Abstract: A model airplane engine uses a heated backplate to replace the conventional, non-heated backplate of the engine. The backplate incorporates a heater, which is electrically, temporarily energized during the start cycle of the engine. The higher temperature of the engine results in vaporization of the fuel prior to its entry into the combustion cylinder thus preventing crankcase and cylinder flooding and allowing easy starts during operation in cold weather, and also makes possible the use of inexpensive low-volatility heavier fuels, rather than special, expensive fuels.

Abstract: Television signal amplifier apparatus is described which protects undesirable impairment of the television signal. The apparatus includes a video signal amplifier. High speed switching devices are operative to control the gain of the amplifier as well as the amplifier output. These high speed switching devices are operated by fast acting signal level detectors and a fast acting sync signal detector, such that any signals above certain levels in the white and black regions of the television signal are suppressed even if of very short duration. The synchronizing signal detector operates to reduce the gain of the amplifier to less than unity, thus suppressing oscillation modes established in the video signal transmission path caused by looping the output to the input, as may occur in the course of television signal handling operations.