IT IS WITH sadness and somewhat of a sense of relief that I announce
that I must give up this column after so many years. There are several
reasons for this decision. First, although my physical condition is
reasonably stable, it remains that way because I work at it; that requires
an increasing amount of time and effort.
For the last few years, the aftermath of my supposedly fatal cancer
in 1997 has resulted in my being unable to swallow anything, so I take
all medications and nourishment through a feeding tube. Maintaining
the feeding tube and using it requires approximately three hours a day
Bud Tenny, Box 830545, Richardson TX 75083
FREE FLIGHT INDOOR
Longtime National Indoor Model Airplane Society member Tem
Johnson (L) and Emil Schultz at a USIC. Dave Linstrum photo.
The late John Martin, founder of the now-defunct MIAMA
organization, with his 1933 Lippisch Storch. Linstrum photo.
You can cut low-camber sliced ribs from molded blank with
stripper. Wood grain must be straight, run lengthwise along blank.
Steve Gardner with his wide-body Bostonian model at the 2002
US Indoor Championships. Linstrum photo.
130 MODEL AVIATION
and a source of running water to dilute or dissolve (or both) food and
medications.
This last problem essentially requires either a carefully planned trip
that allows stops where I can feed or a travel vehicle that has running
water. In addition, a three-day trip requires a 24-can case of my liquid
food to be carried along.
The second reason is that, despite my repeated requests, only a few
readers helped by sending photos and reports of technical innovations.
There have been several standout contributors. Dave Linstrum is one
of the most prolific. In fact, he wanted me to stress that he has not been
a staff photographer! Stan Chilton and the late Jim Clem consistently
shared their new ideas and innovations. This is far from a complete list,
but the total number of contributors simply wasn’t large enough to
adequately support the column.
On the European scene, Andras Ree of Hungary and Laurie Barr of
England contributed fairly often several years ago. Steve Brown and
Jim Richmond have kept us up to date on the FF Indoor World
Championships and records.
Reminder: My E-mail address has changed
to [email protected]. I look forward to any
comments you care to make.
Who Is This? Larry Kruse was the first to
identify the mystery person in the photo as
Mike Clem as a Junior. Mike is the late Jim
Clem’s second son and is married with
children.
Rules Cycle: There was a joint meeting of
the Contest Board chairmen and the
Executive Council. One important decision
that was made is that the rules cycle will be
shortened to two years instead of the current
three years. This will be accomplished by
using E-mail for all Contest Board
communications. It may also require future
rules-change proposals to be E-mail
messages.
By the time you see this, I expect that this
information might have been announced by
AMA in MA and other suitable venues. This
announcement should define when proposals
can be submitted and when proposals will be
voted on. You should send your E-mail
address to the Indoor Contest Board member
in your AMA district so that he can interact
with you.
Boron Safety: Although this piece is old, the
safety information is pertinent as long as
boron is being used. Read and heed; the skin
you save is probably yours. However, careless
use of boron can injure anyone, including
children.
In the December 1993 Boeing Hawks
newsletter (Gene Stubbs, editor), Gil
Coughlin described the following useful tips
for the safe use of boron fiber.
Gil uses a 0.004-inch fiber consisting of a
tungsten core with a vapor-deposited coating
of boron. It comes on a roll and has a tensile
strength and stiffness similar to 0.020-inch
piano wire. Its typical use is to add stiffness
to, say, a motorstick or stabilizer framework
by cementing fibers to the structure.
To apply the fiber, Gil coats it with Duco
cement by drawing it through a drop of
cement between his fingers. Then, with the
coated fiber positioned on the structure, he
activates the cement with a swipe of acetone.
Anyone who uses boron fiber should be
These 90cm models belong to Dick Kowalski. Dick made important contributions in the
F1D arena in the early 1960s. Photo by Tom Vallee.
The late Bob Champine (L) mentored many, such as Bud Tenny (R). Jody Tenny photo.
Stan Chilton’s 55cm F1D model. Chilton photo.
aware of its danger and appropriate disposal
methods. The chief danger with boron fiber is
that if a small piece punctures the skin like a
splinter, it tends to migrate through the body,
causing discomfort and damage. Therefore,
extreme care must be used to contain scraps or
fragments of the fiber.
A good way to keep track of the material is
to handle it attached to masking tape until it is
ready for installation. For disposal, Gil collects
scraps in a plastic bowl and casts them into a
block of Portland cement.
