Radio Control Model Airplanes

            When you think of Radio Controlled model airplanes, what is the first thing that comes to mind? They’re small, electric powered toys you could get at a RadioShack.  While that is part of the realm of model airplanes, that is the tip of the iceberg for the universe of model aviation.  There are many airplanes being built today that are 10 feet long, weigh 40 pounds and have engines in them that can develop twice that amount of thrust. Many of the aerobatic RC planes today can perform maneuvers that would not be possible with a human inside it because of the violence of them.

            Radio control model airplanes originally evolved from free flight airplanes, when people sought to control those airplanes on the way up.  Eventually, the government set aside certain radio frequencies for model aircraft pilots to use.  The downfall with this was that only one radio was allowed to be on the same frequency at the same time. If another pilot turned his/her radio on when another one was in use, the airplanes would suffer interference and could result in crashing.  Now thanks to technology advances, radios now transmit under 2.4 GHz frequencies.  This allows virtually an unlimited amount of airplanes to be flying at the same time, and doesn’t interfere with other planes in flight.

            Over the years, with the introduction of more powerful engines, and servos, the aerobatic side of model aircraft has been able to perform maneuvers full size airplanes can only dream of performing.  Many airplanes are able to hover inches above the ground and climb vertically out of the hover.  They can also roll at a dizzying rate such that even the highest performing airplanes can’t reach.  These same airplanes are also able to just twist, spin and tumble within their own axis depending on the skill of the pilot in control of that airplane.

            Scale aircraft of today can be built to look just like their full scale counterparts.  In fact, in the movie, The Aviator, many of the flying scenes were shot using giant-scale models of Howard Hughes’ airplanes.  The reason being is that even model airplanes look more realistic compared to computer generated animation.

            There are a variety of different quality powerplants to choose from when flying R/C.  The standard choice is the nitro powered engines. These engines are internal combustion engines and the fuel is typically a mix of nitromethane, oil and methanol. They can range in size from .10 cubic inch to 2.00 cubic inches. There’s also gas powered engines.  These are very similar to the type of engine you find in chainsaws and weedwackers, just built and timed differently.  These engines can range in size from 10cc all the way up to 200+cc with multiple cylinders.  Another increasingly popular form of propulsion is electric.  They work exactly how they sound, through batteries and electricity.  Those can range from the smallest toys all the way up to the giant scale airplanes.  The final method of propulsion is also the most expensive, jet engines.  These jet work the same way as the full size jet engines, run on JetA fuel and are very expensive.

            Radio Controlled model airplanes are a very exciting and rewarding hobby. You can get performance today that even exceeds today’s full sized airplanes, and can learn how to fly them very quickly.

Matthew Colan

Handy Chevrolet

St. Albans, VT

More details emerge about the SS

            Chevy just recently announced more details about the SS set to hit showroom floors this fall.  For the first time in almost 20 years, Chevy is returning to the rear wheel drive performance sedan.  The SS will be powered by a 415hp, 6.2L V-8.  Performance with that motor and car will put 0-60 in
the five second range.  The transmission will only be an automatic, but it can be shifted thanks to shifting paddles on the steering wheel. Chevy does promise near 50/50 weight distribution so driving the new car should be a lot of fun and handle well.  The SS will be available in five colors, Mystic Green, Silver Ice Metallic, Red Hot 2, Phantom Black Metallic, and Heron White and the interior will only be offered in jet black.

            Only one model of the SS will be offered but it will come standard with features such as MyLink, touch screen panel, a Bose premium audio system with satellite radio, a color head-up display, heated and ventilated front seats, a rearview camera with rear-park assist, blind-spot alert and lane-departure warning, and keyless entry with push-button start. The only two options that will be available for the car is a power sunroof for $900 and a full-size spare tire for $500.

            What will the Chevy SS cost with the big motor in it, and all the features that come with it? A modest $44,470.

Matthew Colan

Handy Chevrolet

St. Albans, VT

Chevy Cruze Diesel

            During the fuel and energy crisis in the 1970s and 80s, automakers began introducing diesel powered cars. Diesel engines are more efficient than cars that run on regular 87 octane gasoline.  Part of this that is because diesel engines have a much higher compression ratio than a typical gasoline powered engine.  With

the higher compression, diesel engines don’t need spark plugs to ignite the fuel/air mixture; it is done on its own.  Since diesel is a more efficient way to run an engine, why hasn’t it caught on with the American public?

            Back in the 1980s, diesel engines were rushed into public to provide a more efficient alternative to regular gasoline. However, these cars were noisy, smelled weird and were unreliable. Those cars also tended to shake due to the vibration of the diesel engine.  This left a bad taste in the public’s mouth and diesel powered cars soon began disappearing from the streets. 

