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Announcing

The 24th Charles Hampson Grant Memorial International Mass Launch Of Cloud Tramps

Or

GRANT MIMLOCT 2019

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 simultaneous launch on Saturday, August 3, 2019. The Launch Time will be 1700 hrs British Summer Time (GMT + 1 hour), so individual participants will have to calculate the appropriate local time at their venue [ New York, 1200 hrs; California, 0900 hrs; Sydney 0400 hrs, etc. ]

This year I suggest loosening the time requirement from international simultaneity to simultaneity within your local time zone. 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. We fly on the first Saturday in August at 1700 hours local time. If you can manage to fly at the international time, also feel free to do so.

GRANT MIMLOCT 2019 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 and 196 in 2018.

Please let us know if you take part in GM 2019 so that your name can be included in the official report. Use the Comment feature below.

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.

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

A Laser cut Cloud Tramp kit is available from George Bredehoft in the USA. He emailed to say:

“I make them in small batches and can provide overseas. Of course, combined orders will save on shipping.”

“Orders should be placed on the website (regardless of apparent stock-on-hand).”

“I offer a balsa prop, cut to the specs in Charles Hampson Grant’s book – where he describes and defines the Cloud Tramp. On my site, I offer a “combo” pack of the kit plus the prop blank, giving the buyer a discount when they order the combo.”

I have George’s kit and prop and can vouch for them.

A&DB Models in Great Britain made a kit at one time.

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 and can vouch for it too.

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. (This construction was adopted by George Bredehoft for his Volare kits.) 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.

http://www.peterboroughmfc.org/newsletters/2015-Dec-Plane%20Talking-A5.pdf

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. Please feel free to print copies for circulation to those folks who are not yet part of the www community.

See the Epsom Downs Model Aircraft Club fly their Cloud Tramps here  EDMAC.

Read the 2017 MIMLOCT Report and the 2018 MIMLOCT Report.

Reports from 2019 MIMLOCT Flyers

We received reports of 128 participants this year: Stu Cummins, Jo Campbell, Gary Hinze, Ray Millard, Wendy Millard, Tim Mountain, Robin Willes, Fred Brown, Peter Norman, John Barnes, Peter Roa, Peter Michel, Mike Holloway, Alex Cameron, Steve Davies, Tony Tomlin, Brian Birke, Dick Stepney, Mike Eyre, Nick Peppiatt, Liz Frost, Margaret Willes, Roger Marples, Angela Clifford, Jean Smith, William Le Messurier, Martin Emery, Dave Kershner, Theodore Imbasciani, Victor Imbasciani, Dave Shuster, Jim Kelly, Carl Foster, Abram Van Dover, Artie Jessup, Ed Dullaghan, Jake Crosby, John Tate, Eric Grigg, Molly Grigg, Fabio Suardi, Franco Ghilardi, Mauro Virischetti, Paolo Cassina, Paolo Erba, Paolo Riboli, Paolo Rossi, Roberto Viti, Simone Ghilardi, Craig Lewis, Larry Meloy, Tom Stoudt, Denny Carlson, Kevin Barnett, Evangline Barnett, Arabella Barnett, Barry Buzdygon, Bob Kopski, Peter Goodrich, Mike Voicheck & son, Mike Krot, Gerrit Krot, Greta Sasser, Marina Ronayne, Richie Ronayne, John Hickey, Myles Fontenot, Quinn Kilborn, Bruce Fenstermacher, Mike Parker, Georgia Parker, James Parker, Dave Hanks, Brian Howell, Reg Kinsey, David Leeding, Bert Whitehead, David Taylor, Ken Norton, Ian Hibbert, Diane Hibbert, Bob Lee, Chris Brainwood, 8 others, Ron Marking, Barbara Jones, 7 others, Richard Granger, Tony Brookes, Steve Truckle, 1 other, Bernard Scott, Dick Roddy, Tom Curphy, Jim Bair, 5 others, Butch Brookshier, Pat Jupiter, Neil Dennis, Carol Dennis, Jan Huning, Stephen Blades, Martin Ambrose, Mervyn Harris, Dave Hanks, Nigel Bowling, John Bond, John Mealing, guest Geoff Jones and Jim Andrews.

Many people reported directly to EndlessLift through the Comments window. You can read the Comments below. This section contains reports forwarded by emails, with pictures.

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Stu and Jo Cummins

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Oh, my! MIMLOCT 2019. I had completely forgotten. I made a mental note to check the date when I turned over the calendar from July to August, then got distracted by a long list of other things. I got an email with a photo and report which set me off on a search for the Cloud Tramp, put it together, checked the propeller and freewheeler, found the motors, picked one, lubed it, put it on the plane, shifted the wing to balance it, quick test glide, gather the foot stooge, winder, lube, camera, batteries, stopwatch, turns table, notebook and retrieval pole, put everything in the car and head out. As I was loading the car, I saw that the anise stalks were waving slightly, too much wind for flying in the small nearby park. I decided to take my chances at the larger park farther away. There was no place to park on the streets surrounding the park. I pulled off onto a side street and walked back. There was a dog training class on the field, a long line of dogs walking out onto the field. I walked around them to the center of the field. I blew some dandelion seeds into the air and they drifted east. The line of dogs stopped and made a U-turn. I put the foot stooge down and began winding, only to 1.200 turns out of 2,345 for a short test flight. There was a buzz from the freewheeler as some turns came out when I pushed the prop out of the stooge. I put in a bit more right rudder and launched south to circle west. It climbed to about twenty feet, circling several times and drifting west toward the baseball diamond. I didn’t want it to come down in the dirt and get the motor dirty, so I ran across the circle ahead of it and caught it at shoulder height. I said “Thank you, Charley.” No photos, no video, no time, just a test flight. It seemed like about a minute or a little less. I walked back across to a place a bit east of center and put the foot stooge down, but the prop was spinning rapidly. The dihedral gave a clear indication of the wind direction and with the nose pointed north directly into the wind, the prop was spinning very rapidly. The dogs had turned back and were advancing toward me. With that much wind, of uncertain direction, I decided to not risk it. I put everything back in the car and came home. One good flight is satisfactory.

