Hello Everyone,

It has been quite a while since the last newsletter so I will not waste anymore time. This flying season has been quite amazing. We had a great build contest/swap meet, wonderful but windy memorial picnic, and a truly amazing combat event. This season has also been filled with very informative and well attended monthly club meetings, a new club house and deck, new road location, and many new club members.

News from the President:

Well the flying season is well on the way now and is shaping up to be a nice summer. It's nice to see all the new aircraft at the field this year taking to the sky and showing off its flying qualities. The field is in great shape and with all the rain we been getting it's the greenest I've seen it in years for late July.

Last month AMA came through and awarded us $520.00 toward our field improvement projects. Several weeks ago construction got started on our new road and is almost finished. Some work needs to still be done on the south end of the field that was part of the original contract with Ray Mac. We are encouraging all members to use the new road so we can get it packed down. Top dressing will be done as needed and process will be added at a later date.

Several people have informed me that the gate is still being left open. PLEASE, LAST ONE OUT ---LOCK THE GATE.
We have had 2 locks that have broken, so we installed a new lock made by a different company. The combo is the same but we hope this one last longer. If you are the first one to the field please put the lock on the gate, lock it and rotate the dial. That way no one has to look for it.

I also want to review two field regulations so that we are all on the same page. First it is a requirement that we have our name and address or AMA number but better both on the inside of our airplanes, so that if it is lost and someone finds it, hopefully it will be returned its' rightful owner. Also going forward any pilot that loses an aircraft and can't find it or retrieve it, please contact any officer so we are aware of it incase we are contacted

2nd Just to recap starting times when we can light off our engines at the field. Monday through Saturday, starting time is 10:00am until dusk. Sunday it's 11:00 am unless you have a four stroke motor then it is 10am to dusk. Electric anytime.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

Hope to see everyone at our club picnic August 2nd.

Joe

Minutes from Monthly Meeting:

September 16th, 2009

1. Meeting called to order 7pm with 30 members and 5 Officers present.


2. ECSF received a $520 Field Improvements Grant from the AMA.


3. Road Construction, New road has been cut in. All members are to use the new road so we can compact it down and smooth it out.


4. Secretary's Report. Motion to accept. Accepted.


5. Treasurer's Report. Motion to accept. Accepted.


6. Old Business - None.


7. New Business.


8. We now currently have 147 paid members.


9. August 2nd Picnic and Fun Fly. Club will supply food and drinks.


10. Concerned letter from neighbor about an airplane that was found in the woods behind his home. Club officers responded to the letter and discussed concerns with club members.


11. All club members must follow AMA regulations and have their personal information in any aircraft they fly at the field. Spot checks will be made to ensure compliance.


12. Any member that has an aircraft go down, must recover the entire aircraft. This includes all pieces. If for any reason that aircraft cannot be recovered, the aircraft owner must contact a club officer via phone or e-mail as soon as possible. The owner must tell the officer what type of aircraft it was, color, and location it went down at. The officer will then contact our Aircraft Recover Team that will help the aircraft owner search out and recover the downed aircraft.


13. Aircraft Recovery Team. Headed up by ECSF Safety Officer Chris Petriccione. Team will help downed aircraft owners search out and recover their downed aircraft.


14. Locking the Gate. Members that open the gate for the first time of the day, must re-lock the lock to the swinging gate. That means you must close the lock and spin the combination.


15. Locking the Gate. Members that are the last one to leave the field must close and lock the gate. That means anytime a member leaves the field unattended, any time during the day, the gate must be closed and locked. No exceptions.


16. All pilots must stand in the pilot stations when flying their aircraft. From take off to landing.


17. Meeting adjourned at 8:30pm.

Upcoming Picnics, Events, and Meetings:

2009 East Coast Swamp Flyers Picnic & Event Schedule:

August 2nd - Picnic and Fun Fly
All members and their families are welcome to come out to the flying field and enjoy a great day of flying and free food. This is a free picnic for all members and their families. The club will be serving lunch and having unlimited flying. Bring out your aircraft and have a great time. We may also have some fun events such as a limbo contest, balloon popping contest, etc.

September 13th - Neighbors Picnic Fun Fly
All neighbors, members and their families are welcome and encouraged to come. Food will be supplied by the club and we are hoping to have some great demonstrations. We will discuss this picnic in more detail at the August 19th Club Meeting.

October 17th & 18th - ECSF Annual IMAA Fly In
This year we will be continuing on last year's successful IMAA event by hosting another one at the swamp. After all the positive comments we received from participants of last year's event, we are hoping to draw in more participants, more amazing aircraft, and more money for the club. We will also be having a two day event this year, which means even more flyers and even more great flying. Can't wait for this one.

2009 ECSF Club Meetings:

October 21st - Meeting will be held at the flying field unless it rains. If it rains the meeting will be moved to the Foxon Community Center.

September 16th - Meeting will be held at the flying field unless it rains. If it rains the meeting will be moved to the Foxon Community Center.

October 21st - Mmeeting will be held at the Foxon Community Center.

Event and Picnic Review:

May 20th - Build Contest / Swap Meet

May Club Meeting Build Contest Winners:

Sport Class:
1st Place: Bill Palmer - Elmers Glue Special
2nd Place: Gary Smeriglio - Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero

Scale Class:
1st Place: Mik Vasmatics - P-61 Black Widow
2nd Place: Bill David - Focke-Achgelis FA-61

Aerobatic:
1st Place: Dan Frankel - Lanier 33% Edge 540
2nd Place: Jeff Giamattei - Great Planes F4U Corsair

Helicopter:
1st Place: Joe Malec - Agusta 109

Kit Build:
1st Place: Ed Berlin - AH-1 Skyraider
2nd Place: Bill David - F4U Corsair

Best in Show: Ed Berlin - AH-1 Skyraider

For pictures of the models, visit the photo gallery.

