118 MODEL AVIATION
Category IV Glider record falls after almost four decades
Free Flight Indoor John Kagan
[[email protected]]
Also included in this column:
• Tustin access on the horizon
• Glider rule ponderings
• New Super Sport rubber
• LPP Pro/Am reminder
Stan Buddenbohm (L) and Ralph Ray
broke records in Indoor Hand Launched
Glider and Indoor Standard Catapult
One of the world’s best Indoor FF flying sites: the hangar in Tustin CA. Hines photo. Glider. Hines photo.
An Indoor flier’s dream: more than 150 feet of clear, open flying space inside the Tustin
hangar. Hines photo.
Stan broke Ralph’s Standard Category
Glider record 23 days later. Hines photo.
“STAN BUDDENBOHMtopples the 36-
year-old Indoor Hand Launched Glider
(IHLG) record in the Tustin, California,
hangar.” Within that headline are three huge
news stories.
First, Stan—a Glider virtuoso—reached
aspects of his program, both major and subtle.
On the major side, he has been one of the
leading pioneers of tip-launch techniques with
FF Gliders. This method has revolutionized
flying with those models.
Glider fliers emphasize that a tip launch is
the long-sought-after Holy Grail of Indoor
Gliders: the 90-second barrier and Category
IV national record. People have chased this
record for decades, to no avail, but Stan’s
achievement was hardly a fluke. He spent
countless hours developing and refining
04sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 8:52 AM Page 118
still a hand launch, but it’s similar to the difference between Tan II and
Pirelli in the rubber-power world. Both are rubber, but once people
figured out Tan II, Pirelli was history. Tip launching now dominates
and javelin-launched Gliders are fading away, along with all of the
career-ending shoulder injuries that the old technique induced.
On the subtle side, Stan has sorted through everything from airfoils
to finger placement to wearing latex gloves for a better grip. He even
used sub-100-square-inch models during the preceding three years at
Outdoor meets, although he could have flown something bigger, to
prepare for the size of aircraft he would need for an Indoor record.
A feat of this magnitude requires dogged perseverance, along with
the more obvious skills and talent. Stan broke the record in October
2009, with a best two-flight total of 194.4 seconds (97.6 and 96.8).
Then he returned on November 22 and upped the record with superb
flights of 103.8 and 101.0.
In Stan’s spare time, he also bumped Ralph Ray’s recent Standard
Catapult record (more about this to follow) with a 113.1 and a 112.2.
Congratulations, Stan! The addresses in the “Sources” list at the end of
this column take you to videos and more information about his
amazing record.
Stan is also offering a set of full-sized, 24 x 36-inch plans for his
appropriately named Holy Grail design, along with three pages of
information detailing all of the discus-launch glider knowledge he
accumulated during his quest. (How often do the top fliers give away
all their secrets?) I highly recommended this for both beginners and
veteran competitors.
The second big story is the record that Stan broke. Ron Wittman’s
36-year-old run is one of the longest on the books—possibly the
longest-held Open record. Set in 1973, also at the Tustin site, Ron’s
epic achievement thwarted all challengers. And unlike a few of the other old
records, people have been trying to break it.
It took a dramatic change in technique to beat Ron. Nobody has been able to
best his mark using the old launch method, and with the new technique’s inherent
benefits, it’s possible that nobody will.
I spoke with Ron recently. He revealed that after he set the record, he shifted his
interests to other types of aeromodeling, such as RC sailplanes. Ron was unaware
that his record had been such a source of inspiration and consternation for so many
years. He found out only when word spread about it finally being topped.
As do so many aeromodelers, Ron has a fascinating list of accomplishments
outside of what we, in the Indoor FF world, know him for best. He has flown
microfilm models, designed the Easy Riser RC sailplane, received early tutelage
from modeling legend Carl Goldberg, and still flies and competes with sailplanes,
3-D electrics, and FF Old-Timer models.
Few people know that approximately a week after setting the IHLG record, Ron
flew several official flights that were even better.
You can learn more in Ron’s biography; the Web address is listed at the end of
this column. Also, keep an eye out for an article that current Glider great Jim
Buxton is preparing on one of his biggest Glider idols.
The third big story in this headline trifecta is Ralph Ray’s tremendous success in
gaining access to the legendary hangar in Tustin. Those hallowed grounds have
April 2010 119
Brandon Kagan f inished seventh in Limited
Pennyplane at last year’s Nats. You can learn to fly
like he does at the Erv Rodemsky Pro/Am. Hood
photo.
Stan beams after bumping up the Indoor Hand Launched Glider
record again. Hines photo.
Top Indoor experts want to give you their airplanes! Text has details. Hood
photo.
04sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 8:52 AM Page 119
been the host to many major Indoor
accomplishments, including both records
I’ve described here and Steve Brown’s
historic 60-minute Rubber flight.
When the Marine base at Tustin was
decommissioned in 1999, our flying
privileges to the hangars were revoked.
Attempts to negotiate access with
reluctant politicians had the predictable
outcome: quick “no” responses, followed
by exorbitant rates and thick red tape
when pressured.
Worse, even though the behemoth
structures are listed in the National Registry
of Historic Places and have been designated
National Historic Civil Engineering
Landmarks, they are expensive to maintain
and are sitting on prime California real
estate. In 2007, the Tustin City Council
rejected a variety of proposals to put the
hangars to use and gave a developer
permission to build homes on the site.
Despite all that, Ralph Ray confided to
me at the US Indoor Championships a
couple years ago that he was going to try to
get us back into Tustin. It would be an uphill
battle, and he didn’t want it publicized at that
time, but his goal was to arrange a contest at
the site.
There was general skepticism that we’d
ever see the inside of the Tustin hangars
again. But if you are aware of the things
Ralph has achieved in his life, you’d know
that the smart money was on him.
After much persistent effort, Ralph
negotiated a few preliminary sessions for a
small group of fliers. Along with Stan’s
achievements there, Ralph was rewarded
with an opportunity to break the 11-year-old
Category IV Standard Catapult Glider
record.
