Tom Sova and Rob Romash win inaugural National Cups
Also included in this column:
• Ornithopter Postal Contest
• Getting started in the F1D
Team Selection Program
• The FF Indoor scene in
Washington DC
Free Flight Indoor John Kagan
[[email protected]]
One of two new Indoor National Cups.
Join the battle and try to get your name
on one of the plates. Doc Perkins photo.
The DC Maxecuters prepare for a mass launch in the stunning National Building Museum (NBM). Tony Pavel photo.
CONGRATULATIONS TO Tom Sova and
Rob Romash: winners of the first Indoor
National Rubber Cup and Glider Cup! Their
names now grace the lead positions on the
perpetual trophies. The awards take into
account a yearlong points series of select
Rubber and Glider events in sanctioned meets.
Sponsored by the National Free Flight
Society (NFFS), the official FF SIG, this
program mirrors the popular Outdoor FF cups,
rewarding consistent performance and
promoting participation at contests of all
shapes and sizes throughout the country. The
emphasis is on attendance and results, and the
format seems to work; the names atop the list
belong to faces that are familiar to many.
This year’s competition ended in a rather
dramatic fashion that attests to its recognized
importance. Tom held a reasonably
comfortable lead in the Rubber Cup (F1L,
Limited Pennyplane, and MiniStick) as the
season approached its close, but there
remained one contest on the schedule: the
regional meet in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Rob, who was second in the standings, had to
win the three Rubber categories to nip Tom at
the line.
Tom contacted recent Colorado Springs
transplant Bill Leppard (who finished third in
the Rubber Cup) and arranged a quick
vacation to attend the contest and seal the
deal. Tom ended up winning the cup by a
convincing 80 points. Rob and Bill finished
second and third respectively, with only a
five-point gap between them.
The Glider Cup featured similar
adventures. Kurt Krempetz held a narrow lead
near the end, and Rob had a clear opportunity
to take over. Kurt didn’t have plans to attend
the Colorado event, but there was the
138 MODEL AVIATION
May 2006 139
Indoor Rubber National Cup champion
Tom Sova with his winning Limited
Pennyplane. Sova photo.
“Local Scene” contributor Tony Pavel
with two new friends. Pavel photo.
Indoor Glider National Cup champ Rob
Romash winds before a record-setting
MiniStick flight. Eunice Vasquez photo.
You might not be able to see the No-Cals on their way up, but this is a great view of the NBM architecture. Pavel photo.
140 MODEL AVIATION
possibility that organizers of a final contest
near him would have their event added to
the Cup schedule.
That didn’t end up happening, and Rob
nabbed the cup by 59 points. Kurt finished
second, and Indoor National Cup founder
Jim Buxton finished third.
For rules and a calendar of National
Cup contests go to the “Indoor National
Cup” page under the “Competitions”
section on the NFFS Web site
(www.freeflight.org).
Just as important, if you are a contest
organizer please visit the page to get
information about adding your contest to
the National Cup schedule. It’s a great way
to support the program and increase
exposure for your event!
USIC, Kibbie, and Other Great Contests:
Spring should be springing up by the time
you read this column (it is still cold and
snowy as I write it!). That means it’s time
to start preparing for the big summer
contests.
If you live east of the Mississippi
River, the major contest is at the Eastern
Tennessee State University MiniDome in
Johnson City. Almost every Indoor FF
event will be battled out in the combined
AMA Nats/NFFS US Indoor
Championships (USIC). From Wednesday,
May 31-Sunday, June 4 we have exclusive
access to the 116-foot dome for flying that
will last from dawn until well past dusk.
Even though the top names in Indoor FF
will be in attendance, don’t be scared off if
you are just getting started. I’ve heard
several people say “I’d love to go but I’m not
ready yet.” Hogwash!
There’s plenty of room, lots of support,
super air, and a fantastic building to hold it
all. This is a great contest to attend to fly,
watch, and learn. And if you are one of the
hotshots, you already know that this is one of
the must-attend events.
For more AMA Indoor Nats/USIC
information (entry forms, event schedules,
etc.), visit the Nats page in the Competitions
section of the AMA Web site: www.model
aircraft.org.
FFers in the western half of the country
will descend on the Kibbie Dome in
Moscow, Idaho, Friday, July 7-Tuesday,
July 11. This contest offers great
competition and a newcomer-friendly
experience, as well as a 145-foot building
laid out so that heavy and light models can
fly concurrently, which provides an
unbeatable opportunity for racking up
airtime on your favorite airplanes.
For more information about the 2006
Kibbie Dome Annual, contact Andrew
Tagliafico at [email protected].
These are two of the big annual events,
but they are just the tip of the iceberg for
contests. For information about bimonthly
records trials at Lakehurst, New Jersey; the
Midwest States Indoor Championships in
Champaign, Illinois; and many other great
contests, visit the Indoor Contest Calendar
on the NFFS Web site.
Ornithopter Postal Contest: Nathan
Chronister, flapper fan, sent in the following
announcement.
“An ornithopter is a model that flies by
flapping its wings. If you’ve never built one of
these intriguing models, this new contest will
give you a good reason to try one!
“There are two categories: Standard and
Simplified. The Standard category is based on
AMA rules. The Simplified category limits the
complexity of models, making it easier for a
first-timer to compete.
“The contest is open to everyone and there
is no entry fee. Fly your ornithopter locally and
send in your best flight times by mail. The
contest runs now through June 2006. For
details and entry form, visit the Ornithopter
Zone Web site, www.ornithopter.org, or send a
self-addressed, stamped envelope to The
Ornithopter Zone, 582 Laurelton Rd.,
Rochester NY 14609.
