Welcome to Albert Allsop, Eddy Clisson, Dr João Freire, Roger Ryton and Andy Tabor who have joined the mailing list since the last ModelFlight.

I've had contact from Belgium and Brazil since last issue, so there are two new flags on the banner!

Greetings from the Philippines. I am the fellow who has to learn to fly alone because I have been assigned to a remote area. I fly a kite with a pusher set-up (similar to a Graupner "SkySport"). Aside from doing a clockwise and counter-clockwise circuit, what other manoeuvres can I do with this set-up?
Also, do you know if "Micron Electronics" is still in business? They sell kits for radios, receivers, servos and mixers; nobody is answering their phone.
I like the C o G rig [Geoff Grahams item on #27]. I think I will build one for my M1.

rfeliciano@kppi.com.ph 

I know for certain some of you fly 'pushers', so I hope you can give Enrico some ideas to liven up his flying. Please comment or copy your replies to  ModelFlight as others might be keen to hear as well.
The only "Micron Electronics" I can find on the web is a huge international computer company - can anyone identify the firm that Enrico is looking for - he says they advertise in a number of modelling journals?

By the way, there's news of some high quality products from Enrico's country on the cat's corner page.

Hi Reg

Just had a look at your latest instalment. As always good job. We have just started doing indoor electric flying here in St John's. I'm having a ball so far. I still wouldn't give up my glow and gas powered plane for electric. Outdoor flying is at a minimum here right now. We have had over 8 feet of snow here so far this winter.

Must go shovel some more.

P.S. I forgot to tell you that there is a short video added to our club site of a couple of us flying indoors. It is short but good.

craig@roadrunner.nf.net 

Craig is President of St John's R/C Flyers and the club website is www.rcflyers.nfld.net 

Another little conundrum that I thought might be an interesting discussion point: What is the origin of the alpha prefix that we see on aircraft worldwide?

For example, UK has G, United States has N and Canada has C, but why does Australia have VH and why do some other old British Empire countries also have Vx identifiers whilst others don't?

From discussions among some old RAAF types here in Australia we have discovered that aircraft identifiers are assigned by the ICAO and there is some link/relationship to the ITU (International Telecommunications Union). This is the latest comment from a source at United Airlines:

"If you read the ICAO website, it implies that ICAO is responsible for determining prefixes.

"These prefixes are all suspiciously similar to international radio call-signs. There is an organisation called International Telecommunications Union which administers these call-sign prefixes. (ITU, like ICAO, has some sort of relationship to the United Nations - probably through the Tripartite Commission that's said to be taking over the world!). The radio call-signs are used for lots of different applications, both commercial and amateur radio stations, and I'm not sure that I see a pattern as to whether the airplane prefixes follow ham radio or commercial radio calls.

"For example, we all know that commercial broadcast stations in the States have either W or K prefixes. The ITU also allocates to the USA the N prefix (either alone or with a second letter, like NA, NB, etc.) and the two-letter A prefixes, AA through AL. So, even though commercial stations use W and K, ICAO has chosen N for planes. In Canada, commercial stations use C, as do airplanes, but ham radio operators use VE as their prefix. So, no clear system.

"As you alluded, the entire British Empire (from the first half of the century, not the second) uses some combination of V for their ham radio prefixes, and some of them had bled over onto planes. South Africa, New Zealand, Bermuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Canada, Belize, Hong Kong, India, Palestine - all used V ham radio call-signs. There are some countries who have thrown off their old colonial call-signs and asked for their own new call-sign prefix, but, since I haven't been into ham radio for many years, none come to mind."

Does anyone have the definitive answer to the origin of the aircraft country prefix?

terry.pollock@au.pwcglobal.com 

Judging by what Terry's United Airlines source says, it seems doubtful, but perhaps someone out there does have the definitive answer he's looking for! Tell us if you do! Out of interest, what are the rules to govern the allocation of the letters that follow the prefix?  I've seen some that appear to be based on the pilot's name or some other special choice (e.g., G-NIGE and G-AMEN) and wonder if this is just coincidence or if there is a fairly open choice, although I assume each one must be unique, so some sort of check must be made.

A Close Encounter of the R.C. 'copter kind.

About 4 years ago, my wife Diane and I had travelled to a field north of Hungerford, to redeem my birthday voucher for a flight in a hot air balloon.

Upon our arrival at the field, a number of other eager-to-be balloonists had already got there, but there was no sign of a balloon. While waiting, I noticed activity at the far side of the field; apparently a radio-controlled object in flight, so I walked over to investigate. Two chaps were putting a helicopter through its paces. They were obviously serious enthusiasts since the non-controller was absorbed in analysing telemetry on a laptop computer, evidently beamed from the helicopter. I stood absorbed in the delight of seeing this machine in action. After some minutes, I was joined by other hopeful balloonists becoming frustrated by the long wait. Without comment the 2 R.C.'ers halted their scientific investigation to give an impromptu display to their audience.

I marvelled at the ability of the machine in the hands of a skilled controller. The climax of the display was a "Big Wheel" size loop and rapid dash in level flight to then freeze just 6 feet in front of me, hovering 5 feet above the ground. The helicopter then turned through several slow revolutions to show itself off.

I was literally enthralled.

Regrettably, reality returned as they resumed their analysis of data, and the long-awaited balloon retrieve vehicle finally arrived at the field. I enjoyed the balloon flight of course (did you know that farmers kindly colour-code their fields with crops, just so that balloonists know where it is safe to ditch?) but the vivid and lasting memory is of my completely unexpected and very close encounter with the helicopter. I was most envious.

Of course at the time there were many matters vying for my attention, and not least cash, so the idea went on the back burner. Now again I find myself on the brink of becoming enmeshed in this exciting hobby. Perhaps this time . . .

It seems to me that Roger is nearly hooked! I know this chap and he lives close enough to me to come over and have a trial flight or two at my club with an instructor, so I've issued the invitation!

Greetings Reg,

Sorry this has taken us so long to get right. The link to your web site is now on our "Special Links" page at RCezine. I placed you in the Organizations section. I hope this is okay as it was the only place that seemed to describe your web site accurately. Go to http://www.rcezine.com and click on the cover photo to enter the e-zine, then click on the "Special Links" button near the top of the page. You will find your link near the top of the special links page.

Keep up the good work you are doing for modelers worldwide. Your efforts are appreciated.

cuban8@kiva.net 

The Pampa Modelfighters, a modelling club in Belgium, has opened a web-site on the following URL: www.pmf.be.

Our club is well known in Europe by their famous jet-meeting "Jets over Pampa"

Hopefully you will link our site to yours, we have linked your site.

Best regards,

Eddy Clissen, Secretary PMF

eddyclissen@pandora.be 

Welcome, Eddy - good to meet you through ModelFlight. I'm pleased to add a permanent link to your site on the club links page. I hope we may hear more from you and your club members.

There's a selection of planes from "Jets over Pampa" on the photo gallery page - they are superb!

Dear Reg,

Thank you for the information about the ModelFlight Website - it's certainly an excellent site, and (wearing my "other hat" as club newsletter editor for the Heswall MAC) I can appreciate the enormity of the task that you have set yourself with the fortnightly updates.

I should be very happy to include a link to your site on the Heswall MAC Web pages (I have already added it in fact), and we would welcome a reciprocal link. We have no objection to your proposal to feature our club Website in ModelFlight #29 (thanks for wanting to!).

Keep up the excellent work with the Website - now that I know of it I shall be a regular visitor (and, with your permission, I should like to bring the site to the attention of our membership via a short article in our next newsletter).

Happy flying,

Andy Tabor

andy.tabor@bigfoot.com 

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