Ralph and Stan had been making
significant developments in Catapult Gliders,
and the results showed. Ralph held the
record for all of 23 days before Stan broke it
again in November.
Plans are in the works for a multiday
springtime meet at Tustin. If all goes as
intended, it may even be done by the time
this column hits the street. Great job, Ralph.
Keep up the good work!
Glider Rules Ponderings: Several rules
changes are being tossed around in the
120 MODEL AVIATION
BMJR Model Products
• 46" span
• for Speed 400 Electric RC
Send $2.00 for 2010
22 page catalog or go to
www.bmjrmodels.com
1939 PANTTHER
Box 1210 • Sharpes, FL 32959-1210
321-537-1159 • www.BMJRModels.com
$8600
$6.50 postage
Glider circles. Now that the 1:30 mark has
been achieved again and large tip-launched
models are the way of the future, discussion
is brewing about the 100-square-inch limit on
AMA Indoor Gliders.
Nobody I’ve spoken to is sure where that
rule came from; experts say that they couldn’t
even be competitive with a model that large
using the old javelin technique. Removing the
restriction would allow US-rules aircraft to
compete better according to the international
F1N rules.
However, there is concern about the
existing F1N setup. US models fit the less
restrictive F1N requirements, but some
experienced fliers believe that international
rules don’t include lessons learned during the
evolution of the US rules.
We have already faced such things as
microfilm gliders that would have no chance
of staying together during a hard launch but
glide so slowly that they ended up
dominating. It will be interesting to see how
F1N shapes up. Perhaps some of the
knowledgeable people will draft a proposal to
stop any F1N problems before they start.
There is also an effort mounting to
remove the rubber limit on Outdoor Catapult
Gliders. The argument is that the amount of
usable power is self-limiting, and removing
the restriction will allow the use of more
readily available batches of rubber.
Since the rubber isn’t being carried on the
model, weight isn’t a factor; simply use as
much as is required to get the power you
need. This system is being used on Indoor
Catapult Gliders and has proven to work
well.
Rubber Rebound: For the last eight years,
Rubber fliers have hoarded their collections
of FAI Model Supply Tan II. March 2002
was the last great batch of high-energycapacity
rubber, and we’ve been in a drought
ever since.
Super Sport, Tan II’s successor, has
proven to be adequate for nonflyoff Outdoor
rounds and Indoor sport-flying, but it hasn’t
been able to match its predecessor’s
performance—until now!
With the release of the latest Super Sport
batches, it looks as if the famine is over.
Preliminary tests of 9/09 Super Sport show
that it is much tougher than the best Tan II
and, more important, has at least similar
energy capacity.
That’s great for newcomers to the sport,
who have otherwise been reduced to
searching for rubber on rare eBay auctions or
relying on generous friends. It is also good
for competitors who must fly in demanding
high-heat environments (e.g., the World
Champs in Serbia).
John Clapp of FAI Model Supply has
generously donated a bunch of 9/09 to the US
F1D World Championship teams. Keep an
eye out for more results as the team continues
to test these new batches.
According to John, improved production
methods should provide more consistency
between batches, so the rubber you order now
should be at the same peak level. You can
find FAI Model Supply’s ordering
information at the end of this column.
This is my last chance to remind everyone
about the Erv Rodemsky Limited Pennyplane
(LPP) Pro/Am that is being held at this year’s
Indoor Nats. For the cost of a non-AMAevent
entry fee, an “Amateur” will be paired
with an Indoor FF “Pro,” receive an expertly
built competitive LPP model to keep, and get
to compete for bragging rights and cool
prizes.
Our goal is to make the already entrancing
world of Indoor FF as accessible and enticing
as possible. This is the perfect opportunity for
Science Olympiad competitors to continue on
to AMA competition. It’s also great for
anyone who wants to try Indoor or would like
help being successful with a competition
aircraft.
The Pro/Am will be held from noon until
10 p.m. on Saturday May 29. Saturday night
we’ll collect a few bucks from anyone who’s
hungry and order some pizzas. On Sunday
there will be a Sportsman-class LPP event
(no Builder-of-the-Model rule), giving Ams a
second opportunity to fly their new airplanes.
Several people have said that they want to
participate but aren’t sure whether they
should enter as Pros or Ams. It’s a gray area,
but a reasonable division is that you should
enter as a Pro if you’ve ever built a successful
LPP. If you haven’t, be an Am and join the
fun.
Are you a Glider flier? Be an Am. Fly
Scale only? Am. Science Olympiad? Am.
Flying Aces Club? Am. You tried LPP, but it
didn’t work out so well? Am. Your AMA
card is labeled “Steve Brown,” “Jim
Richmond,” or “Brett Sanborn”? Pro.
Contact me at the e-mail address on my
byline to get added to the list. Slots are filling
up. Don’t miss it; this might be a once-in-alifetime
event! MA
04sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 9:25 AM Page 120
Sources:
Stan Buddenbohm’s IHLG record account:
www.hippocketaeronautics.com/hpa_forum
/index.php/topic,3036.new.html
Videos, pictures, and links to information
about Stan’s record:
www.picturejoe.com/tustin
“Holy Grail” plans and information:
US Priority Mail in a tube, $35
First Class envelope, $32
Outside US Airmail envelope, $33
Outside US Priority Mail tube, $50
Stan Buddenbohm
Box 1677
Boulevard CA 91905
Ron Wittman’s biography:
www.modelaircraft.org/files/museum/bio/
Wittman.pdf
Supersweep plans and article:
www.indoorduration.com/ftp/supersweepH
LG.pdf
FAI Model Supply
(570) 882-9873
www.faimodelsupply.com
2010 AMA Indoor FF Nats—home of the
Erv Rodemsky Pro/Am:
www.modelaircraft.org/events/nats.aspx
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/04
Page Numbers: 118,119,120,121
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/04
Page Numbers: 118,119,120,121
118 MODEL AVIATION
Category IV Glider record falls after almost four decades
Free Flight Indoor John Kagan
[[email protected]]
Also included in this column:
• Tustin access on the horizon
• Glider rule ponderings
• New Super Sport rubber
• LPP Pro/Am reminder
Stan Buddenbohm (L) and Ralph Ray
broke records in Indoor Hand Launched
Glider and Indoor Standard Catapult
One of the world’s best Indoor FF flying sites: the hangar in Tustin CA. Hines photo. Glider. Hines photo.
