Frank Noll Jr. pilots an A320
Shorts Skyvan low for a strafing
run across Spektrum Lake. AXI
2204/54 motors vector thrust
for rudder control.
THE CLOSE OF the fall outdoor flying season is marked by leaves
falling from the trees, the cold air blowing, and field conditions that
are generally muddy and uncomfortable. This used to be the sunset
on many modelers’ piloting-skill advancement until better outdoor
conditions beckoned for their return.
When the warm weather came back, rusty fingers would have to
grapple the transmitter sticks and refresh the relationship between
the master and his or her flying model. After a few visits to the field
the pilot would be back into the routine and hopefully pick up flight
training where he or she had left off.
This interruption of flying was tolerated since the free time
was typically spent working in the shop building next year’s
beauties. When computer flight simulators came along,
they satisfied, to some extent, an itch to break the
bonds of the unwavering ground—but it was only
virtual and it wasn’t the same.
Continuing advances in electricpowered
model aircraft promise growth
of the hobby. They make it easier
and more affordable than ever
to take advantage of clean
Terry Nitsch and his brother Rick work together
designing models for TeeRiffic Jets. This threechannel
micro MiG-29 spans only 11.5 inches.
and quiet flight whether a modeler is a
beginner or an expert.
Because electric models are small and
light, they impose fewer safety hazards.
Flying these aircraft indoors in close
proximity has gained enough popularity that
the number of events in which to do so has
Left: Ken Spencer won the Best Scale static award with his
Demoiselle. It uses BSD Micro equipment.
Nick Maxwell pilots Bob Brown’s T-Rex 450SE to check out control trim and gyro sensitivity. Is a 2-inch inverted hover above the
ground a required test?
20p9 two-line
cutline goes here
E-flite’s new Mini
FuntanaX isn’t exactly an
indoor model, but in
talented pilot David
Pane’s hands the Four
Seasons Golf Dome has
plenty of room.
increased steadily in the last five years.
For the last four years the JR Indoor
Electric Festival has kicked off the indoor
flying season. It is usually held the first
week of November; in 2006 it was Saturday
the 4th and Sunday the 5th. The event is
hosted by the Columbus Indoor Flight
Association (CIFA) and directed under the
confidence of master modeler Terry Nitsch.
For a number of years the CIFA has been
flying at the Four Seasons Golf Dome in
Columbus, Ohio, usually on Saturday
mornings throughout the winter months.
Top 10 Reasons
to Fly Indoors
10. It never rains.
9. There’s always someplace to
land.
8. Electric power is used, so there’s
no cleanup.
7. There are no trees to crash into.
6 Flying out of site isn’t an
option.
5. You can fly all year.
4. The runway is smooth.
3. Landings are into the wind.
2. The sun is always out, even at
night.
1. It’s a thrill for everyone! MA
—Michael Ramsey
Ed Andrews’ original-design Hiper-Tripe made from 2mm Depron and carbon fiber. The
6-ounce model has a four-point pivot for rudder and elevator control.
Spektrum Lake creator Bernie Oldenburgh modified his GWS Pico Tiger Moth with
built-up wings and floats made from balsa with Solite covering.
The proud winner of Saturday’s Full
Contact Combat event with his E-flite
Tribute, which survived the battle with
only minor damage.
These warbird pilots were part of a racing event featuring 18-gram Peanut-size
models. They used Plantraco’s 900 MHz radio systems.
A.C. Glenn takes delivery of a Thunderbird
foamie designed by Jeremy Chinn and
produced by Mike Glass. A.C. installed the
accessories and flew all weekend.
Photos by author
These flying engagements are normally
exclusive to members, but any AMA member
is welcome to participate in the JR Indoor
Electric Festival.
To fly through Saturday and Sunday a pilot
must register and pay a fee of $30. For that
modest amount he or she receives 19 hours of
flying time, the convenience of buying almost
any spare part from the nearly 20 vendors, and
access to the infinite knowledge of the more
than 150 pilots who attend.
In addition, as a gift from Horizon Hobby
this year every pilot received a pair of Spektrum
Rob Romash, a designer for Estes-Cox, has a remarkable talent for building the most
exquisite FF Scale models. This ASV sailplane spans roughly 10 inches.
Marc Stermer built this 35-inch Grumman Skyrocket
from blue foam sheet. It features GWS retractable
landing gear and is available from Rabid Models.
Josh Mathews is happy after a fun flight with
his Hobby Lobby Shinden J7W1 EPP warbird.
It spans 31.5 inches and weighs 10 ounces.
Jason Noll’s Vrolet from Fancy Foam Models is a freestyle or
precision aerobatics indoor model. The precision version (shown)
has drag features to slow its airspeed.
The largest indoor model flown at the event was Marc Stermer’s 69-inch, 1.5-pound PBY. It uses two GWS twin IPS gear drives.
The Cox Micro Warbird Race was a big hit. First- through fifth-place finishers were (L-R)
Nick Maxwell, Marc Stermer, Gary Villard, Keven Burner, and Steve Lawrie.
S75 microservos (a $30 value) and the chance
to win one of the many products that were
given away all weekend as door prizes. This
event is a win-win and perhaps a win-again
opportunity.
Flying an RC model aircraft indoors is a
challenge but is not outside the average model
pilot’s grasp. The golf dome’s inflated
structure (which is basically a balloon staked
to the ground) is unique in that the
atmosphere inside is at a slightly different
pressure. You’ll feel your ears pop while
passing through the revolving door.
The temperature inside is kept
comfortable (at 58°-60°). Although the
“ground” is technically on six sides of the
airspace, the semisoft walls are netted and
fairly harmless to any models that make
contact.
The floor is extremely active, with plenty
of flying and vendors and exhibitors
organized in a double row that stretches
across the entrance wall. The pit area is
underneath and in front of the second-floor
driving area.
The second floor accommodates a few
vendors but is mostly kept open for spectators
who want to relax and enjoy the air show. The
view of the 87,000-square-foot area is great
from up there.
The flying area is partitioned into three
zones. There was 3-D flying and helicopters
against the south wall, the “racetrack” area for
open or feature flying in the center, and the
micro-flying area for models weighing less
than 2-3 ounces and flying slower than 10
mph on the north wall.
Sponsors
Fly RC
Spektrum
Quiet Flyer magazine
ParkZone
HobbyZone
Great Planes Manufacturing
ElectriFly
Futaba
E-flite
ZAP
Cox Hobbies
Castle Creations
Radical RC
Litefly RC
E Cubed R/C
BSD Micro RC
Hobby Lobby International
Academy of Model Aeronautics
30 MODEL AVIATION
Winners
Trophy Sponsor Airplane Pilot
Best Original Design ZAP Hiper-Tripe Ed Andrews
Best Multi-Engine ZAP Shorts Skyvan Frank Noll Jr.
Best Micro RC Aircraft ZAP Paul’s Bipe Don Post
Best Scale ZAP Demoiselle Ken Spencer
Best Sport Performance ZAP Align T-Rex 600 Nick Maxwell
Best Jet ZAP MiG-29 Micro Rick Nitsch
Pilot’s Choice Radical RC Fokker E.III Kenneth Carchietta
Best New Product Fly RC and festival Spektrum DX7
Depending on the amount of participation,
time slots are reserved for specific aircraft
types to fly within the racetrack. Most of the
time it was difficult to tell when these time
slots were in effect; most pilots flew whatever
they wanted and when they wanted (which is
how fun-fly events usually are).
I found the jets’ popularity remarkable.
Not too long ago “slow” was the way to go
indoors; recently it seems as though almost
any type of flying is possible. With the
intense popularity of the flat foamie, sleek
and streamlined jets are gaining momentum.
The flat foamie still reigns supreme as the
model of choice for most indoor activity.
There were more of those flying at the event
than anything else. For versatility and
capability I’ve learned that the 3-D foam
aircraft can’t be beaten. They’re easy to fix,
inexpensive to set up, and an excellent
training tool for any RC pilot.
The “flat foam” style of modeling isn’t
limited to aerobatics. With a little imagination
modelers have been exploring scale subjects
that are remarkably attractive and fly with
relative ease in profile.
Many of the jets at the event were built
with flat-foam construction, and there was a
variety of warbirds and civilian aircraft. In
fact, three of the seven event awards went to
models constructed from foam.
One of the most original features added to
the landing zone was Spektrum Lake. Bernie
Oldenburgh engineered the 15 x 50-foot pond
from 2-inch PVC pipe and thick plastic drop
cloths.
Bernie was often seen enjoying his
creation while flying his modified GWS Pico
Tiger Moth. The yellow biplane was unique
because he made its built-up balsa wings and
custom stick-built balsa floats that were
covered in Solite film.
I liked Bernie’s model because it took
advantage of foam simplicity and balsaengineering
opportunities. His Tiger Moth
was actually lighter than the stock GWS
model on floats, so it flew at scale speeds and
it was a pleasure to watch do touch-and-gos.
I’m a sucker for floatplanes!
Another feature added to this year’s
festival was the Cox Micro Warbird Air
Races. Having participated in the first of this
type of event at the 2006 Nats, I was anxious
to see how the competition was evolving.
The popularity of these little 20-inch
airplanes is remarkable. They can be
purchased as kits for approximately $30 or as
complete RTFs for roughly $90. If you think
about it, getting involved with indoor electric
flight for less than $100 is astounding.
