FF Indoor
REHABILITATION COMPLETE! Just before the US Indoor Championships (USIC) two years ago, Jim Buxton broke his neck during a backyard scrimmage. Fortunately, the spinal cord wasn't badly injured and he was able to compete in 1999.
Here is his story, up to date:
"You may remember my disappointment after Hand-Launch Glider (HLG) last year. I was second to Bernie, with only about 1:10. I told you afterwards, 'I have 364 days to get ready for next year.' Well, I worked on my exercises and built all new gliders. I worked even harder when I heard that Len Surtees would be returning, hoping to break Wittman's record!
"When I entered the dome, I felt as prepared as I've ever been. I flew early and posted 1:22.8 and 1:23.1! I had finally broken the magic 1:20 barrier, and pushed my site record from 152.8 to 165.9. After that it was a game of waiting and watching! Len's best was 1:14.9, so he placed third behind Bernie by a second or two. It was a great feeling to win again after my injury, and to do such great times in front of Len and Stan Buddenbohm and the rest.
"Len established a world record with his time of 1:14.9, since HLG records have only recently been recognized by the FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale). My flight didn't count, since I did not have an FAI stamp. I figure I will wait until I can get Wittman's record to do that."
I computed Jim's consistency score; it came out to an astounding 99.5%. (Any score higher than 97% indicates that the flier is getting all he or she can from that model and his or her arm.)
Higher times require building new models, and that is just what Jim did! Good work, Jim!
Bill Hulbert was hospitalized shortly before the July 4 F1D eliminations at the Akron, OH, airlock. After a week or so, he was up and walking around. Take care and get well, Bill.
USIC Notes
The USIC HLG contest often has international entrants. This year, Len Surtees (Australia) competed against Bernie Boehm (Indiana), Jim Buxton (Ohio), and Stan Buddenbohm (California).
The USIC usually has Canadian and British entrants in several events, but Bernard Hunt and Laurie Barr (and their delightful wives) were missing this year.
Chuck Slusarczyk, Contest Director (CD) of the combined 2000 Nationals/US Indoor Championships, created an extremely challenging new USIC event called Race to the Roof (RTR). The level of difficulty is shown clearly in the results; of 10 entrants, only three were able to finish.
RTR rules (loosely paraphrased) are:
- Maximum airframe weight: one ounce.
- Airframe size: 18-inch maximum span and 24-inch maximum length.
- Power: rubber only.
John Kagan won the event and Jim Clem earned second place. Jim won the Mass Launch the first four or five years. RTR is a much greater challenge, and you can fly several times!
Indoor Flying in Florida
The Miami Indoor Aircraft Model Association (MIAMA) has been holding indoor model airplane contests for 29 consecutive years. MIAMA sponsors approximately seven one-day contests each year at various sites in the Tampa Bay area.
Regardless of your experience level, you are likely to find something of interest. MIAMA contests include "rulebook" events, special events, lightweight models, and all kinds of heavier models. The real keynote of MIAMA contests is the help for newcomers.
For more information on these activities and future contest schedules, contact:
- Vince Bollinger (Hillsborough County): (813) 685-4164
- Don Brimmer (Pinellas County): (727) 525-0667
- Dick Obarski (Sun City Center): (813) 634-8683
- Rich MacEntee (Manatee County): (941) 723-0764
- Sidney Gilbert (Sarasota): (941) 355-0554
You can also write to The Hangar Pilot, editor Dr. John Martin Jr., 2180 Tigertail Ave., Miami FL 33133, or get a one-year subscription for $12.50. The newsletter has many plans, tips, three-views, articles, and contest information.
Think about it. Wind and rain is never a problem, and no one has suffered a sunburn!
MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