An Indoor flier’s dream: more than 150 feet of clear, open flying space inside the Tustin
hangar. Hines photo.
Stan broke Ralph’s Standard Category
Glider record 23 days later. Hines photo.
“STAN BUDDENBOHMtopples the 36-
year-old Indoor Hand Launched Glider
(IHLG) record in the Tustin, California,
hangar.” Within that headline are three huge
news stories.
First, Stan—a Glider virtuoso—reached
aspects of his program, both major and subtle.
On the major side, he has been one of the
leading pioneers of tip-launch techniques with
FF Gliders. This method has revolutionized
flying with those models.
Glider fliers emphasize that a tip launch is
the long-sought-after Holy Grail of Indoor
Gliders: the 90-second barrier and Category
IV national record. People have chased this
record for decades, to no avail, but Stan’s
achievement was hardly a fluke. He spent
countless hours developing and refining
04sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 8:52 AM Page 118
still a hand launch, but it’s similar to the difference between Tan II and
Pirelli in the rubber-power world. Both are rubber, but once people
figured out Tan II, Pirelli was history. Tip launching now dominates
and javelin-launched Gliders are fading away, along with all of the
career-ending shoulder injuries that the old technique induced.
On the subtle side, Stan has sorted through everything from airfoils
to finger placement to wearing latex gloves for a better grip. He even
used sub-100-square-inch models during the preceding three years at
Outdoor meets, although he could have flown something bigger, to
prepare for the size of aircraft he would need for an Indoor record.
A feat of this magnitude requires dogged perseverance, along with
the more obvious skills and talent. Stan broke the record in October
2009, with a best two-flight total of 194.4 seconds (97.6 and 96.8).
Then he returned on November 22 and upped the record with superb
flights of 103.8 and 101.0.
In Stan’s spare time, he also bumped Ralph Ray’s recent Standard
Catapult record (more about this to follow) with a 113.1 and a 112.2.
Congratulations, Stan! The addresses in the “Sources” list at the end of
this column take you to videos and more information about his
amazing record.
Stan is also offering a set of full-sized, 24 x 36-inch plans for his
appropriately named Holy Grail design, along with three pages of
information detailing all of the discus-launch glider knowledge he
accumulated during his quest. (How often do the top fliers give away
all their secrets?) I highly recommended this for both beginners and
veteran competitors.
The second big story is the record that Stan broke. Ron Wittman’s
36-year-old run is one of the longest on the books—possibly the
longest-held Open record. Set in 1973, also at the Tustin site, Ron’s
epic achievement thwarted all challengers. And unlike a few of the other old
records, people have been trying to break it.
It took a dramatic change in technique to beat Ron. Nobody has been able to
best his mark using the old launch method, and with the new technique’s inherent
benefits, it’s possible that nobody will.
I spoke with Ron recently. He revealed that after he set the record, he shifted his
interests to other types of aeromodeling, such as RC sailplanes. Ron was unaware
that his record had been such a source of inspiration and consternation for so many
years. He found out only when word spread about it finally being topped.
As do so many aeromodelers, Ron has a fascinating list of accomplishments
outside of what we, in the Indoor FF world, know him for best. He has flown
microfilm models, designed the Easy Riser RC sailplane, received early tutelage
from modeling legend Carl Goldberg, and still flies and competes with sailplanes,
3-D electrics, and FF Old-Timer models.
Few people know that approximately a week after setting the IHLG record, Ron
flew several official flights that were even better.
You can learn more in Ron’s biography; the Web address is listed at the end of
this column. Also, keep an eye out for an article that current Glider great Jim
Buxton is preparing on one of his biggest Glider idols.
The third big story in this headline trifecta is Ralph Ray’s tremendous success in
gaining access to the legendary hangar in Tustin. Those hallowed grounds have
April 2010 119
Brandon Kagan f inished seventh in Limited
Pennyplane at last year’s Nats. You can learn to fly
like he does at the Erv Rodemsky Pro/Am. Hood
photo.
Stan beams after bumping up the Indoor Hand Launched Glider
record again. Hines photo.
Top Indoor experts want to give you their airplanes! Text has details. Hood
photo.
04sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 8:52 AM Page 119
been the host to many major Indoor
accomplishments, including both records
I’ve described here and Steve Brown’s
historic 60-minute Rubber flight.
When the Marine base at Tustin was
decommissioned in 1999, our flying
privileges to the hangars were revoked.
Attempts to negotiate access with
reluctant politicians had the predictable
outcome: quick “no” responses, followed
by exorbitant rates and thick red tape
when pressured.
Worse, even though the behemoth
structures are listed in the National Registry
of Historic Places and have been designated
National Historic Civil Engineering
Landmarks, they are expensive to maintain
and are sitting on prime California real
estate. In 2007, the Tustin City Council
rejected a variety of proposals to put the
hangars to use and gave a developer
permission to build homes on the site.
Despite all that, Ralph Ray confided to
me at the US Indoor Championships a
couple years ago that he was going to try to
get us back into Tustin. It would be an uphill
battle, and he didn’t want it publicized at that
time, but his goal was to arrange a contest at
the site.
There was general skepticism that we’d
ever see the inside of the Tustin hangars
again. But if you are aware of the things
Ralph has achieved in his life, you’d know
that the smart money was on him.