“The Ornithopter Zone Web site also has
some free plans and other resources for
building your first ornithopter!”
Getting Started in the F1D Team Selection
Program: During my report on the F1D finals I
promised a description of how to get started in
the Team Selection Program—a rewarding
experience for those who enjoy focused
challenge in their flying. Since the program
cycle begins in even-numbered years,
culminating with the Finals during odd years,
now is a great time to start.
First you must qualify at one of the
regionals. There are two per district in even
years and one during odd years, in addition to
the large regionals held during the USIC and
the Kibbie Dome annual. A small regional fee
is charged to adults, which helps fund the team,
but Juniors fly for free.
To qualify for the finals you must finish a
regional with a two-flight combined total that is
75% or more of the winner’s score. This
percentage is converted to regional points that
comprise as much as 10% of your finals score.
You may participate in as many regionals as
you want, taking the points from your best
result.
According to Ray Harlan, who has a long
history with the program, regionals were added
in the early stages to help keep the finals from
being a luck-of-the-draw, winner-take-all, flywhatever-
you-bring stabilizer for a team spot.
The result was a dramatic improvement in the
team’s performance that has continued to this
day.
A major benefit of the regionals is that it
encourages participation throughout the cycle
rather than just in the months before the finals.
Some, like me, probably wouldn’t even build
an airplane without being given such a
significant reason! Also, since a regional must
have three or more contestants to count, at least
two other people will get dragged in for each
enthusiastic participant.
Many of the smaller regionals are cobbled
together by a few local fliers. These are often
much easier to qualify in than the big regionals
May 2006 141
at the USIC and the Kibbie Dome. There is
certainly a discrepancy that is not reflected in
the regional scoring, but most feel that the
important point is to get people flying.
It may take several tries, but once you get
your 75-plus points you are on your way.
The next step is preparing to attend the finals.
The finals location moves around from
cycle to cycle, with a general attempt to
alternate between the East Coast and West
Coast. More often, though, the finals site is
determined by what is available.
For a lucky few the finals location will be
within a reasonable driving distance. For
most it will involve airline travel and hotels.
Learning to pack light and be portable is
definitely a challenge, but team members
will almost certainly benefit from those skills
because the majority of World
Championships sites are on foreign soil.
You can obtain specific details by
requesting the official F1D program from the
AMA Competitions Department. You can
also contact F1D Team Selection Program
Chairman Steve Brown at [email protected].
So put together your favorite F1D design
and look up the closest regional. If there isn’t
one in your area, grab a couple flying
buddies and schedule your own. It’s a great
time, and you might be the next one to
represent your country in international
competition!
Washington D.C. Local Scene: Tony Pavel
submitted the following great report.
“I am writing to provide a short overview
of the Indoor flying scene in the
Maryland/DC/Virginia area. I have been
flying with the Maxecuters since (about)
2002. Dan Driscoll was kind enough to give
me a little background on the club, which is
also well known in Scale circles for its
excellent newsletter the MaxFax.
“The DC Maxecuters club has been
around since the 1960s. Indoor flying has
always been part of the club activities, with
an emphasis on rubber-powered Scale
models. Over the years, we have flown at
many local high school gyms in Montgomery
County and still do at the Bauer Community
Center.
“From the late 1970s to mid-1980s,
annual contests were held at the Navy hangar
at Andrews Air Force Base. From the mid-
1980s to the mid-1990s, we held a series of
contests at the rotary wing hangar at Patuxent
River Naval Air Station. We have also flown
at the field house at the Naval Academy.
These were great flying sites, but changing
military priorities for these facilities did not
include model airplane flying.
“In 1997, architect and club member
Paul Spreiregen arranged for us to fly at the
historic National Building Museum (NBM).
Our flying was met with enthusiastic
responses from the fliers, museum staff, and
visiting public. We have been holding three
‘fun-fly’ sessions there each year since then.
“NBM is a visually stunning site to fly in
(www.nbm.org), and the collegial
atmosphere is great. The public is invited to
the fun-flys, providing terrific exposure to
the hobby. I regularly invite friends and coworkers
to bring their kids, and I try to have
a Delta Dart or two for them to fly.
“NBM is a bit too drafty for real
lightweights (the air-conditioning really
knocked us around at the last event), but
folks regularly fly Limited Pennyplane,
MiniSticks, and F1Ls. The flying space is
about 80 feet x 80 feet x 70 feet.
“The fun-flys are really social gatherings
with the emphasis on fun and good public
relations. Duration records won’t be set
here. The Maxecuters also volunteer to
conduct Delta Dart building sessions for
Scouts and families as part of the NBM
Family Programs.
“Another local event that I recently
learned of takes place in the return chamber
of the Langley Air Force Base wind tunnel.
These events are run by the Brainbusters
Free Flight Club out of Virginia. I have
been told it is a very good site if you can
avoid some of the drift at the ceiling.
“As noted above, there are still
occasional events at the Naval Academy’s
field house—but the majority of the
midshipmen are more interested in indoor
RC. A couple of the guys who live down in
the Annapolis area have been working on
getting a more regular site for flying pure
duration, but I haven’t heard any progress
reports in a few months.
“If folks would like more information on
area events, they can contact me at
[email protected] or go to the
Maxecuters Web site at www.his.com/~t
schmitt/.
“Hopefully this gives a relatively
accurate picture of the Indoor scene in the
DC/Beltway region. If I missed anything,
please feel free to shoot me an E-mail.”
