MICRO-FLYING
NPMAC'S ANNUAL WINTER BLUES INDOOR FUN-FLY
By Joe Malinchak | joemal@echoes.net
MICHAEL VOICHECK, the department chair and educator at North Penn High School in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, is the model aviation club advisor for North Penn Model Aviation Club (NPMAC). Every year, Michael, his students, and the staff do a wonderful job of organizing and running the school’s annual Winter Blues Indoor fun-fly event.
This year’s fun-fly was held on Saturday, March 4, in the school’s beautiful 175 x 105-foot gym. Tables and chairs were set up and provided for everyone to use. Dedicated time slots were available for open flying, 3D, helicopters/multirotors, and micro aircraft. The event ran smoothly, and I felt that I had plenty of time to fly my models during the posted time slots. This year had a really good turnout, with some beautiful indoor models and some talented pilots in attendance.
Dave Lockhart put in some great flights with his 3D models, entertaining everyone with his amazing skills. Herb Shallcross flew his stick-and-tissue Free Flight (FF) F-4 Phantom, which he designed. The model uses an electric motor that runs off of a capacitor instead of a battery. Using a capacitor has some advantages with FF models. They can be charged fairly quickly and typically have run times of approximately 30 seconds. Herb’s F-4 flew beautifully.
John Pruszkowski flew some beautiful models, including a Microaces Scrappee and a Microaces Percee twin-engine airplane. The Scrappee is an easy-to-build-and-fly model that makes a great first Microaces kit. The Percee that John flew is the first twin-engine kit that Microaces has designed. It has a nice, classic Golden Age look to it.
Evan Spencer flew his all-foam Piper Cherokee. The three-channel model has a 28-inch wingspan and weighs 3.5 ounces ready to fly. I was impressed with how slowly the model flew! James Bhasin flew several great-flying indoor models, including his all-balsa Micro-Stick.
I had a great time flying my micro airplanes in the school’s large gym. They had a foam aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. VOICHECK, set up for everyone to practice their carrier landing skills. I also had fun flying my Cartoon Scale carbon-fiber Corsair off of the carrier, and my 1/72-scale Corsair around the gym.
This is a great event that is all about having fun. I am already looking forward to attending next year! You can see some video footage I took of the event on my YouTube channel that is under my name, Joe Malinchak.
The 7-Tron 2.4 GHz DSM2 three- or four-channel actuator receiver from Micro Flier Radio weighs approximately 280 mg and is a good choice for your next ultramicro RC project.
Option one is a 3-amp brushed motor ESC, four channels with a servo output for aileron control, and two amplified actuator outputs for elevator and rudder control. This is a great way to go with a 400 mg or 500 mg Micro Flier Radio servo for positive aileron control and lightweight actuators on the elevator and rudder.
Option two is three channels with a 3-amp brushed motor ESC and an output for a brushless motor controller. Two amplified actuator outputs are for aileron and elevator control. The receiver also has a soft motor shutdown when the battery voltage drops down to the cutoff voltage.
I tested this receiver using option two in my Cartoon Scale Piper Cub. The receiver was easy to bind and performed well using my Spektrum NX10 transmitter. The list price is $45. Visit the Micro Flier Radio website, listed in “Sources,” for more information.
SOURCES:
NPMAC
www.northpennmac.org
Joe Malinchak’s YouTube Channel
www.youtube.com/user/joemal214/featured
Micro Flier Radio
(941) 377-9808
www.microflier.com