After much persistent effort, Ralph
negotiated a few preliminary sessions for a
small group of fliers. Along with Stan’s
achievements there, Ralph was rewarded
with an opportunity to break the 11-year-old
Category IV Standard Catapult Glider
record.
Ralph and Stan had been making
significant developments in Catapult Gliders,
and the results showed. Ralph held the
record for all of 23 days before Stan broke it
again in November.
Plans are in the works for a multiday
springtime meet at Tustin. If all goes as
intended, it may even be done by the time
this column hits the street. Great job, Ralph.
Keep up the good work!
Glider Rules Ponderings: Several rules
changes are being tossed around in the
120 MODEL AVIATION
BMJR Model Products
• 46" span
• for Speed 400 Electric RC
Send $2.00 for 2010
22 page catalog or go to
www.bmjrmodels.com
1939 PANTTHER
Box 1210 • Sharpes, FL 32959-1210
321-537-1159 • www.BMJRModels.com
$8600
$6.50 postage
Glider circles. Now that the 1:30 mark has
been achieved again and large tip-launched
models are the way of the future, discussion
is brewing about the 100-square-inch limit on
AMA Indoor Gliders.
Nobody I’ve spoken to is sure where that
rule came from; experts say that they couldn’t
even be competitive with a model that large
using the old javelin technique. Removing the
restriction would allow US-rules aircraft to
compete better according to the international
F1N rules.
However, there is concern about the
existing F1N setup. US models fit the less
restrictive F1N requirements, but some
experienced fliers believe that international
rules don’t include lessons learned during the
evolution of the US rules.
We have already faced such things as
microfilm gliders that would have no chance
of staying together during a hard launch but
glide so slowly that they ended up
dominating. It will be interesting to see how
F1N shapes up. Perhaps some of the
knowledgeable people will draft a proposal to
stop any F1N problems before they start.
There is also an effort mounting to
remove the rubber limit on Outdoor Catapult
Gliders. The argument is that the amount of
usable power is self-limiting, and removing
the restriction will allow the use of more
readily available batches of rubber.
Since the rubber isn’t being carried on the
model, weight isn’t a factor; simply use as
much as is required to get the power you
need. This system is being used on Indoor
Catapult Gliders and has proven to work
well.
Rubber Rebound: For the last eight years,
Rubber fliers have hoarded their collections
of FAI Model Supply Tan II. March 2002
was the last great batch of high-energycapacity
rubber, and we’ve been in a drought
ever since.
Super Sport, Tan II’s successor, has
proven to be adequate for nonflyoff Outdoor
rounds and Indoor sport-flying, but it hasn’t
been able to match its predecessor’s
performance—until now!
With the release of the latest Super Sport
batches, it looks as if the famine is over.
Preliminary tests of 9/09 Super Sport show
that it is much tougher than the best Tan II
and, more important, has at least similar
energy capacity.
That’s great for newcomers to the sport,
who have otherwise been reduced to
searching for rubber on rare eBay auctions or
relying on generous friends. It is also good
for competitors who must fly in demanding
high-heat environments (e.g., the World
Champs in Serbia).
John Clapp of FAI Model Supply has
generously donated a bunch of 9/09 to the US
F1D World Championship teams. Keep an
eye out for more results as the team continues
to test these new batches.
According to John, improved production
methods should provide more consistency
between batches, so the rubber you order now
should be at the same peak level. You can
find FAI Model Supply’s ordering
information at the end of this column.
This is my last chance to remind everyone
about the Erv Rodemsky Limited Pennyplane
(LPP) Pro/Am that is being held at this year’s
Indoor Nats. For the cost of a non-AMAevent
entry fee, an “Amateur” will be paired
with an Indoor FF “Pro,” receive an expertly
built competitive LPP model to keep, and get
to compete for bragging rights and cool
prizes.
Our goal is to make the already entrancing
world of Indoor FF as accessible and enticing
as possible. This is the perfect opportunity for
Science Olympiad competitors to continue on
to AMA competition. It’s also great for
anyone who wants to try Indoor or would like
help being successful with a competition
aircraft.
The Pro/Am will be held from noon until
10 p.m. on Saturday May 29. Saturday night
we’ll collect a few bucks from anyone who’s
hungry and order some pizzas. On Sunday
there will be a Sportsman-class LPP event
(no Builder-of-the-Model rule), giving Ams a
second opportunity to fly their new airplanes.
Several people have said that they want to
participate but aren’t sure whether they
should enter as Pros or Ams. It’s a gray area,
but a reasonable division is that you should
enter as a Pro if you’ve ever built a successful
LPP. If you haven’t, be an Am and join the
fun.
Are you a Glider flier? Be an Am. Fly
Scale only? Am. Science Olympiad? Am.
Flying Aces Club? Am. You tried LPP, but it
didn’t work out so well? Am. Your AMA
card is labeled “Steve Brown,” “Jim
Richmond,” or “Brett Sanborn”? Pro.
Contact me at the e-mail address on my
byline to get added to the list. Slots are filling
up. Don’t miss it; this might be a once-in-alifetime
event! MA
04sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 9:25 AM Page 120
Sources:
Stan Buddenbohm’s IHLG record account:
www.hippocketaeronautics.com/hpa_forum
/index.php/topic,3036.new.html
Videos, pictures, and links to information
about Stan’s record:
www.picturejoe.com/tustin
“Holy Grail” plans and information:
US Priority Mail in a tube, $35
First Class envelope, $32
Outside US Airmail envelope, $33
Outside US Priority Mail tube, $50
Stan Buddenbohm
Box 1677
Boulevard CA 91905
Ron Wittman’s biography:
www.modelaircraft.org/files/museum/bio/
Wittman.pdf
Supersweep plans and article:
www.indoorduration.com/ftp/supersweepH
LG.pdf
FAI Model Supply
(570) 882-9873
www.faimodelsupply.com
2010 AMA Indoor FF Nats—home of the
Erv Rodemsky Pro/Am:
www.modelaircraft.org/events/nats.aspx
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/04
Page Numbers: 118,119,120,121
118 MODEL AVIATION
Category IV Glider record falls after almost four decades
Free Flight Indoor John Kagan
[[email protected]]
Also included in this column:
• Tustin access on the horizon
• Glider rule ponderings
• New Super Sport rubber
• LPP Pro/Am reminder
Stan Buddenbohm (L) and Ralph Ray
broke records in Indoor Hand Launched
Glider and Indoor Standard Catapult
One of the world’s best Indoor FF flying sites: the hangar in Tustin CA. Hines photo. Glider. Hines photo.
