Free Flight: Indoor
( We are out of microfilm solution. Erv Rodemsky's film is the preferred blend, but his remaining supply of raw nitrocellulose is contaminated. Other sources are being investigated, but this means a ground-zero start and months of testing to prove out any new formula. Recent changes in United States laws concerning hazardous chemicals now make it almost impossible for individuals and businesses to buy these chemicals as raw materials. Japanese-produced nitrocellulose (the primary chemical in Erv's film) is under import ban, because of legal action by a US competitor. Several of our top fliers are very low on film solution, and will probably be out by next year's World Championships.
Free Flight: Indoor
A-6 FOLLOW-UP: There has been a lot of activity on the Internet regarding the International E-Mail A-6 Indoor Contest, announced in the November 1997 column. Special note: If you request the A-6 plan mentioned there, please send your requests to R. Schroeder, 4111 West 98 St., Overland Park KS 66207. Any other address will only delay receipt of the plan! Access the web site http:/n-lemma.com/a6/ap6/theap6.html for a step-by-step text-and-picture guide for building an A-6. Del Ogren has done an excellent job with this; if you are not familiar with what is possible to do on the Internet, as I was, you will be surprised.
Free Flight: Indoor
END OF HOUR-LONG FLIGHTS? After the Marines moved out of Tustin, the two hangars are being leased. First to go was the second hangar, but the one used for Indoor is expected to be next. The hangars seem to be viewed as excellent locations for movie sets The International E-Mail A-6 Indoor Contest: This landmark event is getting a lot of activity, with raw flight times posted on the Internet. Before the contest finishes (March 31, 1998) the raw times will be adjusted according to ceiling heights to produce final scores. Sample raw scores (time/ceiling height): 4:45/22.25; 5:05/26.5.
Free Flight: Indoor
HANGAR NEWS: The previous column may have been pessimistic about the use of Hangar #1 at Tustin, but the latest word is that the expected lease deal for the hangar fell through. So for now, the guys are still flying there regularly. Meanwhile, the hangar at Moffett Field, near San Francisco, is used for monthly sessions on the third Saturday each month. This hangar has problems, including a huge opening for truck access that has no door. The fliers are cautiously feeling out the hangar, learning when turbulence is less, etc. Indoor RC Electric Duration: Bob Wilder has done it again! On February 19, Bob upped the ante with a time of 48:09 at the Cat. I Bedford site. Is this guy unstoppable, or what? The airplane is his original design with 40-inch span, 250 sq. in. area, and weighs 110 grams. He used a DC5 West-Tek (?) coreless motor, 8:1 home-built gears and four 600 ma cells. The prop was a carbon-fiber 9 × 4.5 West Tek.
Free Flight: Indoor
ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO chit-chat between Del Ogren and Roger Schroeder developed the concept of an Internet-based postal contest for the A-6 class. The A-6 class was proposed by Clarence Mather, and the San Diego Orbiteers club published the rules and began promoting the event. The first such contest is history, with excellent results, including an imposing international entry. Hats off to Del and Roger! The data below was taken from the Internet. Complete results are available from http:/n-lemma.com/indoor/. Contestant, Time, Adj Time (sec), Ht. Andrew Tagliafico, 6:40, 415, 47 John-Lenderman 6:36, 441, 47 Akihiro Danjo, 6:26, 400, 48.3 Mark Allison, 6:23, 398, 47 Lew Gitlow, 6:03, 378, 47 Emil Schutzel, 5:05, 334, 26.5
