by John Worth
66 MODEL AVIATION
THE POTENTIAL OF last year’s first Indoor Championships—
which, as a new event on the aeromodeling scene, was compromised
by conflicts with other events and a late site change—was realized
this year with a much bigger number of entries and great flying.
The annual event, held again this year at the Oakland Yard
Athletics dome in Waterford, Michigan, June 4-6, had many
interesting models, action, and people. There were 33 fliers from 11
states and Canada.
The National Indoor Remote-controlled Aircraft Council
(NIRAC) organized last year’s and this year’s championships. There
were six competition events this year and several open (fun-fly)
sessions. The competition events were significantly different from
each other, and the open flying included indoor RC models of all
types. So a great variety of models were flown, which added up to a
total activity that embraced almost the entire spectrum of indoor RC
models.
In addition to the flying, NIRAC Hall of Fame presentations
were made at the Saturday-night banquet to modelers who are
credited with having made important contributions to the
development, progress, promotion, and achievements in indoor RC
activity: me, Joe Malinchak, Clarence and Dan Hurd, and Jack
McGillivray.
Bob Wilder (Colleyville TX), the first NIRAC president, was Grand
Champion of the weekend. He flew in every competition event. He
won two first places (in Cargo and Old-Timer Climb and Glide), a
second (in Glider), and two thirds (in Endurance and Scale).
Henry Pasquet (Ellsinore MO) was hot on Bob’s heels
throughout the weekend, with a first place (in Endurance), two
seconds (in Cargo and Racing), and a third (in Glider).
Two of the most interesting events—Climb and Glide and
Glider—are similar in that both involve timing only the gliding
portion of the flight. The basic challenge is to get the model as close
as possible to the building’s ceiling and achieve the longest timed
gliding flight. The peak of the dome-shaped ceiling at Waterford is
approximately 80 feet high, so the contestants had that altitude from
which to work.
For Climb and Glide, the model is required to be an Old-Timer
design published or kitted before 1943. It has to weigh at least 5
ounces and have a maximum wingspan of 42 inches. Rise-offground
takeoff is required, and the gliding flight is timed after the
maximum 30-second motor run.
Bob Wilder won this event flying his greatly enlarged RC
Cindy Malinchak with her Duration-class model. Its wire-braced,
light wing structure assumes normal dihedral angle in flight.
Bob Wilder’s glider flies after release from catapult
mechanism on balloon, which carried it to maximum height.
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:09 am Page 66
October 2004 67
version of the pre-World War II Quaker Flash FF model. Other Old-
Timers flown were a Miss America, a Playboy Senior, a Flying
Aces Stick, an Atomizer, and a Comet Clipper.
An unpowered model is required for the Glider event, and the
object is to get it as high as possible by any means, whereupon it is
released into a timed gliding flight. The gliders are allowed a
maximum wingspan of 30 inches and a minimum weight of 30
grams (slightly more than an ounce).
Various launch means included balloons carrying an airplane as
high as possible, a powered model towing a glider, a piggyback
launch from the top of a powered model, and hand towing a glider
from the ground.
Dave Robelen (Farmville VA) won Glider with a time of 1
minute, 15 seconds, using an airplane he launched piggyback from a
powered model that his helper Bill Conkling (Williamsburg VA)
piloted. Dave beat Bob Wilder, who used a large 6-foot-long by 3-
foot-in-diameter balloon (that was more like a blimp) carrying a
catapult mechanism that launched the glider into horizontal flight;
that way, he did not have to dive the model to gain flying speed.
Bob was able to guide his blimp from the ground to the top of the
dome for the launch, which then could be achieved at maximum
altitude.
Even though Dave’s glider seemed to be launched from a
somewhat lower height because its powered launcher could not be
flown too close to the ceiling, it was launched into horizontal flight
and apparently had a better glide than Bob’s model. Dave’s clever
piggyback two-model launching arrangement enabled him to win
the event and the meet’s Highest Achievement award.
Other launches involved simply dropping the glider vertically
from the balloon, which caused the model to lose considerable
altitude, picking up flight speed before horizontal gliding flight
could be achieved. Hand towing was inherently simple, but it was
difficult to get maximum altitude for launch at the peak of the
dome’s curved ceiling.
Although they are more subdued in terms of action, the
Endurance and Cargo events were also of great interest. Both feature
power restrictions; Endurance (also called Duration) allows a
maximum of four 50 mAh Ni-Cd cells to fly a model of any size,
and Cargo limits battery voltage to a maximum of 7.4, whether the
contestant uses Li-Poly, Ni-Cd, or NiMH cells.
Henry Pasquet won Endurance (AMA event 627) with a worldrecord-
setting flight of 33 minutes and 37 seconds. In doing so, he
broke the record he set just a week before at the AMA Nationals in
Johnson City, Tennessee. His model weighed a total of only 31
grams (1.09 ounces!).
Del Ogren (Deerfield IL), Bob Wilder, and Cindy Malinchak
(Greenfield Township PA), the event’s only female contestant, also
put up some excellent attempts. Obtaining flights of a half hour or
more with only four small Ni-Cd cells is amazing. All of the
Endurance flights were majestic, featuring big, ultralightweight
models flying slowly and gracefully like FF microfilm-covered
models.
Bob Wilder won Cargo with a ratio of 3:54. That figure is his
model’s 12.5-ounce gross weight divided by its weight of 3.40
ounces without the 9.13-ounce payload. With the payload, the model
had to take off and fly for at least 100 seconds in a circular flight
pattern that would fit inside a standard gymnasium, and then make a
successful landing with no damage. Bob’s airplane had a wing area
of roughly 350 square inches.
Henry Pasquet led the Cargo event with a ratio of 3:24 until Bob
topped him by successfully flying at a higher weight. Henry added
more weight and tried again, but he was foiled by a Li-Poly cell that
puffed up and failed to deliver the power needed, so he had to settle
for second place.
Third place in Cargo went to John Gardner (Brockport NY), who
flew an all-foam version of Cleveland’s Playboy. He was probably
the most enthusiastic contestant at the meet, entering many
categories—all with blue-foam airplanes of various sizes, shapes,
and types. Despite many crashes, John managed to make repairs and
keep flying the whole weekend. Through it all, he was the most
cheerful and happy participant.
By consensus, John was regarded as the competitor who
John Gardner’s Cleveland Playboy was third in Cargo. Big
clay chunks in nose over motor provided payload required to
be carried.
Dave Robelen won Glider and the Highest Achievement award
with piggyback radio-controlled glider-release arrangement.
CD Dave Robelen (L) awards Scott Christensen the plaque for
first place in Scale. Scott flew his Sig Antoinette.
Photos by the author and Bob Aberle
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:12 am Page 67
68 MODEL AVIATION
improved the most as the contest went
along, turning in respectable performances
as he learned from those with more
experience. One of his great achievements
was improvising a powered-model tow
launch of his glider that steadily improved
in performance as the Glider event
progressed.
The Scale competition limited a model’s
weight to 12 ounces ready for flight and the
wing loading to 6 ounces per square foot.
Scott Christensen (Montezuma IA) won
with some magnificent scalelike flying of
his Sig Antoinette vintage aircraft (pre-
World War I). His flights included beautiful
touch-and-gos and landings on a restrictedsize
plywood zone.
Second place went to Clayton (Skip)
Mast (Royal Oak MI), with his small but
great-flying Demoiselle. Flown slowly in
the same manner as Scott’s Antoinette,
Skip’s model had a scale pilot and its
wheels rotated slowly in flight, which
provided a realistic touch. Third place went
to Bob Wilder with his excellent Eindecker
E.III of World War I vintage.
Dynamic Web Enterprises (DWE) gave
a special award for the best Scale model
that competed and did not weigh more than
1.5 ounces. Joe Malinchak (Greenfield
Township PA) won the honor (as he did in
AT-6 (L) won Pylon event for Kevin Matney against three P-51s, two Bearcats, and
another AT-6. All models were from Hobby Lobby’s international racer series.
Joe Malinchak’s award-winning and comparatively large—spanning 13 inches—World
War II L-4 Scale model with invasion-stripe color scheme.
NIRAC 2004 High Point Champ Bob Wilder with his winning 42-inch-span Cargo model.
Its weight without payload is 3.4 ounces; with payload it’s 12.5 ounces!
Jack McGillivray was inducted into
NIRAC’s Hall of Fame. He’s a world-class
indoor flier in FF and RC.
Bob Wilder’s ultralight glider attached to
catapult launching rig on balloon. When
balloon reaches ceiling height, it shoots
model horizontally into gliding flight.
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:15 am Page 68
2003) with his 1.4-ounce L-4 liaison aircraft
done up in World War II invasion battle
colors. Although it’s diminutive, the threechannel
aircraft has great scale detail and
fine flight performance.
Indoor Racing features several rounds in
which four fliers simultaneously pilot their
models for 10 laps around two pylons that
are 75 feet apart. Kevin Matney (Erie MI)
took first place among eight entrants with
his AT-6. Henry Pasquet came in second
flying his P-51, and Dennis Sumner (Canton
MI) finished third, also with a P-51. All of
the models were made from Hobby Lobby’s
popular series of international Reno-type
foam racers.
The racing was fast and exciting indoors,
and there was ample room in the huge
dome—which allowed some non-pylon,
much-slower flying to be done at the same
time. Local fliers who use the facility
regularly noted that they often fly a fourpylon
course with as many as six racers at a
time!
The Indoor Racing rules for the NIRAC
event require that all models be powered
with the GWS IPS-DXA 5.86:1 geared
motor unit, and any brand of commercial
unmodified propeller is permitted. Model
weight must be between 7 and 8 ounces.
The contestants’ battery choices are two Li-
John Worth (L) presents Joe Malinchak with NIRAC Hall of Fame plaque. Joe also won
DWE’s award for best Scale model weighing less than 1.5 ounces and third place in
Climb and Glide.
