Free Flight: Indoor
Summer Indoor? For almost 30 years, I have been hoping that more people would learn how great it is to fly Indoor during the summer instead of limiting it to when cold weather and other winter hassles rule. As you can see by reading the "Flying Opportunities" section further on in this month's column, summer Indoor is bustin' out all over! I have preliminary information about programs which may result in increased site availability and more opportunities to fly year-round. More on that if it works out. Who are you? Note that one important factor is common to many of these summer sessions advance notice and entry lists. In some cases, the list is for security; in other cases the meet may be cancelled with little notice, and expected participants may have to be notified. Be sure you are expected; verify that the meet is still being held before you leave home!
Free Flight: Indoor
AND IN THE center ring: Well, it isn't a three-ring circus. It's more fun! In a reprise of the events of 1988, the 1990 edition of Johnson City Indoor competition includes the 1990 Indoor World Championships (June 4-6) and the 1990 NFFS U.S. Indoor Champs (June 7-9). There's more-running concurrently with the USIC is the 1990 AMA Indoor Nats. The NFFS crew has a solid track record under the unequaled leadership of Tony Italiano. If you haven't made plans to go, get to it! Send a business-sized SASE to Tony Italiano for entry forms. His address is 1655 Revere Dr., Brookfield, WI 53005.
Free Flight: Indoor
FALSE INFO! I have been gently reminded that I made a couple of mistakes in the report of the U. S. Indoor Championships (September 1989 MA). First, Dave Linstrum tells me that Jim Thornberry was flying a RTF Guillow's Jetstream in the Rubber Speed event instead of a Sleek Streak as I said. I am not familiar with the Jetstream, but Dave says, "There are substantial aerodynamic differences between the two, and the Sleek Streak is probably not as good a choice for a Speed model." The second goof was that I said Vic Gagliano built the balloon-launched Glider, but Otto Curth set me straight: The Glider was built by Vito Garofalo.
U.S. Indoor Championships
THE EIGHTH ANNUAL U.S. Indoor Championships (USIC) was sponsored by the National Free Flight Society under the direction of Tony Italiano and several other experienced CDs. There were 100 entrants from 25 states and Canada, flying in 21 official events and eight unofficial events sponsored by individuals or model airplane clubs. The combined total of official and unofficial events was more than any other Indoor contest in the world! The meet was reported by both TV and newspapers, and many spectators watched from the bleachers during the last two days of the contest.
Free Flight: Indoor
KEN GROVES IS DEAD. From John Marett comes the sad news that Ken Groves (of Canada) apparently suffered a heart attack while golfing. Ken was well known in the U.S. and was a frequent entrant in U.S. Indoor meets. His standards of craftsmanship were the highest, and he was a strong competitor in many events. U.S. and Canadian fliers will miss a competitor and a friend; Canadians will also miss the hundreds of hours of work per year that Ken devoted to promoting model aviation.