An Indoor flier’s dream: more than 150 feet of clear, open flying space inside the Tustin
hangar. Hines photo.
Stan broke Ralph’s Standard Category
Glider record 23 days later. Hines photo.
“STAN BUDDENBOHMtopples the 36-
year-old Indoor Hand Launched Glider
(IHLG) record in the Tustin, California,
hangar.” Within that headline are three huge
news stories.
First, Stan—a Glider virtuoso—reached
aspects of his program, both major and subtle.
On the major side, he has been one of the
leading pioneers of tip-launch techniques with
FF Gliders. This method has revolutionized
flying with those models.
Glider fliers emphasize that a tip launch is
the long-sought-after Holy Grail of Indoor
Gliders: the 90-second barrier and Category
IV national record. People have chased this
record for decades, to no avail, but Stan’s
achievement was hardly a fluke. He spent
countless hours developing and refining
04sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 8:52 AM Page 118
still a hand launch, but it’s similar to the difference between Tan II and
Pirelli in the rubber-power world. Both are rubber, but once people
figured out Tan II, Pirelli was history. Tip launching now dominates
and javelin-launched Gliders are fading away, along with all of the
career-ending shoulder injuries that the old technique induced.
On the subtle side, Stan has sorted through everything from airfoils
to finger placement to wearing latex gloves for a better grip. He even
used sub-100-square-inch models during the preceding three years at
Outdoor meets, although he could have flown something bigger, to
prepare for the size of aircraft he would need for an Indoor record.
A feat of this magnitude requires dogged perseverance, along with
the more obvious skills and talent. Stan broke the record in October
2009, with a best two-flight total of 194.4 seconds (97.6 and 96.8).
Then he returned on November 22 and upped the record with superb
flights of 103.8 and 101.0.
In Stan’s spare time, he also bumped Ralph Ray’s recent Standard
Catapult record (more about this to follow) with a 113.1 and a 112.2.
Congratulations, Stan! The addresses in the “Sources” list at the end of
this column take you to videos and more information about his
amazing record.
Stan is also offering a set of full-sized, 24 x 36-inch plans for his
appropriately named Holy Grail design, along with three pages of
information detailing all of the discus-launch glider knowledge he
accumulated during his quest. (How often do the top fliers give away
all their secrets?) I highly recommended this for both beginners and
veteran competitors.
The second big story is the record that Stan broke. Ron Wittman’s
36-year-old run is one of the longest on the books—possibly the
longest-held Open record. Set in 1973, also at the Tustin site, Ron’s
epic achievement thwarted all challengers. And unlike a few of the other old
records, people have been trying to break it.
It took a dramatic change in technique to beat Ron. Nobody has been able to
best his mark using the old launch method, and with the new technique’s inherent
benefits, it’s possible that nobody will.
I spoke with Ron recently. He revealed that after he set the record, he shifted his
interests to other types of aeromodeling, such as RC sailplanes. Ron was unaware
that his record had been such a source of inspiration and consternation for so many
years. He found out only when word spread about it finally being topped.
As do so many aeromodelers, Ron has a fascinating list of accomplishments
outside of what we, in the Indoor FF world, know him for best. He has flown
microfilm models, designed the Easy Riser RC sailplane, received early tutelage
from modeling legend Carl Goldberg, and still flies and competes with sailplanes,
3-D electrics, and FF Old-Timer models.
Few people know that approximately a week after setting the IHLG record, Ron
flew several official flights that were even better.
You can learn more in Ron’s biography; the Web address is listed at the end of
this column. Also, keep an eye out for an article that current Glider great Jim
Buxton is preparing on one of his biggest Glider idols.
The third big story in this headline trifecta is Ralph Ray’s tremendous success in
gaining access to the legendary hangar in Tustin. Those hallowed grounds have
April 2010 119
Brandon Kagan f inished seventh in Limited
Pennyplane at last year’s Nats. You can learn to fly
like he does at the Erv Rodemsky Pro/Am. Hood
photo.
Stan beams after bumping up the Indoor Hand Launched Glider
record again. Hines photo.
Top Indoor experts want to give you their airplanes! Text has details. Hood
photo.
04sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 8:52 AM Page 119
been the host to many major Indoor
accomplishments, including both records
I’ve described here and Steve Brown’s
historic 60-minute Rubber flight.
When the Marine base at Tustin was
decommissioned in 1999, our flying
privileges to the hangars were revoked.
Attempts to negotiate access with
reluctant politicians had the predictable
outcome: quick “no” responses, followed
by exorbitant rates and thick red tape
when pressured.
Worse, even though the behemoth
structures are listed in the National Registry
of Historic Places and have been designated
National Historic Civil Engineering
Landmarks, they are expensive to maintain
and are sitting on prime California real
estate. In 2007, the Tustin City Council
rejected a variety of proposals to put the
hangars to use and gave a developer
permission to build homes on the site.
Despite all that, Ralph Ray confided to
me at the US Indoor Championships a
couple years ago that he was going to try to
get us back into Tustin. It would be an uphill
battle, and he didn’t want it publicized at that
time, but his goal was to arrange a contest at
the site.
There was general skepticism that we’d
ever see the inside of the Tustin hangars
again. But if you are aware of the things
Ralph has achieved in his life, you’d know
that the smart money was on him.