Dave Robelen’s foam “carrier” model used a couple of mounts on stilts to hold glider in
place above fuselage stick until peak altitude was reached for glider’s radiocommanded
release.
Dave Robelen and his piggyback arrangement of a powered launch model and an
unpowered glider which is released at maximum altitude. Another pilot flies launch
model to landing.
Room Flight’s Larry Park at his stand
shows customers his .5-ounce Housefly. He
sells it as a kit with geared pager motor,
propeller, and a pair of pager-motor
actuators.
The NIRAC banner reads “remote-control”
rather than radio-controlled, signifying
that all types of control are included, such
as infrared, light beam, etc.
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:17 am Page 69
Poly cells, six Ni-Cd cells, or six NiMH
cells. These combinations produce
approximately 7.2 volts.
Models must be replicas of full-scale,
single-engine aircraft that have participated
in the Unlimited class of pylon racers, with
three-dimensional fuselages that closely
follow the original shape. Wings must be
single-surface, undercambered with a
minimum of 8% thickness from the top of
the airfoil to its two lowest points along the
full span. Minimum wing area is 135 square
inches. Landing gear is optional, and
launching is by hand.
The championships ended Sunday
afternoon, and a great array of NIRAC
plaques were awarded. There was a special
award from E Cubed RC for the highest
number of points by a contestant who used
an Azarr short RC antenna, which Bob
Wilder won.
Current (and second) NIRAC President
Dave Robelen organized and directed this
year’s event (and was the CD last year).
Last year’s president Bob Wilder organized
the 2003 Champs. Dave is already
developing plans for the 2005 Indoor RC
Championships, which will probably be
held at the same place and at roughly the
same time.
NIRAC officials at the meet paid tribute
to the 2004 event sponsors; their participation
made it a financial and operational success,
helping to assure that these contests will
continue. Thanks to Air Age Media, Balsa
Products, Castle Creations, DWE, FMA
Direct, Maplegate Media, RC Groups, and
Sky Hooks and Rigging. Thanks also to the
on-site vendors: DJ Aerotech, DWE, and
Room Flight.
We appreciate the efforts of Oakland Yard
Athletics facility manager Dave Dobrin and
Special Events Coordinator Julie Dean (who
organized a fine banquet). And although Bill
Smead (Palatine IL) was a contestant, he
pitched in and volunteered to help with
registration and raffle-ticket sales (which
helped pay for NIRAC’s weekend expenses).
Likewise, Bill Conkling served as an assistant
and Scale judge for Dave Robelen.
Another historic national event for the
fledgling indoor RC activity is in the AMA
record books. As a relatively new and
steadily growing aeromodeling category, it
is now firmly established and ready to go on
to bigger and better things.
As an official AMA SIG, NIRAC is
fulfilling the promise it made when it was
established. What is happening now is a
tribute to founder Bob Wilder’s vision and
organizational ability.
Much is also owed to NIRAC’s current
vice president Bob Aberle, who has
provided yeoman volunteer service for the
organization by acting as its promoter,
photographer, industry and sponsorship
liaison, and all-around advisor. MA
John Worth
4326 Andes Dr.
Fairfax VA 22030
70 MODEL AVIATION
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Features two mixing modes, individual servo reversing and four different
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ELEVONMIXER
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:18 am Page 70
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/10
Page Numbers: 66,67,68,69,70
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/10
Page Numbers: 66,67,68,69,70
by John Worth
66 MODEL AVIATION
THE POTENTIAL OF last year’s first Indoor Championships—
which, as a new event on the aeromodeling scene, was compromised
by conflicts with other events and a late site change—was realized
this year with a much bigger number of entries and great flying.
The annual event, held again this year at the Oakland Yard
Athletics dome in Waterford, Michigan, June 4-6, had many
interesting models, action, and people. There were 33 fliers from 11
states and Canada.
The National Indoor Remote-controlled Aircraft Council
(NIRAC) organized last year’s and this year’s championships. There
were six competition events this year and several open (fun-fly)
sessions. The competition events were significantly different from
each other, and the open flying included indoor RC models of all
types. So a great variety of models were flown, which added up to a
total activity that embraced almost the entire spectrum of indoor RC
models.
In addition to the flying, NIRAC Hall of Fame presentations
were made at the Saturday-night banquet to modelers who are
credited with having made important contributions to the
development, progress, promotion, and achievements in indoor RC
activity: me, Joe Malinchak, Clarence and Dan Hurd, and Jack
McGillivray.
Bob Wilder (Colleyville TX), the first NIRAC president, was Grand
Champion of the weekend. He flew in every competition event. He
won two first places (in Cargo and Old-Timer Climb and Glide), a
second (in Glider), and two thirds (in Endurance and Scale).
Henry Pasquet (Ellsinore MO) was hot on Bob’s heels
throughout the weekend, with a first place (in Endurance), two
seconds (in Cargo and Racing), and a third (in Glider).
Two of the most interesting events—Climb and Glide and
Glider—are similar in that both involve timing only the gliding
portion of the flight. The basic challenge is to get the model as close
as possible to the building’s ceiling and achieve the longest timed
gliding flight. The peak of the dome-shaped ceiling at Waterford is
approximately 80 feet high, so the contestants had that altitude from
which to work.
For Climb and Glide, the model is required to be an Old-Timer
design published or kitted before 1943. It has to weigh at least 5
ounces and have a maximum wingspan of 42 inches. Rise-offground
takeoff is required, and the gliding flight is timed after the
maximum 30-second motor run.
Bob Wilder won this event flying his greatly enlarged RC
Cindy Malinchak with her Duration-class model. Its wire-braced,
light wing structure assumes normal dihedral angle in flight.
Bob Wilder’s glider flies after release from catapult
mechanism on balloon, which carried it to maximum height.
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:09 am Page 66
October 2004 67
version of the pre-World War II Quaker Flash FF model. Other Old-
Timers flown were a Miss America, a Playboy Senior, a Flying
Aces Stick, an Atomizer, and a Comet Clipper.
An unpowered model is required for the Glider event, and the
object is to get it as high as possible by any means, whereupon it is
released into a timed gliding flight. The gliders are allowed a
maximum wingspan of 30 inches and a minimum weight of 30
grams (slightly more than an ounce).
Various launch means included balloons carrying an airplane as
high as possible, a powered model towing a glider, a piggyback
launch from the top of a powered model, and hand towing a glider
from the ground.
Dave Robelen (Farmville VA) won Glider with a time of 1
minute, 15 seconds, using an airplane he launched piggyback from a
powered model that his helper Bill Conkling (Williamsburg VA)
piloted. Dave beat Bob Wilder, who used a large 6-foot-long by 3-
foot-in-diameter balloon (that was more like a blimp) carrying a
catapult mechanism that launched the glider into horizontal flight;
that way, he did not have to dive the model to gain flying speed.
Bob was able to guide his blimp from the ground to the top of the
dome for the launch, which then could be achieved at maximum
altitude.
Even though Dave’s glider seemed to be launched from a
somewhat lower height because its powered launcher could not be
flown too close to the ceiling, it was launched into horizontal flight
and apparently had a better glide than Bob’s model. Dave’s clever
piggyback two-model launching arrangement enabled him to win
the event and the meet’s Highest Achievement award.
Other launches involved simply dropping the glider vertically
from the balloon, which caused the model to lose considerable
altitude, picking up flight speed before horizontal gliding flight
could be achieved. Hand towing was inherently simple, but it was
difficult to get maximum altitude for launch at the peak of the
dome’s curved ceiling.
Although they are more subdued in terms of action, the
Endurance and Cargo events were also of great interest. Both feature
power restrictions; Endurance (also called Duration) allows a
maximum of four 50 mAh Ni-Cd cells to fly a model of any size,
and Cargo limits battery voltage to a maximum of 7.4, whether the
contestant uses Li-Poly, Ni-Cd, or NiMH cells.
Henry Pasquet won Endurance (AMA event 627) with a worldrecord-
setting flight of 33 minutes and 37 seconds. In doing so, he
broke the record he set just a week before at the AMA Nationals in
Johnson City, Tennessee. His model weighed a total of only 31
grams (1.09 ounces!).
Del Ogren (Deerfield IL), Bob Wilder, and Cindy Malinchak
(Greenfield Township PA), the event’s only female contestant, also
put up some excellent attempts. Obtaining flights of a half hour or
more with only four small Ni-Cd cells is amazing. All of the
Endurance flights were majestic, featuring big, ultralightweight
models flying slowly and gracefully like FF microfilm-covered
models.
Bob Wilder won Cargo with a ratio of 3:54. That figure is his
model’s 12.5-ounce gross weight divided by its weight of 3.40
ounces without the 9.13-ounce payload. With the payload, the model
had to take off and fly for at least 100 seconds in a circular flight
pattern that would fit inside a standard gymnasium, and then make a
successful landing with no damage. Bob’s airplane had a wing area
of roughly 350 square inches.
Henry Pasquet led the Cargo event with a ratio of 3:24 until Bob
topped him by successfully flying at a higher weight. Henry added
more weight and tried again, but he was foiled by a Li-Poly cell that
puffed up and failed to deliver the power needed, so he had to settle
for second place.
Third place in Cargo went to John Gardner (Brockport NY), who
flew an all-foam version of Cleveland’s Playboy. He was probably
the most enthusiastic contestant at the meet, entering many
categories—all with blue-foam airplanes of various sizes, shapes,
and types. Despite many crashes, John managed to make repairs and
keep flying the whole weekend. Through it all, he was the most
cheerful and happy participant.
By consensus, John was regarded as the competitor who
John Gardner’s Cleveland Playboy was third in Cargo. Big
clay chunks in nose over motor provided payload required to
be carried.
Dave Robelen won Glider and the Highest Achievement award
with piggyback radio-controlled glider-release arrangement.
CD Dave Robelen (L) awards Scott Christensen the plaque for
first place in Scale. Scott flew his Sig Antoinette.
