The most widely touted catchphrase for modern jet aircraft is fly-by-wire. It is a system whereby the pilot’s job is made substantially easier by a sophisticated onboard computer that does everything except actually decide where the plane should go! But to others, the phrase fly-by-wire may well have a different connotation. Recently, a huge crowd of over 15,000 at the Juhu Civil Aerodrome in suburban Bombay was witness to a spectacle not seen very often in India that of a person standing at the center of the field, controlling a model aircraft at the end of a thin, strong tow-line. There were others bending over tiny transmitters, which sent out radio commands to models that served, linked, dived, zoomed, and performed all the acrobatics that one could expect from full-sized military aircraft. The skies reverberated to the screeches and moans of finely tuned aero-engines, and the awed oohs and aahs of the crowd.
At the end of their performance, the six members of the UK-based Len Mounts Flying Circus received the standing ovation for their breathtaking demonstration of remote trick flying. For more than two hours, the spectators had virtually forgotten the scorching heat as they craned their necks to get a look at the sleek, beautifully maintained models. The British team has been named after its leader Len Mount, who is a most remarkable gentleman. The ruddy-checked man, who has won the British national title a record 14 times, has broken three international records over water — all in one flight. When he flew his model helicopter across the English Channel, piloting it from a full-sized chopper flying alongside. He celebrated his 54th birthday with a flight at the Gateway of India.
The squad had been brought to India by the Indian Academy of Model Aeronautics (IAMA), a non-profit organization given to promoting model aviation (Aeromodelling) in the country. The event itself was sponsored by the two public sector giants, Air India and Indian Oil Corporation. They brought with them monoplanes, biplanes. Model helicopters and even a model jet. The first display by the Flying Circus — three of whom were members of the famed Panie team —had two monoplanes flying in tight formation, and performing -aerobatic Maneuvers like loops, rolls, vertical spins and other complicated maneuvers. Then there was a three-aircraft simulated air combat, with a trio of monoplanes flying with streamers attached and each trying to cut off the others streamers. If the combat sequence was at times so realistic as to be terrifying, the display of formation aerobatics with biplanes was totally entrancing. A sight like that of three biplanes flying equidistant from one another, trailing streamers, and performing the most unexpected aerobatics, has to be seen to be believed. In fact, one wonders if any full-scale aircraft can perform the kind of cartwheels, knife-edge loops, slow rolls, flick-rolls, flat spines and other scintillating maneuvers that the models did with such panache.
A display of helibatics
The Panie teams performance was followed by a display of helibatics (helicopter aerobatics), of both the solo and formation type. The choppers flew up and down at speeds going up to 135 Kmph, performing maneuvers like loops and rolls that drew spontaneous and sustained applause from the crowds. The grand finale was a display of solo helibatics by Len Mount himself. To appreciate the true worth of the display at the Juhu Aerodrome. It is necessary to understand a few things about aeromodelling. The sport of putting together and flying in small model aeroplanes came into India only in the late-1950s, with the introduction of the Air Wing of the National Cadet Corps (NCC). Aeromodelling was made a compulsory part of the curriculum for the cadets, but the sport did not catch on widely. It is interesting to know that the aerodynamics of a model are the same as those of a full-sized aircraft. It is here that the science of aeromodelling comes in. Assembling the various constituent shapes into the final model can be a fascinating experience since the characteristics of a flight depend entirely on the accuracy with which the model has been constructed. To ensure a long flight, the trick lies in keeping the model light and launching it into a thermal (a rising current of air.).
At the absolutely rudimentary end of the scale is the small, hand-launched glider, popularly called a chuck glider. This model generally has a wing span of six to eight inches and can be easily assembled by even a child. Made from a variety of light materials like paper, foam, balsa wood, it is easy to work with and takes off at the slightest gust of breeze. From the humble chuck glider, the aeromodelling enthusiast graduates to the towline glider, which has larger dimensions ranging between three and eight feet in wing span. Unlike its smaller cousin, the towline glider has to be towed, like a kite, on a tow line that extends between 30 and 50 meters. The trick for an extended flight once again lies in spotting a thermal and launching the model gently into it. The next stage is to go for powered models, which have a propulsion unit, a small, two-stroke engine that rotates the propellers at 10,000-20,000 r.p.m. Models in this category can be divided into three groups —the powered free flight, the control line models and the ones controlled by radio.
