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Flight Log: April 2026

April 2026: Clear Skies and Fresh Starts

Welcome to the April edition of the Scio Flyers Flight Log! With the spring thaw behind us and the grass turning green at the field, the 2026 flying season is here! This month is all about getting back into the air—from our annual field opening to the start of our Wednesday night flight training sessions. In this issue, we provide a final update on our UAS4STEM team as they head into their critical preliminary competition, recap our successful weekend at the Toledo RC Swap Meet, and debut a brand-new segment, “From the Hangar,” where we highlight the incredible builds taking shape on our members' workbenches. It’s time to dust off the transmitters and charge those packs; we’ll see you at the field!

Annual Field Opening

Saturday, April 18, 10:00 am, Scio Flyers Field

Our annual spring field opening is a hands-on community morning where members gather to prep the grounds, set up the canopy and pavilion, and ensure the field is in prime condition for the upcoming flying season.

UAS4STEM: Final Countdown to the Preliminaries

The Scio Flyers UAS4STEM team is officially in the homestretch as they prepare for the Virtual Preliminary Competition on Friday, April 24. Since October, our amazing team has spent every Sunday afternoon transforming a kit of parts into a sophisticated autonomous aircraft.

The team is currently finalizing sensor integration—teaching the drone's "brain" to communicate with its cameras and GPS—and perfecting their Flight Readiness Review. Good luck to the team as they aim for a spot at Oshkosh!

Wednesday Flight Training: A New Approach

Our Wednesday flight training returns on April 29 at 5:30 PM. This year, we’re introducing a more structured format to help new pilots reach their solo milestones faster. Under the leadership of our new Training Coordinator, Ted Mawson, we are focusing on a consistent, organized game plan for every session.

What to Expect:

Structured Mentorship: We’ve organized our instructor team to ensure a "buddy-box" is always ready and a mentor is available to guide you.
Introductory Pilot Program: Using the AMA framework, we can now more easily welcome "walk-ups" and first-timers to try the sticks safely.
Improved Sign-Ups: To help us plan for equipment and instructors, please use the new student check-in on our Learn to Fly page.

Whether you’re a brand-new flyer or just need a refresher, these sessions are the best way to sharpen your skills in a supportive environment. See you at the field!

Toledo RC Swap Meet & Expo - Quick review

The Toledo Swap Meet took place on April 10 & 11 and was a great success. Intensely selling and swapping for two days, Ken Jablonski and Brian Gawronski were able to raise $1,800 to support our education programs.

Thanks so much, Ken and Brian! Also thanks to everyone who helped collect and price items.

From the Hangar

Launching the Member Project Series

Welcome to the debut of “From the Hangar.” This section of the Flight Log is a dedicated space for Scio Flyers to share their current builds, shop tips, and technical hurdles. Whether you are assembling a fresh ARF or troubleshooting a complex power system, we want to hear from you.

To kick things off, I wanted to share my recent experience with the FlightLine 1600mm P-51D Mustang from Motion RC. If you’re looking for a warbird with some serious "wow factor" in the pits, this is it.

My Take on the FlightLine P-51D

The first thing you’ll notice is the size—at 1600mm, it’s got a massive presence. But what really impressed me was the build quality. It’s not just "another foamie"; it uses a mix of EPO foam reinforced with carbon spars and plywood internal structures. It feels incredibly rigid and well-engineered, which really helps kill that "foam flex" we sometimes see in smaller models.

The Build Experience

Finish & Detail: The factory paint and molding are top-tier. The panel lines are crisp, and the scale finish is spot on. I went with the “Frenesi” livery—the decals went on smoothly over the foam without any of that annoying "silvering" you sometimes get.
Mechanical Tuning (Pro Tip): Even though the hardware is high-quality, don’t trust the factory pushrod lengths right out of the box. I found they needed some manual tweaking to get everything perfectly centered. I’m a stickler for having the control surfaces dead-on at sub-trim zero, so I spent a little extra time dialing in the linkages on the bench. It’s worth the effort to get maximum servo resolution rather than trying to fix it with heavy radio offsets later.
Radio Setup: Just a heads-up: the manual is pretty thin on radio programming. It definitely assumes you already know your way around dual rates, expo, and wing types. For a big warbird like this, you’ll want to be methodical—especially with your flap-to-elevator mixing. Getting that transition from "dirty" to "clean" flight right is key to keeping things predictable.
Under the Hood: There’s plenty of room in the battery bay for the recommended 6S packs. I was happy to see the layout allows for clean cable management, which is a lifesaver considering all the leads for the retracts, lights, and gear doors.

From the factory

First look inside the box

Major parts

Looks great on the stand

Your Turn

What’s on your workbench? Whether it’s a quick assembly tip or a full build log, we want to see it. Submit your project summary and a few photos to be featured in the next Flight Log!

‼️Don't forget - Renew your membership‼️

March 1 has come and gone and we still have a few members with outstanding dues. Please visit the membership page for payment options and instructions.

🗓️ Mark your calendars

April 18, 10:00 am, Scio Flyers Field
Field Opening: Help us get our field ready for the flying season. It’s a relaxed, hands‑on morning where everyone pitches in, catches up after the winter break, and helps set the stage for a great year ahead.

April 24, 6:00 pm, Scio Township Hall
UAS4STEM Preliminary Competition: The UAS4STEM preliminary competition challenges student teams to design, build, and program drones to complete complex autonomous missions, with the top-performing groups advancing to the national finals at AirVenture in Oshkosh. Send good vibes to the team, we'll inform you of the outcome!

April 29, 5:30 pm, Scio Flyers Field
Wednesday Flight Training: Our Wednesday flight training sessions provide a welcoming environment where aspiring pilots can receive hands-on instruction from club volunteers to master the fundamentals of flight and safely transition into the world of RC aviation.

For the full 2026 calendar, visit the events page.

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