2023 Report
Butch Brookshier, Dick Roddy, Eric Bulmer, Ray Milland, Wendy Milland, Andrew Green, Brian Lever, Brian Waterland, Dave Rumball, Eric Grigg, Gary Hinze, Alex Cameron, Tony Tomlin, Roger Marples, Robin Willies, Peter Norman, Martin Pike, Rory Pike, Jo Hinchliffe, Keith Rowlands, Steve Kolet, Fran Kolet, Dianne Tate, John Tate, David Lovegrove, Alan Trinder, Chris Belcher, Gary Law, John Tate, Mike Parker, Hayley Pin, Don Ratzlaff, Matt Dubberke, Gail Young, Fred Young, John Thomas, Wayne Edwards, Harold Clark, Pete Morrison, Jim Andrews, David Farmer, Andy Billingham, Kevin Atkins, Dave Hanks, Martin Garnett, Mervyn Harris and Paul Griffiths.(47).
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Hello Gary, It’s Eric Grigg from North Bay, Ontario, Canada. On a small field again this year but all was good for a 14 second flight with 400 winds. The wind was light and variable from the West. Thanks again Gary for all your efforts in keeping the Cloud Tramp annual event going again this year. All the Best, Eric
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About 3 PM on the small postage stamp lawn at Houge Park in San Jose, California, with enough wind to spin the prop rapidly, only a few turns in the motor, I got off about a half dozen short flights, saying “Thank you , Charlie!” after the last flight. Gary Hinze
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Andrew Green
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Martin Pike
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Attached picture of three of the Cloud Tramp fliers: Alan Trinder, Chris Belcher and Gary Law on Port meadow, Oxford UK 5pm August 5th 2023.
Photograph taken by David Lovegrove.
Keep up the good work!
Cheers
Gary Law
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Mike Parker
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Hi Darcy –
I just wanted to send in a late contribution from here in Iowa; we had good weather in Cedar Rapids on the 5th (if a bit windy). No out-of-sight flights due to trying to avoid a cricket game as well as a large tree downwind!
The still photo shows our fliers, L-to-R: Don, Matt, Gail, Fred, John, Wayne and Harold (seated, front).
Google Says that the movie clip is too large, so it’s going by Google Drive.
Thanks for posting all the flights and fliers from around the globe, it’s a great event!
– Matt
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ANNOUNCING
The 28th Charles Hampson Grant Memorial International Mass Launch Of Cloud Tramps
Or
GRANT MIMLOCT 2023
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 5, 2023.
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 2023 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, 74 in 2021 and 81 in 2022.
Please let us know if you take part in GM 2023 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.
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, 2021 MIMLOCT Report and the 2022 MIMLOCT Report. See lots of pictures of people flying their Cloud Tramps.
Hi
Here at the South Bristol MAC ( UK) we hold a ‘Fun Day’ on the first Saturday in August to allow us to incorporate the Cloud Tramp mass launch. However this year the forecast was so bad it would have ruined everything planned for the day and so we had to reschedule to the Sunday – I’m hoping you will still allow our contribution to be included in the figures?
11 models turned up on the day but 2 were written off during trimming flights ! 9 flew and some good flights times were recorded.
Flying were Pete Morrison , Jim Andrews , David Farmer , Andy Billingham , Kevin Atkins , Dave Hanks , Martin Garnett , Mervyn Harris and Paul Griffiths. Missing out on the launch were John Bond and Doug Macdonald.
Good fun and we’re now looking forward to 2024
Dave
Port Meadow, Oxford was, like the rest of the UK, unseasonably wet and windy. David Lovegrove, Alan Trinder, Chris Belcher and Gary Law waited for a break in the rain and loosed their Cloud tramps at 5pm. Hoping that the weather for the regular CT comps. held later in the year at Buckminster and Peterborough enjoy weather that’s a little more flyable! Gary Law.
Kingston upon Hull UK. Mike Parker and Hayley Pin took part in GM 2023. Due to adverse weather conditions, the two short flights were made in the back garden of the house. Mike flew his original 1995 CT, which has taken part in all 28 GM events. Photos and a short video will be sent to Gary, with thanks for keeping this unique tradition alive. As well as celebrating the contributions that CHG made to aeromodelling, we should always remember to honour the memory of Loren Dietrich, who originated the event.
Mike Parker
Steve Kolet, Fran Kolet, Dianne Tate & John Tate flew their Cloud Tramps at Williamsburg, VA. USA. The field was small so only minimal turns were used. The weather was good for flying.
Hi Gary,
Four of us in North Wales, UK, took part in MIMLOCT this year. It was both windy (17-25mph) and raining. One member of our party had intended to fly from Bardsey Island, but the wind had been too strong for the ferry. Our CTs had been doped or varnished in anticipation of the weather. We picked what seemed to be the best time – 1400 – and managed some short flights. The weather changed for a while around 1500 and there were even patches of blue sky – so we had another round.
All models were retrieved, and only a few PVA joints came apart in the rain. After a flask of coffee, we retired to re-straighten the damp wings at home.
Location:
Near Mynydd Llandygai, Gwynedd, North Wales
Google maps;
5V6W+9H8 Bangor, United Kingdom
We do have some photos to send you.
My email address is below
Cloud Tramp Peacehaven UK
Peter Norman flew his Cloud Tramp at Centenery Park Peacehaven on the south coast of England.
Cloud Tramp Epsom Downs UK
Southern England was wet and windy all day, but I the rain stopped for the Mass Launch luckily.
Three fliers managed to launch at 5pm;
Tony Tomlin
Roger Marples
Robin Willes
The stalwarts from Peterborough model flying club in the UK flew in the teeth of Storm Anthony in the wind and rain on Saturday August 5th. The flyers were Brian Lever, Brian Waterland and Dave Rumball. Achieving 30 secs in a strong winds. Picture available.
It was very wet and windy in Blakeney, Norfolk at the due time on 5th August, but Wendy and I took the Cloud Tramps and flew them for a brief flight on minimal turns .Nevertheless it was a flight with each doing about 25 seconds. They are now dried out and back in their boxes ready for a fine weather outing.
I have some photos to send
Between thunder and lightning but in the rain. A few turns and a tentative launch in the back-garden. Honour and Charlie satisfied !
Dick Roddy flew a Cloud Tramp in Friendswood Texas to take part in MIMOCT 2023
Yay, I participated again this year! Unfortunately no video this time as my aim was off and all I got were 2 brief views of a wing tip. Still, had a great deal of fun flying and will be looking forward to next year’s event.