JR Indoor Electric Festival - 2010/04

THE 6th ANNUAL JR Indoor
Electric Festival was held
November 6-8, 2009, at the Four
Seasons Golf Dome in Columbus,
Ohio. Nearly 200 pilots turned out
at the newly constructed venue.
They were glad to be back, after
last year’s fly-in was canceled
because of heavy damage to the
dome caused by high winds. The
flattened structure warranted a total
John Redman hovers a Blade mCX tandem helicopter over Spektrum Lake. This reconstruction.
machine looked at home over the water, with its Canadian rescue markings.
by Jay Smith
18 MODEL AVIATION
The flig
of the d
JR Indoor
Electric Festival
Mike Fuller’s StarBoard,
otherwise known as the
“flying surfer dude,” won
the Best Original Design
award.
The same
great
event in a
fresh dome
04sig1_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 8:57 AM Page 18
Jason Danhakl won the Best Sport
Performance award with the new ElectriFly
Extra 330SC. Its bright-yellow color scheme
showed up well inside the dome.
1745
April2010 19
The flightline, pit area, and a few aircraft are visible in this view from the back
of the dome. This venue provides pilots with a lot of depth for flying.
Above: A ParkZone P-51 takes off
from the deck for another mission.
While this carrier was stationed in
Spektrum Lake, several aircraft and
helicopters used it for takeoffs and
landings.
This profile Corsair
was one of several
submicro and
ultramicro WW II
models that Joe
Malinchak had at
the event. They
will soon be
available from
M a l i n c h a k
Scale Models.
Left: Horizon Hobby provided
10 ParkZone Ultra-Micro P-
51s for pylon racing. You can
see the plaques for the top
three finishers at the top right.
Great Planes
d emon s t r a t e d
how the VFO
(Vertical Flying
Object) got its
name. It can take
off vertically and
hover effortlessly.
Once locked into
a hover, this
model can
maintain it
hands off.
04sig1_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 8:59 AM Page 19
20 MODEL AVIATION
20 MODEL AVIATION
Robert Hinchliff launches his FF Pennyplane,
which was trimmed well and flew nice,
graceful circles. He also had several stick-andtissue
RC models.
Bob Wilder of Wilder Models shows off
his B-25 Mitchell. He displayed and flew
several CL and single-line “around the
pole” models throughout the event.
Joe Bumbaugh (L) and John Bumbaugh pilot their mCX
helicopters in unison. Each has been flying model aircraft
for roughly five years.
Luke Simion turned his Hacker Model Ferias into a gunfighter by adding plastic Army
men to the wings. The airplane flew great; all that was missing were some
paratroopers.
It was exciting to see an oversized AMA Cub on floats. This FF design flew beautifully
converted to an electric-powered RC model.
Bill Stevens, of Stevens Aeromodel, shows off his electric CL
RingRats. These are a blast to fly, and flight duration and power are
adjustable to suit any pilot.
04sig1_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 9:01 AM Page 20
April 2010 21
Alyssa, who has been flying models since
she was 8, is caught in the middle of
building a Dynamic Foamy G202 profile
aircraft at the fly-in.
Cubs look great on floats.
David Payne pilots the
Ultra-Micro J-3 Cub that he
equipped with homemade
floats for some fun on
Spektrum Lake.
The Piper L-4 Grasshopper was at home flying inside the dome. At times, as many as four
flew together in formation. The invasion stripes stand out on this model.
Special times were set aside for helicopters to fly. This Heli-Max SeaCobra
fit in well with the other machines, providing a semiscale look in a small
package.
This fine representation of England’s Lancaster bomber, built
from stick and tissue in micro size, belongs to Sid Hinchliff. It
was on display with a B-17 that his brother built.
Photos by the author
1772
D y n a m i c
F o a m y ’ s
J e n n i f e r
Wilson and
her daughter,
Riley, show off
the latest
aircraft releases.
The company
sells several lowcost
profile kits.