These heavy metal models need to be
lightened to be decent racers, but the rules
were specifically written so that the only
allowable change to the stock model is the
battery pack. Changing from the six-cell
NiMH to a 7.4-volt Li-Poly makes a world of
difference, and these airplanes get easier to fly
the faster they go.
Keeping the warbirds on the tight track
was the hardest part of the contest, and it’s the
trick the winning pilots had mastered. Thank
goodness they didn’t soup up their models
any further; they were plenty fast.
Approximately 30 pilots competed in the Cox
races; I think you’ll see this event at many
future fun-flys.
Even in the rules posted online for the
event the goal was evident; it was for every
participant to have fun. There was something
to be learned about the hobby as well.
Several seminars were held during the
weekend. Hosted by John Adams of Horizon
Hobby, these lectures were geared toward
updating modelers on some of the hot, new
technologies in the sport including the new
broadband radio system by Spektrum and
mini helicopters featuring the Blade and TRex
machines.
John is an excellent speaker and is
basically the horse’s mouth when it comes to
those subjects. Those who attended came
away with a much better understanding of the
subjects and found John’s donated time to be
valuable to their enjoyment of the sport.
Full Contact Combat was one of the more
extreme events held. It wasn’t for everyone,
but it attracted many willing pilots who had
the entry fees and the sacrificial model with
which to participate.
The way the pilots flew—tightly packed
and demonizing their opponents—it was easy
to see that they were having a good time. The
crowd cheered on roughly a dozen fliers
Saturday, and a second event was held by
popular demand Sunday that included
approximately 17 pilots.
Some of the competitors had obviously
planned to “kick some tailfin.” They brought
Combat models that were specially built
flying wings; they were fast and durable.
Among the slow flyers that were piloted by
entrants who played for the heck of it, about
the best the flying wings could do was make
“near miss” strafing runs.
In the end each Combat contest was
vectored by the seemingly hopeless underdog.
Dramatics like that is part of what makes the
JR indoor event special.
If you’re not a morning or day person, this
event won’t leave you hanging. After the Cox
racing, the interior lights were dimmed at 7
p.m. for the “Night Moves” simulated nightflight
session. It wasn’t totally dark in the
dome; it was more like dusk, which meant
that only a few colored LED were needed to
identify a model. Helicopters and fixed-wing
aircraft were flown.
Later that night, from 8:00 until late,
Saturday’s activities concluded with a
hospitality party featuring Thacker’s Texas
hold ’em in the “ZAP Tap Room” at the
Ramada Inn (the host hotel that was just a
block away).
I found the JR Indoor Electric Festival to be
well organized with strong sponsor support
that attracts active and enthusiastic members
into the hobby. Experiencing this event for
the second year in a row definitely raises the
bar as far as my expectations for the next
indoor event I attend. MA
Michael Ramsey
[email protected]
Other Resources:
RCgroups.com
www.rcgroups.com/jr-indoor-electricfestival-
2006-439/
Quiet Flyer
January 2007
Fly RC
March 2007
CIFA
www.jriefestival.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/04
Page Numbers: 26,27,28,29,30,32
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/04
Page Numbers: 26,27,28,29,30,32
Frank Noll Jr. pilots an A320
Shorts Skyvan low for a strafing
run across Spektrum Lake. AXI
2204/54 motors vector thrust
for rudder control.
THE CLOSE OF the fall outdoor flying season is marked by leaves
falling from the trees, the cold air blowing, and field conditions that
are generally muddy and uncomfortable. This used to be the sunset
on many modelers’ piloting-skill advancement until better outdoor
conditions beckoned for their return.
When the warm weather came back, rusty fingers would have to
grapple the transmitter sticks and refresh the relationship between
the master and his or her flying model. After a few visits to the field
the pilot would be back into the routine and hopefully pick up flight
training where he or she had left off.
This interruption of flying was tolerated since the free time
was typically spent working in the shop building next year’s
beauties. When computer flight simulators came along,
they satisfied, to some extent, an itch to break the
bonds of the unwavering ground—but it was only
virtual and it wasn’t the same.
Continuing advances in electricpowered
model aircraft promise growth
of the hobby. They make it easier
and more affordable than ever
to take advantage of clean
Terry Nitsch and his brother Rick work together
designing models for TeeRiffic Jets. This threechannel
micro MiG-29 spans only 11.5 inches.
and quiet flight whether a modeler is a
beginner or an expert.
Because electric models are small and
light, they impose fewer safety hazards.
Flying these aircraft indoors in close
proximity has gained enough popularity that
the number of events in which to do so has
Left: Ken Spencer won the Best Scale static award with his
Demoiselle. It uses BSD Micro equipment.
Nick Maxwell pilots Bob Brown’s T-Rex 450SE to check out control trim and gyro sensitivity. Is a 2-inch inverted hover above the
ground a required test?
20p9 two-line
cutline goes here
E-flite’s new Mini
FuntanaX isn’t exactly an
indoor model, but in
talented pilot David
Pane’s hands the Four
Seasons Golf Dome has
plenty of room.
increased steadily in the last five years.
For the last four years the JR Indoor
Electric Festival has kicked off the indoor
flying season. It is usually held the first
week of November; in 2006 it was Saturday
the 4th and Sunday the 5th. The event is
hosted by the Columbus Indoor Flight
Association (CIFA) and directed under the
confidence of master modeler Terry Nitsch.
For a number of years the CIFA has been
flying at the Four Seasons Golf Dome in
Columbus, Ohio, usually on Saturday
mornings throughout the winter months.
Top 10 Reasons
to Fly Indoors
10. It never rains.
9. There’s always someplace to
land.
8. Electric power is used, so there’s
no cleanup.
7. There are no trees to crash into.
6 Flying out of site isn’t an
option.
5. You can fly all year.
4. The runway is smooth.
3. Landings are into the wind.
2. The sun is always out, even at
night.
1. It’s a thrill for everyone! MA
—Michael Ramsey
Ed Andrews’ original-design Hiper-Tripe made from 2mm Depron and carbon fiber. The
6-ounce model has a four-point pivot for rudder and elevator control.
Spektrum Lake creator Bernie Oldenburgh modified his GWS Pico Tiger Moth with
built-up wings and floats made from balsa with Solite covering.
The proud winner of Saturday’s Full
Contact Combat event with his E-flite
Tribute, which survived the battle with
only minor damage.
These warbird pilots were part of a racing event featuring 18-gram Peanut-size
models. They used Plantraco’s 900 MHz radio systems.
A.C. Glenn takes delivery of a Thunderbird
foamie designed by Jeremy Chinn and
produced by Mike Glass. A.C. installed the
accessories and flew all weekend.
Photos by author
These flying engagements are normally
exclusive to members, but any AMA member
is welcome to participate in the JR Indoor
Electric Festival.
To fly through Saturday and Sunday a pilot
must register and pay a fee of $30. For that
modest amount he or she receives 19 hours of
flying time, the convenience of buying almost
any spare part from the nearly 20 vendors, and
access to the infinite knowledge of the more
than 150 pilots who attend.
In addition, as a gift from Horizon Hobby
this year every pilot received a pair of Spektrum
Rob Romash, a designer for Estes-Cox, has a remarkable talent for building the most
exquisite FF Scale models. This ASV sailplane spans roughly 10 inches.
Marc Stermer built this 35-inch Grumman Skyrocket
from blue foam sheet. It features GWS retractable
landing gear and is available from Rabid Models.
Josh Mathews is happy after a fun flight with
his Hobby Lobby Shinden J7W1 EPP warbird.
It spans 31.5 inches and weighs 10 ounces.
Jason Noll’s Vrolet from Fancy Foam Models is a freestyle or
precision aerobatics indoor model. The precision version (shown)
has drag features to slow its airspeed.
The largest indoor model flown at the event was Marc Stermer’s 69-inch, 1.5-pound PBY. It uses two GWS twin IPS gear drives.
The Cox Micro Warbird Race was a big hit. First- through fifth-place finishers were (L-R)
Nick Maxwell, Marc Stermer, Gary Villard, Keven Burner, and Steve Lawrie.
S75 microservos (a $30 value) and the chance
to win one of the many products that were
given away all weekend as door prizes. This
event is a win-win and perhaps a win-again
opportunity.
Flying an RC model aircraft indoors is a
challenge but is not outside the average model
pilot’s grasp. The golf dome’s inflated
structure (which is basically a balloon staked
to the ground) is unique in that the
atmosphere inside is at a slightly different
pressure. You’ll feel your ears pop while
passing through the revolving door.
The temperature inside is kept
comfortable (at 58°-60°). Although the
“ground” is technically on six sides of the
airspace, the semisoft walls are netted and
fairly harmless to any models that make
contact.
The floor is extremely active, with plenty
of flying and vendors and exhibitors
organized in a double row that stretches
across the entrance wall. The pit area is
underneath and in front of the second-floor
driving area.
The second floor accommodates a few
vendors but is mostly kept open for spectators
who want to relax and enjoy the air show. The
view of the 87,000-square-foot area is great
from up there.
The flying area is partitioned into three
zones. There was 3-D flying and helicopters
against the south wall, the “racetrack” area for
open or feature flying in the center, and the
micro-flying area for models weighing less
than 2-3 ounces and flying slower than 10
mph on the north wall.
