August 2022 Meeting Summary

What a great meeting on August 9th!  36-38 members and friends were there to enjoy Jacob's cooking and the WNC Air Museum's hospitality. It seems we enjoy each other's company!

Shane Parreco did a super job explaining the latest airfoil theory from NASA and Al Bowers which uses the most experienced wing design out there - birds - to expand upon a game-changing design paradigm called the 'Bell Spanload". The theory behind this design was first published in 1921 (!) and was further refined by several people, mostly in German professional journals.  A lot of this early work was lost, but the Chief Scientist and teams of enthusiastic interns at NASA's Neil Armstrong research facility in California resurrected various versions and put them together to accurately depict not only how birds fly, but how they do it so efficiently. For more, check YouTube for Albion Bowers. Here is one of his videos from an Academy of Model Aeronautics convention:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoT2upDbdUg

I can't let this recap go without a big thank you to everyone who pitched in to make it a lot of fun. We had a lot of compliments from members and friends who all said they'd be back. The side conversations - many about technical questions from builders and curious minds - were interesting to overhear. Our meetings are about so much more than airplanes and you have to be there to appreciate it.

Our September Program on Tuesday, the 13th, is going to be a very special treat and a 'must attend' for anyone with a spark of adventure.

Member Sid Tolchin, long time pilot and airplane builder, partner in an avionics company, retired after a distinguished medical career. The newly minted ultralight pilot will recount a highlight of his life in the air: His landmark trip across the North Atlantic Ocean in his LongEZ. This is not to be missed! I could sell tickets to this one, but you get to enjoy it by showing up! Mark your calendar, and mark it NOW!

Until next time ... Build Strong and Light ... Fly Safely.