The 2015 United States Indoor Aerobatics Team with their aircraft (from left) Ryan Clark, RJ Gritter, Devon McGrath, and Joseph Szczur. Photo contributed.
Joseph Szczur, a 14-year-old 8th grade student at Rocky Run Middle School, participated in the United States Indoor RC Aerobatics Model Airplane Team Trials which was held in Akron, Ohio in March. There were a total of 16 pilots competing in the competition, three which were Junior (18 years old or less). Joseph was the highest placing Junior pilot, qualifying him as U.S. team member along with the top three placing Open (18 years or older) competitors.
Joseph, who is also the president of the STEM-focused Model Airplane Student Club at Rocky Run Middle School, flew an aircraft called “Excel v1” designed by Scott Barnhart. The plane weighed a scant 86 grams without the battery. His equipment included a Spektrum DX 18 radio control transmitter with Spektrum 2010 servos and was powered by an e-flight 250 motor running on a Thunder Power 7.4 volt battery about the size used in a typical pocket cell phone.
This is the second FAI category in which Joseph has represented the U.S. Last August he flew with the U.S. team in F3A, outdoor international aerobatics category during the world championships in Johannesburg, South Africa.