After much persistent effort, Ralph
negotiated a few preliminary sessions for a
small group of fliers. Along with Stan’s
achievements there, Ralph was rewarded
with an opportunity to break the 11-year-old
Category IV Standard Catapult Glider
record.
Ralph and Stan had been making
significant developments in Catapult Gliders,
and the results showed. Ralph held the
record for all of 23 days before Stan broke it
again in November.
Plans are in the works for a multiday
springtime meet at Tustin. If all goes as
intended, it may even be done by the time
this column hits the street. Great job, Ralph.
Keep up the good work!
Glider Rules Ponderings: Several rules
changes are being tossed around in the
120 MODEL AVIATION
BMJR Model Products
• 46" span
• for Speed 400 Electric RC
Send $2.00 for 2010
22 page catalog or go to
www.bmjrmodels.com
1939 PANTTHER
Box 1210 • Sharpes, FL 32959-1210
321-537-1159 • www.BMJRModels.com
$8600
$6.50 postage
Glider circles. Now that the 1:30 mark has
been achieved again and large tip-launched
models are the way of the future, discussion
is brewing about the 100-square-inch limit on
AMA Indoor Gliders.
Nobody I’ve spoken to is sure where that
rule came from; experts say that they couldn’t
even be competitive with a model that large
using the old javelin technique. Removing the
restriction would allow US-rules aircraft to
compete better according to the international
F1N rules.
However, there is concern about the
existing F1N setup. US models fit the less
restrictive F1N requirements, but some
experienced fliers believe that international
rules don’t include lessons learned during the
evolution of the US rules.
We have already faced such things as
microfilm gliders that would have no chance
of staying together during a hard launch but
glide so slowly that they ended up
dominating. It will be interesting to see how
F1N shapes up. Perhaps some of the
knowledgeable people will draft a proposal to
stop any F1N problems before they start.
There is also an effort mounting to
remove the rubber limit on Outdoor Catapult
Gliders. The argument is that the amount of
usable power is self-limiting, and removing
the restriction will allow the use of more
readily available batches of rubber.
Since the rubber isn’t being carried on the
model, weight isn’t a factor; simply use as
much as is required to get the power you
need. This system is being used on Indoor
Catapult Gliders and has proven to work
well.
Rubber Rebound: For the last eight years,
Rubber fliers have hoarded their collections
of FAI Model Supply Tan II. March 2002
was the last great batch of high-energycapacity
rubber, and we’ve been in a drought
ever since.
Super Sport, Tan II’s successor, has
proven to be adequate for nonflyoff Outdoor
rounds and Indoor sport-flying, but it hasn’t
been able to match its predecessor’s
performance—until now!
With the release of the latest Super Sport
batches, it looks as if the famine is over.
Preliminary tests of 9/09 Super Sport show
that it is much tougher than the best Tan II
and, more important, has at least similar
energy capacity.
That’s great for newcomers to the sport,
who have otherwise been reduced to
searching for rubber on rare eBay auctions or
relying on generous friends. It is also good
for competitors who must fly in demanding
high-heat environments (e.g., the World
Champs in Serbia).
John Clapp of FAI Model Supply has
generously donated a bunch of 9/09 to the US
F1D World Championship teams. Keep an
eye out for more results as the team continues
to test these new batches.
According to John, improved production
methods should provide more consistency
between batches, so the rubber you order now
should be at the same peak level. You can
find FAI Model Supply’s ordering
information at the end of this column.
This is my last chance to remind everyone
about the Erv Rodemsky Limited Pennyplane
(LPP) Pro/Am that is being held at this year’s
Indoor Nats. For the cost of a non-AMAevent
entry fee, an “Amateur” will be paired
with an Indoor FF “Pro,” receive an expertly
built competitive LPP model to keep, and get
to compete for bragging rights and cool
prizes.
Our goal is to make the already entrancing
world of Indoor FF as accessible and enticing
as possible. This is the perfect opportunity for
Science Olympiad competitors to continue on
to AMA competition. It’s also great for
anyone who wants to try Indoor or would like
help being successful with a competition
aircraft.
The Pro/Am will be held from noon until
10 p.m. on Saturday May 29. Saturday night
we’ll collect a few bucks from anyone who’s
hungry and order some pizzas. On Sunday
there will be a Sportsman-class LPP event
(no Builder-of-the-Model rule), giving Ams a
second opportunity to fly their new airplanes.
Several people have said that they want to
participate but aren’t sure whether they
should enter as Pros or Ams. It’s a gray area,
but a reasonable division is that you should
enter as a Pro if you’ve ever built a successful
LPP. If you haven’t, be an Am and join the
fun.
Are you a Glider flier? Be an Am. Fly
Scale only? Am. Science Olympiad? Am.
Flying Aces Club? Am. You tried LPP, but it
didn’t work out so well? Am. Your AMA
card is labeled “Steve Brown,” “Jim
Richmond,” or “Brett Sanborn”? Pro.
Contact me at the e-mail address on my
byline to get added to the list. Slots are filling
up. Don’t miss it; this might be a once-in-alifetime
event! MA
04sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 9:25 AM Page 120
Sources:
Stan Buddenbohm’s IHLG record account:
www.hippocketaeronautics.com/hpa_forum
/index.php/topic,3036.new.html
Videos, pictures, and links to information
about Stan’s record:
www.picturejoe.com/tustin
“Holy Grail” plans and information:
US Priority Mail in a tube, $35
First Class envelope, $32
Outside US Airmail envelope, $33
Outside US Priority Mail tube, $50
Stan Buddenbohm
Box 1677
Boulevard CA 91905
Ron Wittman’s biography:
www.modelaircraft.org/files/museum/bio/
Wittman.pdf
Supersweep plans and article:
www.indoorduration.com/ftp/supersweepH
LG.pdf
FAI Model Supply
(570) 882-9873
www.faimodelsupply.com
2010 AMA Indoor FF Nats—home of the
Erv Rodemsky Pro/Am:
www.modelaircraft.org/events/nats.aspx
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/04
Page Numbers: 118,119,120,121
118 MODEL AVIATION
Category IV Glider record falls after almost four decades
Free Flight Indoor John Kagan
[[email protected]]
Also included in this column:
• Tustin access on the horizon
• Glider rule ponderings
• New Super Sport rubber
• LPP Pro/Am reminder
Stan Buddenbohm (L) and Ralph Ray
broke records in Indoor Hand Launched
Glider and Indoor Standard Catapult
One of the world’s best Indoor FF flying sites: the hangar in Tustin CA. Hines photo. Glider. Hines photo.