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/05
Page Numbers: 138,139,140,141
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/05
Page Numbers: 138,139,140,141
Tom Sova and Rob Romash win inaugural National Cups
Also included in this column:
• Ornithopter Postal Contest
• Getting started in the F1D
Team Selection Program
• The FF Indoor scene in
Washington DC
Free Flight Indoor John Kagan
[[email protected]]
One of two new Indoor National Cups.
Join the battle and try to get your name
on one of the plates. Doc Perkins photo.
The DC Maxecuters prepare for a mass launch in the stunning National Building Museum (NBM). Tony Pavel photo.
CONGRATULATIONS TO Tom Sova and
Rob Romash: winners of the first Indoor
National Rubber Cup and Glider Cup! Their
names now grace the lead positions on the
perpetual trophies. The awards take into
account a yearlong points series of select
Rubber and Glider events in sanctioned meets.
Sponsored by the National Free Flight
Society (NFFS), the official FF SIG, this
program mirrors the popular Outdoor FF cups,
rewarding consistent performance and
promoting participation at contests of all
shapes and sizes throughout the country. The
emphasis is on attendance and results, and the
format seems to work; the names atop the list
belong to faces that are familiar to many.
This year’s competition ended in a rather
dramatic fashion that attests to its recognized
importance. Tom held a reasonably
comfortable lead in the Rubber Cup (F1L,
Limited Pennyplane, and MiniStick) as the
season approached its close, but there
remained one contest on the schedule: the
regional meet in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Rob, who was second in the standings, had to
win the three Rubber categories to nip Tom at
the line.
Tom contacted recent Colorado Springs
transplant Bill Leppard (who finished third in
the Rubber Cup) and arranged a quick
vacation to attend the contest and seal the
deal. Tom ended up winning the cup by a
convincing 80 points. Rob and Bill finished
second and third respectively, with only a
five-point gap between them.
The Glider Cup featured similar
adventures. Kurt Krempetz held a narrow lead
near the end, and Rob had a clear opportunity
to take over. Kurt didn’t have plans to attend
the Colorado event, but there was the
138 MODEL AVIATION
May 2006 139
Indoor Rubber National Cup champion
Tom Sova with his winning Limited
Pennyplane. Sova photo.
“Local Scene” contributor Tony Pavel
with two new friends. Pavel photo.
Indoor Glider National Cup champ Rob
Romash winds before a record-setting
MiniStick flight. Eunice Vasquez photo.
You might not be able to see the No-Cals on their way up, but this is a great view of the NBM architecture. Pavel photo.
140 MODEL AVIATION
possibility that organizers of a final contest
near him would have their event added to
the Cup schedule.
That didn’t end up happening, and Rob
nabbed the cup by 59 points. Kurt finished
second, and Indoor National Cup founder
Jim Buxton finished third.
For rules and a calendar of National
Cup contests go to the “Indoor National
Cup” page under the “Competitions”
section on the NFFS Web site
(www.freeflight.org).
Just as important, if you are a contest
organizer please visit the page to get
information about adding your contest to
the National Cup schedule. It’s a great way
to support the program and increase
exposure for your event!
USIC, Kibbie, and Other Great Contests:
Spring should be springing up by the time
you read this column (it is still cold and
snowy as I write it!). That means it’s time
to start preparing for the big summer
contests.
If you live east of the Mississippi
River, the major contest is at the Eastern
Tennessee State University MiniDome in
Johnson City. Almost every Indoor FF
event will be battled out in the combined
AMA Nats/NFFS US Indoor
Championships (USIC). From Wednesday,
May 31-Sunday, June 4 we have exclusive
access to the 116-foot dome for flying that
will last from dawn until well past dusk.
Even though the top names in Indoor FF
will be in attendance, don’t be scared off if
you are just getting started. I’ve heard
several people say “I’d love to go but I’m not
ready yet.” Hogwash!
There’s plenty of room, lots of support,
super air, and a fantastic building to hold it
all. This is a great contest to attend to fly,
watch, and learn. And if you are one of the
hotshots, you already know that this is one of
the must-attend events.
For more AMA Indoor Nats/USIC
information (entry forms, event schedules,
etc.), visit the Nats page in the Competitions
section of the AMA Web site: www.model
aircraft.org.
FFers in the western half of the country
will descend on the Kibbie Dome in
Moscow, Idaho, Friday, July 7-Tuesday,
July 11. This contest offers great
competition and a newcomer-friendly
experience, as well as a 145-foot building
laid out so that heavy and light models can
fly concurrently, which provides an
unbeatable opportunity for racking up
airtime on your favorite airplanes.
For more information about the 2006
Kibbie Dome Annual, contact Andrew
Tagliafico at [email protected].
These are two of the big annual events,
but they are just the tip of the iceberg for
contests. For information about bimonthly
records trials at Lakehurst, New Jersey; the
Midwest States Indoor Championships in
Champaign, Illinois; and many other great
contests, visit the Indoor Contest Calendar
on the NFFS Web site.
Ornithopter Postal Contest: Nathan
Chronister, flapper fan, sent in the following
announcement.
“An ornithopter is a model that flies by
flapping its wings. If you’ve never built one of
these intriguing models, this new contest will
give you a good reason to try one!
“There are two categories: Standard and
Simplified. The Standard category is based on
AMA rules. The Simplified category limits the
complexity of models, making it easier for a
first-timer to compete.
“The contest is open to everyone and there
is no entry fee. Fly your ornithopter locally and
send in your best flight times by mail. The
contest runs now through June 2006. For
details and entry form, visit the Ornithopter
Zone Web site, www.ornithopter.org, or send a
self-addressed, stamped envelope to The
Ornithopter Zone, 582 Laurelton Rd.,
Rochester NY 14609.
