Indoor Radio Control Championships - 2004/01

Indoor Radio Control Championships

By John Worth

Event overview

The National Indoor Remote-controlled Aircraft Council (NIRAC), an AMA Special Interest Group, organized and hosted its first national championships the weekend of May 31–June 1, 2003, at the Oakland Yard Athletics dome in Waterford, Michigan (240 x 300 x 82 feet).

In addition to occasional demonstrations of various electric-powered indoor RC models—including very small designs—six events were contested: two Scale categories (Sport and Fun), Aerobatics, Pylon Racing, Cargo, and Duration. Awards were given to the top three finishers in each event and three special awards were presented: Outstanding Achievement (sponsored by Air Age, Inc.), High Point Champion (sponsored by NIRAC), and Best Scale Model Weighing Not Over 1.5 Ounces (sponsored by Dynamic Web Enterprises, DWE).

Sig and DWE provided displays, sold products, and flew demonstration models. After the Saturday-night banquet held inside the dome, three inaugural Indoor RC Hall of Fame awards were presented.

Although overall entry numbers were relatively small due to other national aeromodeling events the same weekend, the quality of flights and variety of models were exceptional. Participants came from Texas, Pennsylvania, Missouri, New York, Virginia, Iowa, and Michigan. A Canadian contingent is expected for 2004.

Notable participants

Prominent personalities involved included Scott Christensen, Dan and Clarence Hurd, Phil Smith, Henry Pasquet, Joe Malinchak, Doug Ward, Paul Bradley, Bob Wilder, Dave Robelen, and Bob Aberle.

Notable flights and records

• Bob Wilder attempted a Category III Duration record (for ceilings under 98 feet, 5 inches) with a Limited-class, original 20-gram (less than 3/4 ounce) design. Category III limits power to two 50 mAh Ni-Cd batteries. His model flew slowly and majestically for 9 minutes, 58 seconds. The flight data was submitted to AMA for recognition.
• Bob Wilder holds the AMA Free Flight Electric Power (event 221) record in Category I (ceiling limit 26 feet, 3 inches) and the Unlimited Indoor RC record with a flight of 4 hours, 47 minutes.
• In Duration (limited to six 50 mAh Ni-Cd cells), Bob Wilder flew slightly more than 15 minutes to beat Henry Pasquet (about 7.5 minutes). Both models had 330 square inches of wing area; Bob’s model weighed 72 grams and Henry’s roughly 50 grams.
• Phil Smith placed second in Duration under the limited Ni-Cd power. Later, substituting a lithium-polymer pack of roughly the same weight, his model flew more than 26 minutes.
• Bob Wilder’s cargo-competition flights and Henry Pasquet’s entries were notable in cargo and weight-lift efficiency (details below).
• Dave Robelen demonstrated a small (13-inch span, under 1 ounce) original P-Nut design that flew fast, was highly maneuverable, and performed axial rolls and inverted flight without ailerons. The model used a 7:1 geared KP-00 motor, a 5½-inch propeller, a lithium-polymer cell, and magnetic actuators on rudder and elevator.
• Henry Pasquet demonstrated a 4.3-gram (about 1/8 ounce), three-channel model and a roughly 6-inch-span, three-channel Brigham Young University–designed MAV biplane.

Cargo and Duration details

• Cargo competition uses a ratio formula comparing payload weight to the model’s weight. Henry Pasquet won Cargo by lifting 246 grams with a basic model weighing 124 grams. Bob Wilder lifted 152 grams with a 140-gram model. Henry’s model had a wing area of 360 square inches; Bob’s had 375 square inches.
• Duration limited power to six 50 mAh Ni-Cd cells. Bob Wilder’s Duration winner flew just over 15 minutes. Phil Smith’s substitution of a lithium-polymer pack demonstrated the effect of newer battery technology by achieving over 26 minutes.

Scale highlights

• Joe Malinchak had the smallest Scale model: a 1.3-ounce Piper L-4 Grasshopper in authentic World War II invasion colors. This detailed three-channel model (including a complete pilot with arms and legs) earned high static points. After initial motor troubles, Joe made several excellent flights, placed second in Sport Scale with the Grasshopper, and won Best Scale Model Weighing Not Over 1.5 Ounces. He also placed second in Fun Scale flying a Curtiss Junior pusher.