Model Steering: For AMA and FAI events
that allow it, steering is a fact of life. It is an art
that requires good eyesight and enough
practice to become confident and competent.
The remarks that follow may be helpful.
Steering is needed sooner or later at most
Indoor sites. Even if there isn’t a problem with
drift, there is the chance of a collision when
more than one model is flying. Several times I
have been flying and wished I had taken the
trouble to bring a balloon.
At one time I even carried a small helium
bottle and spare balloons to flying sessions. If
a balloon wasn’t needed for a session, the
helium wasn’t wasted. However, if you need a
balloon at a contest, you need it right then.
There isn’t time to inflate a balloon, so do it
before you fly.
The lift of pure helium is a fixed quantity
based solely on the volume of gas enclosed in
the balloon. The combined weights of the
balloon, filler spouts, and steering line reduce
the available lift. Rubber balloons lose roughly
50% of their lift in eight hours, so the inflated
volume needs to be enough to retain steering
capability at the end of the day.
A limp balloon is often better for retrieving
hung models because it is easier to control in
tight spaces. A fully inflated balloon tends to
follow your hand movements quickly, and a
hasty movement might smash your model.
Let’s put balloon size into perspective.
Lift varies with the cube of the radius of the
inflated balloon. The lift of a 24-inchdiameter
balloon is eight times more than the
lift of a 12-inch-diameter balloon.
A huge balloon is unnecessary in
Category I sites and may pose a problem in a
flat-ceiling site. If your model is ceilingscrubbing,
you can’t catch it with a big
balloon. If you bump it, the model may stall
and lose a great deal of altitude. Steering with
a pole is allowed, but you must use extreme
care to avoid snagging its tip in the ceiling. If
it whips loose, the model may be damaged.
For Category I flying, it is helpful to back
off the model’s flight trim. A model trimmed
for maximum duration in still, unobstructed
air is flying on the edge of a stall. In
Category I sites and turbulent air, the model
should be trimmed to fly slightly faster so it
can recover more easily from disturbances.
A Steering Drone? Do you have a sturdy
model that doesn’t fly as well as you would
like? Take off the big propeller and
rebalance it to fly “low and slow” using
smaller rubber and a smaller propeller. Now
you have a model with which you can
practice steering.
Since you’re not going all-out for first
place or a record, you can use a site with odd
ceiling height, rafters with an attitude, and a
drift problem. You can also practice retrieval
if it hangs up. A bonus is that without the
pressure to win, you will be more relaxed—
an excellent learning environment! MA
(Editor’s note: The staff of MA takes this
opportunity to thank Bud for his many years
of faithful service. His columns have helped
many to better enjoy the art and sport of
Indoor modeling. He is a legend in the world
of aeromodeling, and we wish him well in his
future endeavors.)
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/11
Page Numbers: 129,130,131
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/11
Page Numbers: 129,130,131
IT IS WITH sadness and somewhat of a sense of relief that I announce
that I must give up this column after so many years. There are several
reasons for this decision. First, although my physical condition is
reasonably stable, it remains that way because I work at it; that requires
an increasing amount of time and effort.
For the last few years, the aftermath of my supposedly fatal cancer
in 1997 has resulted in my being unable to swallow anything, so I take
all medications and nourishment through a feeding tube. Maintaining
the feeding tube and using it requires approximately three hours a day
Bud Tenny, Box 830545, Richardson TX 75083
FREE FLIGHT INDOOR
Longtime National Indoor Model Airplane Society member Tem
Johnson (L) and Emil Schultz at a USIC. Dave Linstrum photo.
The late John Martin, founder of the now-defunct MIAMA
organization, with his 1933 Lippisch Storch. Linstrum photo.
You can cut low-camber sliced ribs from molded blank with
stripper. Wood grain must be straight, run lengthwise along blank.
Steve Gardner with his wide-body Bostonian model at the 2002
US Indoor Championships. Linstrum photo.
130 MODEL AVIATION
and a source of running water to dilute or dissolve (or both) food and
medications.
This last problem essentially requires either a carefully planned trip
that allows stops where I can feed or a travel vehicle that has running
water. In addition, a three-day trip requires a 24-can case of my liquid
food to be carried along.
The second reason is that, despite my repeated requests, only a few
readers helped by sending photos and reports of technical innovations.