Sponsors
Fly RC
Spektrum
Quiet Flyer magazine
ParkZone
HobbyZone
Great Planes Manufacturing
ElectriFly
Futaba
E-flite
ZAP
Cox Hobbies
Castle Creations
Radical RC
Litefly RC
E Cubed R/C
BSD Micro RC
Hobby Lobby International
Academy of Model Aeronautics
30 MODEL AVIATION
Winners
Trophy Sponsor Airplane Pilot
Best Original Design ZAP Hiper-Tripe Ed Andrews
Best Multi-Engine ZAP Shorts Skyvan Frank Noll Jr.
Best Micro RC Aircraft ZAP Paul’s Bipe Don Post
Best Scale ZAP Demoiselle Ken Spencer
Best Sport Performance ZAP Align T-Rex 600 Nick Maxwell
Best Jet ZAP MiG-29 Micro Rick Nitsch
Pilot’s Choice Radical RC Fokker E.III Kenneth Carchietta
Best New Product Fly RC and festival Spektrum DX7
Depending on the amount of participation,
time slots are reserved for specific aircraft
types to fly within the racetrack. Most of the
time it was difficult to tell when these time
slots were in effect; most pilots flew whatever
they wanted and when they wanted (which is
how fun-fly events usually are).
I found the jets’ popularity remarkable.
Not too long ago “slow” was the way to go
indoors; recently it seems as though almost
any type of flying is possible. With the
intense popularity of the flat foamie, sleek
and streamlined jets are gaining momentum.
The flat foamie still reigns supreme as the
model of choice for most indoor activity.
There were more of those flying at the event
than anything else. For versatility and
capability I’ve learned that the 3-D foam
aircraft can’t be beaten. They’re easy to fix,
inexpensive to set up, and an excellent
training tool for any RC pilot.
The “flat foam” style of modeling isn’t
limited to aerobatics. With a little imagination
modelers have been exploring scale subjects
that are remarkably attractive and fly with
relative ease in profile.
Many of the jets at the event were built
with flat-foam construction, and there was a
variety of warbirds and civilian aircraft. In
fact, three of the seven event awards went to
models constructed from foam.
One of the most original features added to
the landing zone was Spektrum Lake. Bernie
Oldenburgh engineered the 15 x 50-foot pond
from 2-inch PVC pipe and thick plastic drop
cloths.
Bernie was often seen enjoying his
creation while flying his modified GWS Pico
Tiger Moth. The yellow biplane was unique
because he made its built-up balsa wings and
custom stick-built balsa floats that were
covered in Solite film.
I liked Bernie’s model because it took
advantage of foam simplicity and balsaengineering
opportunities. His Tiger Moth
was actually lighter than the stock GWS
model on floats, so it flew at scale speeds and
it was a pleasure to watch do touch-and-gos.
I’m a sucker for floatplanes!
Another feature added to this year’s
festival was the Cox Micro Warbird Air
Races. Having participated in the first of this
type of event at the 2006 Nats, I was anxious
to see how the competition was evolving.
The popularity of these little 20-inch
airplanes is remarkable. They can be
purchased as kits for approximately $30 or as
complete RTFs for roughly $90. If you think
about it, getting involved with indoor electric
flight for less than $100 is astounding.
These heavy metal models need to be
lightened to be decent racers, but the rules
were specifically written so that the only
allowable change to the stock model is the
battery pack. Changing from the six-cell
NiMH to a 7.4-volt Li-Poly makes a world of
difference, and these airplanes get easier to fly
the faster they go.
Keeping the warbirds on the tight track
was the hardest part of the contest, and it’s the
trick the winning pilots had mastered. Thank
goodness they didn’t soup up their models
any further; they were plenty fast.
Approximately 30 pilots competed in the Cox
races; I think you’ll see this event at many
future fun-flys.
Even in the rules posted online for the
event the goal was evident; it was for every
participant to have fun. There was something
to be learned about the hobby as well.
Several seminars were held during the
weekend. Hosted by John Adams of Horizon
Hobby, these lectures were geared toward
updating modelers on some of the hot, new
technologies in the sport including the new
broadband radio system by Spektrum and
mini helicopters featuring the Blade and TRex
machines.
John is an excellent speaker and is
basically the horse’s mouth when it comes to
those subjects. Those who attended came
away with a much better understanding of the
subjects and found John’s donated time to be
valuable to their enjoyment of the sport.
Full Contact Combat was one of the more
extreme events held. It wasn’t for everyone,
but it attracted many willing pilots who had
the entry fees and the sacrificial model with
which to participate.
The way the pilots flew—tightly packed
and demonizing their opponents—it was easy
to see that they were having a good time. The
crowd cheered on roughly a dozen fliers
Saturday, and a second event was held by
popular demand Sunday that included
approximately 17 pilots.
Some of the competitors had obviously
planned to “kick some tailfin.” They brought
Combat models that were specially built
flying wings; they were fast and durable.
Among the slow flyers that were piloted by
entrants who played for the heck of it, about
the best the flying wings could do was make
“near miss” strafing runs.
In the end each Combat contest was
vectored by the seemingly hopeless underdog.
Dramatics like that is part of what makes the
JR indoor event special.
If you’re not a morning or day person, this
event won’t leave you hanging. After the Cox
racing, the interior lights were dimmed at 7
p.m. for the “Night Moves” simulated nightflight
session. It wasn’t totally dark in the
dome; it was more like dusk, which meant
that only a few colored LED were needed to
identify a model. Helicopters and fixed-wing
aircraft were flown.
Later that night, from 8:00 until late,
Saturday’s activities concluded with a
hospitality party featuring Thacker’s Texas
hold ’em in the “ZAP Tap Room” at the
Ramada Inn (the host hotel that was just a
block away).
I found the JR Indoor Electric Festival to be
well organized with strong sponsor support
that attracts active and enthusiastic members
into the hobby. Experiencing this event for
the second year in a row definitely raises the
bar as far as my expectations for the next
indoor event I attend. MA
Michael Ramsey
[email protected]
Other Resources:
RCgroups.com
www.rcgroups.com/jr-indoor-electricfestival-
2006-439/
Quiet Flyer
January 2007
Fly RC
March 2007
CIFA
www.jriefestival.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/04
Page Numbers: 26,27,28,29,30,32
Frank Noll Jr. pilots an A320
Shorts Skyvan low for a strafing
run across Spektrum Lake. AXI
2204/54 motors vector thrust
for rudder control.
THE CLOSE OF the fall outdoor flying season is marked by leaves
falling from the trees, the cold air blowing, and field conditions that
are generally muddy and uncomfortable. This used to be the sunset
on many modelers’ piloting-skill advancement until better outdoor
conditions beckoned for their return.
When the warm weather came back, rusty fingers would have to
grapple the transmitter sticks and refresh the relationship between
the master and his or her flying model. After a few visits to the field
the pilot would be back into the routine and hopefully pick up flight
training where he or she had left off.
This interruption of flying was tolerated since the free time
was typically spent working in the shop building next year’s
beauties. When computer flight simulators came along,
they satisfied, to some extent, an itch to break the
bonds of the unwavering ground—but it was only
virtual and it wasn’t the same.
Continuing advances in electricpowered
model aircraft promise growth
of the hobby. They make it easier
and more affordable than ever
to take advantage of clean
Terry Nitsch and his brother Rick work together
designing models for TeeRiffic Jets. This threechannel
micro MiG-29 spans only 11.5 inches.
and quiet flight whether a modeler is a
beginner or an expert.
Because electric models are small and
light, they impose fewer safety hazards.
Flying these aircraft indoors in close
proximity has gained enough popularity that
the number of events in which to do so has
Left: Ken Spencer won the Best Scale static award with his
Demoiselle. It uses BSD Micro equipment.
Nick Maxwell pilots Bob Brown’s T-Rex 450SE to check out control trim and gyro sensitivity. Is a 2-inch inverted hover above the
ground a required test?
20p9 two-line
cutline goes here
E-flite’s new Mini
FuntanaX isn’t exactly an
indoor model, but in
talented pilot David
Pane’s hands the Four
Seasons Golf Dome has
plenty of room.
increased steadily in the last five years.
For the last four years the JR Indoor
Electric Festival has kicked off the indoor
flying season. It is usually held the first
week of November; in 2006 it was Saturday
the 4th and Sunday the 5th. The event is
hosted by the Columbus Indoor Flight
Association (CIFA) and directed under the
confidence of master modeler Terry Nitsch.
For a number of years the CIFA has been
flying at the Four Seasons Golf Dome in
Columbus, Ohio, usually on Saturday
mornings throughout the winter months.
Top 10 Reasons
to Fly Indoors
10. It never rains.
9. There’s always someplace to
land.
8. Electric power is used, so there’s
no cleanup.
7. There are no trees to crash into.
6 Flying out of site isn’t an
option.
5. You can fly all year.
4. The runway is smooth.
3. Landings are into the wind.
2. The sun is always out, even at
night.
1. It’s a thrill for everyone! MA
—Michael Ramsey
Ed Andrews’ original-design Hiper-Tripe made from 2mm Depron and carbon fiber. The
6-ounce model has a four-point pivot for rudder and elevator control.
Spektrum Lake creator Bernie Oldenburgh modified his GWS Pico Tiger Moth with
built-up wings and floats made from balsa with Solite covering.