“The Ornithopter Zone Web site also has
some free plans and other resources for
building your first ornithopter!”
Getting Started in the F1D Team Selection
Program: During my report on the F1D finals I
promised a description of how to get started in
the Team Selection Program—a rewarding
experience for those who enjoy focused
challenge in their flying. Since the program
cycle begins in even-numbered years,
culminating with the Finals during odd years,
now is a great time to start.
First you must qualify at one of the
regionals. There are two per district in even
years and one during odd years, in addition to
the large regionals held during the USIC and
the Kibbie Dome annual. A small regional fee
is charged to adults, which helps fund the team,
but Juniors fly for free.
To qualify for the finals you must finish a
regional with a two-flight combined total that is
75% or more of the winner’s score. This
percentage is converted to regional points that
comprise as much as 10% of your finals score.
You may participate in as many regionals as
you want, taking the points from your best
result.
According to Ray Harlan, who has a long
history with the program, regionals were added
in the early stages to help keep the finals from
being a luck-of-the-draw, winner-take-all, flywhatever-
you-bring stabilizer for a team spot.
The result was a dramatic improvement in the
team’s performance that has continued to this
day.
A major benefit of the regionals is that it
encourages participation throughout the cycle
rather than just in the months before the finals.
Some, like me, probably wouldn’t even build
an airplane without being given such a
significant reason! Also, since a regional must
have three or more contestants to count, at least
two other people will get dragged in for each
enthusiastic participant.
Many of the smaller regionals are cobbled
together by a few local fliers. These are often
much easier to qualify in than the big regionals
May 2006 141
at the USIC and the Kibbie Dome. There is
certainly a discrepancy that is not reflected in
the regional scoring, but most feel that the
important point is to get people flying.
It may take several tries, but once you get
your 75-plus points you are on your way.
The next step is preparing to attend the finals.
The finals location moves around from
cycle to cycle, with a general attempt to
alternate between the East Coast and West
Coast. More often, though, the finals site is
determined by what is available.
For a lucky few the finals location will be
within a reasonable driving distance. For
most it will involve airline travel and hotels.
Learning to pack light and be portable is
definitely a challenge, but team members
will almost certainly benefit from those skills
because the majority of World
Championships sites are on foreign soil.
You can obtain specific details by
requesting the official F1D program from the
AMA Competitions Department. You can
also contact F1D Team Selection Program
Chairman Steve Brown at [email protected].
So put together your favorite F1D design
and look up the closest regional. If there isn’t
one in your area, grab a couple flying
buddies and schedule your own. It’s a great
time, and you might be the next one to
represent your country in international
competition!
Washington D.C. Local Scene: Tony Pavel
submitted the following great report.
“I am writing to provide a short overview
of the Indoor flying scene in the
Maryland/DC/Virginia area. I have been
flying with the Maxecuters since (about)
2002. Dan Driscoll was kind enough to give
me a little background on the club, which is
also well known in Scale circles for its
excellent newsletter the MaxFax.
“The DC Maxecuters club has been
around since the 1960s. Indoor flying has
always been part of the club activities, with
an emphasis on rubber-powered Scale
models. Over the years, we have flown at
many local high school gyms in Montgomery
County and still do at the Bauer Community
Center.
“From the late 1970s to mid-1980s,
annual contests were held at the Navy hangar
at Andrews Air Force Base. From the mid-
1980s to the mid-1990s, we held a series of
contests at the rotary wing hangar at Patuxent
River Naval Air Station. We have also flown
at the field house at the Naval Academy.
These were great flying sites, but changing
military priorities for these facilities did not
include model airplane flying.
“In 1997, architect and club member
Paul Spreiregen arranged for us to fly at the
historic National Building Museum (NBM).
Our flying was met with enthusiastic
responses from the fliers, museum staff, and
visiting public. We have been holding three
‘fun-fly’ sessions there each year since then.
“NBM is a visually stunning site to fly in
(www.nbm.org), and the collegial
atmosphere is great. The public is invited to
the fun-flys, providing terrific exposure to
the hobby. I regularly invite friends and coworkers
to bring their kids, and I try to have
a Delta Dart or two for them to fly.
“NBM is a bit too drafty for real
lightweights (the air-conditioning really
knocked us around at the last event), but
folks regularly fly Limited Pennyplane,
MiniSticks, and F1Ls. The flying space is
about 80 feet x 80 feet x 70 feet.
“The fun-flys are really social gatherings
with the emphasis on fun and good public
relations. Duration records won’t be set
here. The Maxecuters also volunteer to
conduct Delta Dart building sessions for
Scouts and families as part of the NBM
Family Programs.
“Another local event that I recently
learned of takes place in the return chamber
of the Langley Air Force Base wind tunnel.
These events are run by the Brainbusters
Free Flight Club out of Virginia. I have
been told it is a very good site if you can
avoid some of the drift at the ceiling.
“As noted above, there are still
occasional events at the Naval Academy’s
field house—but the majority of the
midshipmen are more interested in indoor
RC. A couple of the guys who live down in
the Annapolis area have been working on
getting a more regular site for flying pure
duration, but I haven’t heard any progress
reports in a few months.
“If folks would like more information on
area events, they can contact me at
[email protected] or go to the
Maxecuters Web site at www.his.com/~t
schmitt/.
“Hopefully this gives a relatively
accurate picture of the Indoor scene in the
DC/Beltway region. If I missed anything,
please feel free to shoot me an E-mail.”