04sig1_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 9:03 AM Page 21
22 MODEL AVIATION
O u tsta n di n g at t he
J R I n d o o r El e ct r i c Fe st i va l
Sponsors
Platinum: E-flite, HobbyZone, Spektrum, ParkZone, Model Airplane News,
Fly RC, Backyard Flyer
Gold: Futaba FASST, Great Planes, ElectriFly, Zap, Thunder Power RC,
Castle Creations
Silver: Wilder Model, Sport RC Flyer, Radical RC, LukesRCPlanes, Academy
of Model Aeronautics
Awards
Best Original Design: Mike Fuller’s StarBoard
Best Multi Engine: Mark Stermer’s B-17 Flying Fortress
Best Micro RC Aircraft: Joe Malinchak’s PT-17 Stearman
Best Scale: Kenneth Carchietta’s Dunne D.VIII
Best Sport Performance: Jason Danhakl’s Great Planes Extra 330SC
Best Jet: Burt Wilson’s Dynamic Foamy YF23
Best New Product: E-flite’s Ultra-Micro 4-Site
Pilot’s Choice: Mike Fuller’s StarBoard
ParkZone P-51 Pylon Races
1. David Payne
2. Joey Smith
3. Scott Naylor
At a distance, the dome looks almost like
a giant, overinflated first-base bag from Little
League days. Only when you get closer do
you realize that its size is perfect in which to
let golf balls—or aircraft—fly inside.
To keep the dome inflated, constant air
pressure must be maintained inside; that is
achieved with a revolving door. It can be
challenging to get both you and your models
through it, but once inside you can appreciate
the wide-open flying space that has
considerable depth.
After a quick pass through check-in,
pilots received goody bags. Depending on
how early they arrived, they garnered a
Spektrum AR6100 receiver, a Thunder
Power battery, or a Zap CA fix-it kit. These
perks were a great way to get pilots
motivated upon arrival.
Lighting in the dome was via spotlights
positioned strategically behind the pilot
stations, allowing for the flying area to be
well lit without the fliers being temporarily
blinded. Also behind the flying area was a
“pit area” that consisted of numerous tables.
Those were generously provided to allow
pilots a place to charge batteries and work
on aircraft.
Just above the pit area was a second
level, which provided a great location to get
a different perspective on all the action.
Food and RC vendors were stationed on the
back wall, just inside the dome.
One of the best things about the JR Indoor
event is “Spektrum Lake.” Being able to fly
floatplanes and float-equipped helicopters
off of the 16 x 48-foot water runway adds a
great deal to this gathering. Even if these
models take a dive, they’re usually easy to
recover and ready to go again in no time.
Some unique aircraft took advantage of
Spektrum Lake, including Mike Fuller’s
StarBoard—otherwise known as the “flying
surfer dude.” Mike did a nice job of piloting
the RC craft and making low, slow passes
over the water.
Floats were popular; they were mounted
on many models, including a Vapor that
had no problems with takeoffs on water
and an oversized RC version of the AMA
Cub.
Several airplane and helicopter fliers tried
their luck with takeoffs and landings from
the deck of an RC aircraft carrier that Steve
Sripol built from foam. It was temporally
stationed on Spektrum Lake, and those who
gathered to watch the action found it
entertaining.
Event organizer Terry Nitsch and his
Columbus Indoor Modelers Association
crew did an excellent job of keeping the flyin
running smoothly and giving all modeling
disciplines time to fly. There were scheduled
slots for jets, helicopters, ultramicro aircraft,
and scale models, for those who were
uncomfortable piloting through the thick
traffic experienced during open flying.
One of the most exciting new products I
had the privilege to try was thanks to Bill
Stevens of Stevens AeroModel. I jumped at
the opportunity to fly his new CL electric
RingRat. It has been roughly 20 years since I
had taken the reins of a CL model, and this
was my experience flying one with electric
power.
The RingRat was adjusted electronically,
to allow one-minute flights at 70% power. I
took three flights and pushed it slightly
further each time.
I was happy that I never really got dizzy,
although the lights indoors can make CL a
bit more difficult than outdoors. I returned
the airplane to Bill in the same condition in
which I received it, and I was reminded of
how fun CL can be.
Hobbico, Horizon Hobby, 2DogRC,
Hobby Lobby, Model Aero, Dynamic
Foamy, and Lazertoyz had new products on
display. Between these companies, they
offered models of World War I and World
War II aircraft, jets, helicopters, and
aerobatic and 3-D airplanes. This event
provides a great opportunity to see the new
releases up close and in the air.