The proud winner of Saturday’s Full
Contact Combat event with his E-flite
Tribute, which survived the battle with
only minor damage.
These warbird pilots were part of a racing event featuring 18-gram Peanut-size
models. They used Plantraco’s 900 MHz radio systems.
A.C. Glenn takes delivery of a Thunderbird
foamie designed by Jeremy Chinn and
produced by Mike Glass. A.C. installed the
accessories and flew all weekend.
Photos by author
These flying engagements are normally
exclusive to members, but any AMA member
is welcome to participate in the JR Indoor
Electric Festival.
To fly through Saturday and Sunday a pilot
must register and pay a fee of $30. For that
modest amount he or she receives 19 hours of
flying time, the convenience of buying almost
any spare part from the nearly 20 vendors, and
access to the infinite knowledge of the more
than 150 pilots who attend.
In addition, as a gift from Horizon Hobby
this year every pilot received a pair of Spektrum
Rob Romash, a designer for Estes-Cox, has a remarkable talent for building the most
exquisite FF Scale models. This ASV sailplane spans roughly 10 inches.
Marc Stermer built this 35-inch Grumman Skyrocket
from blue foam sheet. It features GWS retractable
landing gear and is available from Rabid Models.
Josh Mathews is happy after a fun flight with
his Hobby Lobby Shinden J7W1 EPP warbird.
It spans 31.5 inches and weighs 10 ounces.
Jason Noll’s Vrolet from Fancy Foam Models is a freestyle or
precision aerobatics indoor model. The precision version (shown)
has drag features to slow its airspeed.
The largest indoor model flown at the event was Marc Stermer’s 69-inch, 1.5-pound PBY. It uses two GWS twin IPS gear drives.
The Cox Micro Warbird Race was a big hit. First- through fifth-place finishers were (L-R)
Nick Maxwell, Marc Stermer, Gary Villard, Keven Burner, and Steve Lawrie.
S75 microservos (a $30 value) and the chance
to win one of the many products that were
given away all weekend as door prizes. This
event is a win-win and perhaps a win-again
opportunity.
Flying an RC model aircraft indoors is a
challenge but is not outside the average model
pilot’s grasp. The golf dome’s inflated
structure (which is basically a balloon staked
to the ground) is unique in that the
atmosphere inside is at a slightly different
pressure. You’ll feel your ears pop while
passing through the revolving door.
The temperature inside is kept
comfortable (at 58°-60°). Although the
“ground” is technically on six sides of the
airspace, the semisoft walls are netted and
fairly harmless to any models that make
contact.
The floor is extremely active, with plenty
of flying and vendors and exhibitors
organized in a double row that stretches
across the entrance wall. The pit area is
underneath and in front of the second-floor
driving area.
The second floor accommodates a few
vendors but is mostly kept open for spectators
who want to relax and enjoy the air show. The
view of the 87,000-square-foot area is great
from up there.
The flying area is partitioned into three
zones. There was 3-D flying and helicopters
against the south wall, the “racetrack” area for
open or feature flying in the center, and the
micro-flying area for models weighing less
than 2-3 ounces and flying slower than 10
mph on the north wall.
Sponsors
Fly RC
Spektrum
Quiet Flyer magazine
ParkZone
HobbyZone
Great Planes Manufacturing
ElectriFly
Futaba
E-flite
ZAP
Cox Hobbies
Castle Creations
Radical RC
Litefly RC
E Cubed R/C
BSD Micro RC
Hobby Lobby International
Academy of Model Aeronautics
30 MODEL AVIATION
Winners
Trophy Sponsor Airplane Pilot
Best Original Design ZAP Hiper-Tripe Ed Andrews
Best Multi-Engine ZAP Shorts Skyvan Frank Noll Jr.
Best Micro RC Aircraft ZAP Paul’s Bipe Don Post
Best Scale ZAP Demoiselle Ken Spencer
Best Sport Performance ZAP Align T-Rex 600 Nick Maxwell
Best Jet ZAP MiG-29 Micro Rick Nitsch
Pilot’s Choice Radical RC Fokker E.III Kenneth Carchietta
Best New Product Fly RC and festival Spektrum DX7
Depending on the amount of participation,
time slots are reserved for specific aircraft
types to fly within the racetrack. Most of the
time it was difficult to tell when these time
slots were in effect; most pilots flew whatever
they wanted and when they wanted (which is
how fun-fly events usually are).
I found the jets’ popularity remarkable.
Not too long ago “slow” was the way to go
indoors; recently it seems as though almost
any type of flying is possible. With the
intense popularity of the flat foamie, sleek
and streamlined jets are gaining momentum.
The flat foamie still reigns supreme as the
model of choice for most indoor activity.
There were more of those flying at the event
than anything else. For versatility and
capability I’ve learned that the 3-D foam
aircraft can’t be beaten. They’re easy to fix,
inexpensive to set up, and an excellent
training tool for any RC pilot.
The “flat foam” style of modeling isn’t
limited to aerobatics. With a little imagination
modelers have been exploring scale subjects
that are remarkably attractive and fly with
relative ease in profile.
Many of the jets at the event were built
with flat-foam construction, and there was a
variety of warbirds and civilian aircraft. In
fact, three of the seven event awards went to
models constructed from foam.
One of the most original features added to
the landing zone was Spektrum Lake. Bernie
Oldenburgh engineered the 15 x 50-foot pond
from 2-inch PVC pipe and thick plastic drop
cloths.
Bernie was often seen enjoying his
creation while flying his modified GWS Pico
Tiger Moth. The yellow biplane was unique
because he made its built-up balsa wings and
custom stick-built balsa floats that were
covered in Solite film.
I liked Bernie’s model because it took
advantage of foam simplicity and balsaengineering
opportunities. His Tiger Moth
was actually lighter than the stock GWS
model on floats, so it flew at scale speeds and
it was a pleasure to watch do touch-and-gos.
I’m a sucker for floatplanes!
Another feature added to this year’s
festival was the Cox Micro Warbird Air
Races. Having participated in the first of this
type of event at the 2006 Nats, I was anxious
to see how the competition was evolving.
The popularity of these little 20-inch
airplanes is remarkable. They can be
purchased as kits for approximately $30 or as
complete RTFs for roughly $90. If you think
about it, getting involved with indoor electric
flight for less than $100 is astounding.
These heavy metal models need to be
lightened to be decent racers, but the rules
were specifically written so that the only
allowable change to the stock model is the
battery pack. Changing from the six-cell
NiMH to a 7.4-volt Li-Poly makes a world of
difference, and these airplanes get easier to fly
the faster they go.
Keeping the warbirds on the tight track
was the hardest part of the contest, and it’s the
trick the winning pilots had mastered. Thank
goodness they didn’t soup up their models
any further; they were plenty fast.
Approximately 30 pilots competed in the Cox
races; I think you’ll see this event at many
future fun-flys.
Even in the rules posted online for the
event the goal was evident; it was for every
participant to have fun. There was something
to be learned about the hobby as well.
Several seminars were held during the
weekend. Hosted by John Adams of Horizon
Hobby, these lectures were geared toward
updating modelers on some of the hot, new
technologies in the sport including the new
broadband radio system by Spektrum and
mini helicopters featuring the Blade and TRex
machines.
John is an excellent speaker and is
basically the horse’s mouth when it comes to
those subjects. Those who attended came
away with a much better understanding of the
subjects and found John’s donated time to be
valuable to their enjoyment of the sport.
Full Contact Combat was one of the more
extreme events held. It wasn’t for everyone,
but it attracted many willing pilots who had
the entry fees and the sacrificial model with
which to participate.
The way the pilots flew—tightly packed
and demonizing their opponents—it was easy
to see that they were having a good time. The
crowd cheered on roughly a dozen fliers
Saturday, and a second event was held by
popular demand Sunday that included
approximately 17 pilots.
Some of the competitors had obviously
planned to “kick some tailfin.” They brought
Combat models that were specially built
flying wings; they were fast and durable.
Among the slow flyers that were piloted by
entrants who played for the heck of it, about
the best the flying wings could do was make
“near miss” strafing runs.
In the end each Combat contest was
vectored by the seemingly hopeless underdog.
Dramatics like that is part of what makes the
JR indoor event special.
If you’re not a morning or day person, this
event won’t leave you hanging. After the Cox
racing, the interior lights were dimmed at 7
p.m. for the “Night Moves” simulated nightflight
session. It wasn’t totally dark in the
dome; it was more like dusk, which meant
that only a few colored LED were needed to
identify a model. Helicopters and fixed-wing
aircraft were flown.
Later that night, from 8:00 until late,
Saturday’s activities concluded with a
hospitality party featuring Thacker’s Texas
hold ’em in the “ZAP Tap Room” at the
Ramada Inn (the host hotel that was just a
block away).
I found the JR Indoor Electric Festival to be
well organized with strong sponsor support
that attracts active and enthusiastic members
into the hobby. Experiencing this event for
the second year in a row definitely raises the
bar as far as my expectations for the next
indoor event I attend. MA
Michael Ramsey
[email protected]
Other Resources:
RCgroups.com
www.rcgroups.com/jr-indoor-electricfestival-
2006-439/
Quiet Flyer
January 2007
Fly RC
March 2007
CIFA
www.jriefestival.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/04
Page Numbers: 26,27,28,29,30,32
Frank Noll Jr. pilots an A320
Shorts Skyvan low for a strafing
run across Spektrum Lake. AXI
2204/54 motors vector thrust
for rudder control.
