TCAF – Message From the President

Greetings fellow members,

As the new year approaches I wanted to take a moment to wish all the members of the club a happy New Year and hope that the new year treats everyone well.

First let me thank all of you for your membership in our fine club. We have quite a group of folks that participate and really contribute to a lot of fun and good times. Thank you.

As I sit here in front of the space heater in what is now my new office at home, the basement, I look out the window and get a chill. Dang, it’s cold out there and there are a few months more of it before we get a reprieve from mother nature. I hope your winter builds are going well and if you are heading out to the field I salute you and hope the flying is good, I will stay here in front of my heater a bit more.

I received a note from Louis Espinel of the Thunderbirds club in Kalamazoo that their 18th annual swap meet will be Saturday, February 19 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds. Click for more details.

As we head into the new year I hope that I get the chance to see and fly with all of you. Be sure to attend the first meeting of the year in March and bring some of those winter build projects with you for some show and tell. Hope to see you all there as there are some important topics to discuss to get the new year planned for the club.

Thanks again and take care,

– Mike

TCAF New Pilot Mentoring Program

TCAF would like to introduce a new pilot mentoring program to help new members learn to fly.

New Pilot Mentoring Program

Getting started in radio controlled airplanes can be an exciting and rewarding hobby however crashing your new plane is not how anyone wants to start out.

Whether you want to start with electric, glow power models, or gliders, Tulip City Air Force, a Holland based AMA sanctioned club would like to help new pilots get their wings.*

Mentors will assist with:**

  • Checking new planes before their first flight to ensure airworthiness.
  • Teaching model aviation principals and operation based on years of experience.
  • Assist during those first critical flights to ensure the plane is flying like it should be.
  • Provide flight training using ‘buddy boxes’ during flights. (TCAF members own them for most radio systems)

For more information regarding our club or feel free to contact us at tcaf_holland@yahoo.com or use the Club Officers and Contacts page to call our President.

* TCAF does not provide models, new pilots must have their own.

** New pilots must join the Academy of Model Aeronautics and Tulip City Air Force to participate.

Bix’s New Toy

Bix had a little show in tell at the last Tulip City Airforce Meeting. He recently purchased the AR.Drone Parrot. The Parrot is controlled via an iPod touch or iPhone via wifi. It was incredible. The Parrot was as stable as can be thanks to 4 blades and gyro’s. The AR.Drone Flies for 10-12 minutes on the included 3cell 1000mah lipo . There is a built in camera that streams live to the iPod screen. For more information check out http://ardrone.parrot.com/parrot-ar-drone/usa/ Thanks for sharing Bix!