1978 Indoor World Championships
OUR STORY of the 1978 Indoor World Championships really begins in June with the receipt of a small order of the new Pirelli rubber. Initial tests had revealed it to have extraordinary energy-at least five percent better than the best, old Pirelli of '72 vintage. The new rubber had lower density, allowing larger cross-sections for a given weight. One skein was sent to each of the team members (Dan Domina received his independently through Sal Cannizzo). Very quickly it began showing its superiority. At West Baden, Jim Richmond set a world record of 36:21 with a class D model and an A R.O.G. record of 17:34. At the Lakehurst regional qualifiers on July 2, Domina managed 40:23. At Akron in July, Richmond sent the D up for 50:15, peaking at 160 feet. I had an unofficial FAI flight of 43:39. Dick Obarski set a tissue stick record of 27:48. In an August practice session, Bill Hulbert passed the 40-minute mark. Everyone on the team had at least one of these milestone flights. The rubber was superb.
Nagoya Cup 1981
American-Japanese relations received a real boost (on the model airplane front) last November, when the Japan Model Aeronautic Association and the Central Japan Broadcasting Corporation hosted the first Nagoya Cup for Indoor models. For the participants it was like a trip to dreamland, thanks to Japanese hospitality.
Indoor World Championships
ASIDE FROM measuring up to the competition, an Indoor modeler's prime concern is safely transporting models. This year, each U.S. team member embarked for Bucharest independently. Harlan was the first to arrive, and he passed through customs with both anxiety and hope before getting his baggage. Very quickly, Doina, a vision of loveliness, approached and announced she was the guide and interpreter for the U.S. team. Hope dominated the emotions. The fragility of a model box was described and Doina was sent off to the baggage handlers to assure its being hand-carried upstairs. She returned, saying all was in order. Shortly thereafter, a large box came squirming sideways up the conveyer, barely able to pass the rubber door flaps separating the two levels.
I985 NATS: FF Indoor Duration
THE BRIGHT SUN served as a signal-great flying might be in the offing on Sunday. It was the first day for Indoor events, and only the condition of the hanging lights remained a question. The first step into the Base Hangar drew a pulse of adrenalin-not only were the lights out of the way, they were completely removed! Colonel Handy's crew had even added another thoughtful touch; they covered the connection box outlets with foam rubber to soften any blow the models might suffer. This writer's models were to have numerous encounters with them, and the extra work done by the Air Force helped avert certain hang-up of the models on the I-beam ledges nearby.