An Indoor flier’s dream: more than 150 feet of clear, open flying space inside the Tustin
hangar. Hines photo.
Stan broke Ralph’s Standard Category
Glider record 23 days later. Hines photo.
“STAN BUDDENBOHMtopples the 36-
year-old Indoor Hand Launched Glider
(IHLG) record in the Tustin, California,
hangar.” Within that headline are three huge
news stories.
First, Stan—a Glider virtuoso—reached
aspects of his program, both major and subtle.
On the major side, he has been one of the
leading pioneers of tip-launch techniques with
FF Gliders. This method has revolutionized
flying with those models.
Glider fliers emphasize that a tip launch is
the long-sought-after Holy Grail of Indoor
Gliders: the 90-second barrier and Category
IV national record. People have chased this
record for decades, to no avail, but Stan’s
achievement was hardly a fluke. He spent
countless hours developing and refining
04sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 8:52 AM Page 118
still a hand launch, but it’s similar to the difference between Tan II and
Pirelli in the rubber-power world. Both are rubber, but once people
figured out Tan II, Pirelli was history. Tip launching now dominates
and javelin-launched Gliders are fading away, along with all of the
career-ending shoulder injuries that the old technique induced.
On the subtle side, Stan has sorted through everything from airfoils
to finger placement to wearing latex gloves for a better grip. He even
used sub-100-square-inch models during the preceding three years at
Outdoor meets, although he could have flown something bigger, to
prepare for the size of aircraft he would need for an Indoor record.
A feat of this magnitude requires dogged perseverance, along with
the more obvious skills and talent. Stan broke the record in October
2009, with a best two-flight total of 194.4 seconds (97.6 and 96.8).
Then he returned on November 22 and upped the record with superb
flights of 103.8 and 101.0.
In Stan’s spare time, he also bumped Ralph Ray’s recent Standard
Catapult record (more about this to follow) with a 113.1 and a 112.2.
Congratulations, Stan! The addresses in the “Sources” list at the end of
this column take you to videos and more information about his
amazing record.
Stan is also offering a set of full-sized, 24 x 36-inch plans for his
appropriately named Holy Grail design, along with three pages of
information detailing all of the discus-launch glider knowledge he
accumulated during his quest. (How often do the top fliers give away
all their secrets?) I highly recommended this for both beginners and
veteran competitors.
The second big story is the record that Stan broke. Ron Wittman’s
36-year-old run is one of the longest on the books—possibly the
longest-held Open record. Set in 1973, also at the Tustin site, Ron’s
epic achievement thwarted all challengers. And unlike a few of the other old
records, people have been trying to break it.
It took a dramatic change in technique to beat Ron. Nobody has been able to
best his mark using the old launch method, and with the new technique’s inherent
benefits, it’s possible that nobody will.
I spoke with Ron recently. He revealed that after he set the record, he shifted his
interests to other types of aeromodeling, such as RC sailplanes. Ron was unaware
that his record had been such a source of inspiration and consternation for so many
years. He found out only when word spread about it finally being topped.
As do so many aeromodelers, Ron has a fascinating list of accomplishments
outside of what we, in the Indoor FF world, know him for best. He has flown
microfilm models, designed the Easy Riser RC sailplane, received early tutelage
from modeling legend Carl Goldberg, and still flies and competes with sailplanes,
3-D electrics, and FF Old-Timer models.
Few people know that approximately a week after setting the IHLG record, Ron
flew several official flights that were even better.
You can learn more in Ron’s biography; the Web address is listed at the end of
this column. Also, keep an eye out for an article that current Glider great Jim
Buxton is preparing on one of his biggest Glider idols.
The third big story in this headline trifecta is Ralph Ray’s tremendous success in
gaining access to the legendary hangar in Tustin. Those hallowed grounds have
April 2010 119
Brandon Kagan f inished seventh in Limited
Pennyplane at last year’s Nats. You can learn to fly
like he does at the Erv Rodemsky Pro/Am. Hood
photo.
Stan beams after bumping up the Indoor Hand Launched Glider
record again. Hines photo.
Top Indoor experts want to give you their airplanes! Text has details. Hood
photo.
04sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 8:52 AM Page 119
been the host to many major Indoor
accomplishments, including both records
I’ve described here and Steve Brown’s
historic 60-minute Rubber flight.
When the Marine base at Tustin was
decommissioned in 1999, our flying
privileges to the hangars were revoked.
Attempts to negotiate access with
reluctant politicians had the predictable
outcome: quick “no” responses, followed
by exorbitant rates and thick red tape
when pressured.
Worse, even though the behemoth
structures are listed in the National Registry
of Historic Places and have been designated
National Historic Civil Engineering
Landmarks, they are expensive to maintain
and are sitting on prime California real
estate. In 2007, the Tustin City Council
rejected a variety of proposals to put the
hangars to use and gave a developer
permission to build homes on the site.
Despite all that, Ralph Ray confided to
me at the US Indoor Championships a
couple years ago that he was going to try to
get us back into Tustin. It would be an uphill
battle, and he didn’t want it publicized at that
time, but his goal was to arrange a contest at
the site.
There was general skepticism that we’d
ever see the inside of the Tustin hangars
again. But if you are aware of the things
Ralph has achieved in his life, you’d know
that the smart money was on him.