Robert Hinchliff and his brother, Sid,
came over from Michigan with some
impressive micro airplanes. They had plastic
totes filled with stick-and-tissue models,
most of which used the Vapor brick for
power. Cubs, S.E.5as, Zeros, and even
amazing bombers such as the B-24 and
England’s Lancaster were shown off and
flown throughout the weekend.
Joe Malinchak covered the submicro and
ultramicro portion of the event with his new
line of profile WW II fighter models. These
feather-light, tiny airplanes flew well and
looked great.
Joe’s full-fuselage PT-17 Stearman is
also impressive. It received much attention,
which earned it the best Micro RC aircraft
award.
To keep things interesting, several
competitions were held between open flying.
In one contest, a hanging bulls-eye (banner)
tempted pilots to try to fly their models into
it for prizes.
Full-contact Combat was contested on
04sig1_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 9:04 AM Page 22
Saturday, and two dozen participants lined
up to win the $240 prize. Many of the
pilots’ chances, along with their airplanes,
went down in glory. In the end, Matt
Andren and his ParkZone Mini Super Cub
came out of the furball victorious.
The ParkZone P-51 Mustang air races
were exciting! Horizon Hobby donated all
of the RTFs for the contest, to keep the
competition equal and reliant on pilot skill.
With a bit of luck thrown in, a contestant
could be successful.
Four aircraft raced at a time, and the
winners were determined by who had the
highest lap count. Participants and
spectators alike cheered for competitors
throughout the races. David Payne was
named the winner at the conclusion of the
race, and all of the models flown were given
to the top fliers.
The JR Indoor Electric Festival is a great
start to the winter indoor flying season. You
should attend if you enjoy small electricpowered
models, regardless of whether or
not you live in a climate that is conducive to
year-round outdoor flying. It is a welcome
break to fly these aircraft without concern
about wind and weather.
I am amazed to see these builders push the
limit, using the most diminutive components
and lightest materials to complete their
micromasterpieces. Whether you are looking
for a nice venue in which to fly or want a
sneak peek at all of the great new products
coming down the line, the JR Indoor Electric
Festival won’t disappoint. MA
Jay Smith
[email protected]

THE 6th ANNUAL JR Indoor
Electric Festival was held
November 6-8, 2009, at the Four
Seasons Golf Dome in Columbus,
Ohio. Nearly 200 pilots turned out
at the newly constructed venue.
They were glad to be back, after
last year’s fly-in was canceled
because of heavy damage to the
dome caused by high winds. The
flattened structure warranted a total
John Redman hovers a Blade mCX tandem helicopter over Spektrum Lake. This reconstruction.
machine looked at home over the water, with its Canadian rescue markings.
by Jay Smith
18 MODEL AVIATION
The flig
of the d
JR Indoor
Electric Festival
Mike Fuller’s StarBoard,
otherwise known as the
“flying surfer dude,” won
the Best Original Design
award.
The same
great
event in a
fresh dome
04sig1_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 8:57 AM Page 18
Jason Danhakl won the Best Sport
Performance award with the new ElectriFly
Extra 330SC. Its bright-yellow color scheme
showed up well inside the dome.
1745
April2010 19
The flightline, pit area, and a few aircraft are visible in this view from the back
of the dome. This venue provides pilots with a lot of depth for flying.
Above: A ParkZone P-51 takes off
from the deck for another mission.
While this carrier was stationed in
Spektrum Lake, several aircraft and
helicopters used it for takeoffs and
landings.
This profile Corsair
was one of several
submicro and
ultramicro WW II
models that Joe
Malinchak had at
the event. They
will soon be
available from
M a l i n c h a k
Scale Models.
Left: Horizon Hobby provided
10 ParkZone Ultra-Micro P-
51s for pylon racing. You can
see the plaques for the top
three finishers at the top right.
Great Planes
d emon s t r a t e d
how the VFO
(Vertical Flying
Object) got its
name. It can take
off vertically and
hover effortlessly.
Once locked into
a hover, this
model can
maintain it
hands off.
04sig1_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 8:59 AM Page 19
20 MODEL AVIATION
20 MODEL AVIATION
Robert Hinchliff launches his FF Pennyplane,
which was trimmed well and flew nice,
graceful circles. He also had several stick-andtissue
RC models.
