ANNOUNCING

The 31st Charles Hampson Grant Memorial International Mass Launch Of Cloud Tramps

Or

GRANT MIMLOCT 2026

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 1, 2026.

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 2026 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, 81 in 2022, 47 in 2023, 103 in 2024 and 39 in 2025.

Please let us know if you take part in GM 2025 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.

Click on the plan, 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 full size pattern wing chord is 3″. The motor stick is 1/4″ x 1/4″ x 18″.

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 is one kit currently available. Get one now and fly in the August World-Wide Cloud Tramp Mass Launch! You can use the materials from the kit to build the Better Cloud Tramp according to our tutorial.

A full 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.

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.

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, the 2021 MIMLOCT Report, the 2022 MIMLOCT Report, the 2023 MIMLOCT Report, the 2024 MIMLOCT Report and the 2025 MIMLOCT Report. See lots of pictures of people flying their Cloud Tramps.

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2026 MIMLOCT Reports

Flyers this year include Martin Pike, Allen Shields, Willi Schmitz, Gary Hinze, Stanley Brookshier, Jr., Tom Nallen, John Tate, Karel Vostradovský, Ondra and Michael Vosika, Paul McMahon, Paolo Rossi, Bruno Bassani, Roberto Viti, Gary Law, Dave King, Alan Trinder, Simon Burch, Chris Brainwood, George Cotton, ‘PJ’ Carter, Bob Lee, Peter Edwards, Aubrey King, Allen Shields, Richard Fallas, Ricky Bould, Petr Loula sr., Petr Loula jr., Zdeňka Loulová, Karel Griessl, Jiří Hloušek,  Jiří Houlík, Míla Beneš, Sam Adrlík, Michal Pán, Martin Strejc, Šárka Klímová, Eliška Koblihová, Martin Vršek, Vojta Vršek, .

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Three pictures from Martin Pike in North Wales.

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I got a short flight at Houge Park shortly before noon, during which I called out “Thank you Charlie!” I had forgotten all about the MIMLOCT. Hadn’t even turned over the page on my calendar. When I got notice of contributions to EndlessLift, I grabbed everything necessary and headed over to the little nearby park, hoping there wouldn’t be too many dogs running around. Weather forecast was for little wind, just a drift. Couldn’t remember where to put the wing on the stick, there were several pencil marks. I was testing different propellers, each with a different weight and each mark corresponds to a different propeller. I didn’t have time to look them up. I had built a new freewheeler and prop hubs that allows me to change propellers without having to cut the old shaft off and make a new one. I had an old, battered propeller on there just to check fit. Out of a half dozen motor cans, I picked the thickest one, not trying for a high, long flight, just a low circle on few turns. The new prop shaft interfered with getting onto the foot stooge, but by setting it at an angle, I was able to make room. Motor can label says 2,252 turns. I wanted just a slight climb, too risky to do more in this little park, surrounded by tall trees. And it occurred to me that I forgot to bring the recovery pole. Better play it safe. I put in 1,500 turns. It is always tricky to get the O-ring onto the rear hook, but got it on the third try. Put the foot stooge and winder in my pockets and walked out on the field, tree line off my left shoulder. I had right rudder, but zero on the thrust line. It had been flying Right-Right. I gave a little push in the direction of the drift, it dropped slightly, then climbed back to shoulder height and circled left. Went over the concrete path, through the trees, back over the path and landed on the lawn. A little bit of excitement. I said my usual “Thank you, Charlie!”, very happy to see it flying so nicely again. I picked it up, thinking I would try 1,600 turns flying in the opposite direction, but the prop hit my hand and a blade broke off. I packed everything and went home.

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My wife Margo and I proxy flew Paul Nelson’s (deceased) Cloud Tramp yesterday morning at 9:30AM EDT at Ward Reservation in North Andover, Massachusetts, USA.  Attached are  few pics from our brief flying session.

Thanks for organizing!

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Dear Gary,

I am sending you a collage of photos from our flying (does it suit you?).

It was a pleasure, and we thank you for the organization 🙂

Best regards

Michael Vosika

Karel Vostradovsky

Ondra and Michael Vosika

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Hi Gary, 

Due to severe hot temps 44° C we only had 2 club member launching, photos are enclosed. 

My very best regards, Paolo Rossi 

-- 
La Segreteria
Gruppo Aeromodellistico Falchi Bergamo
www.gruppofalchi.com

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Hope all is well with you.  First year we got skunked for field size and strong variable winds.  Failing a flight day we made a happy day by grouping our CTT’s Cloud Tramp trainees for a group picture with the hope for clear and calm skies.

Thanks again Gary for keeping the Charles Grant Anniversary  going

All the Best

Eric Grigg

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Hello Gary,
A few words and pictures from Oxford regarding our 2026 celebration of Charles Grant’s Cloud Tramp.
This year, Oxford Model Flying Club organized a free flight scale competition to coincide with MIMLOCT day. The weather was near perfect and ten flyers lined up at noon on Port Meadow to launch their Cloud Tramps.  Last one down; Peter Edwards received a bottle of wine (Australian red, appropriately called Oxford Landing!) after a 65 second flight.
The flyers were: (from right to left) Gary Law, Dave King, Alan Trinder, Simon Burch, Chris Brainwood, George Cotton, ‘PJ’ Carter, Bob Lee, Peter Edwards, Aubrey King.
Best wishes and keep up the good work
Gary Law
Oxford, England

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Greetings from Blatná, Czech Republic.
On Saturday, August 1st, we gathered at our club’s airport and organized a mass launch with Cloud Tramp models. This year, there were fewer of us, but the number of participants was increased by the arrival of colleagues from friendly clubs. Those who did not have a model could build one directly on the area. During the day, we also competed with Cloud Tramp models. We had a wonderful day.

List of participants: Petr Loula sr., Petr Loula jr., Zdeňka Loulová, Karel Griessl, Jiří Hloušek,  Jiří Houlík, Míla Beneš, Sam Adrlík, Michal Pán, Martin Strejc, Šárka Klímová, Eliška Koblihová, Martin Vršek, Vojta Vršek

Best Regards

Petr

AMC Blatná

Grant Mimloct 2026

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Another report from this event: https://www.lmk205kz.cz/grant-mimloct-2026-blatna-1-8-2026/

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