After much persistent effort, Ralph
negotiated a few preliminary sessions for a
small group of fliers. Along with Stan’s
achievements there, Ralph was rewarded
with an opportunity to break the 11-year-old
Category IV Standard Catapult Glider
record.
Ralph and Stan had been making
significant developments in Catapult Gliders,
and the results showed. Ralph held the
record for all of 23 days before Stan broke it
again in November.
Plans are in the works for a multiday
springtime meet at Tustin. If all goes as
intended, it may even be done by the time
this column hits the street. Great job, Ralph.
Keep up the good work!
Glider Rules Ponderings: Several rules
changes are being tossed around in the
120 MODEL AVIATION
BMJR Model Products
• 46" span
• for Speed 400 Electric RC
Send $2.00 for 2010
22 page catalog or go to
www.bmjrmodels.com
1939 PANTTHER
Box 1210 • Sharpes, FL 32959-1210
321-537-1159 • www.BMJRModels.com
$8600
$6.50 postage
Glider circles. Now that the 1:30 mark has
been achieved again and large tip-launched
models are the way of the future, discussion
is brewing about the 100-square-inch limit on
AMA Indoor Gliders.
Nobody I’ve spoken to is sure where that
rule came from; experts say that they couldn’t
even be competitive with a model that large
using the old javelin technique. Removing the
restriction would allow US-rules aircraft to
compete better according to the international
F1N rules.
However, there is concern about the
existing F1N setup. US models fit the less
restrictive F1N requirements, but some
experienced fliers believe that international
rules don’t include lessons learned during the
evolution of the US rules.
We have already faced such things as
microfilm gliders that would have no chance
of staying together during a hard launch but
glide so slowly that they ended up
dominating. It will be interesting to see how
F1N shapes up. Perhaps some of the
knowledgeable people will draft a proposal to
stop any F1N problems before they start.
There is also an effort mounting to
remove the rubber limit on Outdoor Catapult
Gliders. The argument is that the amount of
usable power is self-limiting, and removing
the restriction will allow the use of more
readily available batches of rubber.
Since the rubber isn’t being carried on the
model, weight isn’t a factor; simply use as
much as is required to get the power you
need. This system is being used on Indoor
Catapult Gliders and has proven to work
well.
Rubber Rebound: For the last eight years,
Rubber fliers have hoarded their collections
of FAI Model Supply Tan II. March 2002
was the last great batch of high-energycapacity
rubber, and we’ve been in a drought
ever since.
Super Sport, Tan II’s successor, has
proven to be adequate for nonflyoff Outdoor
rounds and Indoor sport-flying, but it hasn’t
been able to match its predecessor’s
performance—until now!
With the release of the latest Super Sport
batches, it looks as if the famine is over.
Preliminary tests of 9/09 Super Sport show
that it is much tougher than the best Tan II
and, more important, has at least similar
energy capacity.
That’s great for newcomers to the sport,
who have otherwise been reduced to
searching for rubber on rare eBay auctions or
relying on generous friends. It is also good
for competitors who must fly in demanding
high-heat environments (e.g., the World
Champs in Serbia).
John Clapp of FAI Model Supply has
generously donated a bunch of 9/09 to the US
F1D World Championship teams. Keep an
eye out for more results as the team continues
to test these new batches.
According to John, improved production
methods should provide more consistency
between batches, so the rubber you order now
should be at the same peak level. You can
find FAI Model Supply’s ordering
information at the end of this column.
This is my last chance to remind everyone
about the Erv Rodemsky Limited Pennyplane
(LPP) Pro/Am that is being held at this year’s
Indoor Nats. For the cost of a non-AMAevent
entry fee, an “Amateur” will be paired
with an Indoor FF “Pro,” receive an expertly
built competitive LPP model to keep, and get
to compete for bragging rights and cool
prizes.
Our goal is to make the already entrancing
world of Indoor FF as accessible and enticing
as possible. This is the perfect opportunity for
Science Olympiad competitors to continue on
to AMA competition. It’s also great for
anyone who wants to try Indoor or would like
help being successful with a competition
aircraft.
The Pro/Am will be held from noon until
10 p.m. on Saturday May 29. Saturday night
we’ll collect a few bucks from anyone who’s
hungry and order some pizzas. On Sunday
there will be a Sportsman-class LPP event
(no Builder-of-the-Model rule), giving Ams a
second opportunity to fly their new airplanes.
Several people have said that they want to
participate but aren’t sure whether they
should enter as Pros or Ams. It’s a gray area,
but a reasonable division is that you should
enter as a Pro if you’ve ever built a successful
LPP. If you haven’t, be an Am and join the
fun.
Are you a Glider flier? Be an Am. Fly
Scale only? Am. Science Olympiad? Am.
Flying Aces Club? Am. You tried LPP, but it
didn’t work out so well? Am. Your AMA
card is labeled “Steve Brown,” “Jim
Richmond,” or “Brett Sanborn”? Pro.
Contact me at the e-mail address on my
byline to get added to the list. Slots are filling
up. Don’t miss it; this might be a once-in-alifetime
event! MA
04sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 9:25 AM Page 120
Sources:
Stan Buddenbohm’s IHLG record account:
www.hippocketaeronautics.com/hpa_forum
/index.php/topic,3036.new.html
Videos, pictures, and links to information
about Stan’s record:
www.picturejoe.com/tustin
“Holy Grail” plans and information:
US Priority Mail in a tube, $35
First Class envelope, $32
Outside US Airmail envelope, $33
Outside US Priority Mail tube, $50
Stan Buddenbohm
Box 1677
Boulevard CA 91905
Ron Wittman’s biography:
www.modelaircraft.org/files/museum/bio/
Wittman.pdf
Supersweep plans and article:
www.indoorduration.com/ftp/supersweepH
LG.pdf
FAI Model Supply
(570) 882-9873
www.faimodelsupply.com
2010 AMA Indoor FF Nats—home of the
Erv Rodemsky Pro/Am:
www.modelaircraft.org/events/nats.aspx
