. Please
visit the Skyscrapers website at www.brooklynskyscrapers.org for further
directions and information. The contests have many and varied categories to
fly, so come on down and have some fun with your fellow flyers and club
members.
*Flying Aces event will be held on Saturday May 19th and Sunday May 20th.*
*The Skyscraper’s annual will be held on Saturday June 23rd and Sunday June
24th*
Contest Info
Skyscraper’s Annual
June 23-24, 2018
America’s cup, National cup
10 AM start, 5 rounds.
Saturday
F1B, F1C, F1S
B and C first and fifth round with a 4 minute max+ 7 PM flyoffs.
Sunday
F1A, F1G, F1H, F1J, F1Q
8 AM start, 5 rounds. A’s first and fifth round with a 4 minute max+ Flyoffs with a 1 minute DT++
AMA, NFFS, SAM Events
P-30, HLG, Catapult glider, E-36, Electric B, Mulvihill, Dawn Unlimited (Sunday 6:45 AM*) Classic
towline,1/2 A – AB Gas combined, Pee Wee 30, 1/4A Nostalgia- 020 Replica Combined. These events can be flown on either day, but must be completed on the same day.
$ 25 Entry fee covers all events. Awards to 3rd
+ Weather permitting
++ DT’s time above 1 minute is deducted from the flight.
Dave Acton CD.
(Cell) 914 393 7491
daveActon@hotmail.com
Hatcheck International Challenge May 19-20, 2018
America’s cup, National cup
10 AM start, 5 rounds.
Saturday
F1B, F1C, F1S
B and C first and fifth round with a 4 minute max+ 7 PM flyoffs.
Sunday
F1A, F1G, F1H, F1J, F1Q
8 AM start, 5 rounds. A’s first and fifth round with a 4 minute max+ Flyoffs with a 1 minute DT++
AMA, NFFS, SAM Events
P-30, HLG, Catapult glider, E-36, Electric B, Mulvihill, Dawn Unlimited (Sunday 6:45 AM*) Classic towline,1/2 A – AB Gas combined, Pee Wee 30, 1/4A Nostalgia- 020 Replica Combined.
These events can be flown on either day, but must be completed on the same day.
$ 25 Entry fee covers all events. Awards to 3rd
+ Weather permitting
++ DT’s time exceeding 1 minute is deducted from the flight. Directions to the field are on www.brooklynskyscrapers.org
Alan Abriss CD.
Dave Acton contact person (cell) 914 393 7491
daveActon@hotmail.com
Old Rhinebeck Squadron
Flying Aces
at Barron Field
Wawayanda,NY
May 19,20, 2018
official flying 9-5
each day.
CD’s :Vic NIppert
vicnippert@aol.com
845-382-1967
Matt King
enemyace49@yahoo.com
845-518-2740
Saturday
FAC Rubber Scale *
FAC Peanut Scale *
Hi Start Scale Gliders **
Simple Scale
Golden Age Multi Wing
Jet Catapult 2 Bit+1 Jimmy Allen
Mass Launches:
Thompson Trophy
WW 1
Low Wing Military Trainers
Sunday
FAC Rubber Scale *
FAC Peanut Scale *
Golden Age mono wing
Dime scale Modern Civil Embryo
Old Time Rubber Fuselage
Mass Launches:
Greve Trophy WW2
Goodyear Racers
Flying Horde ***
Albany Flyer Saturday : pre1930 rubber scale model airplanes to commemorate Glenn Curtiss’ flight from Albany to Statue of Liberty. Launch from Albany, closest to Statue of Liberty downwind wins . 3 official attempts each model.
Directions to the field : Go to the Skyscrapers website for excellent directions to the field and motels in the vicinity. It also has field wind strength and expected meteorlogical conditions.
Notes on events:
* FAC Rubber and Peanut may be flown either day but you must put in all
official flights in one day.
** Hi Start Scale Gliders will be flown using 50 feet of 1/16 rubber and 150
feet of towline . Supplied by CD
*** Flying Horde will be flown at the end of flying on Sunday. Open to all
scale rubber models that did not place in the regular events.
Entry Fee will be $15. ($5 for the contest costs- $10 for field use fee )