District IX—Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
Jim Tiller
Vice President
jtiller@hotmail.com
Box 828, Custer SD 57730
Tel.: (605) 390-3878
www.amadistrict-ix.org
www.facebook.com/amadistrictix
For the first time, the Indoor Free Flight Nats was held in District IX. The Magnificent Mountain Men hosted the event in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the week of June 8-12, 2015.
The site was the Colorado Springs City Auditorium in downtown Colorado Springs. Although the venue might not be as large as some of the other buildings used for these competitions, the space was free from airplane-entangling impediments, and that was good news for all of the competitors.
I have to admit, I knew little about Indoor Free Flight competitions or the aircraft involved. Did I get schooled! Event Director Rob Romash, Jerry Murphy, Rick Pangell, and the rest of the crew, were a wealth of information about this interesting part of our hobby.
The technical and engineering skills exhibited blew me away. The flight envelopes of these lightweight models are phenomenal. Larry Coslick’s rubber-powered, twin-blade helicopter had to be seen to be believed.
I was delighted to meet several young competitors including Jace Pivonka and Wyatt Wear. Believe me, the future of our hobby is in capable hands with these talented young competitors.
Another highlight for me was the Pro-AM P-18 event. The attendees mentored 32 young students through building and flying rubber-powered airplanes. I will let Colorado Associate Vice President Rick McCaskill fill in all of the details of that endeavor.
“This event, spearheaded by John McGrath of the Magnificent Mountain Men Free Flight club, was created to encourage youth to learn the skills and share the excitement of Indoor Free Flight. District IX supplied 20 laser-cut P-18 Hawk kits, and modeler Mike Fedor generously picked up the cost of the extra kits for the late registrations. The National Museum of World War II Aviation and FAI Model Supply provided 15:1 winders for each student.
“Wednesday morning, 32 young contestants worked through a two-hour build of their own P-18 Hawks with the assistance from the local club. I was lucky enough to be one of those giving a helping hand. John McGrath’s laser kits proved to be easily constructed with minimal guidance from the pros.
“On Thursday, the youngsters returned with their completed airplanes for two events—High Time (longest airtime among five official flights) and Mass Launch. The pro fliers first helped the builders test and adjust their new P-18s. Once satisfied, each pilot made five flights and recorded the times with the contest director.
“It was rewarding to see all of the excitement as the flights progressed. I have never been at an event were I saw so many children so enthralled with a flying activity—most with their parents watching and recording the progress with endless pictures.
“The last event was a mass launch of all 32 airplanes. The last model to return to the floor was judged the winner. It was a site seeing every inch of the flying space filled with these colorful aircraft.
“Emon Kavanaugh posted 1 minute, 39 seconds to win the timed flights and Steve Carney was the last to touch down in the mass launch. Congratulations to and all who took part. It was certainly great fun for me.”
I encourage all of you to explore this fascinating chapter of model aeronautics. For more event details, times, and records, see the NatsNews on www.modelaircraft.org.
Wyatt Wear and one of his many ultra-lightweight aircraft.
The mass launch of the student-built P-18 airplanes at the Indoor Nats in Colorado Springs.
Just a few grams, but it still reached the ceiling in the Colorado Springs City Auditorium.