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/05
Page Numbers: 138,139,140,141
Tom Sova and Rob Romash win inaugural National Cups
Also included in this column:
• Ornithopter Postal Contest
• Getting started in the F1D
Team Selection Program
• The FF Indoor scene in
Washington DC
Free Flight Indoor John Kagan
[[email protected]]
One of two new Indoor National Cups.
Join the battle and try to get your name
on one of the plates. Doc Perkins photo.
The DC Maxecuters prepare for a mass launch in the stunning National Building Museum (NBM). Tony Pavel photo.
CONGRATULATIONS TO Tom Sova and
Rob Romash: winners of the first Indoor
National Rubber Cup and Glider Cup! Their
names now grace the lead positions on the
perpetual trophies. The awards take into
account a yearlong points series of select
Rubber and Glider events in sanctioned meets.
Sponsored by the National Free Flight
Society (NFFS), the official FF SIG, this
program mirrors the popular Outdoor FF cups,
rewarding consistent performance and
promoting participation at contests of all
shapes and sizes throughout the country. The
emphasis is on attendance and results, and the
format seems to work; the names atop the list
belong to faces that are familiar to many.
This year’s competition ended in a rather
dramatic fashion that attests to its recognized
importance. Tom held a reasonably
comfortable lead in the Rubber Cup (F1L,
Limited Pennyplane, and MiniStick) as the
season approached its close, but there
remained one contest on the schedule: the
regional meet in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Rob, who was second in the standings, had to
win the three Rubber categories to nip Tom at
the line.
Tom contacted recent Colorado Springs
transplant Bill Leppard (who finished third in
the Rubber Cup) and arranged a quick
vacation to attend the contest and seal the
deal. Tom ended up winning the cup by a
convincing 80 points. Rob and Bill finished
second and third respectively, with only a
five-point gap between them.
The Glider Cup featured similar
adventures. Kurt Krempetz held a narrow lead
near the end, and Rob had a clear opportunity
to take over. Kurt didn’t have plans to attend
the Colorado event, but there was the
138 MODEL AVIATION
May 2006 139
Indoor Rubber National Cup champion
Tom Sova with his winning Limited
Pennyplane. Sova photo.
“Local Scene” contributor Tony Pavel
with two new friends. Pavel photo.
Indoor Glider National Cup champ Rob
Romash winds before a record-setting
MiniStick flight. Eunice Vasquez photo.
You might not be able to see the No-Cals on their way up, but this is a great view of the NBM architecture. Pavel photo.
140 MODEL AVIATION
possibility that organizers of a final contest
near him would have their event added to
the Cup schedule.
That didn’t end up happening, and Rob
nabbed the cup by 59 points. Kurt finished
second, and Indoor National Cup founder
Jim Buxton finished third.
For rules and a calendar of National
Cup contests go to the “Indoor National
Cup” page under the “Competitions”
section on the NFFS Web site
(www.freeflight.org).
Just as important, if you are a contest
organizer please visit the page to get
information about adding your contest to
the National Cup schedule. It’s a great way
to support the program and increase
exposure for your event!
USIC, Kibbie, and Other Great Contests:
Spring should be springing up by the time
you read this column (it is still cold and
snowy as I write it!). That means it’s time
to start preparing for the big summer
contests.
If you live east of the Mississippi
River, the major contest is at the Eastern
Tennessee State University MiniDome in
Johnson City. Almost every Indoor FF
event will be battled out in the combined
AMA Nats/NFFS US Indoor
Championships (USIC). From Wednesday,
May 31-Sunday, June 4 we have exclusive
access to the 116-foot dome for flying that
will last from dawn until well past dusk.
Even though the top names in Indoor FF
will be in attendance, don’t be scared off if
you are just getting started. I’ve heard
several people say “I’d love to go but I’m not
ready yet.” Hogwash!
There’s plenty of room, lots of support,
super air, and a fantastic building to hold it
all. This is a great contest to attend to fly,
watch, and learn. And if you are one of the
hotshots, you already know that this is one of
the must-attend events.
For more AMA Indoor Nats/USIC
information (entry forms, event schedules,
etc.), visit the Nats page in the Competitions
section of the AMA Web site: www.model
aircraft.org.
FFers in the western half of the country
will descend on the Kibbie Dome in
Moscow, Idaho, Friday, July 7-Tuesday,
July 11. This contest offers great
competition and a newcomer-friendly
experience, as well as a 145-foot building
laid out so that heavy and light models can
fly concurrently, which provides an
unbeatable opportunity for racking up
airtime on your favorite airplanes.
For more information about the 2006
Kibbie Dome Annual, contact Andrew
Tagliafico at [email protected].
These are two of the big annual events,
but they are just the tip of the iceberg for
contests. For information about bimonthly
records trials at Lakehurst, New Jersey; the
Midwest States Indoor Championships in
Champaign, Illinois; and many other great
contests, visit the Indoor Contest Calendar
on the NFFS Web site.
Ornithopter Postal Contest: Nathan
Chronister, flapper fan, sent in the following
announcement.
“An ornithopter is a model that flies by
flapping its wings. If you’ve never built one of
these intriguing models, this new contest will
give you a good reason to try one!
“There are two categories: Standard and
Simplified. The Standard category is based on
AMA rules. The Simplified category limits the
complexity of models, making it easier for a
first-timer to compete.
“The contest is open to everyone and there
is no entry fee. Fly your ornithopter locally and
send in your best flight times by mail. The
contest runs now through June 2006. For
details and entry form, visit the Ornithopter
Zone Web site, www.ornithopter.org, or send a
self-addressed, stamped envelope to The
Ornithopter Zone, 582 Laurelton Rd.,
Rochester NY 14609.
