Scroll down to see the 2022 MIMLOCT Reports.
ANNOUNCING
The 27th Charles Hampson Grant Memorial International Mass Launch Of Cloud Tramps
Or
GRANT MIMLOCT 2022
We are promoting this event to celebrate the contributions made by Charles Grant to the development of our hobby. We hope that as many people as possible will make a Cloud Tramp and join in the world wide launch on the traditional first Saturday in August. This year it is Saturday, August 6, 2022.
The goal is to remember Charlie Grant’s contributions to aeromodelling and to enjoy flying his most popular design, a design that was intended to introduce modelers to the joy of simple aeromodelling. You can see from the pictures that this is a simple sheet balsa model that anyone can build.
GRANT MIMLOCT 2022 is not a competition and there are no prizes. We hope participants will enjoy the fun of building and flying the Cloud Tramp, as well as taking part in this unique event, which attracted 141 participants from all over the World in 2016, 131 in 2017, 196 in 2018, 128 in 2019, 67 in 2020 and 74 in 2021.
Please let us know if you take part in GM 2022 so that your name can be included in the official report and you can be counted in the tally. Use the Comment feature below. Let me know if you have pictures and I can arrange to post them.
MAKE A CLOUD TRAMP
The Cloud Tramp was the last manifestation of Charlie Grant’s basic stick rubber model for beginners and appeared in Model Airplane News, August, 1954. These models were intended to illustrate scientific principles of design, trimming and stability. The Cloud Tramp can be built very quickly and flies well. A copy of the plan (half-size, with some full size parts) can be downloaded.
Save it to hard disk and open it with a suitable application so that it can be printed at the correct A4 (11″ x 8.5″ USA) size. Size it so the wing chord is 3″. The text of the accompanying article can be read on Garry Hunter’s excellent website.
We have published a detailed, illustrated, step-by-step tutorial on building a Better Cloud Tramp. Improvements include a two-hole prop shaft bearing, wheel collars, a simpler, cleaner, stronger wing attachment, wet formed wings with full span camber without ribs and an adjustable rudder.
Two articles about Charles Grant and the Cloud Tramp have appeared in the magazine Free Flight Quarterly, Issue No. 2, January 2002, page 18 and Issue No. 3, April 2002, page 19. Back issues are available on CDs.
Lastly, why not decorate your CT with an authentic Charlie Grant autograph,
or even better, this neat graphic specially drawn by Iain Paterson.
Just import it into a Microsoft Word document or equivalent, adjust to the size you want, then print onto tissue and dope/glue it in place.
If you want a full size CT plan specially drawn by Bob Jones, click HERE.
CLOUD TRAMP KITS
There are two kits currently available. Get one now and fly in the August World-Wide Cloud Tramp Mass Launch! You can use the materials from either kit to build the Better Cloud Tramp according to our tutorial.
I am pleased to report that a new kit is being produced by Vintage Model Company in Great Britain, convenient to the European market. I have this kit and can vouch for it.
George Bredehoft has brought back his Cloud Tramp kit, as a Short Kit. You will get all the laser-cut sheet balsa pieces and plans/instructions in this very basic short kit ($11). You can add a plastic prop (+$1) or a Superior Props Cloud Tramp balsa prop blank (+$8) as options. The instructions list all the other items needed to complete the kit, which are standard hobby shop items. I have several of George’s original full kits and can vouch for their quality.
MODIFICATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
The prop shaft bearing can be modified to aid trimming – have a look at some ideas that Pete Money has collected, including a neat adjustable system developed by Bob Morris, and the alternative system that Bob Kopksi uses. Pete has also forwarded some suggestions for improving the wing construction and fixing. See also our suggestions on EndlessLift. If your CT needs a D/T, Roland Frid has developed a neat system. If you fancy a change from rubber power, have a look at Tony Overton’s alternatives or even try an enlarged R/C version like Den Saxcoburg.
I discovered this while compiling this year’s report. Scroll down to page 4 for an article on getting the most out of your Cloud Tramp by Andy Sephton.
PREVIOUS MIMLOCT REPORTS
Have a look at Colin Hutchinson’s 2011 and 2012 photopages of the event.
