Free Flight: Indoor
MAKE READY NOW! By the time you read this, the Indoor season will be underway in most parts of the country, so it is time to pull out the models and check them over. If you are like me, you patched them enough to get through the last contest, and promised yourself that you would do it right as soon as you got home. Oh, well, better later than never! Things to check. Assemble each model ready for flight, and visually check out the alignment. "Wave" the model gently up and down, lightly stressing the flying surfaces, and watch for parts to sag out of line, etc. Closely inspect the thrust bearing and tail hook areas, looking for stress cracks and other minor damage which can let loose without warning. Be sure that the wing posts fit their sockets properly, with enough friction to stand flight stress without pulling out. Look at the covering (microfilm especially) to see if any patches are needed. Finally, inspect the box mounting hardware, to be sure that the model will be held safely during travel. Also be sure that there are no loose parts in the bottom of the box which can drift around during travel, poking holes that you don't want.
Free Flight: Indoor
GOOD NEWS and bad news. The good news is that Indoor Week is set up for 1983; what we don't know is what type of event will be held during the first part of the week before the annual NIMAS bash-whatever John Martin decides to call it this time. Indoor Week will begin June 12, 1983 and last until June 19. Now, for the bad news: that may be the last Indoor Week at West Baden, since Northwood Institute has decided to close that campus and sell the facilities. So, at this time, we have no idea if it will every be possible to use that site after 1983.
Free Flight: Indoor
BAD NEWS REPLAY! In the last column, I related the demise of Pirelli and implied that there was no more of their rubber available to buy. However, most dealers have some supplies which will carry our needs for a while. Although this does not solve the power problem, it is held at bay, momentarily. Nevertheless, we should use our present supplies sparingly as suppliers try to find some other good rubber for us to use. More on Indoor Week. The Second United States Indoor Championships, sponsored by the National Free Flight Society (NFFS) and the National Indoor Model Airplane Society (NIMAS), will be held the first four days of Indoor Week. In case you haven't heard, Indoor Week will be June 12-19, 1983 in the magnificent atrium of Northwood Institute at West Baden, IN.
Free Flight: Indoor
A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY! Dave Erbach is the Event Director for an International Ornithopter Postal Contest for flights made between December 1, 1982 and December 1, 1983. Flights entered in this unusual and challenging event can be made at any Indoor contest sanctioned by FAI or any affiliated national organization (such as AMA). If you have seen an earlier announcement of this event, note that Indoor Model Supply (Lew Gitlow) has donated $100 for cash prizes, raising the total prizes to $80 for first place and $50 for second place. In addition, a $35 prize in merchandise is offered for the highest flight made by a model built from the Indoor Model Supply ornithopter kit. More information and a set of rules can be obtained by writing to Dave at 1738 St. Mary's Road, #702, Winnipeg, Manitoba R2N 1G8, Canada. Entry is free, and this is an interesting way to enjoy(?) the challenge and frustrations of flapping-wing flight.
Free Flight: Indoor
DIFFERENT STROKES. Sometimes we get all wound up in our regular competition events to the neglect of the unorthodox events (Helicopter, Ornithopter and Autogyro) and some of the offbeat non-AMA events such as Grapenut Scale, A-6, and Towline Glider. While there is nothing wrong with concentrating on competition events, we do miss out on the change of pace and the different challenge of these other events. Well, one thing I have learned by reading club newsletters is that several clubs around the country have included one or more special events in their contest and Fun-Fly schedules, often with good success.