There have been several standout contributors. Dave Linstrum is one
of the most prolific. In fact, he wanted me to stress that he has not been
a staff photographer! Stan Chilton and the late Jim Clem consistently
shared their new ideas and innovations. This is far from a complete list,
but the total number of contributors simply wasn’t large enough to
adequately support the column.
On the European scene, Andras Ree of Hungary and Laurie Barr of
England contributed fairly often several years ago. Steve Brown and
Jim Richmond have kept us up to date on the FF Indoor World
Championships and records.
Reminder: My E-mail address has changed
to [email protected]. I look forward to any
comments you care to make.
Who Is This? Larry Kruse was the first to
identify the mystery person in the photo as
Mike Clem as a Junior. Mike is the late Jim
Clem’s second son and is married with
children.
Rules Cycle: There was a joint meeting of
the Contest Board chairmen and the
Executive Council. One important decision
that was made is that the rules cycle will be
shortened to two years instead of the current
three years. This will be accomplished by
using E-mail for all Contest Board
communications. It may also require future
rules-change proposals to be E-mail
messages.
By the time you see this, I expect that this
information might have been announced by
AMA in MA and other suitable venues. This
announcement should define when proposals
can be submitted and when proposals will be
voted on. You should send your E-mail
address to the Indoor Contest Board member
in your AMA district so that he can interact
with you.
Boron Safety: Although this piece is old, the
safety information is pertinent as long as
boron is being used. Read and heed; the skin
you save is probably yours. However, careless
use of boron can injure anyone, including
children.
In the December 1993 Boeing Hawks
newsletter (Gene Stubbs, editor), Gil
Coughlin described the following useful tips
for the safe use of boron fiber.
Gil uses a 0.004-inch fiber consisting of a
tungsten core with a vapor-deposited coating
of boron. It comes on a roll and has a tensile
strength and stiffness similar to 0.020-inch
piano wire. Its typical use is to add stiffness
to, say, a motorstick or stabilizer framework
by cementing fibers to the structure.
To apply the fiber, Gil coats it with Duco
cement by drawing it through a drop of
cement between his fingers. Then, with the
coated fiber positioned on the structure, he
activates the cement with a swipe of acetone.
Anyone who uses boron fiber should be
These 90cm models belong to Dick Kowalski. Dick made important contributions in the
F1D arena in the early 1960s. Photo by Tom Vallee.
The late Bob Champine (L) mentored many, such as Bud Tenny (R). Jody Tenny photo.
Stan Chilton’s 55cm F1D model. Chilton photo.
aware of its danger and appropriate disposal
methods. The chief danger with boron fiber is
that if a small piece punctures the skin like a
splinter, it tends to migrate through the body,
causing discomfort and damage. Therefore,
extreme care must be used to contain scraps or
fragments of the fiber.
A good way to keep track of the material is
to handle it attached to masking tape until it is
ready for installation. For disposal, Gil collects
scraps in a plastic bowl and casts them into a
block of Portland cement.
Model Steering: For AMA and FAI events
that allow it, steering is a fact of life. It is an art
that requires good eyesight and enough
practice to become confident and competent.
The remarks that follow may be helpful.
Steering is needed sooner or later at most
Indoor sites. Even if there isn’t a problem with
drift, there is the chance of a collision when
more than one model is flying. Several times I
have been flying and wished I had taken the
trouble to bring a balloon.
At one time I even carried a small helium
bottle and spare balloons to flying sessions. If
a balloon wasn’t needed for a session, the
helium wasn’t wasted. However, if you need a
balloon at a contest, you need it right then.
There isn’t time to inflate a balloon, so do it
before you fly.
The lift of pure helium is a fixed quantity
based solely on the volume of gas enclosed in
the balloon. The combined weights of the
balloon, filler spouts, and steering line reduce
the available lift. Rubber balloons lose roughly
50% of their lift in eight hours, so the inflated
volume needs to be enough to retain steering
capability at the end of the day.
A limp balloon is often better for retrieving
hung models because it is easier to control in
tight spaces. A fully inflated balloon tends to
follow your hand movements quickly, and a
hasty movement might smash your model.
Let’s put balloon size into perspective.
Lift varies with the cube of the radius of the
inflated balloon. The lift of a 24-inchdiameter
balloon is eight times more than the
lift of a 12-inch-diameter balloon.