“The Ornithopter Zone Web site also has
some free plans and other resources for
building your first ornithopter!”
Getting Started in the F1D Team Selection
Program: During my report on the F1D finals I
promised a description of how to get started in
the Team Selection Program—a rewarding
experience for those who enjoy focused
challenge in their flying. Since the program
cycle begins in even-numbered years,
culminating with the Finals during odd years,
now is a great time to start.
First you must qualify at one of the
regionals. There are two per district in even
years and one during odd years, in addition to
the large regionals held during the USIC and
the Kibbie Dome annual. A small regional fee
is charged to adults, which helps fund the team,
but Juniors fly for free.
To qualify for the finals you must finish a
regional with a two-flight combined total that is
75% or more of the winner’s score. This
percentage is converted to regional points that
comprise as much as 10% of your finals score.
You may participate in as many regionals as
you want, taking the points from your best
result.
According to Ray Harlan, who has a long
history with the program, regionals were added
in the early stages to help keep the finals from
being a luck-of-the-draw, winner-take-all, flywhatever-
you-bring stabilizer for a team spot.
The result was a dramatic improvement in the
team’s performance that has continued to this
day.
A major benefit of the regionals is that it
encourages participation throughout the cycle
rather than just in the months before the finals.
Some, like me, probably wouldn’t even build
an airplane without being given such a
significant reason! Also, since a regional must
have three or more contestants to count, at least
two other people will get dragged in for each
enthusiastic participant.
Many of the smaller regionals are cobbled
together by a few local fliers. These are often
much easier to qualify in than the big regionals
May 2006 141
at the USIC and the Kibbie Dome. There is
certainly a discrepancy that is not reflected in
the regional scoring, but most feel that the
important point is to get people flying.
It may take several tries, but once you get
your 75-plus points you are on your way.
The next step is preparing to attend the finals.
The finals location moves around from
cycle to cycle, with a general attempt to
alternate between the East Coast and West
Coast. More often, though, the finals site is
determined by what is available.
For a lucky few the finals location will be
within a reasonable driving distance. For
most it will involve airline travel and hotels.
Learning to pack light and be portable is
definitely a challenge, but team members
will almost certainly benefit from those skills
because the majority of World
Championships sites are on foreign soil.
You can obtain specific details by
requesting the official F1D program from the
AMA Competitions Department. You can
also contact F1D Team Selection Program
Chairman Steve Brown at [email protected].
So put together your favorite F1D design
and look up the closest regional. If there isn’t
one in your area, grab a couple flying
buddies and schedule your own. It’s a great
time, and you might be the next one to
represent your country in international
competition!
Washington D.C. Local Scene: Tony Pavel
submitted the following great report.
“I am writing to provide a short overview
of the Indoor flying scene in the
Maryland/DC/Virginia area. I have been
flying with the Maxecuters since (about)
2002. Dan Driscoll was kind enough to give
me a little background on the club, which is
also well known in Scale circles for its
excellent newsletter the MaxFax.
“The DC Maxecuters club has been
around since the 1960s. Indoor flying has
always been part of the club activities, with
an emphasis on rubber-powered Scale
models. Over the years, we have flown at
many local high school gyms in Montgomery
County and still do at the Bauer Community
Center.
“From the late 1970s to mid-1980s,
annual contests were held at the Navy hangar
at Andrews Air Force Base. From the mid-
1980s to the mid-1990s, we held a series of
contests at the rotary wing hangar at Patuxent
River Naval Air Station. We have also flown
at the field house at the Naval Academy.
These were great flying sites, but changing
military priorities for these facilities did not
include model airplane flying.
“In 1997, architect and club member
Paul Spreiregen arranged for us to fly at the
historic National Building Museum (NBM).
Our flying was met with enthusiastic
responses from the fliers, museum staff, and
visiting public. We have been holding three
‘fun-fly’ sessions there each year since then.
“NBM is a visually stunning site to fly in
(www.nbm.org), and the collegial
atmosphere is great. The public is invited to
the fun-flys, providing terrific exposure to
the hobby. I regularly invite friends and coworkers
to bring their kids, and I try to have
a Delta Dart or two for them to fly.
“NBM is a bit too drafty for real
lightweights (the air-conditioning really
knocked us around at the last event), but
folks regularly fly Limited Pennyplane,
MiniSticks, and F1Ls. The flying space is
about 80 feet x 80 feet x 70 feet.
“The fun-flys are really social gatherings
with the emphasis on fun and good public
relations. Duration records won’t be set
here. The Maxecuters also volunteer to
conduct Delta Dart building sessions for
Scouts and families as part of the NBM
Family Programs.
“Another local event that I recently
learned of takes place in the return chamber
of the Langley Air Force Base wind tunnel.
These events are run by the Brainbusters
Free Flight Club out of Virginia. I have
been told it is a very good site if you can
avoid some of the drift at the ceiling.
“As noted above, there are still
occasional events at the Naval Academy’s
field house—but the majority of the
midshipmen are more interested in indoor
RC. A couple of the guys who live down in
the Annapolis area have been working on
getting a more regular site for flying pure
duration, but I haven’t heard any progress
reports in a few months.
“If folks would like more information on
area events, they can contact me at
[email protected] or go to the
Maxecuters Web site at www.his.com/~t
schmitt/.
“Hopefully this gives a relatively
accurate picture of the Indoor scene in the
DC/Beltway region. If I missed anything,
please feel free to shoot me an E-mail.”
