Photograph by Linda KC Reynolds
Serious business — Brodie Long, an engineer for The Spaceship Company builds model planes with his children Nora and Mike during Mojave’s Indoor RC and Glider Fly-in competition. Growing up in Oklahoma, Long said it took him 20 years to land his dream job in Mojave.
Flight enthusiasts of all ages gathered at the Stuart O. Witt Event Center at the Mojave Air and Space Port, April 14 to do what Mojave is best known for: to design, build and test experimental aircraft and to inspire the next generation.
Participants of the third annual Indoor RC and Glider Fly-in event tested their skills by building various balsa wood, hand- launch gliders while others built their own creations.
“These are one-of-a-kind, laser cut models designed and made just for this event,” explained Cam Martin from NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, speaking of the balsa models. Each year new designs are introduced, often depicting a new aircraft conceived at Mojave.
Martin encouraged beginners to build a Delta Dart model first because they are easy to build and almost impossible for them not to fly.
Brodie Long, an engineer for The Spaceship Company brought his children, Nora and Mike for family entertainment and education.
“The kids have fun building, plus it is just a good, fun and a friendly environment,” said Long. Growing up in Oklahoma, he said it took him 20 years to land his dream job in Mojave. “Anybody that knows anything about airplanes knows
Article source: http://www.aerotechnews.com/blog/2017/04/21/flight-enthusiasts-enjoy-experimental-fly-in-model-competition/