A huge balloon is unnecessary in
Category I sites and may pose a problem in a
flat-ceiling site. If your model is ceilingscrubbing,
you can’t catch it with a big
balloon. If you bump it, the model may stall
and lose a great deal of altitude. Steering with
a pole is allowed, but you must use extreme
care to avoid snagging its tip in the ceiling. If
it whips loose, the model may be damaged.
For Category I flying, it is helpful to back
off the model’s flight trim. A model trimmed
for maximum duration in still, unobstructed
air is flying on the edge of a stall. In
Category I sites and turbulent air, the model
should be trimmed to fly slightly faster so it
can recover more easily from disturbances.
A Steering Drone? Do you have a sturdy
model that doesn’t fly as well as you would
like? Take off the big propeller and
rebalance it to fly “low and slow” using
smaller rubber and a smaller propeller. Now
you have a model with which you can
practice steering.
Since you’re not going all-out for first
place or a record, you can use a site with odd
ceiling height, rafters with an attitude, and a
drift problem. You can also practice retrieval
if it hangs up. A bonus is that without the
pressure to win, you will be more relaxed—
an excellent learning environment! MA
(Editor’s note: The staff of MA takes this
opportunity to thank Bud for his many years
of faithful service. His columns have helped
many to better enjoy the art and sport of
Indoor modeling. He is a legend in the world
of aeromodeling, and we wish him well in his
future endeavors.)
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/11
Page Numbers: 129,130,131
IT IS WITH sadness and somewhat of a sense of relief that I announce
that I must give up this column after so many years. There are several
reasons for this decision. First, although my physical condition is
reasonably stable, it remains that way because I work at it; that requires
an increasing amount of time and effort.
For the last few years, the aftermath of my supposedly fatal cancer
in 1997 has resulted in my being unable to swallow anything, so I take
all medications and nourishment through a feeding tube. Maintaining
the feeding tube and using it requires approximately three hours a day
Bud Tenny, Box 830545, Richardson TX 75083
FREE FLIGHT INDOOR
Longtime National Indoor Model Airplane Society member Tem
Johnson (L) and Emil Schultz at a USIC. Dave Linstrum photo.
The late John Martin, founder of the now-defunct MIAMA
organization, with his 1933 Lippisch Storch. Linstrum photo.
You can cut low-camber sliced ribs from molded blank with
stripper. Wood grain must be straight, run lengthwise along blank.
Steve Gardner with his wide-body Bostonian model at the 2002
US Indoor Championships. Linstrum photo.
130 MODEL AVIATION
and a source of running water to dilute or dissolve (or both) food and
medications.
This last problem essentially requires either a carefully planned trip
that allows stops where I can feed or a travel vehicle that has running
water. In addition, a three-day trip requires a 24-can case of my liquid
food to be carried along.
The second reason is that, despite my repeated requests, only a few
readers helped by sending photos and reports of technical innovations.
There have been several standout contributors. Dave Linstrum is one
of the most prolific. In fact, he wanted me to stress that he has not been
a staff photographer! Stan Chilton and the late Jim Clem consistently
shared their new ideas and innovations. This is far from a complete list,
but the total number of contributors simply wasn’t large enough to
adequately support the column.
On the European scene, Andras Ree of Hungary and Laurie Barr of
England contributed fairly often several years ago. Steve Brown and
Jim Richmond have kept us up to date on the FF Indoor World
Championships and records.
Reminder: My E-mail address has changed
to [email protected]. I look forward to any
comments you care to make.
Who Is This? Larry Kruse was the first to
identify the mystery person in the photo as
Mike Clem as a Junior. Mike is the late Jim
Clem’s second son and is married with
children.
Rules Cycle: There was a joint meeting of
the Contest Board chairmen and the
Executive Council. One important decision
that was made is that the rules cycle will be
shortened to two years instead of the current
three years. This will be accomplished by
using E-mail for all Contest Board
communications. It may also require future
rules-change proposals to be E-mail
messages.
By the time you see this, I expect that this
information might have been announced by
AMA in MA and other suitable venues. This
announcement should define when proposals
can be submitted and when proposals will be
voted on. You should send your E-mail
address to the Indoor Contest Board member
in your AMA district so that he can interact
with you.