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/05
Page Numbers: 138,139,140,141
Tom Sova and Rob Romash win inaugural National Cups
Also included in this column:
• Ornithopter Postal Contest
• Getting started in the F1D
Team Selection Program
• The FF Indoor scene in
Washington DC
Free Flight Indoor John Kagan
[[email protected]]
One of two new Indoor National Cups.
Join the battle and try to get your name
on one of the plates. Doc Perkins photo.
The DC Maxecuters prepare for a mass launch in the stunning National Building Museum (NBM). Tony Pavel photo.
CONGRATULATIONS TO Tom Sova and
Rob Romash: winners of the first Indoor
National Rubber Cup and Glider Cup! Their
names now grace the lead positions on the
perpetual trophies. The awards take into
account a yearlong points series of select
Rubber and Glider events in sanctioned meets.
Sponsored by the National Free Flight
Society (NFFS), the official FF SIG, this
program mirrors the popular Outdoor FF cups,
rewarding consistent performance and
promoting participation at contests of all
shapes and sizes throughout the country. The
emphasis is on attendance and results, and the
format seems to work; the names atop the list
belong to faces that are familiar to many.
This year’s competition ended in a rather
dramatic fashion that attests to its recognized
importance. Tom held a reasonably
comfortable lead in the Rubber Cup (F1L,
Limited Pennyplane, and MiniStick) as the
season approached its close, but there
remained one contest on the schedule: the
regional meet in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Rob, who was second in the standings, had to
win the three Rubber categories to nip Tom at
the line.
Tom contacted recent Colorado Springs
transplant Bill Leppard (who finished third in
the Rubber Cup) and arranged a quick
vacation to attend the contest and seal the
deal. Tom ended up winning the cup by a
convincing 80 points. Rob and Bill finished
second and third respectively, with only a
five-point gap between them.
The Glider Cup featured similar
adventures. Kurt Krempetz held a narrow lead
near the end, and Rob had a clear opportunity
to take over. Kurt didn’t have plans to attend
the Colorado event, but there was the
138 MODEL AVIATION
May 2006 139
Indoor Rubber National Cup champion
Tom Sova with his winning Limited
Pennyplane. Sova photo.
“Local Scene” contributor Tony Pavel
with two new friends. Pavel photo.
Indoor Glider National Cup champ Rob
Romash winds before a record-setting
MiniStick flight. Eunice Vasquez photo.
You might not be able to see the No-Cals on their way up, but this is a great view of the NBM architecture. Pavel photo.
140 MODEL AVIATION
possibility that organizers of a final contest
near him would have their event added to
the Cup schedule.
That didn’t end up happening, and Rob
nabbed the cup by 59 points. Kurt finished
second, and Indoor National Cup founder
Jim Buxton finished third.
For rules and a calendar of National
Cup contests go to the “Indoor National
Cup” page under the “Competitions”
section on the NFFS Web site
(www.freeflight.org).
Just as important, if you are a contest
organizer please visit the page to get
information about adding your contest to
the National Cup schedule. It’s a great way
to support the program and increase
exposure for your event!
USIC, Kibbie, and Other Great Contests:
Spring should be springing up by the time
you read this column (it is still cold and
snowy as I write it!). That means it’s time
to start preparing for the big summer
contests.
If you live east of the Mississippi
River, the major contest is at the Eastern
Tennessee State University MiniDome in
Johnson City. Almost every Indoor FF
event will be battled out in the combined
AMA Nats/NFFS US Indoor
Championships (USIC). From Wednesday,
May 31-Sunday, June 4 we have exclusive
access to the 116-foot dome for flying that
will last from dawn until well past dusk.
Even though the top names in Indoor FF
will be in attendance, don’t be scared off if
you are just getting started. I’ve heard
several people say “I’d love to go but I’m not
ready yet.” Hogwash!
There’s plenty of room, lots of support,
super air, and a fantastic building to hold it
all. This is a great contest to attend to fly,
watch, and learn. And if you are one of the
hotshots, you already know that this is one of
the must-attend events.
For more AMA Indoor Nats/USIC
information (entry forms, event schedules,
etc.), visit the Nats page in the Competitions
section of the AMA Web site: www.model
aircraft.org.
FFers in the western half of the country
will descend on the Kibbie Dome in
Moscow, Idaho, Friday, July 7-Tuesday,
July 11. This contest offers great
competition and a newcomer-friendly
experience, as well as a 145-foot building
laid out so that heavy and light models can
fly concurrently, which provides an
unbeatable opportunity for racking up
airtime on your favorite airplanes.
For more information about the 2006
Kibbie Dome Annual, contact Andrew
Tagliafico at [email protected].
These are two of the big annual events,
but they are just the tip of the iceberg for
contests. For information about bimonthly
records trials at Lakehurst, New Jersey; the
Midwest States Indoor Championships in
Champaign, Illinois; and many other great
contests, visit the Indoor Contest Calendar
on the NFFS Web site.
Ornithopter Postal Contest: Nathan
Chronister, flapper fan, sent in the following
announcement.
“An ornithopter is a model that flies by
flapping its wings. If you’ve never built one of
these intriguing models, this new contest will
give you a good reason to try one!
“There are two categories: Standard and
Simplified. The Standard category is based on
AMA rules. The Simplified category limits the
complexity of models, making it easier for a
first-timer to compete.
“The contest is open to everyone and there
is no entry fee. Fly your ornithopter locally and
send in your best flight times by mail. The
contest runs now through June 2006. For
details and entry form, visit the Ornithopter
Zone Web site, www.ornithopter.org, or send a
self-addressed, stamped envelope to The
Ornithopter Zone, 582 Laurelton Rd.,
Rochester NY 14609.