Photos by the author and Bob Aberle
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:12 am Page 67
68 MODEL AVIATION
improved the most as the contest went
along, turning in respectable performances
as he learned from those with more
experience. One of his great achievements
was improvising a powered-model tow
launch of his glider that steadily improved
in performance as the Glider event
progressed.
The Scale competition limited a model’s
weight to 12 ounces ready for flight and the
wing loading to 6 ounces per square foot.
Scott Christensen (Montezuma IA) won
with some magnificent scalelike flying of
his Sig Antoinette vintage aircraft (pre-
World War I). His flights included beautiful
touch-and-gos and landings on a restrictedsize
plywood zone.
Second place went to Clayton (Skip)
Mast (Royal Oak MI), with his small but
great-flying Demoiselle. Flown slowly in
the same manner as Scott’s Antoinette,
Skip’s model had a scale pilot and its
wheels rotated slowly in flight, which
provided a realistic touch. Third place went
to Bob Wilder with his excellent Eindecker
E.III of World War I vintage.
Dynamic Web Enterprises (DWE) gave
a special award for the best Scale model
that competed and did not weigh more than
1.5 ounces. Joe Malinchak (Greenfield
Township PA) won the honor (as he did in
AT-6 (L) won Pylon event for Kevin Matney against three P-51s, two Bearcats, and
another AT-6. All models were from Hobby Lobby’s international racer series.
Joe Malinchak’s award-winning and comparatively large—spanning 13 inches—World
War II L-4 Scale model with invasion-stripe color scheme.
NIRAC 2004 High Point Champ Bob Wilder with his winning 42-inch-span Cargo model.
Its weight without payload is 3.4 ounces; with payload it’s 12.5 ounces!
Jack McGillivray was inducted into
NIRAC’s Hall of Fame. He’s a world-class
indoor flier in FF and RC.
Bob Wilder’s ultralight glider attached to
catapult launching rig on balloon. When
balloon reaches ceiling height, it shoots
model horizontally into gliding flight.
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:15 am Page 68
2003) with his 1.4-ounce L-4 liaison aircraft
done up in World War II invasion battle
colors. Although it’s diminutive, the threechannel
aircraft has great scale detail and
fine flight performance.
Indoor Racing features several rounds in
which four fliers simultaneously pilot their
models for 10 laps around two pylons that
are 75 feet apart. Kevin Matney (Erie MI)
took first place among eight entrants with
his AT-6. Henry Pasquet came in second
flying his P-51, and Dennis Sumner (Canton
MI) finished third, also with a P-51. All of
the models were made from Hobby Lobby’s
popular series of international Reno-type
foam racers.
The racing was fast and exciting indoors,
and there was ample room in the huge
dome—which allowed some non-pylon,
much-slower flying to be done at the same
time. Local fliers who use the facility
regularly noted that they often fly a fourpylon
course with as many as six racers at a
time!
The Indoor Racing rules for the NIRAC
event require that all models be powered
with the GWS IPS-DXA 5.86:1 geared
motor unit, and any brand of commercial
unmodified propeller is permitted. Model
weight must be between 7 and 8 ounces.
The contestants’ battery choices are two Li-
John Worth (L) presents Joe Malinchak with NIRAC Hall of Fame plaque. Joe also won
DWE’s award for best Scale model weighing less than 1.5 ounces and third place in
Climb and Glide.
Dave Robelen’s foam “carrier” model used a couple of mounts on stilts to hold glider in
place above fuselage stick until peak altitude was reached for glider’s radiocommanded
release.
Dave Robelen and his piggyback arrangement of a powered launch model and an
unpowered glider which is released at maximum altitude. Another pilot flies launch
model to landing.
Room Flight’s Larry Park at his stand
shows customers his .5-ounce Housefly. He
sells it as a kit with geared pager motor,
propeller, and a pair of pager-motor
actuators.
The NIRAC banner reads “remote-control”
rather than radio-controlled, signifying
that all types of control are included, such
as infrared, light beam, etc.
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:17 am Page 69
Poly cells, six Ni-Cd cells, or six NiMH
cells. These combinations produce
approximately 7.2 volts.
Models must be replicas of full-scale,
single-engine aircraft that have participated
in the Unlimited class of pylon racers, with
three-dimensional fuselages that closely
follow the original shape. Wings must be
single-surface, undercambered with a
minimum of 8% thickness from the top of
the airfoil to its two lowest points along the
full span. Minimum wing area is 135 square
inches. Landing gear is optional, and
launching is by hand.
The championships ended Sunday
afternoon, and a great array of NIRAC
plaques were awarded. There was a special
award from E Cubed RC for the highest
number of points by a contestant who used
an Azarr short RC antenna, which Bob
Wilder won.
Current (and second) NIRAC President
Dave Robelen organized and directed this
year’s event (and was the CD last year).
Last year’s president Bob Wilder organized
the 2003 Champs. Dave is already
developing plans for the 2005 Indoor RC
Championships, which will probably be
held at the same place and at roughly the
same time.
NIRAC officials at the meet paid tribute
to the 2004 event sponsors; their participation
made it a financial and operational success,
helping to assure that these contests will
continue. Thanks to Air Age Media, Balsa
Products, Castle Creations, DWE, FMA
Direct, Maplegate Media, RC Groups, and
Sky Hooks and Rigging. Thanks also to the
on-site vendors: DJ Aerotech, DWE, and
Room Flight.
We appreciate the efforts of Oakland Yard
Athletics facility manager Dave Dobrin and
Special Events Coordinator Julie Dean (who
organized a fine banquet). And although Bill
Smead (Palatine IL) was a contestant, he
pitched in and volunteered to help with
registration and raffle-ticket sales (which
helped pay for NIRAC’s weekend expenses).
Likewise, Bill Conkling served as an assistant
and Scale judge for Dave Robelen.
Another historic national event for the
fledgling indoor RC activity is in the AMA
record books. As a relatively new and
steadily growing aeromodeling category, it
is now firmly established and ready to go on
to bigger and better things.
As an official AMA SIG, NIRAC is
fulfilling the promise it made when it was
established. What is happening now is a
tribute to founder Bob Wilder’s vision and
organizational ability.
Much is also owed to NIRAC’s current
vice president Bob Aberle, who has
provided yeoman volunteer service for the
organization by acting as its promoter,
photographer, industry and sponsorship
liaison, and all-around advisor. MA
John Worth
4326 Andes Dr.
Fairfax VA 22030
70 MODEL AVIATION
OTHER PME PRODUCTS*
P. O. BOX 3129 • CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78463-3129
ORDERS, INFORMATION & CUSTOMER SERVICE: (361) 814-6843
HOURS: MONDAY - FRIDAY, 11AM – 6PM CENTRAL TIME
WEBSITE: www.pme-rc.com • E-MAIL: [email protected]
GlowDriver for Multi-Cylinder (4 to 8 plugs) - starts at ............. $42.95
GlowDriver for Boats, Cars ....................................................... $32.95
PowerBackup .............................................................................. 36.95
AccessorySwitch (300 watt) ........................................................ 35.95
FlapMixer .................................................................................... 30.95
Exponential ServoDriver ............................................................ 28.95
AccessorySwitch, Low-Current ................................................... 24.95
SloServo ..................................................................................... 28.95
ThrottleSwitch w/BEC & Timer ................................................... 40.95
IgnitionUnit for Rocket Powered Models ..................................... 39.95
Single-Channel FailSafe ............................................................. 24.95
ManualServoDriver w/connectors ............................................... 37.95
PowerRegulator, 5-Volt ............................................................... 14.95
Other Specialized Accessory Devices and Custom Devices are
available - call for details and pricing
*Connectors available for Airtronics, Futaba, Hitec and JR - $2.95 each, installed.
PRECISIONMICROELECTRONICS
Add $2.50 per item,
max $5.00 for S&H.
TX residents must add
8.250% sales tax.
Complete systems and
other products available for
planes, cars and boats.
Call or write for details.
Makes starting easier and
safer. Keeps the glow plug hot
just when your engine needs
it the most. Connects between
the throttle servo and
receiver, and is reversible
with selectable “on” and “off”
points. Can drive two glow
plugs and automatically turns
off when transmitter is off.
Compatible with AM, FM and
PCM radio systems. Low
power consumption. Comes
with hookup wire. Less radio connector, power cell and plug clip. Size:
1.7” x 1.2” x 0.4”. Weight: 0.4 oz. Part No. — GD210A $34.95; $37.90
w/connector; $44.85 w/connector & plug clip; CALL for complete
single, twin-cylinder and twin-engine systems.
GLOWDRIVER
Gives older radios the ability to reverse the
direction of servo operation. Installations and setups
are easier and more convenient. Provides both
normal and reversed output without the use of a
Y-connector. It makes split elevator, two-servo
ailerons, or double-servo rudder installation supereasy.
Microprocessor controlled and 100%
electronic with no setup or fuss—just connect it
and forget it. Made in the U.S.A. and works with
AM, FM and PCM radio systems. Ultra-low power
consumption. Less radio connector. Size: 1.6” x
0.9” x 0.4”. Weight: 0.25 oz. Part No. — SR502U
$24.95; $27.90 complete w/connector.
DUAL-OUTPUT SERVOREVERSER
Gives standard radios the
ability to mix channels for
elevons, v-tails, flaps, spoilers
or aileron/rudder coupling.
Easy setup and installation.
Rugged microprocessor-based design is 100% electronic for high
reliability. Simply connect the mixer between servos and receiver.
Features two mixing modes, individual servo reversing and four different
mixing rates. These features allow you to tailor the mixer to the needs of
your model. Will not overdrive your servos, and all options are selected
with simple switches. Made in the U.S.A. and designed for AM, FM and
PCM radio systems. Very low power consumption. Less radio connectors.
Size: 1.6” x 0.9” x 0.4”. Weight: 0.25 oz. Part No. — EM310A $30.95;
$37.85 complete w/connectors.