THE CLOSE OF the fall outdoor flying season is marked by leaves
falling from the trees, the cold air blowing, and field conditions that
are generally muddy and uncomfortable. This used to be the sunset
on many modelers’ piloting-skill advancement until better outdoor
conditions beckoned for their return.
When the warm weather came back, rusty fingers would have to
grapple the transmitter sticks and refresh the relationship between
the master and his or her flying model. After a few visits to the field
the pilot would be back into the routine and hopefully pick up flight
training where he or she had left off.
This interruption of flying was tolerated since the free time
was typically spent working in the shop building next year’s
beauties. When computer flight simulators came along,
they satisfied, to some extent, an itch to break the
bonds of the unwavering ground—but it was only
virtual and it wasn’t the same.
Continuing advances in electricpowered
model aircraft promise growth
of the hobby. They make it easier
and more affordable than ever
to take advantage of clean
Terry Nitsch and his brother Rick work together
designing models for TeeRiffic Jets. This threechannel
micro MiG-29 spans only 11.5 inches.
and quiet flight whether a modeler is a
beginner or an expert.
Because electric models are small and
light, they impose fewer safety hazards.
Flying these aircraft indoors in close
proximity has gained enough popularity that
the number of events in which to do so has
Left: Ken Spencer won the Best Scale static award with his
Demoiselle. It uses BSD Micro equipment.
Nick Maxwell pilots Bob Brown’s T-Rex 450SE to check out control trim and gyro sensitivity. Is a 2-inch inverted hover above the
ground a required test?
20p9 two-line
cutline goes here
E-flite’s new Mini
FuntanaX isn’t exactly an
indoor model, but in
talented pilot David
Pane’s hands the Four
Seasons Golf Dome has
plenty of room.
increased steadily in the last five years.
For the last four years the JR Indoor
Electric Festival has kicked off the indoor
flying season. It is usually held the first
week of November; in 2006 it was Saturday
the 4th and Sunday the 5th. The event is
hosted by the Columbus Indoor Flight
Association (CIFA) and directed under the
confidence of master modeler Terry Nitsch.
For a number of years the CIFA has been
flying at the Four Seasons Golf Dome in
Columbus, Ohio, usually on Saturday
mornings throughout the winter months.
Top 10 Reasons
to Fly Indoors
10. It never rains.
9. There’s always someplace to
land.
8. Electric power is used, so there’s
no cleanup.
7. There are no trees to crash into.
6 Flying out of site isn’t an
option.
5. You can fly all year.
4. The runway is smooth.
3. Landings are into the wind.
2. The sun is always out, even at
night.
1. It’s a thrill for everyone! MA
—Michael Ramsey
Ed Andrews’ original-design Hiper-Tripe made from 2mm Depron and carbon fiber. The
6-ounce model has a four-point pivot for rudder and elevator control.
Spektrum Lake creator Bernie Oldenburgh modified his GWS Pico Tiger Moth with
built-up wings and floats made from balsa with Solite covering.
The proud winner of Saturday’s Full
Contact Combat event with his E-flite
Tribute, which survived the battle with
only minor damage.
These warbird pilots were part of a racing event featuring 18-gram Peanut-size
models. They used Plantraco’s 900 MHz radio systems.
A.C. Glenn takes delivery of a Thunderbird
foamie designed by Jeremy Chinn and
produced by Mike Glass. A.C. installed the
accessories and flew all weekend.
Photos by author
These flying engagements are normally
exclusive to members, but any AMA member
is welcome to participate in the JR Indoor
Electric Festival.
To fly through Saturday and Sunday a pilot
must register and pay a fee of $30. For that
modest amount he or she receives 19 hours of
flying time, the convenience of buying almost
any spare part from the nearly 20 vendors, and
access to the infinite knowledge of the more
than 150 pilots who attend.
In addition, as a gift from Horizon Hobby
this year every pilot received a pair of Spektrum
Rob Romash, a designer for Estes-Cox, has a remarkable talent for building the most
exquisite FF Scale models. This ASV sailplane spans roughly 10 inches.
Marc Stermer built this 35-inch Grumman Skyrocket
from blue foam sheet. It features GWS retractable
landing gear and is available from Rabid Models.
Josh Mathews is happy after a fun flight with
his Hobby Lobby Shinden J7W1 EPP warbird.
It spans 31.5 inches and weighs 10 ounces.
Jason Noll’s Vrolet from Fancy Foam Models is a freestyle or
precision aerobatics indoor model. The precision version (shown)
has drag features to slow its airspeed.
The largest indoor model flown at the event was Marc Stermer’s 69-inch, 1.5-pound PBY. It uses two GWS twin IPS gear drives.
The Cox Micro Warbird Race was a big hit. First- through fifth-place finishers were (L-R)
Nick Maxwell, Marc Stermer, Gary Villard, Keven Burner, and Steve Lawrie.
S75 microservos (a $30 value) and the chance
to win one of the many products that were
given away all weekend as door prizes. This
event is a win-win and perhaps a win-again
opportunity.
Flying an RC model aircraft indoors is a
challenge but is not outside the average model
pilot’s grasp. The golf dome’s inflated
structure (which is basically a balloon staked
to the ground) is unique in that the
atmosphere inside is at a slightly different
pressure. You’ll feel your ears pop while
passing through the revolving door.
The temperature inside is kept
comfortable (at 58°-60°). Although the
“ground” is technically on six sides of the
airspace, the semisoft walls are netted and
fairly harmless to any models that make
contact.
The floor is extremely active, with plenty
of flying and vendors and exhibitors
organized in a double row that stretches
across the entrance wall. The pit area is
underneath and in front of the second-floor
driving area.
The second floor accommodates a few
vendors but is mostly kept open for spectators
who want to relax and enjoy the air show. The
view of the 87,000-square-foot area is great
from up there.
The flying area is partitioned into three
zones. There was 3-D flying and helicopters
against the south wall, the “racetrack” area for
open or feature flying in the center, and the
micro-flying area for models weighing less
than 2-3 ounces and flying slower than 10
mph on the north wall.
Sponsors
Fly RC
Spektrum
Quiet Flyer magazine
ParkZone
HobbyZone
Great Planes Manufacturing
ElectriFly
Futaba
E-flite
ZAP
Cox Hobbies
Castle Creations
Radical RC
Litefly RC
E Cubed R/C
BSD Micro RC
Hobby Lobby International
Academy of Model Aeronautics
30 MODEL AVIATION
Winners
Trophy Sponsor Airplane Pilot
Best Original Design ZAP Hiper-Tripe Ed Andrews
Best Multi-Engine ZAP Shorts Skyvan Frank Noll Jr.
Best Micro RC Aircraft ZAP Paul’s Bipe Don Post
Best Scale ZAP Demoiselle Ken Spencer
Best Sport Performance ZAP Align T-Rex 600 Nick Maxwell
Best Jet ZAP MiG-29 Micro Rick Nitsch
Pilot’s Choice Radical RC Fokker E.III Kenneth Carchietta
Best New Product Fly RC and festival Spektrum DX7
Depending on the amount of participation,
time slots are reserved for specific aircraft
types to fly within the racetrack. Most of the
time it was difficult to tell when these time
slots were in effect; most pilots flew whatever
they wanted and when they wanted (which is
how fun-fly events usually are).
I found the jets’ popularity remarkable.
Not too long ago “slow” was the way to go
indoors; recently it seems as though almost
any type of flying is possible. With the
intense popularity of the flat foamie, sleek
and streamlined jets are gaining momentum.
The flat foamie still reigns supreme as the
model of choice for most indoor activity.
There were more of those flying at the event
than anything else. For versatility and
capability I’ve learned that the 3-D foam
aircraft can’t be beaten. They’re easy to fix,
inexpensive to set up, and an excellent
training tool for any RC pilot.
The “flat foam” style of modeling isn’t
limited to aerobatics. With a little imagination
modelers have been exploring scale subjects
that are remarkably attractive and fly with
relative ease in profile.
Many of the jets at the event were built
with flat-foam construction, and there was a
variety of warbirds and civilian aircraft. In
fact, three of the seven event awards went to
models constructed from foam.
One of the most original features added to
the landing zone was Spektrum Lake. Bernie
Oldenburgh engineered the 15 x 50-foot pond
from 2-inch PVC pipe and thick plastic drop
cloths.
Bernie was often seen enjoying his
creation while flying his modified GWS Pico
Tiger Moth. The yellow biplane was unique
because he made its built-up balsa wings and
custom stick-built balsa floats that were
covered in Solite film.
I liked Bernie’s model because it took
advantage of foam simplicity and balsaengineering
opportunities. His Tiger Moth
was actually lighter than the stock GWS
model on floats, so it flew at scale speeds and
it was a pleasure to watch do touch-and-gos.
I’m a sucker for floatplanes!
Another feature added to this year’s
festival was the Cox Micro Warbird Air
Races. Having participated in the first of this
type of event at the 2006 Nats, I was anxious
to see how the competition was evolving.