May 24th - Memorial Picnic Fun Fly

The Memorial Picnic was a very successful picnic with a large amount of food, and whole lot of wind. A big thanks goes out to all the members that participated in the pot luck by bringing food and beverages. And to our wonderful cooking staff that so diligently prepared all the delectable delights that we all devoured with a devilish determination.

June 14th - Extreme RC Combat Event, "Battle of Midway II"

All I can say is holly cow. This event was absolutely insane. Either standing in the crowd, on the pilot's line, or in the paintballers cages, all you had to do was look up and all you saw were planes all over the place darting and dancing in the air. It literally looked exactly like actual video from the battle of midway. I had the great opportunity to not only run the event but to also participate.

Flying in the event (even though short) was a great experience. Nothing beats 10-12 planes in the air at the same time. And this was not just 10-12 planes flying a pattern. No this was all out war. If you were in the air, you were considered a target. A target that must be destroyed at all costs. So if you flew a pattern, you could consider yourself sawdust. And there was a lot of sawdust and carnage. But even with all the destruction, I saw nothing but smiles on peoples faces.

I also had a chance to fire at the planes with one of the paintball teams and it was better than any video game out there. Your adrenaline is pumping as the enemy planes scream past you. Your fingers start to hurt from squeezing the trigger so much. But you have no desire to stop. You just want more and more planes to keep diving in on your targets. Members on the each end of the cage start to call out enemy planes diving in for attacks. And with the planes being as quick and as small as they were, you learn very quickly to just throw up a wall of paint and hope to get some hits.

Also at the lunch time break, we were all treated to an amazing jet turbine demonstration by our Safety Officer, Chris Petriccione. We were not only wowed by the insane speeds but also by the jets incredible sound. It literally sounded like you were standing on the tarmac as an F-16 taxied to the end of the runway and took off with full afterburner.

Event Description:

RC Pilots will team up (5 pilots each team) and duel each other in the skies above the swamp attempting to cut their opponents streamers. Pilots will also attempt to cut their opponents balloons that are suspended 15 feet in the air and positioned at each end of the field. The balloons represent each team's fleet of ships. But with each fleet comes a barrage of Anti-Aircraft Guns. So each team will also have their own team of 10 paintball gunners protecting their fleet. The Event will consist of 8 rounds of combat, with each round lasting 10 minutes. We are expanding the event this year and allowing members from any club to join in on the fun. Our goal is to have 20 or more pilots so each pilot will fly four rounds. And 40 or more paintball gunners so they as well will participate in four rounds each.

Pilots:
East Coast Swamp Flyers
Lonnie Middlebrooks, Mik Vasmatics, Patrick Tuxbury, Sal DeRosa, Erik Milewski, Bob Gamache, Steve Ludwig, Mark Castiglione, Ed Berlin, Adam Martin, Dave Teer, Dennis Keegan.

Oxford Quaker Farms RC Flyers
Bill Pitt, Bill Jensen, Dave Miles, George Garofalo, Richard Katrenya, Herb Kohler

The Oxford Boys pulled away in the final rounds and came out the victors. A big thanks and congratulations goes out to the Oxford members, East Coast Swamp Flyers, excellent cooking staff, and all the members and volunteers that came out to make this event possible.

New Members:

April: Heather Keegan, Tony Cavallaro
May: Andrew Borrs, John Hart, Albert Slomba, Chris Deconti
June: Mark Ariola, Andrew Natale

East Coast Swamp Flyers Flight Class:

Hello pilots and student pilots. Mother Nature sure has been wicked to us this season. She is suffering from El Niño. It sure has messed up flying this season especially on our training days. Nevertheless, we are signing off a few students and we have some getting ready to be signed off as RC pilots. I would like to say; we have a few students this season that need extra help. This means we need more instructors out there to spend more time with the ones that need more time! If you have at least a year experience and would like to give back to the hobby, get in touch with David Teer. Also show up on Tuesday's and Thursday's between 4:00 PM till dark. We do not have many more days left so hopefully we can get more instructors out there and get you guys up where you can learn something. The weather has just been a beast. Keep flying on your simulators USE THE RUDDER and read as much as you can about training and RC flying! We'll get out there soon; the weather has to let up sooner or later!

Please make a note on Thursday July 30th David will be attending the Huckfest in MA so he will not be at that instruction day. However, there will be other instructors there (that is if the weather is good) so go and have a good time!

As always check the web site in the flight class section as it is updated every training day. It gives announcements, field and weather conditions and lets you know if we are flying that day or not. Also a list of instructors is listed there too.

If you cannot make it on Tuesdays or Thursdays be sure to get with an instructor from the list or meet one at the field and make arrangements to have your instruction days fit into you and your instructors schedule if you both cannot make it on the regular instruction days.

During this down time from the weather, it is a good time to go through your plane and make sure everything is ok. Check your servos, all links, the engine and mount. Just do a whole check of your system and plane.

If you have any questions, comments, feedback or gripes be sure to e-mail David Teer at flyingklown@comcast.net call or talk to David in person at the field. Sorry the weather has been so bad for you new members and new students. Hopefully it will get better soon!

C U @ The Field!

David Teer
Training Coordinator

Field Construction and Condition Update:

If you have been out to the field lately, I am sure you have seen the new road that Ray Macolino has been constructing. We ask all members to disregard the old road and only use the new road. This will help compact and smooth the new road.

See you in the skies above the swamp!

Thank you,
Adam Martin
ECSF Secretary