ELEVONMIXER
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:18 am Page 70
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/10
Page Numbers: 66,67,68,69,70
by John Worth
66 MODEL AVIATION
THE POTENTIAL OF last year’s first Indoor Championships—
which, as a new event on the aeromodeling scene, was compromised
by conflicts with other events and a late site change—was realized
this year with a much bigger number of entries and great flying.
The annual event, held again this year at the Oakland Yard
Athletics dome in Waterford, Michigan, June 4-6, had many
interesting models, action, and people. There were 33 fliers from 11
states and Canada.
The National Indoor Remote-controlled Aircraft Council
(NIRAC) organized last year’s and this year’s championships. There
were six competition events this year and several open (fun-fly)
sessions. The competition events were significantly different from
each other, and the open flying included indoor RC models of all
types. So a great variety of models were flown, which added up to a
total activity that embraced almost the entire spectrum of indoor RC
models.
In addition to the flying, NIRAC Hall of Fame presentations
were made at the Saturday-night banquet to modelers who are
credited with having made important contributions to the
development, progress, promotion, and achievements in indoor RC
activity: me, Joe Malinchak, Clarence and Dan Hurd, and Jack
McGillivray.
Bob Wilder (Colleyville TX), the first NIRAC president, was Grand
Champion of the weekend. He flew in every competition event. He
won two first places (in Cargo and Old-Timer Climb and Glide), a
second (in Glider), and two thirds (in Endurance and Scale).
Henry Pasquet (Ellsinore MO) was hot on Bob’s heels
throughout the weekend, with a first place (in Endurance), two
seconds (in Cargo and Racing), and a third (in Glider).
Two of the most interesting events—Climb and Glide and
Glider—are similar in that both involve timing only the gliding
portion of the flight. The basic challenge is to get the model as close
as possible to the building’s ceiling and achieve the longest timed
gliding flight. The peak of the dome-shaped ceiling at Waterford is
approximately 80 feet high, so the contestants had that altitude from
which to work.
For Climb and Glide, the model is required to be an Old-Timer
design published or kitted before 1943. It has to weigh at least 5
ounces and have a maximum wingspan of 42 inches. Rise-offground
takeoff is required, and the gliding flight is timed after the
maximum 30-second motor run.
Bob Wilder won this event flying his greatly enlarged RC
Cindy Malinchak with her Duration-class model. Its wire-braced,
light wing structure assumes normal dihedral angle in flight.
Bob Wilder’s glider flies after release from catapult
mechanism on balloon, which carried it to maximum height.
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:09 am Page 66
October 2004 67
version of the pre-World War II Quaker Flash FF model. Other Old-
Timers flown were a Miss America, a Playboy Senior, a Flying
Aces Stick, an Atomizer, and a Comet Clipper.
An unpowered model is required for the Glider event, and the
object is to get it as high as possible by any means, whereupon it is
released into a timed gliding flight. The gliders are allowed a
maximum wingspan of 30 inches and a minimum weight of 30
grams (slightly more than an ounce).
Various launch means included balloons carrying an airplane as
high as possible, a powered model towing a glider, a piggyback
launch from the top of a powered model, and hand towing a glider
from the ground.
Dave Robelen (Farmville VA) won Glider with a time of 1
minute, 15 seconds, using an airplane he launched piggyback from a
powered model that his helper Bill Conkling (Williamsburg VA)
piloted. Dave beat Bob Wilder, who used a large 6-foot-long by 3-
foot-in-diameter balloon (that was more like a blimp) carrying a
catapult mechanism that launched the glider into horizontal flight;
that way, he did not have to dive the model to gain flying speed.
Bob was able to guide his blimp from the ground to the top of the
dome for the launch, which then could be achieved at maximum
altitude.
Even though Dave’s glider seemed to be launched from a
somewhat lower height because its powered launcher could not be
flown too close to the ceiling, it was launched into horizontal flight
and apparently had a better glide than Bob’s model. Dave’s clever
piggyback two-model launching arrangement enabled him to win
the event and the meet’s Highest Achievement award.
Other launches involved simply dropping the glider vertically
from the balloon, which caused the model to lose considerable
altitude, picking up flight speed before horizontal gliding flight
could be achieved. Hand towing was inherently simple, but it was
difficult to get maximum altitude for launch at the peak of the
dome’s curved ceiling.
Although they are more subdued in terms of action, the
Endurance and Cargo events were also of great interest. Both feature
power restrictions; Endurance (also called Duration) allows a
maximum of four 50 mAh Ni-Cd cells to fly a model of any size,
and Cargo limits battery voltage to a maximum of 7.4, whether the
contestant uses Li-Poly, Ni-Cd, or NiMH cells.
Henry Pasquet won Endurance (AMA event 627) with a worldrecord-
setting flight of 33 minutes and 37 seconds. In doing so, he
broke the record he set just a week before at the AMA Nationals in
Johnson City, Tennessee. His model weighed a total of only 31
grams (1.09 ounces!).
Del Ogren (Deerfield IL), Bob Wilder, and Cindy Malinchak
(Greenfield Township PA), the event’s only female contestant, also
put up some excellent attempts. Obtaining flights of a half hour or
more with only four small Ni-Cd cells is amazing. All of the
Endurance flights were majestic, featuring big, ultralightweight
models flying slowly and gracefully like FF microfilm-covered
models.
Bob Wilder won Cargo with a ratio of 3:54. That figure is his
model’s 12.5-ounce gross weight divided by its weight of 3.40
ounces without the 9.13-ounce payload. With the payload, the model
had to take off and fly for at least 100 seconds in a circular flight
pattern that would fit inside a standard gymnasium, and then make a
successful landing with no damage. Bob’s airplane had a wing area
of roughly 350 square inches.
Henry Pasquet led the Cargo event with a ratio of 3:24 until Bob
topped him by successfully flying at a higher weight. Henry added
more weight and tried again, but he was foiled by a Li-Poly cell that
puffed up and failed to deliver the power needed, so he had to settle
for second place.
Third place in Cargo went to John Gardner (Brockport NY), who
flew an all-foam version of Cleveland’s Playboy. He was probably
the most enthusiastic contestant at the meet, entering many
categories—all with blue-foam airplanes of various sizes, shapes,
and types. Despite many crashes, John managed to make repairs and
keep flying the whole weekend. Through it all, he was the most
cheerful and happy participant.
By consensus, John was regarded as the competitor who
John Gardner’s Cleveland Playboy was third in Cargo. Big
clay chunks in nose over motor provided payload required to
be carried.
Dave Robelen won Glider and the Highest Achievement award
with piggyback radio-controlled glider-release arrangement.
CD Dave Robelen (L) awards Scott Christensen the plaque for
first place in Scale. Scott flew his Sig Antoinette.
Photos by the author and Bob Aberle
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:12 am Page 67
68 MODEL AVIATION
improved the most as the contest went
along, turning in respectable performances
as he learned from those with more
experience. One of his great achievements
was improvising a powered-model tow
launch of his glider that steadily improved
in performance as the Glider event
progressed.
The Scale competition limited a model’s
weight to 12 ounces ready for flight and the
wing loading to 6 ounces per square foot.
Scott Christensen (Montezuma IA) won
with some magnificent scalelike flying of
his Sig Antoinette vintage aircraft (pre-
World War I). His flights included beautiful
touch-and-gos and landings on a restrictedsize
plywood zone.
Second place went to Clayton (Skip)
Mast (Royal Oak MI), with his small but
great-flying Demoiselle. Flown slowly in
the same manner as Scott’s Antoinette,
Skip’s model had a scale pilot and its
wheels rotated slowly in flight, which
provided a realistic touch. Third place went
to Bob Wilder with his excellent Eindecker
E.III of World War I vintage.
Dynamic Web Enterprises (DWE) gave
a special award for the best Scale model
that competed and did not weigh more than
1.5 ounces. Joe Malinchak (Greenfield
Township PA) won the honor (as he did in
AT-6 (L) won Pylon event for Kevin Matney against three P-51s, two Bearcats, and
another AT-6. All models were from Hobby Lobby’s international racer series.
Joe Malinchak’s award-winning and comparatively large—spanning 13 inches—World
War II L-4 Scale model with invasion-stripe color scheme.
NIRAC 2004 High Point Champ Bob Wilder with his winning 42-inch-span Cargo model.
Its weight without payload is 3.4 ounces; with payload it’s 12.5 ounces!
Jack McGillivray was inducted into
NIRAC’s Hall of Fame. He’s a world-class
indoor flier in FF and RC.
Bob Wilder’s ultralight glider attached to
catapult launching rig on balloon. When
balloon reaches ceiling height, it shoots
model horizontally into gliding flight.
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:15 am Page 68
2003) with his 1.4-ounce L-4 liaison aircraft
done up in World War II invasion battle
colors. Although it’s diminutive, the threechannel
aircraft has great scale detail and
fine flight performance.
Indoor Racing features several rounds in
which four fliers simultaneously pilot their
models for 10 laps around two pylons that
are 75 feet apart. Kevin Matney (Erie MI)
took first place among eight entrants with
his AT-6. Henry Pasquet came in second
flying his P-51, and Dennis Sumner (Canton
MI) finished third, also with a P-51. All of
the models were made from Hobby Lobby’s
popular series of international Reno-type
foam racers.
The racing was fast and exciting indoors,
and there was ample room in the huge
dome—which allowed some non-pylon,
much-slower flying to be done at the same
time. Local fliers who use the facility
regularly noted that they often fly a fourpylon
course with as many as six racers at a
time!
The Indoor Racing rules for the NIRAC
event require that all models be powered
with the GWS IPS-DXA 5.86:1 geared
motor unit, and any brand of commercial
unmodified propeller is permitted. Model
weight must be between 7 and 8 ounces.
The contestants’ battery choices are two Li-
John Worth (L) presents Joe Malinchak with NIRAC Hall of Fame plaque. Joe also won
DWE’s award for best Scale model weighing less than 1.5 ounces and third place in
Climb and Glide.
Dave Robelen’s foam “carrier” model used a couple of mounts on stilts to hold glider in
place above fuselage stick until peak altitude was reached for glider’s radiocommanded
release.
