Largest indoor RC fun-fly and contest in U.S. history

Model Airplane News, Sep 2001 by Atwood, Tom

On May 18 and 19, in the heart of Texas, Model Airplane News, RC MicroFlight and the National Indoor Remote Control Aeromodeling Council (NIRAC) co-sponsored the largest indoor RC fun-fly and contest in U.S. history. Helc at the Southwestern Aeromodeling Conference (SWAC), the AMA-sanctioned event featured more than 150 aircraft and 53 pilots, many of whom competed in seven classes. Flying began at 9 a.m. on both days, and thousands of attendees streamed off the main floor into the spacious flying area to witness the remarkable exhibition and competition.

Airplanes competed in aerobatics, pylon racing, limbo, scale and other flying categories, and for many who were there to witness the excitement, indoor RC took on a new meaning. Most of these ships could have flown in mild conditions in any park or backyard, and most had been flight-tested in exactly those places. The real story at this meet was the new plugand-play equipment that gives this new breed of very small electric aircraft such astounding performance.

PYLON RACING

Among the most impressive competition aircraft were the indoor pylon racers. For the most part, they used stock GWS receivers, speed controls and motors (gearing and props differed with aircraft). These racers typically weighed 6 to 7 ounces and flew at speeds of 10 to 17mph-easily fast enough to penetrate light wind, had the event been held outdoors.

The scale, foam-- construction Reno racers scratch-built by Jerry Small were among the fastest and the most amazing to watch. Racing rules limited batteries to 6-cell, 7.2V, 120mAh packs; Jerry used compact Ni-Cd batteries that looked just like the familiar 9V transistor-radio or fire-- alarm batteries (down to the connectors). With a scratch-built 4:1 gearbox, his bright red Critical Mass pulled 2.5 to 3 amps in the 10-lap course, which took just over a minute to fly. [Editor's note: GWS sells similar racing motor configurations such as the Si with a 4.14:1 geared motor and the S2 with a 3.51 ratio-- see "Micro Scoop".

Spinning props such as the GWS 8x6 and 7x6, Jerry's racers are optimixed for approximately 2-minute flights. If you want to build a scale racer but prefer a milder setup for the local schoolyard, the standard 5.86:1 geared motor will work fine (you'll find it in any WattAge Lite Stik or GWS Pico Stick kit). If you scratch-build a racer using the standard gearbox, you should know that the pylon racers recommended the GWS 9x7 prop rather than the stock 10x4.7.

DIVERSITY OF AIRCRAFT

The scale airplanes campaigned in static and flight competitions ranged from classic antiques to a six-- engine B-36. The large variety of experimental aircraft included everything from ultra-- slow-flying hang gliders to Pico Stick and Lite Stik "mods" with canard, biplane and tandem-- wing setups. Team Combat was particularly interesting because the aircraft flew so slowly that you could visually track the one-on-one battles. Piloting expertise was at a premium in the Limbo competition, which Hubert Bitner won flying a modified Roswell rotorcraft (yes, he had to fly, not "hover," under the bar!). Chris Bowker was a close second in Limbo; he's a young pilot who has clearly mastered flying the Pico Stick class of airplane (winners had barely 1 foot of ground clearance). All registered pilots had ample time to fly; between competitive events, there was open fun-flying with up to four airplanes aloft simultaneously.

The editors of Model Airplane News and RC MicroFlight thank the NIRAC organizers for doing a great job of running this two-day event. Our thanks also go to Dr. Sandy Frank, AMA District 8 VP; he organized the second annual SWAG trade show and provided the spacious indoor flying site for this fun-fly and RC competition. Over 100 exhibitors and modeling-- related organizations exhibited at SWAC, and the show was well worth attending, to say the least (if you are in the area next year, don't miss it!).

For many more photos and details on the airplanes that flew at the fun-fly and competition, see the July issue of RC MicroFlight (available on the Web at www.rcmicroflight.com).