“The Ornithopter Zone Web site also has
some free plans and other resources for
building your first ornithopter!”
Getting Started in the F1D Team Selection
Program: During my report on the F1D finals I
promised a description of how to get started in
the Team Selection Program—a rewarding
experience for those who enjoy focused
challenge in their flying. Since the program
cycle begins in even-numbered years,
culminating with the Finals during odd years,
now is a great time to start.
First you must qualify at one of the
regionals. There are two per district in even
years and one during odd years, in addition to
the large regionals held during the USIC and
the Kibbie Dome annual. A small regional fee
is charged to adults, which helps fund the team,
but Juniors fly for free.
To qualify for the finals you must finish a
regional with a two-flight combined total that is
75% or more of the winner’s score. This
percentage is converted to regional points that
comprise as much as 10% of your finals score.
You may participate in as many regionals as
you want, taking the points from your best
result.
According to Ray Harlan, who has a long
history with the program, regionals were added
in the early stages to help keep the finals from
being a luck-of-the-draw, winner-take-all, flywhatever-
you-bring stabilizer for a team spot.
The result was a dramatic improvement in the
team’s performance that has continued to this
day.
A major benefit of the regionals is that it
encourages participation throughout the cycle
rather than just in the months before the finals.
Some, like me, probably wouldn’t even build
an airplane without being given such a
significant reason! Also, since a regional must
have three or more contestants to count, at least
two other people will get dragged in for each
enthusiastic participant.
Many of the smaller regionals are cobbled
together by a few local fliers. These are often
much easier to qualify in than the big regionals
May 2006 141
at the USIC and the Kibbie Dome. There is
certainly a discrepancy that is not reflected in
the regional scoring, but most feel that the
important point is to get people flying.
It may take several tries, but once you get
your 75-plus points you are on your way.
The next step is preparing to attend the finals.
The finals location moves around from
cycle to cycle, with a general attempt to
alternate between the East Coast and West
Coast. More often, though, the finals site is
determined by what is available.
For a lucky few the finals location will be
within a reasonable driving distance. For
most it will involve airline travel and hotels.
Learning to pack light and be portable is
definitely a challenge, but team members
will almost certainly benefit from those skills
because the majority of World
Championships sites are on foreign soil.
You can obtain specific details by
requesting the official F1D program from the
AMA Competitions Department. You can
also contact F1D Team Selection Program
Chairman Steve Brown at [email protected].
So put together your favorite F1D design
and look up the closest regional. If there isn’t
one in your area, grab a couple flying
buddies and schedule your own. It’s a great
time, and you might be the next one to
represent your country in international
competition!
Washington D.C. Local Scene: Tony Pavel
submitted the following great report.
“I am writing to provide a short overview
of the Indoor flying scene in the
Maryland/DC/Virginia area. I have been
flying with the Maxecuters since (about)
2002. Dan Driscoll was kind enough to give
me a little background on the club, which is
also well known in Scale circles for its
excellent newsletter the MaxFax.
“The DC Maxecuters club has been
around since the 1960s. Indoor flying has
always been part of the club activities, with
an emphasis on rubber-powered Scale
models. Over the years, we have flown at
many local high school gyms in Montgomery
County and still do at the Bauer Community
Center.
“From the late 1970s to mid-1980s,
annual contests were held at the Navy hangar
at Andrews Air Force Base. From the mid-
1980s to the mid-1990s, we held a series of
contests at the rotary wing hangar at Patuxent
River Naval Air Station. We have also flown
at the field house at the Naval Academy.
These were great flying sites, but changing
military priorities for these facilities did not
include model airplane flying.
“In 1997, architect and club member
Paul Spreiregen arranged for us to fly at the
historic National Building Museum (NBM).
Our flying was met with enthusiastic
responses from the fliers, museum staff, and
visiting public. We have been holding three
‘fun-fly’ sessions there each year since then.
“NBM is a visually stunning site to fly in
(www.nbm.org), and the collegial
atmosphere is great. The public is invited to
the fun-flys, providing terrific exposure to
the hobby. I regularly invite friends and coworkers
to bring their kids, and I try to have
a Delta Dart or two for them to fly.
“NBM is a bit too drafty for real
lightweights (the air-conditioning really
knocked us around at the last event), but
folks regularly fly Limited Pennyplane,
MiniSticks, and F1Ls. The flying space is
about 80 feet x 80 feet x 70 feet.
“The fun-flys are really social gatherings
with the emphasis on fun and good public
relations. Duration records won’t be set
here. The Maxecuters also volunteer to
conduct Delta Dart building sessions for
Scouts and families as part of the NBM
Family Programs.
“Another local event that I recently
learned of takes place in the return chamber
of the Langley Air Force Base wind tunnel.
These events are run by the Brainbusters
Free Flight Club out of Virginia. I have
been told it is a very good site if you can
avoid some of the drift at the ceiling.
“As noted above, there are still
occasional events at the Naval Academy’s
field house—but the majority of the
midshipmen are more interested in indoor
RC. A couple of the guys who live down in
the Annapolis area have been working on
getting a more regular site for flying pure
duration, but I haven’t heard any progress
reports in a few months.
“If folks would like more information on
area events, they can contact me at
[email protected] or go to the
Maxecuters Web site at www.his.com/~t
schmitt/.
“Hopefully this gives a relatively
accurate picture of the Indoor scene in the
DC/Beltway region. If I missed anything,
please feel free to shoot me an E-mail.”