As winter approached the thought of flying outside with thermal underwear steered me to think in the direction of indoor models. I had never seen any indoor models fly. I wanted something a bit more than just flying around in circuits. Also the thought of 4 walls demanded a robust craft. I rang West London Models and asked their advice, they said I needed an IFO and that Allan Levi of ANSA Products was the importer. A quick look in the mags followed by a phone call to Allan soon had me on my way down to a club night, just south of Bristol by the Gordano Services on the M5. Enter Bob Blackmore and an IFO. The IFO bore a close resemblance to an electric powered kite! Bob proceeded to put on a 5 minute display that left me speechless, at the end of which he turned round and said " I hope you are flipping impressed". I most certainly was and bought one, complete with radio, motor gearbox. The cost was approximately £100. When I arrived home and opened the box I was somewhat surprised at the lack of bits in there. Almost no balsa at all, just a bag of carbon fibre rods of varying lengths, a plan and a long length of Kevlar!

Having come to terms that this is a different construction technique, to more usuall aircraft, the kit assembled quite quickly. The assembly procedure is mainly carbon rod bent into semi-circular forms and whipped together with Kevlar, which is then cyno'ed. This produces an incredibly strong and light structure. Once complete the structure is covered with plastic, made by Solarfilm but stuck with Evostick. This is because you must not shrink the covering with heat. If you do the carbon frame will distort.

The motor is a 280 size, 4:1 gearbox, 10*4.7 prop, 11 off 300mAhr Nickel Metal Hydride. The IFO weighs about 8ozs. At a club bring and buy I bought a Tamyia black Mabuchi 280 black motor. Wow there's some poke. I have set the control throws for maximum but with 60% exponential to quieten it down around neutral.

Nick landing the IFO at an Evesham, Avonvale indoor fly in

This is the unbelievable bit. Extremely tight loops and bunts. Just envisage approaching the wall at about shoulder height and returning at about 2 foot off the floor inverted. Its true! Cuban eights, inverted Cuban eights, rolling circles, square loops, even a square eight and 4 leaf clover ( a control line stunt manoeuvre). That sounds impressive, but don't forget its all done in the space of a couple of badminton courts! I'm so impressed that I bought a second IFO and also a mini-IFO. My son Dan also has an IFO now!! I don't think I have lost the plot, I would quite happily give up out-door greasy glow planes and concentrate on the thrill of the IFO. It's such a rush! Did I mention that they are almost unbreakable into the bargain.

Happy flying.

Nick Marson

The IFO and Mini IFO models are available from the official UK importer Ansa Products and good model shops.

Visit their website at 

www.ansaproducts.com

or click here to see the review of the Mini IFO