The Inside Loop
My mother always told me, "Don't run with scissors; don't sniff glue, or fly model airplanes out of sight."
I love my mom; the scissors she gave me were small enough to fit in my pocket, my modeling glue was child-safe, and the plastic model airplanes never left my hand—unless it was to light the firecracker and blow them up in a static re-enactment of a war story.
For the first time ever at a major event, Giant Scale models were flown in total darkness as a major competition, not to mention as thrilling entertainment. The 2008 Extreme Flight Championships night-fly was basically a freestyle event, but with magical LED, neon, and phosphorescent luminescence.
Mom, if you were there, you would have watched it through the fingers of the hand covering your eyes. It was that good, and there were firecrackers—big ones.
The purest of presentations was by Yuri Higuchi, who displayed not just an aircraft lighting system, but also the divine illumination that characterized energy systems best described in science-fiction novels. My fellow Star Trek fans right now are thinking, "Supernova." Although the tragic death of a solar system is far from what Yuri's flight demonstration portrayed, what did occur was an exhibition of the only way flying at night should be done—at least it seems to be the safest way.
There are lots of ways to identify airplanes for safe flying at night—and by safe I mean on an individual basis depending on each pilot's qualifications and knowledge of the environment. (I don't recommend firecrackers.)
The AMA's safety guidelines for night-flying are brief, and they only pertain to the speed at which the model should not exceed: 100 mph. In every conceivable altitude Yuri flew the airplane, it was immediately identifiable and made it appear that night-flying was no different from flying by day.
John Sabini's presentation for you in the magazine is honestly no less brilliant, but, in his own words, the idea was inspired by Yuri's talents as a modeler and a pilot. I'm proud to have known Yuri since his early days of showing off at the Laser Invitational at Sussex County Airport in New Jersey. Since then, his talents as a performer and RC pilot have grown steadfast. As for his modeling ability and craftsmanship, I gasp at every model Yuri brings to display. He is so attentive to detail that he sands the inside edges of formers down with 400-grit paper, because even after a crash he wants the wreckage to make an impression on the audience.
John and Yuri have built a lifelong friendship, and with this project I hope they will continue to offer advancements to the modeling community.
I haven't had the opportunity to write much about Control Line (CL) on my page. But, like so many of you, I honor the special interest and look to it for the roots of my fond modeling memories and the future of talent to come. The Control Line World Championships report is a recollection of what a proud group of patriotic Americans did for our country and our hobby/sport.
As if you were to watch a NASCAR race unfold or a golf tournament play out, I urge you to absorb the writings of Charlie Johnson, Rich Lopez, and Howard Rush, who bring us their experiences in Speed, Aerobatics, Team Race, and Combat. They captured the drama and inside details that will help our successful teams learn and perform even better next time.
Is the national economy getting you down? "Downsizing" is the buzzword in my house, and it's hard to think positively when doing less of something that you enjoy weighs in the balance. Doing things more efficiently and multitasking is a constructive solution. On the way to the shop to add that second coat of dope, I'll throw in a load of laundry, and on the way back, make sure the epoxy on that stabilizer is curing and the setup is straight.
Take a look at Al Clark's Two Small project. Not only does his well-engineered model employ a minimalist and potent electric power package, but the materials cost is likely less than a couple of Jacksons ($40).
And you won't need to tank up your thirsty SUV to enjoy the Two Small. In a compact box, the model and equipment will fit and securely strap to the seat of a petrol-sipping motorcycle or scooter. This way, a modeler can enjoy the countryside, get in a quick flight, and pick up a gallon of milk. I don't recommend the firecrackers.
MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