Boron Safety: Although this piece is old, the
safety information is pertinent as long as
boron is being used. Read and heed; the skin
you save is probably yours. However, careless
use of boron can injure anyone, including
children.
In the December 1993 Boeing Hawks
newsletter (Gene Stubbs, editor), Gil
Coughlin described the following useful tips
for the safe use of boron fiber.
Gil uses a 0.004-inch fiber consisting of a
tungsten core with a vapor-deposited coating
of boron. It comes on a roll and has a tensile
strength and stiffness similar to 0.020-inch
piano wire. Its typical use is to add stiffness
to, say, a motorstick or stabilizer framework
by cementing fibers to the structure.
To apply the fiber, Gil coats it with Duco
cement by drawing it through a drop of
cement between his fingers. Then, with the
coated fiber positioned on the structure, he
activates the cement with a swipe of acetone.
Anyone who uses boron fiber should be
These 90cm models belong to Dick Kowalski. Dick made important contributions in the
F1D arena in the early 1960s. Photo by Tom Vallee.
The late Bob Champine (L) mentored many, such as Bud Tenny (R). Jody Tenny photo.
Stan Chilton’s 55cm F1D model. Chilton photo.
aware of its danger and appropriate disposal
methods. The chief danger with boron fiber is
that if a small piece punctures the skin like a
splinter, it tends to migrate through the body,
causing discomfort and damage. Therefore,
extreme care must be used to contain scraps or
fragments of the fiber.
A good way to keep track of the material is
to handle it attached to masking tape until it is
ready for installation. For disposal, Gil collects
scraps in a plastic bowl and casts them into a
block of Portland cement.
Model Steering: For AMA and FAI events
that allow it, steering is a fact of life. It is an art
that requires good eyesight and enough
practice to become confident and competent.
The remarks that follow may be helpful.
Steering is needed sooner or later at most
Indoor sites. Even if there isn’t a problem with
drift, there is the chance of a collision when
more than one model is flying. Several times I
have been flying and wished I had taken the
trouble to bring a balloon.
At one time I even carried a small helium
bottle and spare balloons to flying sessions. If
a balloon wasn’t needed for a session, the
helium wasn’t wasted. However, if you need a
balloon at a contest, you need it right then.
There isn’t time to inflate a balloon, so do it
before you fly.
The lift of pure helium is a fixed quantity
based solely on the volume of gas enclosed in
the balloon. The combined weights of the
balloon, filler spouts, and steering line reduce
the available lift. Rubber balloons lose roughly
50% of their lift in eight hours, so the inflated
volume needs to be enough to retain steering
capability at the end of the day.
A limp balloon is often better for retrieving
hung models because it is easier to control in
tight spaces. A fully inflated balloon tends to
follow your hand movements quickly, and a
hasty movement might smash your model.
Let’s put balloon size into perspective.
Lift varies with the cube of the radius of the
inflated balloon. The lift of a 24-inchdiameter
balloon is eight times more than the
lift of a 12-inch-diameter balloon.
A huge balloon is unnecessary in
Category I sites and may pose a problem in a
flat-ceiling site. If your model is ceilingscrubbing,
you can’t catch it with a big
balloon. If you bump it, the model may stall
and lose a great deal of altitude. Steering with
a pole is allowed, but you must use extreme
care to avoid snagging its tip in the ceiling. If
it whips loose, the model may be damaged.
For Category I flying, it is helpful to back
off the model’s flight trim. A model trimmed
for maximum duration in still, unobstructed
air is flying on the edge of a stall. In
Category I sites and turbulent air, the model
should be trimmed to fly slightly faster so it
can recover more easily from disturbances.
A Steering Drone? Do you have a sturdy
model that doesn’t fly as well as you would
like? Take off the big propeller and
rebalance it to fly “low and slow” using
smaller rubber and a smaller propeller. Now
you have a model with which you can
practice steering.
Since you’re not going all-out for first
place or a record, you can use a site with odd
ceiling height, rafters with an attitude, and a
drift problem. You can also practice retrieval
if it hangs up. A bonus is that without the
pressure to win, you will be more relaxed—
an excellent learning environment! MA
(Editor’s note: The staff of MA takes this
opportunity to thank Bud for his many years
of faithful service. His columns have helped
many to better enjoy the art and sport of
Indoor modeling. He is a legend in the world
of aeromodeling, and we wish him well in his
future endeavors.)