The free-flight models are similar in shape and size to the towline gliders, but sturdier in build, as they are powered and hence move up through the air at a high speed, resulting in the action of greater forces of air on the plane. The engine is tuned to run between seven and ten seconds, after which the model glides on a thermal and returns to earth. The control-line model is not free to fly where it likes, It has two cores passing through its wings, and held by the flyer with the help of a handle. The other end is attached to a small actuator, called a bell crank, which in turn is attached to the elevator for control and maneuvering. By manipulating the handle, the flyer can make the model perform very intricate movements like loops, stall turns. figures- of-eight (both horizontal and vertical), four-leaf clovers, etc. The only limitation is the skill and concentration of the flyer. Undoubtedly, a fascinating branch of aeromodelling is the radio controlled model. powered by engines which vary in capacity from 2.5 cc to 50 cc: These not only look like the real thing but fly like them. Models range in size from three feet to ten feet, and occasionally even more. There have been large models made up to one-third the size of the actual aircraft. The radio control unit consists of a transmitter which is held and manipulated by the flyer. The transmitter sends off a signal that is received by a small match box size receiver mounted in the aircraft. The receiver is connected to actuating devices called servos, which are attached to the control surfaces of the aircraft like, the ailerons, elevators, rudder, flaps, engine, undercarriage etc.
By sending signals through the transmitter, the aircraft is made to perform intricate maneuvers, including snap rolls, slow rolls, vertical rolls (known in aeromodelling slang as Vertical Charlie), figure-of-eight, top-hat, and much more. These models can also do formation aerobatics, combat shows by dropping bombs, and even air-to-air combat using paper streamers.
Multi-million dollar industry in West.
In Europe and the USA, aeromodelling is a big, multi-million dollar industry, with several prosperous manufacturers making models and thousands of enthusiasts indulging in this educative and engrossing pastime at varied levels of proficiency. So great is the interest in the sport that regular competitions are held, from club level to regional, national and even international level. Contests are classified into various levels, commencing with beginners and going on to increased levels of skill and complexity.
The most prestigious competition is the Tournament of Champions, better known simply as TOC. This is held every alternate year in Las Vegas and is sponsored by a casino. Participation is by invitation only. Just twenty take part, the invitations to them going out on the basis of their ratings in their country nationals and the last world championships. Prize-money is to the tune of US$ 120,000, with several lucrative gifts from the aeromodelling trade.
Contrast this with the scene in India, where aeromodelling has generally been restricted to the NCC. Initially, the kits and engines were imported through one company in Calcutta and provided to the cadets. These were rudimentary in nature, there were few of the advanced models available abroad. Over the years, some Indian manufacturers began making these kits and engines. But they were essentially on a small scale; and their products, unlike those of the overseas manufacturers, left a lot to be desired.
Of late, a slow, silent revolution is being staged by the IAMA, which organizers frequent workshops for students of all ages during their school and college vacations. The IAMA has also held contests and fun fly’s and is credited with organizing Indias first international event in 1987. Run by a band of dedicated enthusiasts, the IAMA is headed by businessman and avid aviator Mukul Shah, who is also the president of the Bombay Flying Club. All founder members are honorary workers who can spend only a limited amount of their time propagating the sport. A few renowned overseas flyers have been invited for some of the contests and demonstrations.
Sadly, a shortage of funds prevents the wide propagation of the sport. There was no mistaking the tremendous enthusiasm of the crowd gathered that Sunday on the sun-baked Juhu Aerodrome. But whether it will have the good fortune to witness another such event will depend entirely on the largesse of sponsors who would dare to be different, and not restrict themselves to supporting only such widely followed sports as cricket and tennis.