There are several videos featuring Cloud Tramps on YouTube! Just type Cloud Tramp into the search box to find them.
Mike Parker compiled a report of GM 2015 from the various anecdotes submitted by participants.
See the Epsom Downs Model Aircraft Club fly their Cloud Tramps here EDMAC.
Read the 2017 MIMLOCT Report , the 2018 MIMLOCT Report, the 2019 MIMLOCT Report, the 2020 MIMLOCT Report and the 2021 MIMLOCT Report. See lots of pictures of people flying their Cloud Tramps.
2022 MIMLOCT Reports
Al Yuhasz, Gary Hinze, Larry Chouinard, Dick Roddy, Tom Curphy, Eric Grigg, Mike Parker, Albi Bleese, Sue Batkin, Paul Burt, Ron Marking, Dave Powis, Tony Winter, Barbara Jones, John Jones, Pete Brecker, Richard Bould, Stan Mauger, Paul Evans, Ceinwen Evans, Brian Howell, Riley Howell, Baptista Pereira, Petr Loula, Zdenka Loulova, Roman Pojer, Stanley J. Stembera, Robin Willes, Rodney Green, Andrew Green, Rebecca Green, Tony Tomlin, James Vincenti, Mike Eyre, Bob Beaumont, Mike Holloway, Peter Michel, Alex Cameron, Mike Etheridge, Margaret Willes, Niels McEwan, Brian Burke, Tony Handley, Liam Walsh, John Oulds, Roger Marples, Liz Frost, Peter Norman, David Catlow, Paolo Rossi, Mario Crestani, Silvano Bergamini, Carl Cimprich, Bob Gunter, Glenn Nigh, Ron Campbell, Andy Fakla, Sam Martyk, Mia Rittner, Rob Rittner, Martin Emery, Janet Stokes, Mike Voicheck, Guest 1, Mike Krot, David Martin, Bob Kopski, Denny Carlson, Bruce Fenstermacher, David Nagi, Barry Buzdygon, Rich Greenwood, John Hickey, Joe Kraynak, Guest 2, Dean Giacopassi, Terry Rosenbaum, Bobby Rosenbaum, Dianne Tate, John Tate, 81
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7:14 AM
Gary,
I had a successful “demo” flight, broken motor notwithstanding!
Thanks for the reminder.
Al
—
A.T. Yuhasz
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9:26 AM
Weather forecasts a few days before called for a very rare 1 mph wind all morning through noon today. I was looking forward to getting in several longer than usual flights in the small local park. Checked the weather report before leaving, it showed 4 mph and increasing. Packed up and arrived at the park at 7:52 AM, lubed the motor and put it on the plane. This reminded me that I had changed the prop freewheeler to a bale form that allows changing the prop without having to cut and replace the prop shaft. The sky was overcast and drift was slight, I could barely feel it on my face. Maybe I can get off a one minute flight without losing the Cloud Tramp in the downwind trees. Stooge in one pocket, winder in the other, walked out onto the field and was disappointed to see a large black dog running around, came over to check me out. The owner came over and asked if it was rubber powered. I told him about the Cloud Tramp and MIMLOCT. He told me he used to build Peanut models from the centerfold plan in Model Builder. He threw the ball and walked off following the dog. I engaged the prop in the stooge and set the bale. Put the winder hook in the O-ring, stretched the motor and started to wind in 2,000 turns in a 2,345 capacity motor. I got up to 1,700 and there was a CRASH! The prop released from the shaft, the stretched motor snapped the airplane into the winder, the wing was knocked off and shattered and the motor wadded up on the bearing. The bale must have disengaged from the prop, allowing it to slip off the shaft. I gathered up all the pieces. Drove home. I was thinking it would take a while to glue the wing back together and dry the glue. There was already enough wind to wave plants around. By the time I got back to the park, there would be too much wind for safe flying. The sun has come out revealing a blue sky filled with puffy white clouds. It might be a beautiful day to fly a kite.
Gary Hinze, San Jose, California.