The popularity of these little 20-inch
airplanes is remarkable. They can be
purchased as kits for approximately $30 or as
complete RTFs for roughly $90. If you think
about it, getting involved with indoor electric
flight for less than $100 is astounding.
These heavy metal models need to be
lightened to be decent racers, but the rules
were specifically written so that the only
allowable change to the stock model is the
battery pack. Changing from the six-cell
NiMH to a 7.4-volt Li-Poly makes a world of
difference, and these airplanes get easier to fly
the faster they go.
Keeping the warbirds on the tight track
was the hardest part of the contest, and it’s the
trick the winning pilots had mastered. Thank
goodness they didn’t soup up their models
any further; they were plenty fast.
Approximately 30 pilots competed in the Cox
races; I think you’ll see this event at many
future fun-flys.
Even in the rules posted online for the
event the goal was evident; it was for every
participant to have fun. There was something
to be learned about the hobby as well.
Several seminars were held during the
weekend. Hosted by John Adams of Horizon
Hobby, these lectures were geared toward
updating modelers on some of the hot, new
technologies in the sport including the new
broadband radio system by Spektrum and
mini helicopters featuring the Blade and TRex
machines.
John is an excellent speaker and is
basically the horse’s mouth when it comes to
those subjects. Those who attended came
away with a much better understanding of the
subjects and found John’s donated time to be
valuable to their enjoyment of the sport.
Full Contact Combat was one of the more
extreme events held. It wasn’t for everyone,
but it attracted many willing pilots who had
the entry fees and the sacrificial model with
which to participate.
The way the pilots flew—tightly packed
and demonizing their opponents—it was easy
to see that they were having a good time. The
crowd cheered on roughly a dozen fliers
Saturday, and a second event was held by
popular demand Sunday that included
approximately 17 pilots.
Some of the competitors had obviously
planned to “kick some tailfin.” They brought
Combat models that were specially built
flying wings; they were fast and durable.
Among the slow flyers that were piloted by
entrants who played for the heck of it, about
the best the flying wings could do was make
“near miss” strafing runs.
In the end each Combat contest was
vectored by the seemingly hopeless underdog.
Dramatics like that is part of what makes the
JR indoor event special.
If you’re not a morning or day person, this
event won’t leave you hanging. After the Cox
racing, the interior lights were dimmed at 7
p.m. for the “Night Moves” simulated nightflight
session. It wasn’t totally dark in the
dome; it was more like dusk, which meant
that only a few colored LED were needed to
identify a model. Helicopters and fixed-wing
aircraft were flown.
Later that night, from 8:00 until late,
Saturday’s activities concluded with a
hospitality party featuring Thacker’s Texas
hold ’em in the “ZAP Tap Room” at the
Ramada Inn (the host hotel that was just a
block away).
I found the JR Indoor Electric Festival to be
well organized with strong sponsor support
that attracts active and enthusiastic members
into the hobby. Experiencing this event for
the second year in a row definitely raises the
bar as far as my expectations for the next
indoor event I attend. MA
Michael Ramsey
[email protected]
Other Resources:
RCgroups.com
www.rcgroups.com/jr-indoor-electricfestival-
2006-439/
Quiet Flyer
January 2007
Fly RC
March 2007
CIFA
www.jriefestival.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/04
Page Numbers: 26,27,28,29,30,32
Frank Noll Jr. pilots an A320
Shorts Skyvan low for a strafing
run across Spektrum Lake. AXI
2204/54 motors vector thrust
for rudder control.
THE CLOSE OF the fall outdoor flying season is marked by leaves
falling from the trees, the cold air blowing, and field conditions that
are generally muddy and uncomfortable. This used to be the sunset
on many modelers’ piloting-skill advancement until better outdoor
conditions beckoned for their return.
When the warm weather came back, rusty fingers would have to
grapple the transmitter sticks and refresh the relationship between
the master and his or her flying model. After a few visits to the field
the pilot would be back into the routine and hopefully pick up flight
training where he or she had left off.
This interruption of flying was tolerated since the free time
was typically spent working in the shop building next year’s
beauties. When computer flight simulators came along,
they satisfied, to some extent, an itch to break the
bonds of the unwavering ground—but it was only
virtual and it wasn’t the same.
Continuing advances in electricpowered
model aircraft promise growth
of the hobby. They make it easier
and more affordable than ever
to take advantage of clean
Terry Nitsch and his brother Rick work together
designing models for TeeRiffic Jets. This threechannel
micro MiG-29 spans only 11.5 inches.
and quiet flight whether a modeler is a
beginner or an expert.
Because electric models are small and
light, they impose fewer safety hazards.
Flying these aircraft indoors in close
proximity has gained enough popularity that
the number of events in which to do so has
Left: Ken Spencer won the Best Scale static award with his
Demoiselle. It uses BSD Micro equipment.
Nick Maxwell pilots Bob Brown’s T-Rex 450SE to check out control trim and gyro sensitivity. Is a 2-inch inverted hover above the
ground a required test?
20p9 two-line
cutline goes here
E-flite’s new Mini
FuntanaX isn’t exactly an
indoor model, but in
talented pilot David
Pane’s hands the Four
Seasons Golf Dome has
plenty of room.
increased steadily in the last five years.
For the last four years the JR Indoor
Electric Festival has kicked off the indoor
flying season. It is usually held the first
week of November; in 2006 it was Saturday
the 4th and Sunday the 5th. The event is
hosted by the Columbus Indoor Flight
Association (CIFA) and directed under the
confidence of master modeler Terry Nitsch.
For a number of years the CIFA has been
flying at the Four Seasons Golf Dome in
Columbus, Ohio, usually on Saturday
mornings throughout the winter months.
Top 10 Reasons
to Fly Indoors
10. It never rains.
9. There’s always someplace to
land.
8. Electric power is used, so there’s
no cleanup.
7. There are no trees to crash into.
6 Flying out of site isn’t an
option.
5. You can fly all year.
4. The runway is smooth.
3. Landings are into the wind.
2. The sun is always out, even at
night.
1. It’s a thrill for everyone! MA
—Michael Ramsey
Ed Andrews’ original-design Hiper-Tripe made from 2mm Depron and carbon fiber. The
6-ounce model has a four-point pivot for rudder and elevator control.
Spektrum Lake creator Bernie Oldenburgh modified his GWS Pico Tiger Moth with
built-up wings and floats made from balsa with Solite covering.
The proud winner of Saturday’s Full
Contact Combat event with his E-flite
Tribute, which survived the battle with
only minor damage.
These warbird pilots were part of a racing event featuring 18-gram Peanut-size
models. They used Plantraco’s 900 MHz radio systems.
A.C. Glenn takes delivery of a Thunderbird
foamie designed by Jeremy Chinn and
produced by Mike Glass. A.C. installed the
accessories and flew all weekend.
Photos by author
These flying engagements are normally
exclusive to members, but any AMA member
is welcome to participate in the JR Indoor
Electric Festival.
To fly through Saturday and Sunday a pilot
must register and pay a fee of $30. For that
modest amount he or she receives 19 hours of
flying time, the convenience of buying almost
any spare part from the nearly 20 vendors, and
access to the infinite knowledge of the more
than 150 pilots who attend.
In addition, as a gift from Horizon Hobby
this year every pilot received a pair of Spektrum
Rob Romash, a designer for Estes-Cox, has a remarkable talent for building the most
exquisite FF Scale models. This ASV sailplane spans roughly 10 inches.
Marc Stermer built this 35-inch Grumman Skyrocket
from blue foam sheet. It features GWS retractable
landing gear and is available from Rabid Models.
Josh Mathews is happy after a fun flight with
his Hobby Lobby Shinden J7W1 EPP warbird.
It spans 31.5 inches and weighs 10 ounces.
Jason Noll’s Vrolet from Fancy Foam Models is a freestyle or
precision aerobatics indoor model. The precision version (shown)
has drag features to slow its airspeed.
The largest indoor model flown at the event was Marc Stermer’s 69-inch, 1.5-pound PBY. It uses two GWS twin IPS gear drives.
The Cox Micro Warbird Race was a big hit. First- through fifth-place finishers were (L-R)
Nick Maxwell, Marc Stermer, Gary Villard, Keven Burner, and Steve Lawrie.
S75 microservos (a $30 value) and the chance
to win one of the many products that were
given away all weekend as door prizes. This
event is a win-win and perhaps a win-again
opportunity.
Flying an RC model aircraft indoors is a
challenge but is not outside the average model
pilot’s grasp. The golf dome’s inflated
structure (which is basically a balloon staked
to the ground) is unique in that the
atmosphere inside is at a slightly different
pressure. You’ll feel your ears pop while
passing through the revolving door.
The temperature inside is kept
comfortable (at 58°-60°). Although the
“ground” is technically on six sides of the
airspace, the semisoft walls are netted and
fairly harmless to any models that make
contact.
The floor is extremely active, with plenty
of flying and vendors and exhibitors
organized in a double row that stretches
across the entrance wall. The pit area is
underneath and in front of the second-floor
driving area.
The second floor accommodates a few
vendors but is mostly kept open for spectators
who want to relax and enjoy the air show. The
view of the 87,000-square-foot area is great
from up there.
The flying area is partitioned into three
zones. There was 3-D flying and helicopters
against the south wall, the “racetrack” area for
open or feature flying in the center, and the
micro-flying area for models weighing less
than 2-3 ounces and flying slower than 10
mph on the north wall.