Bob Wilder of Wilder Models shows off
his B-25 Mitchell. He displayed and flew
several CL and single-line “around the
pole” models throughout the event.
Joe Bumbaugh (L) and John Bumbaugh pilot their mCX
helicopters in unison. Each has been flying model aircraft
for roughly five years.
Luke Simion turned his Hacker Model Ferias into a gunfighter by adding plastic Army
men to the wings. The airplane flew great; all that was missing were some
paratroopers.
It was exciting to see an oversized AMA Cub on floats. This FF design flew beautifully
converted to an electric-powered RC model.
Bill Stevens, of Stevens Aeromodel, shows off his electric CL
RingRats. These are a blast to fly, and flight duration and power are
adjustable to suit any pilot.
04sig1_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 9:01 AM Page 20
April 2010 21
Alyssa, who has been flying models since
she was 8, is caught in the middle of
building a Dynamic Foamy G202 profile
aircraft at the fly-in.
Cubs look great on floats.
David Payne pilots the
Ultra-Micro J-3 Cub that he
equipped with homemade
floats for some fun on
Spektrum Lake.
The Piper L-4 Grasshopper was at home flying inside the dome. At times, as many as four
flew together in formation. The invasion stripes stand out on this model.
Special times were set aside for helicopters to fly. This Heli-Max SeaCobra
fit in well with the other machines, providing a semiscale look in a small
package.
This fine representation of England’s Lancaster bomber, built
from stick and tissue in micro size, belongs to Sid Hinchliff. It
was on display with a B-17 that his brother built.
Photos by the author
1772
D y n a m i c
F o a m y ’ s
J e n n i f e r
Wilson and
her daughter,
Riley, show off
the latest
aircraft releases.
The company
sells several lowcost
profile kits.
04sig1_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 9:03 AM Page 21
22 MODEL AVIATION
O u tsta n di n g at t he
J R I n d o o r El e ct r i c Fe st i va l
Sponsors
Platinum: E-flite, HobbyZone, Spektrum, ParkZone, Model Airplane News,
Fly RC, Backyard Flyer
Gold: Futaba FASST, Great Planes, ElectriFly, Zap, Thunder Power RC,
Castle Creations
Silver: Wilder Model, Sport RC Flyer, Radical RC, LukesRCPlanes, Academy
of Model Aeronautics
Awards
Best Original Design: Mike Fuller’s StarBoard
Best Multi Engine: Mark Stermer’s B-17 Flying Fortress
Best Micro RC Aircraft: Joe Malinchak’s PT-17 Stearman
Best Scale: Kenneth Carchietta’s Dunne D.VIII
Best Sport Performance: Jason Danhakl’s Great Planes Extra 330SC
Best Jet: Burt Wilson’s Dynamic Foamy YF23
Best New Product: E-flite’s Ultra-Micro 4-Site
Pilot’s Choice: Mike Fuller’s StarBoard
ParkZone P-51 Pylon Races
1. David Payne
2. Joey Smith
3. Scott Naylor
At a distance, the dome looks almost like
a giant, overinflated first-base bag from Little
League days. Only when you get closer do
you realize that its size is perfect in which to
let golf balls—or aircraft—fly inside.
To keep the dome inflated, constant air
pressure must be maintained inside; that is
achieved with a revolving door. It can be
challenging to get both you and your models
through it, but once inside you can appreciate
the wide-open flying space that has
considerable depth.
After a quick pass through check-in,
pilots received goody bags. Depending on
how early they arrived, they garnered a
Spektrum AR6100 receiver, a Thunder
Power battery, or a Zap CA fix-it kit. These
perks were a great way to get pilots
motivated upon arrival.
Lighting in the dome was via spotlights
positioned strategically behind the pilot
stations, allowing for the flying area to be
well lit without the fliers being temporarily
blinded. Also behind the flying area was a
“pit area” that consisted of numerous tables.
Those were generously provided to allow
pilots a place to charge batteries and work
on aircraft.
Just above the pit area was a second
level, which provided a great location to get
a different perspective on all the action.
Food and RC vendors were stationed on the
back wall, just inside the dome.
One of the best things about the JR Indoor
event is “Spektrum Lake.” Being able to fly
floatplanes and float-equipped helicopters
off of the 16 x 48-foot water runway adds a
great deal to this gathering. Even if these
models take a dive, they’re usually easy to
recover and ready to go again in no time.
