Radio Control Indoor Scale
Bob Wilder, 1005 Hidden Oaks Ct., Colleyville TX 76034
THE NATIONAL INDOOR Remote-Controlled Aircraft Council (NIRAC), with the help of the National Association of Scale Aeromodelers and some of its staff, put on the first indoor Scale RC contest, which brought out many of the country's best Scale builders. It was held July 7 at the Horizon Convention Center in downtown Muncie, Indiana.
Stan Alexander, Cliff Tacle, and Dave Platt helped make it happen. Doug Powell, his wife Jean, and AMA District XIII Vice President Sandy Frank also assisted.
Joe Ilahn and Don Stackhouse of DJ Aerotech came to fly their Roadkill series. Joe surprised the crowd when he made a flyby with his Lockheed Electra. He released a scale parachutist that opened its tiny parachute and floated to the floor.
Don Stackhouse flew an amazing, realistic flying wing. He cleverly designed mechanical mixing controls for this design.
Gary Jones came all the way from Clovis, New Mexico, via New York. He had a carload of indoor RC models, such as an American Airlines 757 and a B-36 with all six pusher motors powering the beautiful bomber through a realistic performance. In contrast, Gary flew a small, lightweight profile model with the new Sky Hooks and Rigging RX72N-Hybrid-V receiver. Don Stackhouse wowed everyone with his four-motored Northrop XB-35 flying wing. It featured Jedelski type wing construction.
Mike Gretz flew his second-place-finishing Demoiselle to the tune of "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines."
Gary Webb holds his DJ Aerotech DC-3. Multimotor models were common at this event.
Gary Jones electrified this molded-foam American Airlines 767. It flew beautifully and very scalelike. At approximately 10:30 Friday evening, Gary went out in the dark to demonstrate another model. On it he had lights the color of and at the location of those on the full-scale aircraft. Gary is one of the best pilots in the indoor RC arena.
Scott Christianson and Mike Gretz represented Sig Manufacturing well. Scott flew his Antoinette to a victory. The detail and craftsmanship of the motor alone were superb. The motor on Scott’s airplane was a very light V8 that he constructed from Sig balsa. He also bought a V16 he constructed that was modeled after a motor used in the early 1900s.
The Antoinette not only excelled in the static-judging area, but its smooth, slow scale flight backed up by a sound system playing “Those Magnificent Men and Their Flying Machines” was a bonus everyone seemed to enjoy.
Mike came in a close second flying his Demoiselle. I am sure that the little French pilot caught everyone’s eye. Mike was not to be outdone in flight; his model flew gracefully to the “Magnificent Men” tune as well.
Third and fourth places were very close. Jim Rediske flew his de Havilland DH.82A to third, and Doug Ward was only a couple of points behind with his S.E.5.
Beautiful plaques made by Randall Trumbull, Steve Weaver, and Marcie Bizzell at AMA Headquarters were awarded to the winners.
It was a pleasure to see Hubert Bitner—a fellow Texan from Plano—there flying his helicopter.
This evening was not only for indoor RC Scale competition; many individuals came to demonstrate their great skills (and not-so-great skills) during the fun-fly sessions. AMA Programs Director Jay Mayly made his first-ever flight amid four walls and a low ceiling. His first attempt looked good, but not every first-time indoor pilot was as fortunate.
Many manufacturers came to the support of NIRAC, which is AMA’s newest Special Interest Group, by donating merchandise and gift certificates. There was a raffle drawing approximately every 10 minutes during the event for the items donated. There were many happy and appreciative winners.
NIRAC wants to promote competition in many areas of indoor RC, such as Scale, aerobatics, helicopters, weight-lifting, duration, pylon racing, and more. We are looking forward to increased activities at the 2003 Nationals.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
