Hi all,

I was on Nitro planes and was looking at a video of a plane on sale.
The whole field where the video was shot is carpeted and I encourage you to look at the video to see how smooth the landing and taking off is.
Check it out at Nitroplanes-end of month sale-Foremost 550 and look at the field. Watch the landing.

Our field is good but it is quite bumpy. If we had this type of field instead....
Just think, no more wiped out landing gear, not as much wear and tear on the models ( even those that land on their bellies would fare better). Fewer ground loops and broken parts(not as much repairing). There are a whole bunch of models that we can't  fly now but we could if we had a field like this.
Plus we would not worry if the grass had been cut or not.

Hope this encourages some thought about doing it at Rogo.

Nitro Planes Formost 550 Pusher Prop Maiden Flight

Keep smilin'
Ken

I just edited your post to add the video.

Cheers,
Ben

Thanks Ben.

Yikes!  This looks like a club with really deep pockets. 

I wonder how long their astro-turf takes to drain and dry out after a good rainfall!  And those seams look like great wheel catchers. 

Andy

Quote from: Skyking on August 31, 2012, 07:44:01 PM
Hi all,

I was on Nitro planes and was looking at a video of a plane on sale.
The whole field where the video was shot is carpeted and I encourage you to look at the video to see how smooth the landing and taking off is.
Check it out at Nitroplanes-end of month sale-Foremost 550 and look at the field. Watch the landing.

Our field is good but it is quite bumpy. If we had this type of field instead....
Just think, no more wiped out landing gear, not as much wear and tear on the models ( even those that land on their bellies would fare better). Fewer ground loops and broken parts(not as much repairing). There are a whole bunch of models that we can't  fly now but we could if we had a field like this.
Plus we would not worry if the grass had been cut or not.

Hope this encourages some thought about doing it at Rogo.

Nitro Planes Formost 550 Pusher Prop Maiden Flight

Keep smilin'
Ken

Great idea Ken, getting something like this at TEMAC would be terrific, it would certainly open up a whole new range of possibilities as far as the types of models we can fly. I to find myself evaluating new models only to realize that they would not be possible to fly at our club.

I sincerely hope the TEMAC executive considers field improvements a priority, and takes the necessary steps over the coming year to further improve our infrastructure.

Andy, I'm not sure why you would automatically assume this club has "really deep pockets." I didn't see any butlers with gold plated teapots serving its members, nor any permanent shelter, or even an outhouse for that matter. The fact is we don't really know how much that artificial turf cost them to install.

As far as a wheel potentially catching in a seam, that may be a concern, but I would still take that any day over the divets, potholes and general roughness of our current field..

Seems like a yucky solution to me. I'd much rather aim for amazing field conditions like the Kingston and Oakville clubs.

Be

Maybe the board could ask someone with an interest in the project to do some research on the matter and get a ballpark cost of this surface? Then we could collectively decide whether or not the club and it's membership can bear the costs of this project.

IMHO, the carpeted surface is cool, but there's no reason why grass can't work at TEMAC. However, in order to achieve the perfect surface we will need to work at it. We all spend a lot of time at the club flying our planes but when there are work details set up for field maintenance, only a small number of members tend to show up.  Yes there is a board, but they aren't doing this for profit or personal gain (well except the security of being able to pursue their hobby, in a safe, comfortable environment). If your planes are getting ripped up by the field, I sympathize, but ask yourself how much effort you've put into improving that situation, or are you waiting for someone to do it for you? Volunteer, get involved, make proposals, not demands. The club is a collective, not a business that provides a service for profit. Everyone who is  member has a obligation to contribute to the success of the club.

I agree that we should improve the field.

The problem is, that this takes lots of money, and lots of volunteered time.

Every time we ask for volunteers to work on the field, the loudest proponents for improvements are the least likely to show up and volunteer.



All TEMAC members are welcome to suggest improvements.

If anyone thinks that astro turf is a solution for us, feel free to investigate the cost and the application in our climate, and what the long-term care costs would be, and what volunteer effort is necessary to implement such a project.

Hi Folks:

Just for fun I've sent an email to the president of the club depicted in the above video (Southern Alameda County Radio Controllers, Radio Control Aircraft Club, Newark / Fremont / Union City, California - www.sacrc.org) to enquire about their field covering (size, covering material, cost (materials and installation), performance, and maintenace issues, if any (drainage, repairs, seams, etc)).  You'll note from the photos in the club newsletters (http://www.sacrc.org/newsletters.html) that this is a club with significant resources. It will be interesting to see what they come back with.  You can't beat a good reality check!!

Cheers!

Andy Hoffer
Secretary-Treasurer, TEMAC

Please note:

Today, I took off from the grass at TEMAC with my GWS DC3 with 1.5" wheels.

The best and smoothest field I have ever seen is the Kingston RC club field; depending on conditions, I have seen some planes unable to take off there too.

I apologise if this post is not politically correct; and yes, we are investigating options, but......

