FREE FLIGHT DURATION
Louis Joyner 6 Saturday Rd., Mt. Pleasant SC 29464
Free Flight modelers, like their flying sites, are spread far and wide. Many of us toil away in relative isolation, meeting with other fliers only at contests. Through the years we have developed a number of ways to stay in touch, share our knowledge, and pass along our passion for the sport.
Perhaps the first to do so was Frank Zaic; his series of Model Aeronautic Year Books kept modelers around the world informed from the 1930s through the 1960s. Frank, who turned 90 last fall, was honored recently by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the world governing body for sporting aviation.
The organization presented him with the Gold Medal for Aeromodeling, its highest award for model aviation. Frank’s familiar orange Year Books are still available from a number of sources, including the AMA bookstore.
Today we have a wide variety of choices ranging from columns, such as this one, in general modeling publications to specialized Free Flight magazines and newsletters. If you are interested in Free Flight, the best way to stay informed is to subscribe to one or more of these publications.
National Free Flight Society (NFFS) — Free Flight
The National Free Flight Society’s (NFFS) digest Free Flight comes out 10 times a year. In it you will find articles on a wide range of topics, contest reports, and often full-size plans for a small model. The only way to subscribe is to join NFFS.
For information about NFFS membership, contact Hank Nystrom at the NFFS Membership Office, 3317 Pine Timbers Dr., Johnson City TN 37604. You can also e-mail him at [email protected] or visit the NFFS Web site at www.freeflight.org. Membership for US residents 19 and older is $39 for two years.
Indoor News and Views (INAV)
Indoor News and Views (INAV) is a bimonthly publication for Indoor Free Flight duration fliers. The issues I’ve seen include many construction tips, three-views, and contest reports. Although the focus is on the high-performance duration events, there is also a Scale column. A subscription in the US is $15 a year.
For information, contact Tim Goldstein, INAV subscriptions editor, at 13096 W. Cross Dr., Littleton CO 80127. You can also e-mail him at [email protected] or visit the Web site at www.IndoorDuration.com.
Free Flight News
Free Flight News is a monthly newsletter that focuses on the British flying scene as well as the international World Cup contest circuit. A typical issue features contest commentary, three-views of top models, and technical articles. You can order a subscription online using a credit card at www.btinternet.com/~kaynes/ffnbuy.htm.
Free Flight Quarterly
Free Flight Quarterly is the newest worldwide Free Flight publication. It covers all aspects of the discipline, including Indoor, Scale, Old-Timers, and high-tech. Lately the publication has featured a three-part series about the popular Wally Simmers Gollywok rubber model. A year’s subscription is $20.
For more information, write to Free Flight Quarterly, Freiflug Haus, 37 Windsor St., Kingston Beach TAS 7050, Australia, or visit the Web site at www.chariot.net.au/~bluejay/freeflightquarterly.html.
SCAT Electronic News (SEN)
One popular newsletter went totally digital a few years back. The Southern California Aero Team sponsors the SCAT Electronic News (SEN) site at www.aeromodel.com/scat. SEN is available on the Web site or as an e-mail that is sent out each time news breaks, which can be once or twice a week.
Annuals and Reports
In addition to the monthly and bimonthly publications, there are two important annuals for the Free Flight community: one American and the other British.
#### Sympo 2003 (NFFS Symposium Report)
Each year the NFFS produces a Symposium report, better known as the Sympo. This year marks the 36th edition. Papers cover a wide range of Free Flight topics, Indoor and out, ranging from theory to practical aspects of model building and flying.
A partial list of papers includes:
- "Downthrust, Incidence, and Decalage — a 'Non-Technical View'" by Rex Hinson
- "Airfoils Are Good If They Look Good" by Fritz Mueller
- "The Variable-Diameter Indoor Prop" by Jim Richmond
- "P-30: the Next Generation" by Mike Evatt
- "Learning to Love the Mogel Timer" by Bob Johannes
- "Headwind Glide Performance Analysis" by Dick Huang
- "Laser Cutting" by Mike Fruciano
- "Hand Launch Gliders" by Kevin Moseley
- "Rubber Energy Output" by Fred Pearce
- "Team Management and Changes in 35 Years of World Championships" by Martin Dilly
The Sympo also lists the Models of the Year selection and the NFFS Hall of Fame.
You can order a copy of the 2003 Sympo from NFFS publications manager Jim Zolbe. The price per copy is $25 for NFFS members and $30 for nonmembers. Postage within the US is $4 via Priority Mail; elsewhere in the world, postage is $4 by surface mail. The address is NFFS Publications, Jim Zolbe, 4801 Braddock Ct., Lincoln NE 68516. Please make checks payable to NFFS.
An NFFS Symposium Archive CD Set is also available. The four CDs contain more than 3,500 pages of information and include all of the Sympos through 2000, the World Championship books, and the Winning Indoor Designs book. There is also a 20-year index. The CD set is $66 for NFFS members.
#### Free Flight Forum 2003 (British Model Flying Association)
The British Model Flying Association has been presenting a forum and report since 1985. The 78-page 2003 version, edited by Martin Dilly and Mike Evatt, explores a wide range of topics and Free Flight activities.
Highlights include:
- Mike Fantham (former F1A world champion) offers advice on the selection and use of compasses, maps, and GPS for model retrieval.
- John Barker wrote two papers: one on the use of computer spreadsheets for aerodynamic calculations and another about drag.
- Bernie Hunt explains a new method of rubber testing using a digital scale.
- Joe Flynn details two simple-to-build torque meters—one for smaller models with a range of 0 to 40 ounce-inches and a larger one with a range of 0 to 130 ounce-inches.
- Dave Clarkson explores the advantages of using flat-bottomed wing airfoils for Slow Open Power (the British equivalent of Classic Gas).
- Martin Dilly suggests a method for undercambered ribs: laminate ribs from thin sheet balsa, sand to shape, cap top and bottom with unidirectional carbon fiber and epoxy, then slice the cured ribs off "sausage-style."
- Articles by Chris Edge and Mike Fantham cover simple, inexpensive building fixtures that require hardware-store parts rather than machine-shop equipment.
Copies of the report are available from Martin Dilly, 20 Links Rd., West Wickham, Kent BR4 0QW, England. The price, which includes airmail postage to the US, is 10.00 pounds. Payment must be made in pounds sterling only. The easiest way to order is by credit card. You can fax Martin at +44 (0)20 8777 5533 or e-mail him at [email protected].
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