Dave Robelen and his piggyback arrangement of a powered launch model and an
unpowered glider which is released at maximum altitude. Another pilot flies launch
model to landing.
Room Flight’s Larry Park at his stand
shows customers his .5-ounce Housefly. He
sells it as a kit with geared pager motor,
propeller, and a pair of pager-motor
actuators.
The NIRAC banner reads “remote-control”
rather than radio-controlled, signifying
that all types of control are included, such
as infrared, light beam, etc.
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:17 am Page 69
Poly cells, six Ni-Cd cells, or six NiMH
cells. These combinations produce
approximately 7.2 volts.
Models must be replicas of full-scale,
single-engine aircraft that have participated
in the Unlimited class of pylon racers, with
three-dimensional fuselages that closely
follow the original shape. Wings must be
single-surface, undercambered with a
minimum of 8% thickness from the top of
the airfoil to its two lowest points along the
full span. Minimum wing area is 135 square
inches. Landing gear is optional, and
launching is by hand.
The championships ended Sunday
afternoon, and a great array of NIRAC
plaques were awarded. There was a special
award from E Cubed RC for the highest
number of points by a contestant who used
an Azarr short RC antenna, which Bob
Wilder won.
Current (and second) NIRAC President
Dave Robelen organized and directed this
year’s event (and was the CD last year).
Last year’s president Bob Wilder organized
the 2003 Champs. Dave is already
developing plans for the 2005 Indoor RC
Championships, which will probably be
held at the same place and at roughly the
same time.
NIRAC officials at the meet paid tribute
to the 2004 event sponsors; their participation
made it a financial and operational success,
helping to assure that these contests will
continue. Thanks to Air Age Media, Balsa
Products, Castle Creations, DWE, FMA
Direct, Maplegate Media, RC Groups, and
Sky Hooks and Rigging. Thanks also to the
on-site vendors: DJ Aerotech, DWE, and
Room Flight.
We appreciate the efforts of Oakland Yard
Athletics facility manager Dave Dobrin and
Special Events Coordinator Julie Dean (who
organized a fine banquet). And although Bill
Smead (Palatine IL) was a contestant, he
pitched in and volunteered to help with
registration and raffle-ticket sales (which
helped pay for NIRAC’s weekend expenses).
Likewise, Bill Conkling served as an assistant
and Scale judge for Dave Robelen.
Another historic national event for the
fledgling indoor RC activity is in the AMA
record books. As a relatively new and
steadily growing aeromodeling category, it
is now firmly established and ready to go on
to bigger and better things.
As an official AMA SIG, NIRAC is
fulfilling the promise it made when it was
established. What is happening now is a
tribute to founder Bob Wilder’s vision and
organizational ability.
Much is also owed to NIRAC’s current
vice president Bob Aberle, who has
provided yeoman volunteer service for the
organization by acting as its promoter,
photographer, industry and sponsorship
liaison, and all-around advisor. MA
John Worth
4326 Andes Dr.
Fairfax VA 22030
70 MODEL AVIATION
OTHER PME PRODUCTS*
P. O. BOX 3129 • CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78463-3129
ORDERS, INFORMATION & CUSTOMER SERVICE: (361) 814-6843
HOURS: MONDAY - FRIDAY, 11AM – 6PM CENTRAL TIME
WEBSITE: www.pme-rc.com • E-MAIL: [email protected]
GlowDriver for Multi-Cylinder (4 to 8 plugs) - starts at ............. $42.95
GlowDriver for Boats, Cars ....................................................... $32.95
PowerBackup .............................................................................. 36.95
AccessorySwitch (300 watt) ........................................................ 35.95
FlapMixer .................................................................................... 30.95
Exponential ServoDriver ............................................................ 28.95
AccessorySwitch, Low-Current ................................................... 24.95
SloServo ..................................................................................... 28.95
ThrottleSwitch w/BEC & Timer ................................................... 40.95
IgnitionUnit for Rocket Powered Models ..................................... 39.95
Single-Channel FailSafe ............................................................. 24.95
ManualServoDriver w/connectors ............................................... 37.95
PowerRegulator, 5-Volt ............................................................... 14.95
Other Specialized Accessory Devices and Custom Devices are
available - call for details and pricing
*Connectors available for Airtronics, Futaba, Hitec and JR - $2.95 each, installed.
PRECISIONMICROELECTRONICS
Add $2.50 per item,
max $5.00 for S&H.
TX residents must add
8.250% sales tax.
Complete systems and
other products available for
planes, cars and boats.
Call or write for details.
Makes starting easier and
safer. Keeps the glow plug hot
just when your engine needs
it the most. Connects between
the throttle servo and
receiver, and is reversible
with selectable “on” and “off”
points. Can drive two glow
plugs and automatically turns
off when transmitter is off.
Compatible with AM, FM and
PCM radio systems. Low
power consumption. Comes
with hookup wire. Less radio connector, power cell and plug clip. Size:
1.7” x 1.2” x 0.4”. Weight: 0.4 oz. Part No. — GD210A $34.95; $37.90
w/connector; $44.85 w/connector & plug clip; CALL for complete
single, twin-cylinder and twin-engine systems.
GLOWDRIVER
Gives older radios the ability to reverse the
direction of servo operation. Installations and setups
are easier and more convenient. Provides both
normal and reversed output without the use of a
Y-connector. It makes split elevator, two-servo
ailerons, or double-servo rudder installation supereasy.
Microprocessor controlled and 100%
electronic with no setup or fuss—just connect it
and forget it. Made in the U.S.A. and works with
AM, FM and PCM radio systems. Ultra-low power
consumption. Less radio connector. Size: 1.6” x
0.9” x 0.4”. Weight: 0.25 oz. Part No. — SR502U
$24.95; $27.90 complete w/connector.
DUAL-OUTPUT SERVOREVERSER
Gives standard radios the
ability to mix channels for
elevons, v-tails, flaps, spoilers
or aileron/rudder coupling.
Easy setup and installation.
Rugged microprocessor-based design is 100% electronic for high
reliability. Simply connect the mixer between servos and receiver.
Features two mixing modes, individual servo reversing and four different
mixing rates. These features allow you to tailor the mixer to the needs of
your model. Will not overdrive your servos, and all options are selected
with simple switches. Made in the U.S.A. and designed for AM, FM and
PCM radio systems. Very low power consumption. Less radio connectors.
Size: 1.6” x 0.9” x 0.4”. Weight: 0.25 oz. Part No. — EM310A $30.95;
$37.85 complete w/connectors.
ELEVONMIXER
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:18 am Page 70
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/10
Page Numbers: 66,67,68,69,70
by John Worth
66 MODEL AVIATION
THE POTENTIAL OF last year’s first Indoor Championships—
which, as a new event on the aeromodeling scene, was compromised
by conflicts with other events and a late site change—was realized
this year with a much bigger number of entries and great flying.
The annual event, held again this year at the Oakland Yard
Athletics dome in Waterford, Michigan, June 4-6, had many
interesting models, action, and people. There were 33 fliers from 11
states and Canada.
The National Indoor Remote-controlled Aircraft Council
(NIRAC) organized last year’s and this year’s championships. There
were six competition events this year and several open (fun-fly)
sessions. The competition events were significantly different from
each other, and the open flying included indoor RC models of all
types. So a great variety of models were flown, which added up to a
total activity that embraced almost the entire spectrum of indoor RC
models.
In addition to the flying, NIRAC Hall of Fame presentations
were made at the Saturday-night banquet to modelers who are
credited with having made important contributions to the
development, progress, promotion, and achievements in indoor RC
activity: me, Joe Malinchak, Clarence and Dan Hurd, and Jack
McGillivray.
Bob Wilder (Colleyville TX), the first NIRAC president, was Grand
Champion of the weekend. He flew in every competition event. He
won two first places (in Cargo and Old-Timer Climb and Glide), a
second (in Glider), and two thirds (in Endurance and Scale).
Henry Pasquet (Ellsinore MO) was hot on Bob’s heels
throughout the weekend, with a first place (in Endurance), two
seconds (in Cargo and Racing), and a third (in Glider).
Two of the most interesting events—Climb and Glide and
Glider—are similar in that both involve timing only the gliding
portion of the flight. The basic challenge is to get the model as close
as possible to the building’s ceiling and achieve the longest timed
gliding flight. The peak of the dome-shaped ceiling at Waterford is
approximately 80 feet high, so the contestants had that altitude from
which to work.
For Climb and Glide, the model is required to be an Old-Timer
design published or kitted before 1943. It has to weigh at least 5
ounces and have a maximum wingspan of 42 inches. Rise-offground
takeoff is required, and the gliding flight is timed after the
maximum 30-second motor run.
Bob Wilder won this event flying his greatly enlarged RC
Cindy Malinchak with her Duration-class model. Its wire-braced,
light wing structure assumes normal dihedral angle in flight.
Bob Wilder’s glider flies after release from catapult
mechanism on balloon, which carried it to maximum height.
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:09 am Page 66
October 2004 67
version of the pre-World War II Quaker Flash FF model. Other Old-
Timers flown were a Miss America, a Playboy Senior, a Flying
Aces Stick, an Atomizer, and a Comet Clipper.
An unpowered model is required for the Glider event, and the
object is to get it as high as possible by any means, whereupon it is
released into a timed gliding flight. The gliders are allowed a
maximum wingspan of 30 inches and a minimum weight of 30
grams (slightly more than an ounce).
Various launch means included balloons carrying an airplane as
high as possible, a powered model towing a glider, a piggyback
launch from the top of a powered model, and hand towing a glider
from the ground.
Dave Robelen (Farmville VA) won Glider with a time of 1
minute, 15 seconds, using an airplane he launched piggyback from a
powered model that his helper Bill Conkling (Williamsburg VA)
piloted. Dave beat Bob Wilder, who used a large 6-foot-long by 3-
foot-in-diameter balloon (that was more like a blimp) carrying a
catapult mechanism that launched the glider into horizontal flight;
that way, he did not have to dive the model to gain flying speed.
