The Inside Loop
AMA Expo
More than one person made a point to share their thoughts about what it was like to attend the 2010 AMA Expo. In general, the phrase used was “best show ever.” This is, of course, important news to us — but why? Check out the report from Chris Brooks, AMA’s intrepid public relations manager, on page 18.
Chris is clearly a people person and excellent at capturing, in photographs, candid proof of why the show was significant this year. He shared the experience much like the public did and palled up with speakers who used their own time to explain how aeromodeling influenced their lives and helped them become important contributors to the aerospace industry.
People make the difference
Isn't that what we all dream about when flying our models? We imagine ourselves in the cockpit of our airplane or helicopter as it streaks, flips, and/or rolls through the air — and we breathe a heart-pounding sigh of pride when the gear touches the ground again with grace and its manifest of parts still intact.
What affected me most about Chris’s story was how the special guests mingled and took time to help the droves of kids in the make-and-take areas and stay on the show-floor corner chats. We naturally see these people as celebrities, but they see us aeromodelers as people who are just like them. In fact, all of the speakers still participate in the hobby/sport of modeling in some form. In some ways, they learn from us as well.
In short, the AMA Expo experience showed how it's the people who make the difference. When we all work and play together to appreciate the thrill of flight, wonderful things happen. AMA and its members proved that from any angle: levels of enjoyment and success are unlimited.
Small is big: ultramicro projects
When technology takes a leap, a flying object is involved — be it a craft with wings, rotors, or rockets. And as big as the hobby is getting, some of our members still think small: how small RC model aircraft can be built and still perform as if the builders had dropped a ton of money into them.
This month we present three RC projects, none of which will require a credit check; many of you may already have the equipment on hand. Three experts looked at the ultramicro interest from different angles. We arranged the projects in the magazine in order of complexity so you can decide which is right for you and consider how you can take what has been learned and apply it to your own design idea.
Stringless Wonder Revisited (Joe Hass)
First up is Joe Hass's tribute to the Peck-Polymers favorite that proved kites didn't have to be on a string to fly well. Stringless Wonder Revisited keeps the same plan shape, but balsa and tissue are traded for Depron foam. The same-weight rubber motor was replaced with a ParkZone Ember power system. Now the modeler gets to steer around pylons and dive under light fixtures. Joe went even further and built a giant-scale RC version that, with the same effort, offers better performance and outdoor thrills.
Scratch Foamy (Bob Aberle)
MA's technical editor, Bob Aberle, has been just as jazzed about the ParkZone RC module system. His "Scratch" aircraft series now has one more successful entry with a version that pays tribute to its build material, Depron foam. The Scratch Foamy appears traditional and is great for indoor pilots who need training flying in tight spaces. Construction blends new and classic techniques, and Bob brings the advantages of brushless performance to the "brick" radio system.
Ultra-Micro Diabolo (John Glezellis)
Our offering of indoor airplane construction projects concludes with an ultimate aerobat: the Ultra-Micro Diabolo from John Glezellis. As MA's RC Scale Aerobatics columnist, John uses his piloting time to maintain and improve his skills as a world-class aerobatics competitor. Because time is always a factor, John made the model as simple as possible: there are just four foam pieces to cut and minimal carbon-fiber support to fit. The result is a four-channel, full aerobatic model that can be flown in a very small room.
John experimented with various power systems and — like Joe and Bob — found the ParkZone module system to be an excellent option. He takes advantage of the latest offering: the Ultra-Micro 4-Site power system.
It's good to see that even though ready-to-fly aircraft are an option, our members are still scrounging and playing to satisfy the urge to soar.
MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