Pylon racing and Widgets

Several contestants flew the new Widget, a 1.5-ounce Almost-Ready-to-Fly design by DWE. Widgets were slower than many models in Pylon Racing but flew tighter around the course and were often ahead of larger, faster models. Clarence Hurd briefly led a race in a Widget but hit a pylon, ending his flight.

Aerobatics observations

The dome’s shape and limited horizontal room at higher flight paths caused depth-perception and overcontrol problems for some Aerobatics entries flying fast. Slower, more stable models tended to perform better.

Hall of Fame and special awards

The Saturday banquet featured Indoor RC Hall of Fame presentations (sponsored by DWE) to Bob Wilder, Dave Robelen, and Henry Pasquet. Their contributions:

• Dave Robelen: well documented through published original indoor RC designs, Model Aviation writings, and his NIRAC presidency.
• Bob Wilder: multiple AMA indoor RC records and creator/first president of NIRAC.
• Henry Pasquet: achievements in ultralight indoor RC, including the first successful flight of a model under 1 gram.

Bob Wilder won the NIRAC High Point Champion award. For one first-place, one second-place, and three third-place finishes, he received a NIRAC plaque and a GWS P-51 Almost Ready-to-Fly / JR XP662 RC system donated by Horizon Hobby.

Henry Pasquet finished second in High Point (two firsts, one second, one third). The point system favored Wilder because he placed in five events vs. Henry’s four. Horizon Hobby donated a GWS Zero and a JR Quattro RC system. Henry also received the Outstanding Achievement Award.

Event results

Sport Scale (sponsored by Sig Manufacturing)

1. Scott Christensen (Antoinette)
2. Joe Malinchak (Piper L-4)
3. Bob Wilder (Eindecker)

Fun Scale (sponsored by Sky Hooks and Rigging)

1. Scott Christensen (Jenny)
2. Joe Malinchak (Curtiss Junior)
3. Doug Ward (Curtiss Junior)

Cargo (sponsored by Balsa Products)

1. Henry Pasquet
2. Bob Wilder
3. Clarence Hurd

Indoor Electric Duration (sponsored by Dynamic Web Enterprises)

1. Bob Wilder
2. Phil Smith
3. Henry Pasquet

Aerobatics (sponsored by FMA Direct)

1. Joe Malinchak
2. Henry Pasquet
3. Bob Wilder

Pylon Racing (sponsored by Castle Creations)

1. Henry Pasquet
2. Clarence Hurd
3. Bob Wilder

Organization and logistics

Bob Wilder initiated the championships while serving as NIRAC’s first president. The event had been scheduled for Lakehurst Naval Air Station but was relocated when Navy security concerns required the change. Bob and Contest Director (CD) Dave Robelen arranged the event at the Oakland Yard dome on short notice, with help from Dave Dobrin (dome activities director and local club leader). A six-page article about flying models at the dome appeared in the February 2000 Model Aviation.

Because of the short-notice change, the championships conflicted with other events, which reduced attendance. Nevertheless, the inaugural event was successful, and planning for the 2004 event began with consideration to expand to three days to include fun-fly and competition flying.

The success of the event is credited to the NIRAC championships staff: Bob Wilder, Dave Robelen, Bob Aberle, and Keith Pohlmeyer. Assistance came from Bill Conkling (Robelen’s assistant); local club members Ken Meyers, Jack Lemon, Archie Adamisin, Roger Wolfong, and Rick Sawicki; and out-of-towners Bill Smead and Paul Bradley. The author helped with the banquet and Hall of Fame arrangements.

Thanks, contact, and further information

Special thanks to Oakland Yard Athletics and manager Dave Dobrin (also an active indoor RC modeler). For information about the facility, contact David at david@oaklandyard.com.

Thanks also to all sponsors who supported the event.

For detailed information about NIRAC and event rules, visit www.nirac.org.

This first Indoor RC Championships proved interesting and exciting, and enthusiastic plans are underway for a bigger and better event next year.

MA

John Worth 4326 Andes Dr. Fairfax, VA 22030

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.