Bob was able to guide his blimp from the ground to the top of the
dome for the launch, which then could be achieved at maximum
altitude.
Even though Dave’s glider seemed to be launched from a
somewhat lower height because its powered launcher could not be
flown too close to the ceiling, it was launched into horizontal flight
and apparently had a better glide than Bob’s model. Dave’s clever
piggyback two-model launching arrangement enabled him to win
the event and the meet’s Highest Achievement award.
Other launches involved simply dropping the glider vertically
from the balloon, which caused the model to lose considerable
altitude, picking up flight speed before horizontal gliding flight
could be achieved. Hand towing was inherently simple, but it was
difficult to get maximum altitude for launch at the peak of the
dome’s curved ceiling.
Although they are more subdued in terms of action, the
Endurance and Cargo events were also of great interest. Both feature
power restrictions; Endurance (also called Duration) allows a
maximum of four 50 mAh Ni-Cd cells to fly a model of any size,
and Cargo limits battery voltage to a maximum of 7.4, whether the
contestant uses Li-Poly, Ni-Cd, or NiMH cells.
Henry Pasquet won Endurance (AMA event 627) with a worldrecord-
setting flight of 33 minutes and 37 seconds. In doing so, he
broke the record he set just a week before at the AMA Nationals in
Johnson City, Tennessee. His model weighed a total of only 31
grams (1.09 ounces!).
Del Ogren (Deerfield IL), Bob Wilder, and Cindy Malinchak
(Greenfield Township PA), the event’s only female contestant, also
put up some excellent attempts. Obtaining flights of a half hour or
more with only four small Ni-Cd cells is amazing. All of the
Endurance flights were majestic, featuring big, ultralightweight
models flying slowly and gracefully like FF microfilm-covered
models.
Bob Wilder won Cargo with a ratio of 3:54. That figure is his
model’s 12.5-ounce gross weight divided by its weight of 3.40
ounces without the 9.13-ounce payload. With the payload, the model
had to take off and fly for at least 100 seconds in a circular flight
pattern that would fit inside a standard gymnasium, and then make a
successful landing with no damage. Bob’s airplane had a wing area
of roughly 350 square inches.
Henry Pasquet led the Cargo event with a ratio of 3:24 until Bob
topped him by successfully flying at a higher weight. Henry added
more weight and tried again, but he was foiled by a Li-Poly cell that
puffed up and failed to deliver the power needed, so he had to settle
for second place.
Third place in Cargo went to John Gardner (Brockport NY), who
flew an all-foam version of Cleveland’s Playboy. He was probably
the most enthusiastic contestant at the meet, entering many
categories—all with blue-foam airplanes of various sizes, shapes,
and types. Despite many crashes, John managed to make repairs and
keep flying the whole weekend. Through it all, he was the most
cheerful and happy participant.
By consensus, John was regarded as the competitor who
John Gardner’s Cleveland Playboy was third in Cargo. Big
clay chunks in nose over motor provided payload required to
be carried.
Dave Robelen won Glider and the Highest Achievement award
with piggyback radio-controlled glider-release arrangement.
CD Dave Robelen (L) awards Scott Christensen the plaque for
first place in Scale. Scott flew his Sig Antoinette.
Photos by the author and Bob Aberle
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:12 am Page 67
68 MODEL AVIATION
improved the most as the contest went
along, turning in respectable performances
as he learned from those with more
experience. One of his great achievements
was improvising a powered-model tow
launch of his glider that steadily improved
in performance as the Glider event
progressed.
The Scale competition limited a model’s
weight to 12 ounces ready for flight and the
wing loading to 6 ounces per square foot.
Scott Christensen (Montezuma IA) won
with some magnificent scalelike flying of
his Sig Antoinette vintage aircraft (pre-
World War I). His flights included beautiful
touch-and-gos and landings on a restrictedsize
plywood zone.
Second place went to Clayton (Skip)
Mast (Royal Oak MI), with his small but
great-flying Demoiselle. Flown slowly in
the same manner as Scott’s Antoinette,
Skip’s model had a scale pilot and its
wheels rotated slowly in flight, which
provided a realistic touch. Third place went
to Bob Wilder with his excellent Eindecker
E.III of World War I vintage.
Dynamic Web Enterprises (DWE) gave
a special award for the best Scale model
that competed and did not weigh more than
1.5 ounces. Joe Malinchak (Greenfield
Township PA) won the honor (as he did in
AT-6 (L) won Pylon event for Kevin Matney against three P-51s, two Bearcats, and
another AT-6. All models were from Hobby Lobby’s international racer series.
Joe Malinchak’s award-winning and comparatively large—spanning 13 inches—World
War II L-4 Scale model with invasion-stripe color scheme.
NIRAC 2004 High Point Champ Bob Wilder with his winning 42-inch-span Cargo model.
Its weight without payload is 3.4 ounces; with payload it’s 12.5 ounces!
Jack McGillivray was inducted into
NIRAC’s Hall of Fame. He’s a world-class
indoor flier in FF and RC.
Bob Wilder’s ultralight glider attached to
catapult launching rig on balloon. When
balloon reaches ceiling height, it shoots
model horizontally into gliding flight.
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:15 am Page 68
2003) with his 1.4-ounce L-4 liaison aircraft
done up in World War II invasion battle
colors. Although it’s diminutive, the threechannel
aircraft has great scale detail and
fine flight performance.
Indoor Racing features several rounds in
which four fliers simultaneously pilot their
models for 10 laps around two pylons that
are 75 feet apart. Kevin Matney (Erie MI)
took first place among eight entrants with
his AT-6. Henry Pasquet came in second
flying his P-51, and Dennis Sumner (Canton
MI) finished third, also with a P-51. All of
the models were made from Hobby Lobby’s
popular series of international Reno-type
foam racers.
The racing was fast and exciting indoors,
and there was ample room in the huge
dome—which allowed some non-pylon,
much-slower flying to be done at the same
time. Local fliers who use the facility
regularly noted that they often fly a fourpylon
course with as many as six racers at a
time!
The Indoor Racing rules for the NIRAC
event require that all models be powered
with the GWS IPS-DXA 5.86:1 geared
motor unit, and any brand of commercial
unmodified propeller is permitted. Model
weight must be between 7 and 8 ounces.
The contestants’ battery choices are two Li-
John Worth (L) presents Joe Malinchak with NIRAC Hall of Fame plaque. Joe also won
DWE’s award for best Scale model weighing less than 1.5 ounces and third place in
Climb and Glide.
Dave Robelen’s foam “carrier” model used a couple of mounts on stilts to hold glider in
place above fuselage stick until peak altitude was reached for glider’s radiocommanded
release.
Dave Robelen and his piggyback arrangement of a powered launch model and an
unpowered glider which is released at maximum altitude. Another pilot flies launch
model to landing.
Room Flight’s Larry Park at his stand
shows customers his .5-ounce Housefly. He
sells it as a kit with geared pager motor,
propeller, and a pair of pager-motor
actuators.
The NIRAC banner reads “remote-control”
rather than radio-controlled, signifying
that all types of control are included, such
as infrared, light beam, etc.
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:17 am Page 69
Poly cells, six Ni-Cd cells, or six NiMH
cells. These combinations produce
approximately 7.2 volts.
Models must be replicas of full-scale,
single-engine aircraft that have participated
in the Unlimited class of pylon racers, with
three-dimensional fuselages that closely
follow the original shape. Wings must be
single-surface, undercambered with a
minimum of 8% thickness from the top of
the airfoil to its two lowest points along the
full span. Minimum wing area is 135 square
inches. Landing gear is optional, and
launching is by hand.
The championships ended Sunday
afternoon, and a great array of NIRAC
plaques were awarded. There was a special
award from E Cubed RC for the highest
number of points by a contestant who used
an Azarr short RC antenna, which Bob
Wilder won.
Current (and second) NIRAC President
Dave Robelen organized and directed this
year’s event (and was the CD last year).
Last year’s president Bob Wilder organized
the 2003 Champs. Dave is already
developing plans for the 2005 Indoor RC
Championships, which will probably be
held at the same place and at roughly the
same time.
NIRAC officials at the meet paid tribute
to the 2004 event sponsors; their participation
made it a financial and operational success,
helping to assure that these contests will
continue. Thanks to Air Age Media, Balsa
Products, Castle Creations, DWE, FMA
Direct, Maplegate Media, RC Groups, and
Sky Hooks and Rigging. Thanks also to the
on-site vendors: DJ Aerotech, DWE, and
Room Flight.
We appreciate the efforts of Oakland Yard
Athletics facility manager Dave Dobrin and
Special Events Coordinator Julie Dean (who
organized a fine banquet). And although Bill
Smead (Palatine IL) was a contestant, he
pitched in and volunteered to help with
registration and raffle-ticket sales (which
helped pay for NIRAC’s weekend expenses).
Likewise, Bill Conkling served as an assistant
and Scale judge for Dave Robelen.
Another historic national event for the
fledgling indoor RC activity is in the AMA
record books. As a relatively new and
steadily growing aeromodeling category, it
is now firmly established and ready to go on
to bigger and better things.
As an official AMA SIG, NIRAC is
fulfilling the promise it made when it was
established. What is happening now is a
tribute to founder Bob Wilder’s vision and
organizational ability.