I started to fly in my local park with a 1oz, 20" Champ.  Obviously, there came a point when I wanted a larger model.  I bought a simple foam pusher, with 34" wingspan that weighed about 600g.  Needless to say this was faster than the Champ, needed more room to land, and was (IMHO) unsafe and unsuitable for my local park.  The park has people walking dogs, children playing, and people exercising - it was busy.  So I joined TEMAC, because the park no longer provided what I wanted or needed.

If TEMAC no longer provides what you want, or need, perhaps somewhere else does? Not that I want to encourage anyone to leave TEMAC, but as I'm sure you've heard said before "if you don't like it, leave."

Every time I arrive at TEMAC, I am grateful for the space we have.  With the excepetion of the road, and the current safety precaution of a ceiling height, our flying is almost limitless. I can fly fast and slow models, large and small, without the worry of hitting someone wandering on to the field.  I've seen small "ultra-micros" and large models up to about 18-20lbs and 80"-90" wingspans.  And we still have a field, we've not lost it to some property developer, or been closed. And we live in the 4th largest City in North America (I think!) - we are very, very lucky.  Perhaps be grateful for what we have? We will look to see how we can improve, but don't forget the positives of TEMAC.

I am very grateful to the people that founded TEMAC, and created that airfield, that I use almost every weekend.  I cannot imagine the hard work that was involved in creating what we have.  Thank you, to everyone involved.

I really like what Mike H said about volunteers.  I have taken part in 2 of the 3 work parties this year, and I am very grateful to the 12-15 people who came to help, that I saw.  It's always the same people, working, giving up their time to make the club better, safer and more accessible for everyone.  And some people are always absent.  Sorry to sound cliched, but what have you done for TEMAC this year (this is an open question to no-one in particular.)

Now perhaps some practicalities - we have nearly +40C to -40C weather, with baking sun, sometimes torrential rain, and of course snow and ground-freezing.  What will cope with that and remain flat and serviceable? Plus, we rent the land, so a tractor will have to drive over whatever we put down, and we need to be able to return the ground to how it was, if we ever leave.

And now consider the skills - can you land on a stip 12ft, 8ft or 6ft wide everytime? With a cross wind?  Are you sure it won't damage a model more than grass - I'm guessing it would be pretty hard for belly-landers. I know I'd prefer to land on grass for a belly-landing.  And how about the join with the rest of the field - would we get grass growing from the edges, creating a barrier of sorts?

I am sure some of our members must play, or have played golf or cricked in their time.  Look at the grass greens and pitches that these sports have.  It's not always necessary to have carpet, or tarmac, or matting.  We could perhaps have a smoother runway, which I agree would be nice.  But it would be time, money and work.  Perhaps someone knows what it would take to improve our current runway, and could prepare a work plan with required hours and cost?

You may have guessed this touched a nerve for me.  My parting comment will be the same sentiment that I started this reply with.  We will look to improve TEMAC (as we have done this year, last year, and I'm sure the years before I joined) but remember how lucky we are to have what we've got.

Simon

One other thought based on this comment:

"I sincerely hope the TEMAC executive considers field improvements a priority, and takes the necessary steps over the coming year to further improve our infrastructure. "

Perhaps if we hadn't had to repair the driveway this year, after people drove on the field when the ground was too soft and unsuitable, we could have spent more time looking at the runway and pits?  Just perhaps......

We did take necessary steps this year to improve the access (which I think would be classed as infrastructure?") so that ALL members would be able to enjoy the field sooner in the year.  And I am very grateful to those who came to help (and didn't just turn up after we'd finished, to fly.)

S

Quote from: bfeist on September 01, 2012, 10:51:29 PM
Seems like a yucky solution to me. I'd much rather aim for amazing field conditions like the Kingston and Oakville clubs.

Be

Agree with you Ben, I'm not sold on it either, but it is something to consider.

Quote from: Andy Hoffer on September 01, 2012, 11:58:18 PM
Hi Folks:

Just for fun I've sent an email to the president of the club depicted in the above video (Southern Alameda County Radio Controllers, Radio Control Aircraft Club, Newark / Fremont / Union City, California - www.sacrc.org) to enquire about their field covering (size, covering material, cost (materials and installation), performance, and maintenace issues, if any (drainage, repairs, seams, etc)).  You'll note from the photos in the club newsletters (http://www.sacrc.org/newsletters.html) that this is a club with significant resources. It will be interesting to see what they come back with.  You can't beat a good reality check!!

Cheers!



Andy Hoffer
Secretary-Treasurer, TEMAC

Thanks Andy, I look forward to reading the reply.

Lets try to keep moving this discussion forward in a positive direction so that all TEMAC members may benefit from field improvements!

I've seen the reply.

Andy will likely share it soon.

One thing that stood out to me in the response, I share with you now:

"I'll tell you Andy - it is better than dirt or asphalt, but not as good as grass."