Free Flight: Indoor
Local Records? Dr. John Martin, sparkplug of indoor activity in the Miami, Fla. area, found a way to generate more competitive interest and activity. He records and publishes local flight records. When a group gets started, not many of the fliers are really good. So, times can be average to mediocre for a long time, and no one really advances much. However, by publishing high times as local records, John lets all the club members know what they have to beat in the monthly competitions. This is especially useful when a local site doesn't fit the AMA ceiling categories and even good fliers have a hard time setting national records. So, call it a site record or local record-the fliers get special recognition for being better than the other club members. This spurs further development and everyone learns a lot.
Free Flight: Indoor
Getting Started: One of the questions most often asked about indoor flying is how to get started. There is no magic or easy way, and many different approaches work well. The basic ingredients of any successful "beginner course" are these: a group, flying regularly, with mild competition. It is difficult to maintain interest when flying by yourself, and regular exposure to the ideas and concepts of others in the group spurs each flier's imagination and creativity. The type of model involved at the start really doesn't matter; what matters is that the models evolve and improve. The regular sessions help by reinforcing the lessons learned and helping to improve handling skills and judgement. The major difficulty with the advanced, more delicate models is in losing the touch, once it is learned.
Free Flight: Indoor
Secrets (?) of Indoor Trim: Some indoor fliers who haven't been flying a long time simply assume that there are secrets of adjustment which make the winning models fly so much better than their own. In a limited context, this might be true: there are several model adjustments which improve the model's flight characteristics. However, three of the most important model adjustments literally are no secret, since they are clearly visible on the model, either in flight or at rest. What's the Biggest Flight Problem? Probably the most persistent problem with indoor models is making them handle full power at launch. Marginal models stall, spiral down, fly straight under high power, and do several combinations of weird and distressing things.
Free Flight: Indoor
A Tribute: By the time you read this, most of the indoor activity (except for the Nats and the FAI Indoor Team Selection Program) will be winding down until Fall. A lot of members of model clubs have been having the benefit of lots of hard work-their club newsletter. For those clubs that sponsor indoor activity, the typical club newsletter is a source of good info about indoor modeling. These lucky clubs should salute their newsletter editor! Meeting The Need: Members of those clubs with really active newsletter staffs find more than just contest dates and meeting notices; there are also articles on indoor topics. The really neat thing about these articles compared to this column or Indoor News & Views (Box 545, Richardson TX 75080), is that the articles are at the level of the club activity.
Free Flight: Indoor
Model Improvement: Time and again, it is said that indoor models must be flown repeatedly in order to get them properly trimmed. In a way, that is true; the real secret is a systematic approach coupled with good record keeping. By using a systematic approach-change one factor, test fly and record the results-it is possible to tell exactly what improves performance and by how much. Performance Testing: Although the phrase "with all other factors held constant" is not easily made to come true with respect to indoor models, do the best you can when testing a new design. When evaluating a new model do not blast off for the ceiling with a full load of turns!