Much is also owed to NIRAC’s current
vice president Bob Aberle, who has
provided yeoman volunteer service for the
organization by acting as its promoter,
photographer, industry and sponsorship
liaison, and all-around advisor. MA
John Worth
4326 Andes Dr.
Fairfax VA 22030
70 MODEL AVIATION
OTHER PME PRODUCTS*
P. O. BOX 3129 • CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78463-3129
ORDERS, INFORMATION & CUSTOMER SERVICE: (361) 814-6843
HOURS: MONDAY - FRIDAY, 11AM – 6PM CENTRAL TIME
WEBSITE: www.pme-rc.com • E-MAIL: [email protected]
GlowDriver for Multi-Cylinder (4 to 8 plugs) - starts at ............. $42.95
GlowDriver for Boats, Cars ....................................................... $32.95
PowerBackup .............................................................................. 36.95
AccessorySwitch (300 watt) ........................................................ 35.95
FlapMixer .................................................................................... 30.95
Exponential ServoDriver ............................................................ 28.95
AccessorySwitch, Low-Current ................................................... 24.95
SloServo ..................................................................................... 28.95
ThrottleSwitch w/BEC & Timer ................................................... 40.95
IgnitionUnit for Rocket Powered Models ..................................... 39.95
Single-Channel FailSafe ............................................................. 24.95
ManualServoDriver w/connectors ............................................... 37.95
PowerRegulator, 5-Volt ............................................................... 14.95
Other Specialized Accessory Devices and Custom Devices are
available - call for details and pricing
*Connectors available for Airtronics, Futaba, Hitec and JR - $2.95 each, installed.
PRECISIONMICROELECTRONICS
Add $2.50 per item,
max $5.00 for S&H.
TX residents must add
8.250% sales tax.
Complete systems and
other products available for
planes, cars and boats.
Call or write for details.
Makes starting easier and
safer. Keeps the glow plug hot
just when your engine needs
it the most. Connects between
the throttle servo and
receiver, and is reversible
with selectable “on” and “off”
points. Can drive two glow
plugs and automatically turns
off when transmitter is off.
Compatible with AM, FM and
PCM radio systems. Low
power consumption. Comes
with hookup wire. Less radio connector, power cell and plug clip. Size:
1.7” x 1.2” x 0.4”. Weight: 0.4 oz. Part No. — GD210A $34.95; $37.90
w/connector; $44.85 w/connector & plug clip; CALL for complete
single, twin-cylinder and twin-engine systems.
GLOWDRIVER
Gives older radios the ability to reverse the
direction of servo operation. Installations and setups
are easier and more convenient. Provides both
normal and reversed output without the use of a
Y-connector. It makes split elevator, two-servo
ailerons, or double-servo rudder installation supereasy.
Microprocessor controlled and 100%
electronic with no setup or fuss—just connect it
and forget it. Made in the U.S.A. and works with
AM, FM and PCM radio systems. Ultra-low power
consumption. Less radio connector. Size: 1.6” x
0.9” x 0.4”. Weight: 0.25 oz. Part No. — SR502U
$24.95; $27.90 complete w/connector.
DUAL-OUTPUT SERVOREVERSER
Gives standard radios the
ability to mix channels for
elevons, v-tails, flaps, spoilers
or aileron/rudder coupling.
Easy setup and installation.
Rugged microprocessor-based design is 100% electronic for high
reliability. Simply connect the mixer between servos and receiver.
Features two mixing modes, individual servo reversing and four different
mixing rates. These features allow you to tailor the mixer to the needs of
your model. Will not overdrive your servos, and all options are selected
with simple switches. Made in the U.S.A. and designed for AM, FM and
PCM radio systems. Very low power consumption. Less radio connectors.
Size: 1.6” x 0.9” x 0.4”. Weight: 0.25 oz. Part No. — EM310A $30.95;
$37.85 complete w/connectors.
ELEVONMIXER
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:18 am Page 70
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/10
Page Numbers: 66,67,68,69,70
by John Worth
66 MODEL AVIATION
THE POTENTIAL OF last year’s first Indoor Championships—
which, as a new event on the aeromodeling scene, was compromised
by conflicts with other events and a late site change—was realized
this year with a much bigger number of entries and great flying.
The annual event, held again this year at the Oakland Yard
Athletics dome in Waterford, Michigan, June 4-6, had many
interesting models, action, and people. There were 33 fliers from 11
states and Canada.
The National Indoor Remote-controlled Aircraft Council
(NIRAC) organized last year’s and this year’s championships. There
were six competition events this year and several open (fun-fly)
sessions. The competition events were significantly different from
each other, and the open flying included indoor RC models of all
types. So a great variety of models were flown, which added up to a
total activity that embraced almost the entire spectrum of indoor RC
models.
In addition to the flying, NIRAC Hall of Fame presentations
were made at the Saturday-night banquet to modelers who are
credited with having made important contributions to the
development, progress, promotion, and achievements in indoor RC
activity: me, Joe Malinchak, Clarence and Dan Hurd, and Jack
McGillivray.
Bob Wilder (Colleyville TX), the first NIRAC president, was Grand
Champion of the weekend. He flew in every competition event. He
won two first places (in Cargo and Old-Timer Climb and Glide), a
second (in Glider), and two thirds (in Endurance and Scale).
Henry Pasquet (Ellsinore MO) was hot on Bob’s heels
throughout the weekend, with a first place (in Endurance), two
seconds (in Cargo and Racing), and a third (in Glider).
Two of the most interesting events—Climb and Glide and
Glider—are similar in that both involve timing only the gliding
portion of the flight. The basic challenge is to get the model as close
as possible to the building’s ceiling and achieve the longest timed
gliding flight. The peak of the dome-shaped ceiling at Waterford is
approximately 80 feet high, so the contestants had that altitude from
which to work.
For Climb and Glide, the model is required to be an Old-Timer
design published or kitted before 1943. It has to weigh at least 5
ounces and have a maximum wingspan of 42 inches. Rise-offground
takeoff is required, and the gliding flight is timed after the
maximum 30-second motor run.
Bob Wilder won this event flying his greatly enlarged RC
Cindy Malinchak with her Duration-class model. Its wire-braced,
light wing structure assumes normal dihedral angle in flight.
Bob Wilder’s glider flies after release from catapult
mechanism on balloon, which carried it to maximum height.
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:09 am Page 66
October 2004 67
version of the pre-World War II Quaker Flash FF model. Other Old-
Timers flown were a Miss America, a Playboy Senior, a Flying
Aces Stick, an Atomizer, and a Comet Clipper.
An unpowered model is required for the Glider event, and the
object is to get it as high as possible by any means, whereupon it is
released into a timed gliding flight. The gliders are allowed a
maximum wingspan of 30 inches and a minimum weight of 30
grams (slightly more than an ounce).
Various launch means included balloons carrying an airplane as
high as possible, a powered model towing a glider, a piggyback
launch from the top of a powered model, and hand towing a glider
from the ground.
Dave Robelen (Farmville VA) won Glider with a time of 1
minute, 15 seconds, using an airplane he launched piggyback from a
powered model that his helper Bill Conkling (Williamsburg VA)
piloted. Dave beat Bob Wilder, who used a large 6-foot-long by 3-
foot-in-diameter balloon (that was more like a blimp) carrying a
catapult mechanism that launched the glider into horizontal flight;
that way, he did not have to dive the model to gain flying speed.
Bob was able to guide his blimp from the ground to the top of the
dome for the launch, which then could be achieved at maximum
altitude.
Even though Dave’s glider seemed to be launched from a
somewhat lower height because its powered launcher could not be
flown too close to the ceiling, it was launched into horizontal flight
and apparently had a better glide than Bob’s model. Dave’s clever
piggyback two-model launching arrangement enabled him to win
the event and the meet’s Highest Achievement award.
Other launches involved simply dropping the glider vertically
from the balloon, which caused the model to lose considerable
altitude, picking up flight speed before horizontal gliding flight
could be achieved. Hand towing was inherently simple, but it was
difficult to get maximum altitude for launch at the peak of the
dome’s curved ceiling.
Although they are more subdued in terms of action, the
Endurance and Cargo events were also of great interest. Both feature
power restrictions; Endurance (also called Duration) allows a
maximum of four 50 mAh Ni-Cd cells to fly a model of any size,
and Cargo limits battery voltage to a maximum of 7.4, whether the
contestant uses Li-Poly, Ni-Cd, or NiMH cells.
Henry Pasquet won Endurance (AMA event 627) with a worldrecord-
setting flight of 33 minutes and 37 seconds. In doing so, he
broke the record he set just a week before at the AMA Nationals in
Johnson City, Tennessee. His model weighed a total of only 31
grams (1.09 ounces!).
Del Ogren (Deerfield IL), Bob Wilder, and Cindy Malinchak
(Greenfield Township PA), the event’s only female contestant, also
put up some excellent attempts. Obtaining flights of a half hour or
more with only four small Ni-Cd cells is amazing. All of the
Endurance flights were majestic, featuring big, ultralightweight
models flying slowly and gracefully like FF microfilm-covered
models.
Bob Wilder won Cargo with a ratio of 3:54. That figure is his
model’s 12.5-ounce gross weight divided by its weight of 3.40
ounces without the 9.13-ounce payload. With the payload, the model
had to take off and fly for at least 100 seconds in a circular flight
pattern that would fit inside a standard gymnasium, and then make a
successful landing with no damage. Bob’s airplane had a wing area
of roughly 350 square inches.
Henry Pasquet led the Cargo event with a ratio of 3:24 until Bob
topped him by successfully flying at a higher weight. Henry added
more weight and tried again, but he was foiled by a Li-Poly cell that
puffed up and failed to deliver the power needed, so he had to settle
for second place.
Third place in Cargo went to John Gardner (Brockport NY), who
flew an all-foam version of Cleveland’s Playboy. He was probably
the most enthusiastic contestant at the meet, entering many
categories—all with blue-foam airplanes of various sizes, shapes,
and types. Despite many crashes, John managed to make repairs and
keep flying the whole weekend. Through it all, he was the most
cheerful and happy participant.
By consensus, John was regarded as the competitor who
John Gardner’s Cleveland Playboy was third in Cargo. Big
clay chunks in nose over motor provided payload required to
be carried.
Dave Robelen won Glider and the Highest Achievement award
with piggyback radio-controlled glider-release arrangement.
CD Dave Robelen (L) awards Scott Christensen the plaque for
first place in Scale. Scott flew his Sig Antoinette.
