It must be spring...

just look at the weather. Well we had the spring equinox last Thursday 20th March and from then on the daylight hours are longer than the hours of darkness. So we had even longer to look out of the windows over Easter and lament the lack of flyable weather. I know that easter was early this year, but I do remember that in 2007 I had three good days of flying over the holiday period only loosing one to go shopping with the governor (and I moaned!!). Still on an upbeat note the rest of the summer last years was pretty lousy so maybe this year it will be the other was round and we are going to have the best summer ever [ yea and I will weigh 10 stone and be able to fly the masters 3D schedule...I think not]

Joking aside easter is a time when many modllers begin to get the urge to go flying after a bit of a layoff in the winter months. Whilst the weather is poor, as it is a present, it is a good time to give your machines a good check-over. We all look at the common areas such as ensuring ball joints are slop free, all controls are free with no binding, radio fully working and range checked, flight batteries are cycled and holding full charge, all nuts and bolts tight, drive belts are correct tension and not worn, all fuel tubing replaced etc. There have been some good articles in the modeling press recently detaining what should be examined. But what about the obscure areas. This year I have seen a number of crashes caused by failures of items not normally checked nor mentioned in recommended lists:-

Failure of blade grip to spindle bolts - Possibly stressed from aggressive maneuvers. No obvious signs of damage, maybe they should be replaced annually, or more if you fly very aggressively.

Failure of tail blade grip to hub bolts and tail drive bevel gears - Possibly stressed by clipping grass on landing. Again no obvious sign of any damage should they be replaced annually? Or more?

Collapse of main shaft bearings - Causing gear mesh to be lost and hence drive. Only a complete strip and examination of the bearings could detect this.

Failure of flybar in flight - Caused by metal fatigue as the result of aggressive 3D flight.

These few examples are not meant to worry you but to remind you that our modern RC helicopters are being exposed to some exceptional forces and these need to be considered when carrying out your maintained checks.

I am pleased to advise club members and everybody who reads this drivel that the EMHC Scale Day is to be held again this. There has been a gap of two years since the last event but I am sure the wait will have been worth while. I have not added it to the events calendar yet as I am awaiting confirmation of the date. Currently it is due to be held on either Sunday 17th August or the following week, 24th August. Make a note in your diaries. As soon as the date is made firm and finally agreed I will give full details......Watch this space.

Remember safe flying is no accident. Graham