Some unique aircraft took advantage of
Spektrum Lake, including Mike Fuller’s
StarBoard—otherwise known as the “flying
surfer dude.” Mike did a nice job of piloting
the RC craft and making low, slow passes
over the water.
Floats were popular; they were mounted
on many models, including a Vapor that
had no problems with takeoffs on water
and an oversized RC version of the AMA
Cub.
Several airplane and helicopter fliers tried
their luck with takeoffs and landings from
the deck of an RC aircraft carrier that Steve
Sripol built from foam. It was temporally
stationed on Spektrum Lake, and those who
gathered to watch the action found it
entertaining.
Event organizer Terry Nitsch and his
Columbus Indoor Modelers Association
crew did an excellent job of keeping the flyin
running smoothly and giving all modeling
disciplines time to fly. There were scheduled
slots for jets, helicopters, ultramicro aircraft,
and scale models, for those who were
uncomfortable piloting through the thick
traffic experienced during open flying.
One of the most exciting new products I
had the privilege to try was thanks to Bill
Stevens of Stevens AeroModel. I jumped at
the opportunity to fly his new CL electric
RingRat. It has been roughly 20 years since I
had taken the reins of a CL model, and this
was my experience flying one with electric
power.
The RingRat was adjusted electronically,
to allow one-minute flights at 70% power. I
took three flights and pushed it slightly
further each time.
I was happy that I never really got dizzy,
although the lights indoors can make CL a
bit more difficult than outdoors. I returned
the airplane to Bill in the same condition in
which I received it, and I was reminded of
how fun CL can be.
Hobbico, Horizon Hobby, 2DogRC,
Hobby Lobby, Model Aero, Dynamic
Foamy, and Lazertoyz had new products on
display. Between these companies, they
offered models of World War I and World
War II aircraft, jets, helicopters, and
aerobatic and 3-D airplanes. This event
provides a great opportunity to see the new
releases up close and in the air.
Robert Hinchliff and his brother, Sid,
came over from Michigan with some
impressive micro airplanes. They had plastic
totes filled with stick-and-tissue models,
most of which used the Vapor brick for
power. Cubs, S.E.5as, Zeros, and even
amazing bombers such as the B-24 and
England’s Lancaster were shown off and
flown throughout the weekend.
Joe Malinchak covered the submicro and
ultramicro portion of the event with his new
line of profile WW II fighter models. These
feather-light, tiny airplanes flew well and
looked great.
Joe’s full-fuselage PT-17 Stearman is
also impressive. It received much attention,
which earned it the best Micro RC aircraft
award.
To keep things interesting, several
competitions were held between open flying.
In one contest, a hanging bulls-eye (banner)
tempted pilots to try to fly their models into
it for prizes.
Full-contact Combat was contested on
04sig1_00MSTRPG.QXD 2/23/10 9:04 AM Page 22
Saturday, and two dozen participants lined
up to win the $240 prize. Many of the
pilots’ chances, along with their airplanes,
went down in glory. In the end, Matt
Andren and his ParkZone Mini Super Cub
came out of the furball victorious.
The ParkZone P-51 Mustang air races
were exciting! Horizon Hobby donated all
of the RTFs for the contest, to keep the
competition equal and reliant on pilot skill.
With a bit of luck thrown in, a contestant
could be successful.
Four aircraft raced at a time, and the
winners were determined by who had the
highest lap count. Participants and
spectators alike cheered for competitors
throughout the races. David Payne was
named the winner at the conclusion of the
race, and all of the models flown were given
to the top fliers.
The JR Indoor Electric Festival is a great
start to the winter indoor flying season. You
should attend if you enjoy small electricpowered
models, regardless of whether or
not you live in a climate that is conducive to
year-round outdoor flying. It is a welcome
break to fly these aircraft without concern
about wind and weather.
I am amazed to see these builders push the
limit, using the most diminutive components
and lightest materials to complete their
micromasterpieces. Whether you are looking
for a nice venue in which to fly or want a
sneak peek at all of the great new products
coming down the line, the JR Indoor Electric
Festival won’t disappoint. MA
Jay Smith
[email protected]