NEAT Fair 2017
Joe Malinchak
joemal@echoes.net
Nice weather, along with the company of great friends, made the 2017 Northeast Electric Aircraft Technology (NEAT) Fair, held September 14-17 near Downsville, New York, a wonderful event. Each year, we get together like a family that sees each other only one time per year.
Some of us spend many hours building new projects that are usually completed just in time for the NEAT Fair. Others bring models that were previously flown at the event that we all look forward to seeing again. The NEAT Fair has something for anyone who enjoys model aviation—including several fun events and model aircraft of many types and sizes.
Sawn Craft Air Race
The second annual Sawn Craft Air Race was held at the NEAT Fair. The Sawn Craft crew did a wonderful job of organizing and running this event. There were 24 preregistered pilots who competed for a chance to win bragging rights and beautiful awards! Four pilots raced at the same time in 10-lap heats, and the top two pilots from each race moved on.
The final race consisted of six pilots flying 25 laps. The aircraft that were flown were the great-flying new Sawn Craft Rebuttal 32s.
I was happy to be able to compete in the event again. I had a great time! I want to congratulate the winners. Finishing in first place was Gary Swist, second place was Alan Reed, and third place went to Chris Tall.
Small Warbird Mass Launch
I participated in the small warbird mass launch for the first time at the 2017 NEAT Fair. I can’t believe that I had never entered the event.
The models are launched and music is played for several minutes. At some point, the music stops, and the airplanes must land as closely as they can to one of the cones that are laid out on the field. The aircraft that lands the closest to a cone wins. It’s lots of fun!
Indoor Night at NEAT
The highlight of the NEAT Fair for my wife, Cindy, and me is hosting the Indoor Night at NEAT. The event is held at Downsville Central High School and it is two nights of pure indoor flying fun.
Each year it attracts some of the world’s best micro RC modelers who are flying truly amazing aircraft. The gathering is open to pilots with airplanes that weigh no more than 2 ounces and have been scratch-built or built from kits. We also allow RTF models that have been repainted or modified, to show pilots’ creative talents.
This year we saw an increase in Free Flight (FF) activity. Ross Clements flew a beautiful 21.65-inch wingspan F1D rubber-powered FF model. The airplane weighed only 1.4 grams and flew majestically.
He also flew a small FF model powered by a Gӓsparin G2.6 CO2 motor. Ross won the award for the Best FF aircraft for his efforts.
Ross also had some amazing, super-micro RC models with him this year. His three-channel, 5-inch wingspan biplane weighed only 3.15 grams and had great performance. Ross also won the Best Micro Aircraft award. This award is voted on by the pilots who flew at the event. Well done, Ross!
Gordon Johnson designed a new Cartoon Scale airplane for the event called the Micro STOL. The model has a 20-inch wingspan and features flaps and large wheels for true Short Takeoff & Landing (STOL) performance. Gordon let me fly the aircraft and it flew beautifully with the flaps extended in the STOL configuration. Gordon won the award for the Best Cartoon Scale model for his efforts.
Mike Cripps flew some truly beautiful Scale models at the event. He scratch-built a ⅓₂-scale Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bomber that featured a working torpedo! Mike won the Best Micro Scale award for his outstanding work on this airplane.
The team from Sawn Craft flew with us this year and demonstrated the company’s wonderful line of aircraft that all flew beautifully in the small gym. Jonathan Sawn even used his Rebuttal 32 to help rescue a few FF airplanes that were stuck in the ceiling! Please check out the Sawn Craft website for more information about the company’s great line of models.
Cindy and I want to thank George Harris for sponsoring the beautiful awards, the Bergen County Silent Fliers for helping with insurance, the Downsville Central School District, and the pilots and pit crew who made the 2017 Indoor Night at NEAT a great success!
SOURCES:
NEAT Fair
www.neatfair.org
Sawn Craft
www.sawncraft.com