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10:43 PM
Hi,
Here’s a link to “IMG_2410.MOV” in my Dropbox:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1vj5ex2h6ucn9fa/IMG_2410.MOV?dl=0
Heather Grigg
North Bay, Ontario, Canada
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Hello Gary,
I hope this works. We had a beautiful windy day. We did 900 turns and had a 27 second flight. My two little grand children thought this was neat Gary thanks again for keeping the Cloud Tramp event going.
Eric Grigg
I found the best viewing for drop box was full screen and quality 720pHD Thanks again Gary.
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Sun, Aug 7, 2022 5:48 am
Hi Gary,
I’ve posted a short report of our token flights, caused by the adverse conditions potentially leading to damage to the two elderly (legendary?) Cloud Tramps.
I’ll attach a selection of photos and videos for your consideration. Many thanks for your work in keeping the GM event alive. Loren Dietrich left us a long time ago, but I’m sure he would be as surprised and pleased as I am that our “little bit of fun” has and still brings amusement and pleasure to so many people after 27 years.
Best regards,
Mike Parker
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Sun, Aug 7, 2022 7:30 am
Sue Batkin, Paul Burt, Ron Marking, Dave Powis and Tony Winter all flew their CT’s at Davidstow Moor in Cornwall in winds 15mph gusting 18mph. Meanwhile at the other end of the county, Barbara and John Jones flew theirs on Goonhilly Downs in almost flat calm. One of the models joined a flock of swifts in a thermal for an epic flight.
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Baptista Pereira
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Today, the 6th of August, Petr Loula, Stanley J. Stembera, Roman Pojer and Zdenka Pojer, met at the meadows nearby Hajany, Czech Republic, and around 5:00 PM launched our Cloud Tramps. Click the link below to read the full report in Czech.
Click this link for English: https://www.golden-era.cz/grant-mimloct-2022/
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Epson Downs UK
Great weather, light breeze and 20 keen flyers!
Robin Willes (organizer….thanks), Rodney Green, Andrew Green, Rebecca Green, Tony Tomlin, James Vincenti, Mike Eyre, Bob Beaumont, Mike Holloway, Peter Michel, Alex Cameron, Mike Etheridge, Margaret Willes, Niels McEwan, Brian Burke, Tony Handley, Liam Walsh, John Oulds, Roger Marples, Liz Frost.
Cloud Tramp Peacehaven UK
Peter Norman, who usually comes to the Epsom UK gathering, chose to fly this year at the Peacehaven recreation ground.
One more to add to the list!
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Hi Gary,
Unfortunately this year we had lot of club members missing, but still I managed to put together some of us and a video, see here: https://youtu.be/4swVKJM-Oxk
Still we enjoyed so much, best regards, Paolo Rossi.
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Saturday August 6, 2022 the MAAC Zone E Niagara Region flyers came together for the 27th Charles Hampson Grant Memorial International Mass Launch at the Rose City Flying field in Welland Ontario. This year we had 8 flyers participate including Mia who is 2 years old. It was a beautiful warm sunny day with a bit of a breeze which proved to cause some flight problems however we managed to have a great launch and wonderful fun time.
This years participants, from the left – Carl Cimprich, Bob Gunter, Glenn Nigh, Ron Campbell, Andy Fakla, Sam Martyk, front row – Mia Rittner, Rob Rittner.
Thank you for keeping this event alive. We had a lot of fun building and participating. We are going to try and have more people next year.
Ron Campbell
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Keystone Radio Control, Franconia Pennsylvania, USA
7th Annual Cloud Tramp Mass Launch – 13 pilots
Paricipants: Mike Voicheck, Guest 1, Mike Krot, David Martin, Bob Kopski, Denny Carlson, Bruce Fenstermacher, David Nagi, Barry Buzdygon, Rich Greenwood, John Hickey, Joe Kraynak, Guest 2.
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The Brain Busters Free Flight club had 5 members to show up for the mass launch of the Cloud Tramp at the soccer field in Yorktown, VA. USA at 12 noon.
The attendees are: Dean Giacopassi, Terry Rosenbaum, Bobby Rosenbaum, Dianne Tate & John Tate.
We had a blast.
John Tate
Our CLOUD TRAMP launched @ 1700 hrs Bst, at Redhill common, Surrey, England.
