The Indoor FF Nats has a new home for 2013. The East Tennessee State University (ETSU) Mini-Dome in Johnson City, Tennessee, is no longer available for Indoor FF.
The success of the school’s basketball team prompted many upgrades to the site, and some of those improvements include 40-plus additional banners, a new light grid hanging down in middle of the airspace, new seating, and a special basketball surface in the middle of the floor. The additions are beautiful, which is great for the university, but not so good for us.
Several people came through with new sites that were suitable for a national championship, and we had a few great options from which to choose. After some evaluation, we settled on the University of Illinois Track and Field Armory in Champaign, Illinois. Mike Kirda arranged a meet in late 2012, proving the continued suitability of a site we haven’t flown in for a few years, and we renewed the contact with the building management.
Champaign is a reasonable drive for a majority of the East Coast area previously served by the ETSU site, and more accessible for the western pockets of Indoor activity. It has plenty of hotels, restaurants, and extracurricular activities to keep competitors and supporters housed, fed, and entertained. See the area guide link in “Sources.”
The Armory is a high Category III with a maximum ceiling height of slightly less than 100 feet. The 2013 Indoor Nats will be held August 7-11. This fits well with the Outdoor FF Nats, and is only a couple of hours away, so if you are in Muncie for the Outdoor FF Nats, consider attending the Indoor contest.
The warm, August weather offers the potential for record-setting conditions. Our colder October 2012 meet had some noticeable drift, but that was likely related to heating, which will not be a factor in August. Temperatures in the high 80s or 90s are not unusual for this location and time—a little uncomfortable for people, but a key ingredient for record times. Air-conditioned rooms will be available for cooling off, and will also provide a comfortable area for dining (food is not allowed on the track floor).
This is also the site of the E-Fest indoor RC event. Some may be aware of the usual weekday parking shortage near the venue. We have arranged for free parking in the northeast parking lot of Assembly Hall, which is a two-block, 10-minute walk away. For those who require closer parking, the university will reserve a meter in the front of the building for $19 per day. You can park in the free lot and carpool to the meter to save money.
Along with the new site, we have revamped the flying schedule to support a long list of improvement objectives. The new schedule is on the National Free Flight Society’s (NFFS) website.
The contest date has been moved outside of the school year so more kids—and families with kids—can attend. The contest also ends earlier each day, so there is more time to socialize.
Scale and Flying Aces Club (FAC) will be flown Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings. The Smyrna, Georgia, FAC club plans to continue attending, so get some models together and join them. You haven’t lived until you’ve flown a large Coconut model in the Mass Launch event.
Glider expands to two mornings to attract more remote competitors, and will be held during the weekend to attract Science Olympiad (SO) participants who are flying the equivalent of Standard Catapult gliders this cycle. If you know of an SO team within driving distance, tell the participants about this great opportunity to fly at a special site.
The weekend will continue its focus on fun, newcomer-accessible events, with the popular Limited Pennyplane Pro/Am on Saturday afternoon, along with an improved timeslot for the popular F1M.
Rubber Duration starts with the lightest and most challenging events on Wednesday and eases into the heavier events as the week progresses.
Come join the fun and help make this the best Indoor FF Nats yet!
Kibbie Dome Annual
The Kibbie Dome Annual in Moscow, Idaho, the West Coast sister contest to the Nats, will be held Thursday, June 27, through Monday, July 1.
This year’s event is going to be epic. In addition to the usual Indoor FF festivities, the dome will be hosting the 2013 USA F1D Team Selection Contest, as well as supporting an invasion of top British competitors.
Fly alongside some of the world’s best, in one of the world’s best sites. Find more information on NFFS’s Contest Calendar.
Indoor FF in Central Florida
Ren Monllor has accomplished one of Indoor FF’s most challenging tasks: obtaining a quality flying site. He explains how:
“There is a new Indoor Free Flight club here in Central Florida, and through the generosity of the folks at Sun ’n Fun, members have been enjoying Indoor Free Flight for a couple of months now.
“It happened quite by accident, while I attended a brainstorming meeting between a couple of Sun ’n Fun board members and my local amateur radio club. I was sharing about my interest in Indoor Free Flight, when suddenly Leighton Hunter (board member at Sun ’n Fun) asked me if I would like a place to fly locally. Well, that was like asking a bear if he liked honey. I jumped on the offer and the talks began.
“I first sent emails with links of YouTube videos showing what Indoor Free Flight is all about. There is something about seeing lightly built EZBs and Pennyplanes flying that captures hearts and imaginations. Then I sent emails out to the folks I fly with, asking if we could start an actual AMA chartered club. Before I knew it, we formed the Central Florida Indoor Free Flight Club.
“The folks at Sun ’n Fun are interested in educating the public, especially youngsters, in all things aviation. We discussed making our sport accessible to everyone, and as you might guess, the board members were onboard 100%, and even added some ideas of their own.
“They asked if the club would be willing to participate in their Wings ’n Things Youth Aerospace Weekend event and possibly have speakers or workshops for the public to attend, and I said yes.
Sun ’n Fun offered the club two hangars to fly in—Echo Hangar for our monthly fly-ins and meetings, and Alpha Hangar to hold competitions, where spectators could learn about and enjoy Indoor Free Flight.
“The Central Florida Free Flight Club is open to all who have an interest in Indoor Free Flight. There are no dues or fees to become a member of the club, but because there are club expenses, we do have a donation can. In order to fly at the Sun ’n Fun hangars, you must be a member in good standing with the AMA.”
Take Ren’s lead and find a great Indoor FF site near you!
