|
This is a report on the
bi-weekly indoor flying events in Columbus, Ohio. We fly 9 to 12 pm in an
inflated golf dome on the east side of town every other
Saturdaynight.
And yes, this story is soaring
related.
First of all, indoor flying is a
helpful treatment for those of us suffering from GPS during the dark, grey
Columbus winter.
Secondly, it is a chance for us
to see the marvelously inventive models of guys from all over the state.
One fellow has a "Tri-Rotor" thingy that he designed himself, a sort of mutant
helicopter device with three motors and three props on the corners of a carbon
fiber triangle. It will roll and loop, and fly out and away like a real
airplane, and unlike most model helicopters I see. It navigates through a
combination of gimbaled motors and differential thrust.
Another fellow has one of those
toy airplanes that flies by differential thrust from two motors and recharges by
sitting on its transmitter. He has re-fitted it with two brushless motors,
a lipoly single cell and a real receiver. He has programmed the heck
out of his JR transmitter and the little plane flies just like it had ailerons
and elevator and rudder.
Jet Jockey Terry Nitsch was
flying a 3 mph electric with a 5" wingspan, which was a treat to
see.
And one of the guys was flying a
DLG Alula indoors, easily launching it to the ceiling of the
blimp dome and then flying aerobatics and circuits of the dome amidst a cloud of
park fliers, 3-D foamies, ducted fan electrics and high speed flying
winglets.
A major improvement in the
Columbus indoor fly is that it is now organized into a series of half hour
sessions: a half hour of 3-D free for all; then a half hour of "racetrack
pattern"; and so forth. Much less carnage that way.
OK Columbus sailplane guys: It's
safe to go back into the dome.
|