            Thanks to technological advances, the diesel engine is beginning to make a comeback and this is evident with Chevrolet introducing a diesel version of the popular Cruze.  This is not the old diesel from the 1980s, this is an all new animal based on its much larger cousin, the Duramax diesel.  Chevy is using a steel crankshaft with aluminum pistons and aluminum heads.  All of this brings in a compression ratio of 16.5:1; compared to the standard 1.8L I4’s 10.5:1.

            Diesel engines run at lower RPM than their gasoline engine counterparts, so they’ll make more torque than horsepower.  The Cruze diesel makes an impressive 264 ft-lbs of torque compared to 125 for the 1.8L. The diesel can make up to 280 ft-lbs of overboost torque for a maximum of 10 seconds.

            The real eye opener with the Cruze diesel is the fuel economy.  Car and Driver reported at 55mph, a fuel economy of 58.4mpg. The EPA rated the fuel economy at 46mpg highway and 27mpg city.  This is better than the Cruze diesel’s competitor, the Volkswagen Jetta.  The Jetta is rated at 42mpg highway.  The Cruze also makes more horsepower at 151 compared to the Jetta’s 140.  Torque also goes to the Cruze at 264 ft-lbs compared to the Jetta’s 236. The Cruze also has a better warranty at five years/100,000 miles.  The Jetta is five year/60,000 miles.

            It’s clear that Chevy is developing a formidable diesel automobile, and changing the public’s opinion on diesel engines from their bad experiences in the 1980s.

Matthew Colan

Handy Chevrolet

Chevy Wins at Dover

            Jimmie Johnson has essentially owned the Dover Motor Speedway in recent years, winning four of the last nine races at the Monster Mile.  It looked like Jimmie was going to have a chance at winning his fifth race in the past four years, but a late race penalty would cost him at his chance to win.

            Jimmie started the race in the 24^th spot.  He was fighting an ill handling race car and would

eventually fall a lap down to Kyle Busch.  Johnson would eventually get his lap back and begin a charge to the front.  He was able to work his way up to 6^th when arguably the strongest car of the day, Matt Kenseth blew his engine and brought out the caution.  Johnson took the lead when the green flag dropped again.  At that point, the five-time champion began to run away from the rest of the pack, and a win seemed inevitable.

            At that point, Denny Hamlin blew a right front tire and brought out the caution.  Juan Pablo-Montoya took two tires on his pit stop, which would put him in the lead at the restart.  Johnson would restart 2^nd.  At the restart, Montoya delayed the start, but Johnson didn’t. Johnson flew by Montoya and broke the rule saying he couldn’t pass the leader on the restart.  Johnson tried to give the position back to Montoya, but after a half a lap, he just kept on racing.  NASCAR black flagged him and made him go through a drive thru penalty.

            This put Montoya in the lead with laps beginning to wind down. However, he was battling a loose race car which slowed him down.  Tony Stewart in the number 14 Chevrolet passed him with less than four laps to go. Stewart would go on to win the 48^th race of his career with Montoya finishing 2^nd.

            This was another good weekend for Chevy.  At Dover the top three drove a Chevy.  Finishing in 4^th was the first Toyota, Kyle Busch.  The first Ford was Brad Keselowski finishing right behind Kyle.

Matthew Colan

Handy Chevrolet

2014 Chevy Malibu

            After the introduction of the all-new 2013 Chevy Malibu, Chevrolet sought out to try and improve on the car for the 2014 model year.  The new car was unveiled at the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix late last week. 

           The styling of the car was changed slightly with more aggressive headlights and grille.  There was nothing wrong with the 2013 styling, but GM just sought out to refine the looks a little bit.  The bigger improvements were made in the interior and under the hood of the car.

            Customers will enjoy the increase in legroom over the 2013 Malibu.  GM designers were able to squeeze out an additional 1.25” of legroom to sitting in the back a little easier on the knees.  While it doesn’t sound like much, 1.25” is enough to keep your legs from hitting the seat in front of you and give you just a little more room to stretch out. The interior was also improved in the center console area of the car.  Chevy replaced the storage area with cup holders and cell phone bins. The Malibu will also come with Chevy’s version of infotainment, MyLink.

            Under the hood, Malibu customers will have a choice of either the naturally aspirated 2.5L Direct Injected four-cylinder, or the 2.0L turbocharged four cylinder engine. Engineers were able to squeeze out more performance with the engines that are available in the Malibu.  The 2.5L features variable valve timing and Intake Valve Lift Control, which is said to enhance low end torque. However, with the new technology, the engine loses one horsepower to 196 and also loses five ft-lbs of torque to 186.  If people want an increase in performance, the turbocharged 2.0L saw a boost in power.  The horsepower rating stays the same at 259, but torque went up an impressive 35 ft-lbs to 295.  Fuel economy improved slightly to 35mpg highway.

            With the small tweaks made to an already fine motor vehicle, The Malibu should sell even better than it did in 2012.

Matthew Colan

Handy Chevrolet