Best wishes worldwide Trampers,
Martin Emery & Janet Stokes ..
Had a couple of short flights with Cloud Tramp at BMFA Nation Centre Buckminster on Saturday morning. Then went on to fly my Weatherman control line speed models later in the day.
Hi Gary
Yesterday I had made my contribution to celebrate Charles Grant flying my Cloud Tramp in Portugal. You can see it in Youtube at “Cloud Tramp Free flight model in Portugal”. Pity that the field is a very small one…
Baptista Pereira
The Auckland MAC managed to fly at 1600 our time as we have dispensation to use local time. We flew for 20 years in the early hours but this has become very unattractive with age. This has been the first time in 3 yeas we have been able to fly due to being blown and rained out in the last 2 years.
Seven fliers turned up at Windsor Park for flights that were up to a minute and afterwards we continued flying until the breeze became a little fresh. The site is bounded by housing and consists of 3 rugby fields.
I almost missed flight time, getting to the field later than intended after a shopping trip. By the time I got to the field; I had about three minutes to set up, wind a VERY tired motor (like, 5 years old!) and get the plane into the air – might have been a minute or so late… Fortunately, the “departure time” has been eliminated (found out today).
Windy (3-4 ms), HOT 81°F (for here). Only put 800 turns on the old rubber, that I normally put 12-1300 on, which didn’t get much height and a rather abrupt ending when the motor disengaged at the prop but gave me a workout with a nice ::) long walk into the next field.
NO photos as no one else was at the field and I forgot my camera in the rush >:(. At least I participated after a much too long absence.
Sue Batkin, Paul Burt, Ron Marking, Dave Powis and Tony Winter all flew their CT’s at Davidstow Moor in Cornwall in winds 15mph gusting 18mph. Meanwhile at the other end of the county, Barbara and John Jones flew theirs on Goonhilly Downs in almost flat calm. One of the models joined a flock of swifts in a thermal for an epic flight.
Mike Parker and Abi Bleese made token flights in the rear garden due to the windy conditions, in order to avoid damage to the two elderly Cloud Tramps. Mike flew his original 1995 CT, which is the only one to have completed all 27 of the Memorial flights, whilst Abi flew Number 2 that was built specially to mark the start of the new Millennium. Photos and videos to follow. Kudos to Gary for keeping this unique event alive and well.
OK, I found another smaller field and made 2 flights. Links below. I also put up a video of what my old flying field looks like now. It ain’t pretty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgNYSOhdJ4s&list=PLCfx8J2aBIwjZBVLouInw9aroEQSmAWC5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgejAhACzGQ&list=PLCfx8J2aBIwjZBVLouInw9aroEQSmAWC5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh0l4uAlMVY
5 PM, August 6th
Old pilot flew 20 year old Cloud Tramp with only slight damage – to the model not (fortunately) to the modeler!
Tom
Dick Roddy flew a Cloud Tramp at 11 AM August 6 , 2022 in Friendswood, Texas to participate in MIMLOCT
Did my part to honor Charles Grant this year. I have a couple videos and Photo that I posted to a free flight group. Thank you Mr Grant!!❤️
Three gentlemen from the Czech Republic will take part in this event tomorrow: Petr Loula, Roman Pojer, and Stanley J. Stembera, members of the AMC Blatna club. We will provide photos and report from the flying too. We wish all of you to enjoy it 🙂
Hello Gary
It’s Eric Grigg from North Bay Ontario Canada. I’ll have one maybe two Cloud Tramps depending on how many grand children I can muster up. Thanks again Gary for keeping the Cloud Tramp event going
Looking forward to participating again this year. May have trouble figuring out where to fly. My old field is now a construction site. 🙁
Many of us have the same problem – loss of flying sites. Look for a suitable place on the Google Map.
Thanks. If I get it together and build one, that will certainly make things easier for me. I’ll be able to fly after the RC contest instead of during it.
OTOH, you could have just put up instructions for adding an LED. It could probably weigh less than 5 grams, battery and all. 😉
Is this supposed to be at a particular time, or sometime during the day?
Originally all flights were to be simultaneous, worldwide. This meant that many people were not able to participate. I changed it to flying at any time on the designated day.