If you consider yourself a modeler, you have to try some sort of indoor free flight. I feel it is just as rewarding as control line stunt. The models don't look like much, but require a whole different mind set and skill set. If I had access to a regular indoor flying site, which is the main ingredient to building success in this area of the hobby, I would definitely participate more. I used to actively fly penny plane, p-nut scale, No-Cal scale, and HLG before I got put on the second shift treadmill. There are lots of plans on line for what are refereed to as parlor mites or mini-sticks on line that are a good challenge to build and fly in your living room and/or family room. 6 or 7 inch wing span models that with practice, can achieve a minute or more in an average living room. That doesn't sound like much compared to the 32 minutes described in the video, but try it! If you can successfully build an indoor model that will fly in your living room for a minute or more, you will have successfully learned most of the skills to move on to the other classes. The tools required are not expensive. For the cost of PA-75 or a Ro-Jett you have have everything you need to strip balsa and rubber. So much fun and very relaxing, believe it or not!
Remember Paul McCready and his Gossamer Albatross man powered plane that won the Kramer Prize after so many years of people trying? You had to fly a figure 8 course for 1 mile and clear a ten foot obstruction at the beginning and end of the flight. People had been successfully flying man powered planes for a mile or more in a straight line for years, the problem was turning the huge,gangly airframes. Paul McCready was a prominent indoor flyer in his early years, and applied what he learned trimming indoor models to controlling the Albatross and that was the key. Looking through the old magazines in the 40's will show coverage of the NATS and stuff with discussions that 30 minutes with the large indoor jobs might never be achieved. It was BIG news when Pete Andrews finally broke the barrier and times have been climbing ever since. I think 60 minutes has been achieved in practice but don't know if official flights have been recorded in competition. Variable prop pitch and diameter methods are what have gotten things to this level along with advances in some materials. Other people, including young people, will pick up this end of teh hobby, they just have to discover it. The same thiong with control line stunt, you just have to keep putting it out there and make information available. Akihiro is an inspiration, to say the very least! True tribute to the line "Never give up, never surrender!"
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee
Topic: Stunt Hangar member Akihiro Danjo's other hobby...take a look! (Read 1858 times)