FREE FLIGHT INDOOR
Bud Tenny, Box 830545, Richardson TX 75083
It is with sadness and somewhat of a sense of relief that I announce I must give up this column after so many years. There are several reasons for this decision.
First, although my physical condition is reasonably stable, it remains that way because I work at it; that requires an increasing amount of time and effort. For the last few years, the aftermath of my supposedly fatal cancer in 1997 has resulted in my being unable to swallow anything, so I take all medications and nourishment through a feeding tube. Maintaining the feeding tube and using it requires approximately three hours a day and a source of running water to dilute or dissolve (or both) food and medications. This essentially requires either a carefully planned trip that allows stops where I can feed or a travel vehicle that has running water. In addition, a three-day trip requires a 24-can case of my liquid food to be carried along.
The second reason is that, despite my repeated requests, only a few readers helped by sending photos and reports of technical innovations. There have been several standout contributors: Dave Linstrum (who wanted me to stress that he has not been a staff photographer), Stan Chilton, and the late Jim Clem. On the European scene, Andras Ree of Hungary and Laurie Barr of England contributed fairly often several years ago. Steve Brown and Jim Richmond have kept us up to date on the FF Indoor World Championships and records. This list is not complete, but the total number of contributors simply wasn't large enough to adequately support the column.
Reminder:
My E-mail address has changed to [email protected]. I look forward to any comments you care to make.
Who Is This?
Larry Kruse was the first to identify the mystery person in the photo as Mike Clem as a junior. Mike is the late Jim Clem's second son and is married with children.
Rules Cycle:
There was a joint meeting of the Contest Board chairmen and the Executive Council. One important decision is that the rules cycle will be shortened to two years instead of the current three years. This will be accomplished by using E-mail for all Contest Board communications and may also require future rules-change proposals to be submitted by E-mail.
By the time you see this, I expect that this information may have been announced by AMA in MA and other suitable venues. That announcement should define when proposals can be submitted and when proposals will be voted on. Send your E-mail address to the Indoor Contest Board member in your AMA district so that he can interact with you.
Boron Safety:
Although this piece is old, the safety information is pertinent as long as boron is being used. Read and heed; the skin you save is probably yours. Careless use of boron can injure anyone, including children.
In the December 1993 Boeing Hawks newsletter (Gene Stubbs, editor), Gil Coughlin described these useful tips for the safe use of boron fiber. Gil uses a 0.004-inch fiber consisting of a tungsten core with a vapor-deposited coating of boron. It comes on a roll and has a tensile strength and stiffness similar to 0.020-inch piano wire. Its typical use is to add stiffness to a motorstick or stabilizer framework by cementing fibers to the structure.
To apply the fiber, Gil coats it with Duco cement by drawing it through a drop of cement between his fingers. Then, with the coated fiber positioned on the structure, he activates the cement with a swipe of acetone.
Anyone who uses boron fiber should be aware of its danger and appropriate disposal methods. The chief danger is that if a small piece punctures the skin like a splinter, it tends to migrate through the body, causing discomfort and damage. Therefore, extreme care must be used to contain scraps or fragments of the fiber.
Recommendations:
- Handle the fiber attached to masking tape until ready for installation to keep track of material.
- Collect scraps in a plastic bowl.
- Dispose of collected scraps by casting them into a block of Portland cement.
Model Steering:
For AMA and FA1 events that allow it, steering is a fact of life. It is an art that requires good eyesight and enough practice to become confident and competent. The following remarks may be helpful.
Steering is needed sooner or later at most indoor sites. Even if there isn't a problem with drift, there is the chance of a collision when more than one model is flying. Several times I have been flying and wished I had taken the trouble to bring a balloon.
At one time I even carried a small helium bottle and spare balloons to flying sessions. If a balloon wasn't needed for a session, the helium wasn't wasted. However, if you need a balloon at a contest, you need it right then. There isn't time to inflate a balloon, so do it before you fly.
The lift of pure helium is a fixed quantity based solely on the volume of gas enclosed in the balloon. The combined weights of the balloon, filler spouts, and steering line reduce the available lift. Rubber balloons lose roughly 50% of their lift in eight hours, so the inflated volume needs to be enough to retain steering capability at the end of the day.
A limp balloon is often better for retrieving hung models because it is easier to control in tight spaces. A fully inflated balloon tends to follow your hand movements quickly, and a hasty movement might smash your model.
Lift varies with the cube of the radius of the inflated balloon. For perspective: the lift of a 24-inch-diameter balloon is eight times the lift of a 12-inch-diameter balloon.
A huge balloon is unnecessary in Category I sites and may pose a problem in a flat-ceiling site. If your model is ceiling-scrubbing, you won't catch it with a big balloon; if you bump it, the model may stall and lose a great deal of altitude. Steering with a pole is allowed, but you must use extreme care to avoid snagging its tip in the ceiling. If it whips loose, the model may be damaged.
For Category I flying, it is helpful to reduce the model's flight trim. A model trimmed for maximum duration in still, unobstructed air is flying on the edge of a stall. In Category I sites and turbulent air, the model should be trimmed to fly slightly faster so it can recover more easily from disturbances.
A Steering Drone?
Do you have a sturdy model that doesn't fly as well as you would like? Take off the big propeller and rebalance it to fly "low and slow" using smaller rubber and a smaller propeller. Now you have a model with which you can practice steering.
Since you're not going all-out for first place or a record, you can use a site with odd ceiling height, rafters, or a drift problem. You can also practice retrieval if it hangs up. A bonus is that without the pressure to win, you will be more relaxed—an excellent learning environment! MA
Editor's note:
The staff of MA thanks Bud for his many years of faithful service. His columns have helped many to better enjoy the art and sport of indoor modeling. He is a legend in the world of aeromodeling, and we wish him well in his future endeavors.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