Gary Hinze

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Wendy and I had been to a 1940’s event, so that should explain quite a lot about the picture!! We flew at Blakeney, Norfolk, England. Our times were abysmal because the rubber motors had gone a bit sticky, but 20 seconds ish saw them doing what they do best!
Regards,
Ray Millard.

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Great weather at Epsom for the mass launch. We had 22 flyers take to the sky at 5.00pm GMT.
Many thanks to the Epsom Downs Model Aircraft Club for organising the gathering, including insurance, and Ted Horne for acting as MC.
I’ll post any pictures when I get them.

Tim Mountain
Robin Willes
Fred Brown
Peter Norman
John Barnes
Peter Roa
Peter Michel
Mike Holloway
Alex Cameron
Steve Davies
Tony Tomlin
Brian Birke
Dick Stepney
Mike Eyre
Nick Peppiatt
Liz Frost
Margaret Willes
Roger Marples
Angela Clifford
Jean Smith
William Le Messurier
Martin Emery

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Hi Gang.

The 2019 Cloud Tramp Mass Launch had 11 people today at the Yorktown land field.

We arrived at the Yorktown land field today and the gate was locked with a new lock.

So we went to the soccer fields there on Wolf Trap Road. We were able to have a successful launch there at noon.

Here is the group of flyers lined up ready to fly except for me behind the camera.

Dave Kershner, Theodore Imbasciani, Victor Imbasciani, Dave Shuster, Jim Kelly, Carl Foster, Abram Van Dover, Artie Jessup, Ed Dullaghan, Jake Crosby & John Tate (camera man).

Another Cloud Tramp Mass launch is in the books.

John Tate

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Hello Gary It’s Eric Grigg from North Bay Ontario Canada.  Well after dawning our Cloud Tramp tee shirts (pic1) my young mechanic Molly ( grand daughter 11 months old )  did her pre-flight of the Cloud Tramp and gave me the rattle up shake (pic 2) to let me know to start winding the motor.  After doing 700 winds of the motor ( small football field ) Molly observing my stance advised me to straighten out (pic3) for a more successful flight.  It’s truly amazing what these youngsters know at such a young age.  Pic 4 Molly observes our successful takeoff and continues to watch the Cloud Tramp climb and do a couple of circles of the field.  Flight time 55 sec. in moderate shifting winds. Aspiring pilot? Fingers crossed. Have a good one Gary and thanks for keeping the Cloud Tramp event going. Eric

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Dear Gary,

For the 5th. consecutive year our Group has arranged the Cloud Trump 
launch at 18:00 Italian time ( 17: GMT )

Enclosed please find all photos, the group and single with relevant name.

Hope you will be able to publish them in the 2019 MIMLOCT .

Awaiting your confirmation and best regards .

Paolo Rossi

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Gary,
Attached is the Keystone Radio Control (KRC) Souderton, PA 2019 MIMLOCT group photo. 20 Cloud Tramps were launched. 2 were caught in trees and one flown by Denny Carlson caught a thermal and was last seen heading south in the clouds.

If you are not adding photos to the website, I will add a comment to the Endless Lift Cloud Tramp page.

Thank You,

Rich Greenwood

Greenwood Printing

950 W Valley Forge Road

King of Prussia  PA 19406

610-337-8887

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Hi Gary,

Attached is a photo of me and two of my grandchildren after taking part in GM2019.  I was able to fly at the traditional time of 5pm, but thanks to your excellent idea of “same day, flexible time”, Georgia (10) and James (7) were able to fly my two CTs when they visited in the evening. They greatly enjoyed being part of the event and are looking forward to seeing their names and the photo up on the website in due course. Early reports seem to be less numerous at present, so I hope that the eventual turnout will reward your valued work in keeping the event alive after all these years. I like to think that it is the longest running truly International event of its kind and hope, with your help, that it will reach the Silver Jubilee milestone next year. With thanks and best regards,

Mike Parker, Hull, UK

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Ok, Gary, Carol and I got in our flights today, really good flying wxr. Had to make new motors and wing bands first .
Wombat (Neil Dennis)

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Hi Gary,

Another 10 names to add to your list for 2019. The South Bristol MAC (UK) held their annual ‘Fun Day’ on the 3^rd August so that it coincided with the International Mass Launch. We had partaken of our ‘Aternoon Tea’ and then shot off to the other side of the airfield for the 5pm launch.The weather was good to us with no rain and just a slight breeze.

Participants this year were ( from l-to-R in the attached photo )

Jan Huning, Stephen Blades, Martin Ambrose, Mervyn Harris, Dave Hanks, Nigel Bowling, John Bond, John Mealing, guest Geoff Jones, Jim Andrews.

The launch is now up on Youtube and can be found at

The day was enjoyed by all and we will definitely be taking part in your 25^th celebration in 2020.

All the best,

Dave

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Thanks to those of you who shared reported activities or submitted photos. I look forward to doing this again next year. – Gary