Scoping indoor flying options..

[Kerbob]

Here are two places that I've been to recently that I though.. hey, wouldn't this be nice!

Down side is that the Icearium is $125/hr.
Down side is that 180 Sports and Fitness wasn't too interested about indoor flying on the first go and it looks like any contact with their ceiling would result in some pieces falling down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQL2O8u0_ow
	Small | Large

If we could get 15 folks to definitely come out, two hours at the Icearium would be 16.67 and cheaper as we go up.  Or we could do a flat $20/person and all extra proceeds go to free food/refreshments on future events.  Still a lot of dough for a two hour session.  Hoping KCRC can get the big hangar or the Thompson Bowling Arena for the next fly-in (yes, they are trying!).

[relaxnfly]

This place in Lenior City might be an option as well.  It's not as fancy as the westknox/farragut one but maybe that means it would be cheaper to rent.

http://www.tennesseesportscomplex.com/soccer.htm

[Flying_fox]

Icearium looks cool, I assume the fences come down. $20 bucks isn't bad, but I would rather pay a bit more and make it a longer event. Just my 2 cents

[Kerbob]

Flying Fox,
I hear you, longer would be better.  I think we've averaged 3hrs and I think thats a good amount of time.  $30 is too much for a monthly event though isn't it?  The thing that looks like a fence is actually a fabric netting and no, it doesn't come down in either facility.  I was thinking what you are.. there's gonna be some snaggage.  We can bring long sticks to get stuff down, but that will be damaging to the plane.

RelaxnFly,
Have you been inside?  I can check the rates.

[tnarchitect]

What about a church gym or a school gym?  I know most are open to more or less community organizations.  I'll check w/ a couple I know in west knoxville.  Is that indoor soccer facility beside where the Hyundai Dealership used to be on Kingston Pike still in business?

[Valkyrie_1520]

Has anyone thought about using one of the public baseball fields some evening under the lights? The winds are typically non-existant or very light. Just a thought and should be fairly inexpensive.

[romeodz]

That's a great idea!

[EricJ320]

Kerbob and I discussed that the other night after flying.  I had mentioned the large sports complex on Oak Ridge Highway just NW of Karns, when lit up, it's like it's as bright as Times Square.  This time of year it could work, but as the weather gets colder, along with the calm winds also comes the frigid temps!  Not only can that be hard on you person, but can also make  your batteries difficult to use.

[Flying_fox]

I would be up for some frosty night flying basking in the warm glow of some LED's 

[Valkyrie_1520]

Lipo's in cold weather is no problem. Just strap a disposable handwarmer on them and you are ready to rock...

Anyone have any contacts in the parks and recreation division?

[EricJ320]

Lipo's in cold weather is no problem. Just strap a disposable handwarmer on them and you are ready to rock...

I didn't mean to imply that you can't fly lipos in the cold, just that it becomes problematic.  The closer the packs are being used to their max, the more you will notice the degraded performance due to lower output voltages.  I'm already noticing worse performance on my packs in my high amp draw SU-27 (well, before I crashed it anyway  ).  I'm having to lower the LVC, and it's not that cold yet.  Most of the guys are running 360-600mah packs on the PBF's, and without knowing the amp draw, even if they are as low as 7 amps, that's nearly 20C for the smaller packs.  I promise you, on a profile plane with no protection from the wind and cold, in cold temps, say below 45-50 F, you will notice a drop in voltage, possibly all the way to a premature cutoff, depending on your LVC setting.  Warming them preflight is one way to combat that, but again, on a profile plane they will just cool off quickly unless you wrap them in a foam insulator.  The warming packets are another option, but only flight testing with one on will determine if the PBF can handle the weight well enough to make it feasible.  My guess is, as long as the heating pack isn't too big and/or heavy (I have no idea of their size or weight), the PBF's can probably take it, but the CG will change a bit.  Again, I'm not so much thinking about now, more in Jan. and Feb. temps., where at night it can drop down in to the 20's.

As for the parks and recreation, I don't know anyone, but I would think someone from KCRC should.  Isn't that land leased (or loaned) from Knox County through the Parks and Rec. Dept.?  Seems like that would be a good first point of contact.

Eric

[Valkyrie_1520]

I agree that the lipo's should not be stored in a cold environment prior to flying. The voltage does drop off rather sharply after a certain temperature. I have flown my lipo's outside in 30-35F with little to no adverse effects as long as they are kept in a warm car prior to flying then placed back in the car after flying. Bth then again, most of my airframes are not pulling 30A continuous..

As for the handwarmers, I typically use these when we shoot in the frigid temps.
http://www.campingsurvival.com/hehapoandglw.html
They will last all day long and can reach temps of 145F though most average around 110F. They only weigh a few grams and would fit nicely inside a velcro strap for the lipo.

[Flying_fox]

Lipo's in cold weather is no problem. Just strap a disposable handwarmer on them and you are ready to rock...

I didn't mean to imply that you can't fly lipos in the cold, just that it becomes problematic.  The closer the packs are being used to their max, the more you will notice the degraded performance due to lower output voltages.  I'm already noticing worse performance

Eric

I feel exactly the same way about my piloting abilities