Free Flight Duration
Louis Joyner [[email protected]]
- Thoughts about the 2005 FF Nats
The title of this column could just as easily be “Free Flight Competition.” For most of us who fly free flight (FF), competition is the essence of the hobby and sport.
From its beginning, before the Wright brothers first flew at Kitty Hawk, FF modelers have been striving to design and build models that would fly farther or stay up longer. It was this competitive drive that brought about the improvements in aerodynamics, materials, construction techniques, and power plants that all modelers now enjoy.
Competition can take many forms, from a local contest to national or international events. The numbers of people participating can vary from a handful to several hundred. However, in the end the contest is with oneself. In FF duration the judge is the stopwatch. If you max every flight, you will win.
If winning is your only goal, FF, or any other sport, can be disappointing. Winning is difficult; it requires careful planning, study, discipline, attention to detail, and focus. It also often requires luck. However, the process of contest preparation and participation can be its own reward. For a young person, playing a sport has long proven to be beneficial from a physical and mental standpoint. For adults, sports provide a way to stay active.
Among sports, FF is one of the few that people of all ages can enjoy. It truly is a lifetime activity. It is common to see people in their 70s or 80s competing and winning in this discipline—and they are not flying in a special “seniors” category.
The word “sport” has taken on different meanings with different groups of modelers. For some, sport-flying means noncompetitive activity such as that covered in Gene Smith’s MA “Free Flight Sport” column.
But the FAI—the worldwide governing body for sport aviation—refers to competition fliers as sportsmen and competition FF as a sport. For the purposes of this column, competition flying will be referred to as a sport.
Competition FF offers a diversity of events—some might say too much diversity. There are enough choices to fit a variety of interests, skill levels, and pocketbooks.
Simpler events such as P-30 rubber, catapult glider, and hand-launched glider provide ways to try FF competition with a minimum investment in time or money. For considerably less than $100 you can build a P-30 kit or a few gliders and start flying in competition.
At the other end of the spectrum, the international FAI classes offer the opportunity to spend a great deal of money and time on models and ground-support equipment and travel across the country or around the world.
Regardless of what events you decide to fly, the best thing about competition flying is the opportunity to meet other FF modelers. For many of us a contest is the only chance we have to get together, compare notes, and talk shop.
For a new modeler, or one who is reentering the sport after a few years' hiatus, a contest is the best way to learn. Most FF modelers are willing to show you their models, explain construction techniques, or even offer trimming suggestions for your aircraft. Just make sure you don't interrupt a flier while he or she is getting a model ready or waiting for a thermal to come through.
If you are interested in getting started in competition FF, following are some suggestions.
- Join the National Free Flight Society (NFFS). This is the AMA SIG for all aspects of FF. The NFFS Digest, published 10 times a year, offers information, tips, and plans.
- For U.S. residents who are 19 or older, a one-year membership is $25 (two years is $48). A two-year junior membership—for those younger than 19—is $18. Make your check out to the National Free Flight Society and send it to the NFFS Membership Office, 22 Pine St., Homosassa, FL 34446. (Juniors must include proof of age.) Visit the NFFS Web site at http://freeflight.org for more information.
- Try to find another FF modeler or club in your area. NFFS members can buy a membership roster for $12. Even if the locals don't fly the events you are interested in, they should be able to help with construction techniques, trimming, and test-flying sites.
- Build a kit. Start with something simple, follow the instructions, and finish it. Don't worry if it is not perfect. The important thing is to get flying as soon as possible. (Building can be enjoyable, but flying on a regular basis is the best way to sustain interest.) Once you have that first model flying, build the same kit again. This time take extra care to build it to the minimum weight and as accurately as possible.
- Go to contests. Attending an event close to home is a good way to check everything out, meet modelers in the area, and do some low-pressure flying. Then plan on attending a major contest such as the Nats, held every summer in Muncie, Indiana. This week-long contest offers almost every outdoor FF event, and entry is open to any AMA member.
- Plan to spend the whole week at the Nats if at all possible; that way you can see a variety of models up close, fly in a few events, and get to meet modelers from across the country. There are usually several vendors on the field selling specialty FF kits, equipment, and supplies. In addition, there is an excellent hobby shop just off the field with a good selection of FF kits.
- Specialize. After you have constructed a few models and participated in a few contests, you'll have a better idea of which events you are most interested in. Concentrate on a few similar classes rather than trying to do too many different things at once.
- Most of the support equipment and trimming techniques for P-30 carry over to other rubber events such as Mulvihill, old-time rubber, and F1H coupe. You would need a whole different set of support equipment for gas.
- Do some research on what designs other people are flying and what equipment (engines, timers, rubber, etc.) they are using. Flying popular, proven designs will make it easier to get information on construction and trimming.
- Fly as much as you can. There is a tendency to put away a model after initial trimming to "save" it for the contest. Practice-flying in all weather conditions is the best way to prepare yourself for participating in a contest.
- Learn how to handle, launch, and retrieve your models in the wind. What support equipment and clothing do you need to fly in rain or in cold weather? How should you adjust your airplane for calm air? How should you adjust your airplane for the hot, thermal conditions? Practice and familiarity with your models will help minimize contest jitters.
- Put in all your flights. Even if the weather conditions are bad and you’ve already dropped a flight or two, keep flying. If nothing else, it’s good practice for your next contest. As the sports cliché goes, put in your flights one flight at a time.
- Learn from your mistakes. FF models can be complicated, and many things can go wrong. When something does go awry, figure out what happened and how you can keep it from happening again. Attention to detail, focus, and practice will go a long way toward reducing mistakes.
- Learn from other people’s mistakes. Most modelers are surprisingly willing to share what went wrong. Listen and learn.
- Think. One of the two best pieces of advice about modeling was the word “think” from the late Ed Turner. (The other words of wisdom, given to me from my father when I was 5 or 6 years old, was “The difference between a beginner and an expert is sandpaper.”)
- Have fun!
2005 FF Nats
Because of my move from South Carolina up to Virginia I missed the Nats last year, but the daily online coverage by David Mills captured the feel of the week-long contest. You can still find it archived on the AMA Web site (www.modelaircraft.org). Under “Competitions” go to “AMA Flying Site/Nationals” then click on “NatsNews.” Check the entries for August 1–5.
I was delighted to see that Ed Wiley won F1B Wakefield. When we first met at the 1996 Nats, Ed was flying rubber and glider. He soon began to specialize in rubber, steadily improving his models and his flying.
Ed was always asking questions, practicing, and learning. I can remember early on when Ed would get excited if he made one max out of the seven flights in F1B. This year he made seven straight. In fact, he was the only one to max out.
Connie Perry is one of the relatively few women who participate in FF. (There are no separate events for women.) This year she became the first woman to win the Mulvihill Trophy—one of the oldest in modeling.
This award, which is on permanent display at the AMA museum, is a bronze statue of Icarus strapping on one of his wings. It’s a wonderful piece of art, and the winners’ names engraved around the base read like a who’s who of modeling.
Mulvihill is not a difficult event. The specifications are simple: the rubber-powered model must have a wing area of less than 300 square inches. The event is flown in a series of increasing maxes, starting with two minutes, then three, then four, then five, and on until you miss a max.
The first few flights are well within the model’s dead-air capabilities and normally stay on the field. As the maxes get longer, they get harder to make and harder still to retrieve.
Connie has come close to winning in the past, but this year she kept maxing, finally losing her model on the seventh flight but still making the required eight minutes. Her total time was 2,100 seconds (35 minutes)—almost two minutes ahead of Paul Andrade, who placed second.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