Photos by the author and Bob Aberle
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:12 am Page 67
68 MODEL AVIATION
improved the most as the contest went
along, turning in respectable performances
as he learned from those with more
experience. One of his great achievements
was improvising a powered-model tow
launch of his glider that steadily improved
in performance as the Glider event
progressed.
The Scale competition limited a model’s
weight to 12 ounces ready for flight and the
wing loading to 6 ounces per square foot.
Scott Christensen (Montezuma IA) won
with some magnificent scalelike flying of
his Sig Antoinette vintage aircraft (pre-
World War I). His flights included beautiful
touch-and-gos and landings on a restrictedsize
plywood zone.
Second place went to Clayton (Skip)
Mast (Royal Oak MI), with his small but
great-flying Demoiselle. Flown slowly in
the same manner as Scott’s Antoinette,
Skip’s model had a scale pilot and its
wheels rotated slowly in flight, which
provided a realistic touch. Third place went
to Bob Wilder with his excellent Eindecker
E.III of World War I vintage.
Dynamic Web Enterprises (DWE) gave
a special award for the best Scale model
that competed and did not weigh more than
1.5 ounces. Joe Malinchak (Greenfield
Township PA) won the honor (as he did in
AT-6 (L) won Pylon event for Kevin Matney against three P-51s, two Bearcats, and
another AT-6. All models were from Hobby Lobby’s international racer series.
Joe Malinchak’s award-winning and comparatively large—spanning 13 inches—World
War II L-4 Scale model with invasion-stripe color scheme.
NIRAC 2004 High Point Champ Bob Wilder with his winning 42-inch-span Cargo model.
Its weight without payload is 3.4 ounces; with payload it’s 12.5 ounces!
Jack McGillivray was inducted into
NIRAC’s Hall of Fame. He’s a world-class
indoor flier in FF and RC.
Bob Wilder’s ultralight glider attached to
catapult launching rig on balloon. When
balloon reaches ceiling height, it shoots
model horizontally into gliding flight.
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:15 am Page 68
2003) with his 1.4-ounce L-4 liaison aircraft
done up in World War II invasion battle
colors. Although it’s diminutive, the threechannel
aircraft has great scale detail and
fine flight performance.
Indoor Racing features several rounds in
which four fliers simultaneously pilot their
models for 10 laps around two pylons that
are 75 feet apart. Kevin Matney (Erie MI)
took first place among eight entrants with
his AT-6. Henry Pasquet came in second
flying his P-51, and Dennis Sumner (Canton
MI) finished third, also with a P-51. All of
the models were made from Hobby Lobby’s
popular series of international Reno-type
foam racers.
The racing was fast and exciting indoors,
and there was ample room in the huge
dome—which allowed some non-pylon,
much-slower flying to be done at the same
time. Local fliers who use the facility
regularly noted that they often fly a fourpylon
course with as many as six racers at a
time!
The Indoor Racing rules for the NIRAC
event require that all models be powered
with the GWS IPS-DXA 5.86:1 geared
motor unit, and any brand of commercial
unmodified propeller is permitted. Model
weight must be between 7 and 8 ounces.
The contestants’ battery choices are two Li-
John Worth (L) presents Joe Malinchak with NIRAC Hall of Fame plaque. Joe also won
DWE’s award for best Scale model weighing less than 1.5 ounces and third place in
Climb and Glide.
Dave Robelen’s foam “carrier” model used a couple of mounts on stilts to hold glider in
place above fuselage stick until peak altitude was reached for glider’s radiocommanded
release.
Dave Robelen and his piggyback arrangement of a powered launch model and an
unpowered glider which is released at maximum altitude. Another pilot flies launch
model to landing.
Room Flight’s Larry Park at his stand
shows customers his .5-ounce Housefly. He
sells it as a kit with geared pager motor,
propeller, and a pair of pager-motor
actuators.
The NIRAC banner reads “remote-control”
rather than radio-controlled, signifying
that all types of control are included, such
as infrared, light beam, etc.
10sig3.QXD 7/23/04 10:17 am Page 69
Poly cells, six Ni-Cd cells, or six NiMH
cells. These combinations produce
approximately 7.2 volts.
Models must be replicas of full-scale,
single-engine aircraft that have participated
in the Unlimited class of pylon racers, with
three-dimensional fuselages that closely
follow the original shape. Wings must be
single-surface, undercambered with a
minimum of 8% thickness from the top of
the airfoil to its two lowest points along the
full span. Minimum wing area is 135 square
inches. Landing gear is optional, and
launching is by hand.
The championships ended Sunday
afternoon, and a great array of NIRAC
plaques were awarded. There was a special
award from E Cubed RC for the highest
number of points by a contestant who used
an Azarr short RC antenna, which Bob
Wilder won.
Current (and second) NIRAC President
Dave Robelen organized and directed this
year’s event (and was the CD last year).
Last year’s president Bob Wilder organized
the 2003 Champs. Dave is already
developing plans for the 2005 Indoor RC
Championships, which will probably be
held at the same place and at roughly the
same time.
NIRAC officials at the meet paid tribute
to the 2004 event sponsors; their participation
made it a financial and operational success,
helping to assure that these contests will
continue. Thanks to Air Age Media, Balsa
Products, Castle Creations, DWE, FMA
Direct, Maplegate Media, RC Groups, and
Sky Hooks and Rigging. Thanks also to the
on-site vendors: DJ Aerotech, DWE, and
Room Flight.
We appreciate the efforts of Oakland Yard
Athletics facility manager Dave Dobrin and
Special Events Coordinator Julie Dean (who
organized a fine banquet). And although Bill
Smead (Palatine IL) was a contestant, he
pitched in and volunteered to help with
registration and raffle-ticket sales (which
helped pay for NIRAC’s weekend expenses).
Likewise, Bill Conkling served as an assistant
and Scale judge for Dave Robelen.
Another historic national event for the
fledgling indoor RC activity is in the AMA
record books. As a relatively new and
steadily growing aeromodeling category, it
is now firmly established and ready to go on
to bigger and better things.
As an official AMA SIG, NIRAC is
fulfilling the promise it made when it was
established. What is happening now is a
tribute to founder Bob Wilder’s vision and
organizational ability.
Much is also owed to NIRAC’s current
vice president Bob Aberle, who has
provided yeoman volunteer service for the
organization by acting as its promoter,
photographer, industry and sponsorship
liaison, and all-around advisor. MA
John Worth
4326 Andes Dr.
Fairfax VA 22030
70 MODEL AVIATION
OTHER PME PRODUCTS*
P. O. BOX 3129 • CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78463-3129
ORDERS, INFORMATION & CUSTOMER SERVICE: (361) 814-6843
HOURS: MONDAY - FRIDAY, 11AM – 6PM CENTRAL TIME
WEBSITE: www.pme-rc.com • E-MAIL: [email protected]
GlowDriver for Multi-Cylinder (4 to 8 plugs) - starts at ............. $42.95
GlowDriver for Boats, Cars ....................................................... $32.95
PowerBackup .............................................................................. 36.95
AccessorySwitch (300 watt) ........................................................ 35.95
FlapMixer .................................................................................... 30.95
Exponential ServoDriver ............................................................ 28.95
AccessorySwitch, Low-Current ................................................... 24.95
SloServo ..................................................................................... 28.95
ThrottleSwitch w/BEC & Timer ................................................... 40.95
IgnitionUnit for Rocket Powered Models ..................................... 39.95
Single-Channel FailSafe ............................................................. 24.95
ManualServoDriver w/connectors ............................................... 37.95
PowerRegulator, 5-Volt ............................................................... 14.95
Other Specialized Accessory Devices and Custom Devices are
available - call for details and pricing
*Connectors available for Airtronics, Futaba, Hitec and JR - $2.95 each, installed.
PRECISIONMICROELECTRONICS
Add $2.50 per item,
max $5.00 for S&H.
TX residents must add
8.250% sales tax.
Complete systems and
other products available for
planes, cars and boats.
Call or write for details.
Makes starting easier and
safer. Keeps the glow plug hot
just when your engine needs
it the most. Connects between
the throttle servo and
receiver, and is reversible
with selectable “on” and “off”
points. Can drive two glow
plugs and automatically turns
off when transmitter is off.
Compatible with AM, FM and
PCM radio systems. Low
power consumption. Comes
with hookup wire. Less radio connector, power cell and plug clip. Size:
1.7” x 1.2” x 0.4”. Weight: 0.4 oz. Part No. — GD210A $34.95; $37.90
w/connector; $44.85 w/connector & plug clip; CALL for complete
single, twin-cylinder and twin-engine systems.
GLOWDRIVER
Gives older radios the ability to reverse the
direction of servo operation. Installations and setups
are easier and more convenient. Provides both
normal and reversed output without the use of a
Y-connector. It makes split elevator, two-servo
ailerons, or double-servo rudder installation supereasy.
Microprocessor controlled and 100%
electronic with no setup or fuss—just connect it
and forget it. Made in the U.S.A. and works with
AM, FM and PCM radio systems. Ultra-low power
consumption. Less radio connector. Size: 1.6” x
0.9” x 0.4”. Weight: 0.25 oz. Part No. — SR502U
$24.95; $27.90 complete w/connector.
DUAL-OUTPUT SERVOREVERSER
Gives standard radios the
ability to mix channels for
elevons, v-tails, flaps, spoilers
or aileron/rudder coupling.
Easy setup and installation.
Rugged microprocessor-based design is 100% electronic for high
reliability. Simply connect the mixer between servos and receiver.
Features two mixing modes, individual servo reversing and four different
mixing rates. These features allow you to tailor the mixer to the needs of
your model. Will not overdrive your servos, and all options are selected
with simple switches. Made in the U.S.A. and designed for AM, FM and
PCM radio systems. Very low power consumption. Less radio connectors.
Size: 1.6” x 0.9” x 0.4”. Weight: 0.25 oz. Part No. — EM310A $30.95;
$37.85 complete w/connectors.
ELEVONMIXER
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