Sponsors
Fly RC
Spektrum
Quiet Flyer magazine
ParkZone
HobbyZone
Great Planes Manufacturing
ElectriFly
Futaba
E-flite
ZAP
Cox Hobbies
Castle Creations
Radical RC
Litefly RC
E Cubed R/C
BSD Micro RC
Hobby Lobby International
Academy of Model Aeronautics
30 MODEL AVIATION
Winners
Trophy Sponsor Airplane Pilot
Best Original Design ZAP Hiper-Tripe Ed Andrews
Best Multi-Engine ZAP Shorts Skyvan Frank Noll Jr.
Best Micro RC Aircraft ZAP Paul’s Bipe Don Post
Best Scale ZAP Demoiselle Ken Spencer
Best Sport Performance ZAP Align T-Rex 600 Nick Maxwell
Best Jet ZAP MiG-29 Micro Rick Nitsch
Pilot’s Choice Radical RC Fokker E.III Kenneth Carchietta
Best New Product Fly RC and festival Spektrum DX7
Depending on the amount of participation,
time slots are reserved for specific aircraft
types to fly within the racetrack. Most of the
time it was difficult to tell when these time
slots were in effect; most pilots flew whatever
they wanted and when they wanted (which is
how fun-fly events usually are).
I found the jets’ popularity remarkable.
Not too long ago “slow” was the way to go
indoors; recently it seems as though almost
any type of flying is possible. With the
intense popularity of the flat foamie, sleek
and streamlined jets are gaining momentum.
The flat foamie still reigns supreme as the
model of choice for most indoor activity.
There were more of those flying at the event
than anything else. For versatility and
capability I’ve learned that the 3-D foam
aircraft can’t be beaten. They’re easy to fix,
inexpensive to set up, and an excellent
training tool for any RC pilot.
The “flat foam” style of modeling isn’t
limited to aerobatics. With a little imagination
modelers have been exploring scale subjects
that are remarkably attractive and fly with
relative ease in profile.
Many of the jets at the event were built
with flat-foam construction, and there was a
variety of warbirds and civilian aircraft. In
fact, three of the seven event awards went to
models constructed from foam.
One of the most original features added to
the landing zone was Spektrum Lake. Bernie
Oldenburgh engineered the 15 x 50-foot pond
from 2-inch PVC pipe and thick plastic drop
cloths.
Bernie was often seen enjoying his
creation while flying his modified GWS Pico
Tiger Moth. The yellow biplane was unique
because he made its built-up balsa wings and
custom stick-built balsa floats that were
covered in Solite film.
I liked Bernie’s model because it took
advantage of foam simplicity and balsaengineering
opportunities. His Tiger Moth
was actually lighter than the stock GWS
model on floats, so it flew at scale speeds and
it was a pleasure to watch do touch-and-gos.
I’m a sucker for floatplanes!
Another feature added to this year’s
festival was the Cox Micro Warbird Air
Races. Having participated in the first of this
type of event at the 2006 Nats, I was anxious
to see how the competition was evolving.
The popularity of these little 20-inch
airplanes is remarkable. They can be
purchased as kits for approximately $30 or as
complete RTFs for roughly $90. If you think
about it, getting involved with indoor electric
flight for less than $100 is astounding.
These heavy metal models need to be
lightened to be decent racers, but the rules
were specifically written so that the only
allowable change to the stock model is the
battery pack. Changing from the six-cell
NiMH to a 7.4-volt Li-Poly makes a world of
difference, and these airplanes get easier to fly
the faster they go.
Keeping the warbirds on the tight track
was the hardest part of the contest, and it’s the
trick the winning pilots had mastered. Thank
goodness they didn’t soup up their models
any further; they were plenty fast.
Approximately 30 pilots competed in the Cox
races; I think you’ll see this event at many
future fun-flys.
Even in the rules posted online for the
event the goal was evident; it was for every
participant to have fun. There was something
to be learned about the hobby as well.
Several seminars were held during the
weekend. Hosted by John Adams of Horizon
Hobby, these lectures were geared toward
updating modelers on some of the hot, new
technologies in the sport including the new
broadband radio system by Spektrum and
mini helicopters featuring the Blade and TRex
machines.
John is an excellent speaker and is
basically the horse’s mouth when it comes to
those subjects. Those who attended came
away with a much better understanding of the
subjects and found John’s donated time to be
valuable to their enjoyment of the sport.
Full Contact Combat was one of the more
extreme events held. It wasn’t for everyone,
but it attracted many willing pilots who had
the entry fees and the sacrificial model with
which to participate.
The way the pilots flew—tightly packed
and demonizing their opponents—it was easy
to see that they were having a good time. The
crowd cheered on roughly a dozen fliers
Saturday, and a second event was held by
popular demand Sunday that included
approximately 17 pilots.
Some of the competitors had obviously
planned to “kick some tailfin.” They brought
Combat models that were specially built
flying wings; they were fast and durable.
Among the slow flyers that were piloted by
entrants who played for the heck of it, about
the best the flying wings could do was make
“near miss” strafing runs.
In the end each Combat contest was
vectored by the seemingly hopeless underdog.
Dramatics like that is part of what makes the
JR indoor event special.
If you’re not a morning or day person, this
event won’t leave you hanging. After the Cox
racing, the interior lights were dimmed at 7
p.m. for the “Night Moves” simulated nightflight
session. It wasn’t totally dark in the
dome; it was more like dusk, which meant
that only a few colored LED were needed to
identify a model. Helicopters and fixed-wing
aircraft were flown.
Later that night, from 8:00 until late,
Saturday’s activities concluded with a
hospitality party featuring Thacker’s Texas
hold ’em in the “ZAP Tap Room” at the
Ramada Inn (the host hotel that was just a
block away).
I found the JR Indoor Electric Festival to be
well organized with strong sponsor support
that attracts active and enthusiastic members
into the hobby. Experiencing this event for
the second year in a row definitely raises the
bar as far as my expectations for the next
indoor event I attend. MA
Michael Ramsey
[email protected]
Other Resources:
RCgroups.com
www.rcgroups.com/jr-indoor-electricfestival-
2006-439/
Quiet Flyer
January 2007
Fly RC
March 2007
CIFA
www.jriefestival.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/04
Page Numbers: 26,27,28,29,30,32
Frank Noll Jr. pilots an A320
Shorts Skyvan low for a strafing
run across Spektrum Lake. AXI
2204/54 motors vector thrust
for rudder control.
THE CLOSE OF the fall outdoor flying season is marked by leaves
falling from the trees, the cold air blowing, and field conditions that
are generally muddy and uncomfortable. This used to be the sunset
on many modelers’ piloting-skill advancement until better outdoor
conditions beckoned for their return.
When the warm weather came back, rusty fingers would have to
grapple the transmitter sticks and refresh the relationship between
the master and his or her flying model. After a few visits to the field
the pilot would be back into the routine and hopefully pick up flight
training where he or she had left off.
This interruption of flying was tolerated since the free time
was typically spent working in the shop building next year’s
beauties. When computer flight simulators came along,
they satisfied, to some extent, an itch to break the
bonds of the unwavering ground—but it was only
virtual and it wasn’t the same.
Continuing advances in electricpowered
model aircraft promise growth
of the hobby. They make it easier
and more affordable than ever
to take advantage of clean
Terry Nitsch and his brother Rick work together
designing models for TeeRiffic Jets. This threechannel
micro MiG-29 spans only 11.5 inches.
and quiet flight whether a modeler is a
beginner or an expert.
Because electric models are small and
light, they impose fewer safety hazards.
Flying these aircraft indoors in close
proximity has gained enough popularity that
the number of events in which to do so has
Left: Ken Spencer won the Best Scale static award with his
Demoiselle. It uses BSD Micro equipment.
Nick Maxwell pilots Bob Brown’s T-Rex 450SE to check out control trim and gyro sensitivity. Is a 2-inch inverted hover above the
ground a required test?
20p9 two-line
cutline goes here
E-flite’s new Mini
FuntanaX isn’t exactly an
indoor model, but in
talented pilot David
Pane’s hands the Four
Seasons Golf Dome has
plenty of room.
increased steadily in the last five years.
For the last four years the JR Indoor
Electric Festival has kicked off the indoor
flying season. It is usually held the first
week of November; in 2006 it was Saturday
the 4th and Sunday the 5th. The event is
hosted by the Columbus Indoor Flight
Association (CIFA) and directed under the
confidence of master modeler Terry Nitsch.
For a number of years the CIFA has been
flying at the Four Seasons Golf Dome in
Columbus, Ohio, usually on Saturday
mornings throughout the winter months.
Top 10 Reasons
to Fly Indoors
10. It never rains.
9. There’s always someplace to
land.
8. Electric power is used, so there’s
no cleanup.
7. There are no trees to crash into.
6 Flying out of site isn’t an
option.
5. You can fly all year.
4. The runway is smooth.
3. Landings are into the wind.
2. The sun is always out, even at
night.
1. It’s a thrill for everyone! MA
—Michael Ramsey
Ed Andrews’ original-design Hiper-Tripe made from 2mm Depron and carbon fiber. The
6-ounce model has a four-point pivot for rudder and elevator control.
Spektrum Lake creator Bernie Oldenburgh modified his GWS Pico Tiger Moth with
built-up wings and floats made from balsa with Solite covering.
