FLYING MODEL AIR CRAFT IS YEAR ROUND FUN

  Larry Puls, President; Howard Hough, Secretary; and Lynn Sehr, Past President of the Cobra R/C Club of Council Bluffs demonstrated to club members that flying model aircraft can be done indoors as well as outdoors.  Puls explained that in the past few years there has been great advancement in batteries, electric motors, and servos to power model aircraft.  These developments have trickled down from the space exploration industry.  In particular batteries have much more power per unit weight than a few years back.  Puls noted that these developments are being applied to radio controlled model aircraft which then allows indoor flying.  As a consequence radio controlled (R/C) flying can be done year round and makes the hobby much more fun.  Puls stated the Cobra Club members meet every week in a church facility to fly their models.  The club has an outdoor flying facility south of Council Bluffs off I-29.  There, Puls explained, they are hosting a major “fly in” sanctioned by the American Modelers Association on September 20-21 this year.  One fourth scale WW-I aircraft will be featured.  The public is invited to view the aircraft and flying skills. 

  A variety of air craft are powered by electric motors.  Hough demonstrated a helicopter that is remarkably similar to a full scale machine in the degree of flight control.  Hough noted he has flown about every kind of aircraft model there is during his 60 years of pursuing his hobby.  Sehr demonstrated the flying of a wing flapping model of a dragon fly insect.  Sehr noted this can be purchased for about $50 and is very safe and fun for youth.  Puls added that computer based flight simulators are very good for training prior to actually flying models, especially those which are more expensive.