Please note that the blog now has a second page which is devoted to the Manhattan Cabin model, Yeloise.
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Wednesday, July 23, 2008 – 10:59 am
Aerocraft, Flying Models, Peck Polymers and the National Free Flight Society all have the book, and it is selling well. The last issue of Flying Models had a mention up front, one in Larry Kruse’s column and advertised as available from the Carsten’s Book Hangar. A blurb will appear in the September issue of Model Aviation in Bob Aberle’s column. The best deal on the book is from NFFS if you’re an NFFS member.
We’re hoping the AMA will have it soon in it’s catalog/museum store. We’re pesting them about it but the management needs a push from others who might want to buy it from them.
We’re most thankful to all who’ve spread the word about this third printing. Thank you!
Max Zaluska and his HLS
Friday, June 20, 2008 – 5:42 pm
Why is this young man smiling? What he’s done is build the structure in his hands to a weight equal to about the same weight as one and a third dollar bills. Moving that structure means relearning how to move, how to walk because the slightest mismove, moving just a bit too fast, can damage or even destroy his work.
Yet he will take it to a very large space, wind up a rubber motor with 2,000 turns or more and release that structure, his plane to fly up into the space on its own. He’ll hope that it will fly for more than an hour.
Here are comments by Max on his HLS. I’ve edited them minimally.
“I decided to go with Microfilm last year when I poured a dozen sheets with Ray Harlan’s help (see webshots). I wanted to preserve the originality and history of big unlimited models. I have learned that there are several difficult aspects to this event; first is the microfilm itself, pouring, lifting, covering, next is the construction process involving many jigs/fixtures to build/brace such a model and finally the flying aspect along with steering. I hope it’s understood by what I call the three different aspects to such a class.
I would like to plug in the Lakehurst event going on on July 26th and 27th. I will be attempting the record then. Along with me there will be two other HLS flyers; John Kagan and Tom Iacobellis, and perhaps Jim Richmond will show up with his. Jim has not done 60 minutes with such a model yet and I hope to beat him to it. I encourage anyone interested to show up and witness such an event, I have been in indoor aeromodeling for 5 years now and I have not seen as many as 3 or 4 Hand Launch Stick models at one event, this will be a great sight to see.”
Max Zaluska’s HLS flying in 2007
Friday, June 20, 2008 – 5:41 pm
I’ve edited Max’s email about flying the Hand Launched Stick a bit:
“Now I have built a new wing covered with microfilm which will soon be followed by a new stab covered in microfilm as well. The model weighs around 1.35g and I have only flown good 15 - 15:15 minute 1/4 motors on it. Two years ago I put up a full motor flight and collapsed the wing during a steer at about 120ft and approaching 40min. That flight would have been around 60 minutes. A week ago I flew the model on a flaring prop (vs. a VP [Variable Pitch] prop) and did a casual 40:17 without breaking the model and landing with almost 1000 turns. I hope to get the model weight down to 1.30g by the end of the summer and break the hour barrier.
John Kagan with his HLS
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 – 12:13 pm
When discussing indoor with interested modelers, the question I hear most often is “What’s the record for the longest flight?” Planes that are uncategorized are called HLS or Hand Launched Stick(s), a generic term. In this case it describes a plane built for maximum time aloft record attempts. John holds the record with this plane, also called an “unlimited”. In his words, the status of the record:
“My unlimited record is 61:30. It is a US record but, mostly because I
didn’t know to contact the AMA the day after I set it, it isn’t a world
record. The world record is 60:01, set by Steve Brown. Steve also had a
63:54 that was unofficial only because he didn’t have the required timers.
So far, Steve and I are the only ones over 1 hour. Indoor legend Jim
Richmond was close with a flight that was something like 59:59.
Attached is a picture, taken by Brett Sanborn, of my unlimited ship on the
day of the record.”
The photo was taken in Hangar One at Lakehurst. I would guess that John is standing about one third of the length of the building from the wall behind him. Look carefully and you will notice a person standing to John’s left near a wall that is still some distance from the end of the building. Large space.