The proud winner of Saturday’s Full
Contact Combat event with his E-flite
Tribute, which survived the battle with
only minor damage.
These warbird pilots were part of a racing event featuring 18-gram Peanut-size
models. They used Plantraco’s 900 MHz radio systems.
A.C. Glenn takes delivery of a Thunderbird
foamie designed by Jeremy Chinn and
produced by Mike Glass. A.C. installed the
accessories and flew all weekend.
Photos by author
These flying engagements are normally
exclusive to members, but any AMA member
is welcome to participate in the JR Indoor
Electric Festival.
To fly through Saturday and Sunday a pilot
must register and pay a fee of $30. For that
modest amount he or she receives 19 hours of
flying time, the convenience of buying almost
any spare part from the nearly 20 vendors, and
access to the infinite knowledge of the more
than 150 pilots who attend.
In addition, as a gift from Horizon Hobby
this year every pilot received a pair of Spektrum
Rob Romash, a designer for Estes-Cox, has a remarkable talent for building the most
exquisite FF Scale models. This ASV sailplane spans roughly 10 inches.
Marc Stermer built this 35-inch Grumman Skyrocket
from blue foam sheet. It features GWS retractable
landing gear and is available from Rabid Models.
Josh Mathews is happy after a fun flight with
his Hobby Lobby Shinden J7W1 EPP warbird.
It spans 31.5 inches and weighs 10 ounces.
Jason Noll’s Vrolet from Fancy Foam Models is a freestyle or
precision aerobatics indoor model. The precision version (shown)
has drag features to slow its airspeed.
The largest indoor model flown at the event was Marc Stermer’s 69-inch, 1.5-pound PBY. It uses two GWS twin IPS gear drives.
The Cox Micro Warbird Race was a big hit. First- through fifth-place finishers were (L-R)
Nick Maxwell, Marc Stermer, Gary Villard, Keven Burner, and Steve Lawrie.
S75 microservos (a $30 value) and the chance
to win one of the many products that were
given away all weekend as door prizes. This
event is a win-win and perhaps a win-again
opportunity.
Flying an RC model aircraft indoors is a
challenge but is not outside the average model
pilot’s grasp. The golf dome’s inflated
structure (which is basically a balloon staked
to the ground) is unique in that the
atmosphere inside is at a slightly different
pressure. You’ll feel your ears pop while
passing through the revolving door.
The temperature inside is kept
comfortable (at 58°-60°). Although the
“ground” is technically on six sides of the
airspace, the semisoft walls are netted and
fairly harmless to any models that make
contact.
The floor is extremely active, with plenty
of flying and vendors and exhibitors
organized in a double row that stretches
across the entrance wall. The pit area is
underneath and in front of the second-floor
driving area.
The second floor accommodates a few
vendors but is mostly kept open for spectators
who want to relax and enjoy the air show. The
view of the 87,000-square-foot area is great
from up there.
The flying area is partitioned into three
zones. There was 3-D flying and helicopters
against the south wall, the “racetrack” area for
open or feature flying in the center, and the
micro-flying area for models weighing less
than 2-3 ounces and flying slower than 10
mph on the north wall.
Sponsors
Fly RC
Spektrum
Quiet Flyer magazine
ParkZone
HobbyZone
Great Planes Manufacturing
ElectriFly
Futaba
E-flite
ZAP
Cox Hobbies
Castle Creations
Radical RC
Litefly RC
E Cubed R/C
BSD Micro RC
Hobby Lobby International
Academy of Model Aeronautics
30 MODEL AVIATION
Winners
Trophy Sponsor Airplane Pilot
Best Original Design ZAP Hiper-Tripe Ed Andrews
Best Multi-Engine ZAP Shorts Skyvan Frank Noll Jr.
Best Micro RC Aircraft ZAP Paul’s Bipe Don Post
Best Scale ZAP Demoiselle Ken Spencer
Best Sport Performance ZAP Align T-Rex 600 Nick Maxwell
Best Jet ZAP MiG-29 Micro Rick Nitsch
Pilot’s Choice Radical RC Fokker E.III Kenneth Carchietta
Best New Product Fly RC and festival Spektrum DX7
Depending on the amount of participation,
time slots are reserved for specific aircraft
types to fly within the racetrack. Most of the
time it was difficult to tell when these time
slots were in effect; most pilots flew whatever
they wanted and when they wanted (which is
how fun-fly events usually are).
I found the jets’ popularity remarkable.
Not too long ago “slow” was the way to go
indoors; recently it seems as though almost
any type of flying is possible. With the
intense popularity of the flat foamie, sleek
and streamlined jets are gaining momentum.
The flat foamie still reigns supreme as the
model of choice for most indoor activity.
There were more of those flying at the event
than anything else. For versatility and
capability I’ve learned that the 3-D foam
aircraft can’t be beaten. They’re easy to fix,
inexpensive to set up, and an excellent
training tool for any RC pilot.
The “flat foam” style of modeling isn’t
limited to aerobatics. With a little imagination
modelers have been exploring scale subjects
that are remarkably attractive and fly with
relative ease in profile.
Many of the jets at the event were built
with flat-foam construction, and there was a
variety of warbirds and civilian aircraft. In
fact, three of the seven event awards went to
models constructed from foam.
One of the most original features added to
the landing zone was Spektrum Lake. Bernie
Oldenburgh engineered the 15 x 50-foot pond
from 2-inch PVC pipe and thick plastic drop
cloths.
Bernie was often seen enjoying his
creation while flying his modified GWS Pico
Tiger Moth. The yellow biplane was unique
because he made its built-up balsa wings and
custom stick-built balsa floats that were
covered in Solite film.
I liked Bernie’s model because it took
advantage of foam simplicity and balsaengineering
opportunities. His Tiger Moth
was actually lighter than the stock GWS
model on floats, so it flew at scale speeds and
it was a pleasure to watch do touch-and-gos.
I’m a sucker for floatplanes!
Another feature added to this year’s
festival was the Cox Micro Warbird Air
Races. Having participated in the first of this
type of event at the 2006 Nats, I was anxious
to see how the competition was evolving.
The popularity of these little 20-inch
airplanes is remarkable. They can be
purchased as kits for approximately $30 or as
complete RTFs for roughly $90. If you think
about it, getting involved with indoor electric
flight for less than $100 is astounding.
These heavy metal models need to be
lightened to be decent racers, but the rules
were specifically written so that the only
allowable change to the stock model is the
battery pack. Changing from the six-cell
NiMH to a 7.4-volt Li-Poly makes a world of
difference, and these airplanes get easier to fly
the faster they go.
Keeping the warbirds on the tight track
was the hardest part of the contest, and it’s the
trick the winning pilots had mastered. Thank
goodness they didn’t soup up their models
any further; they were plenty fast.
Approximately 30 pilots competed in the Cox
races; I think you’ll see this event at many
future fun-flys.
Even in the rules posted online for the
event the goal was evident; it was for every
participant to have fun. There was something
to be learned about the hobby as well.
Several seminars were held during the
weekend. Hosted by John Adams of Horizon
Hobby, these lectures were geared toward
updating modelers on some of the hot, new
technologies in the sport including the new
broadband radio system by Spektrum and
mini helicopters featuring the Blade and TRex
machines.
John is an excellent speaker and is
basically the horse’s mouth when it comes to
those subjects. Those who attended came
away with a much better understanding of the
subjects and found John’s donated time to be
valuable to their enjoyment of the sport.
Full Contact Combat was one of the more
extreme events held. It wasn’t for everyone,
but it attracted many willing pilots who had
the entry fees and the sacrificial model with
which to participate.
The way the pilots flew—tightly packed
and demonizing their opponents—it was easy
to see that they were having a good time. The
crowd cheered on roughly a dozen fliers
Saturday, and a second event was held by
popular demand Sunday that included
approximately 17 pilots.
Some of the competitors had obviously
planned to “kick some tailfin.” They brought
Combat models that were specially built
flying wings; they were fast and durable.
Among the slow flyers that were piloted by
entrants who played for the heck of it, about
the best the flying wings could do was make
“near miss” strafing runs.
In the end each Combat contest was
vectored by the seemingly hopeless underdog.
Dramatics like that is part of what makes the
JR indoor event special.
If you’re not a morning or day person, this
event won’t leave you hanging. After the Cox
racing, the interior lights were dimmed at 7
p.m. for the “Night Moves” simulated nightflight
session. It wasn’t totally dark in the
dome; it was more like dusk, which meant
that only a few colored LED were needed to
identify a model. Helicopters and fixed-wing
aircraft were flown.
Later that night, from 8:00 until late,
Saturday’s activities concluded with a
hospitality party featuring Thacker’s Texas
hold ’em in the “ZAP Tap Room” at the
Ramada Inn (the host hotel that was just a
block away).
I found the JR Indoor Electric Festival to be
well organized with strong sponsor support
that attracts active and enthusiastic members
into the hobby. Experiencing this event for
the second year in a row definitely raises the
bar as far as my expectations for the next
indoor event I attend. MA
Michael Ramsey
[email protected]
Other Resources:
RCgroups.com
www.rcgroups.com/jr-indoor-electricfestival-
2006-439/
Quiet Flyer
January 2007
Fly RC
March 2007
CIFA
www.jriefestival.com