Free Flight: Duration

FREE FLIGHT DURATION i ZWIiA L [E p44 U WITH ALMOST 250 contestants dozens events spread over five days Nats hard describe let alone chronicle What follows some random observations hope accompanying photographs will least give some flavor annual event AMAs International Aeromodeling Center Muncie Indiana no Lost Hills certainly very good Category III site weather cooperates did year big enough three minute maxes needed larger FAL events FlA Glider FiB Wakefield FiC Power excellent contest management wisely allowed modelers considerable flexibility launch location enabling fliers use longest portion field number flights off field necessitating searches surrounding corn beans chase bike radio transmitter model almost standard equipment Although weather good moderate wind few hours light rain day picking lift often proved tricky Wakefield example December1998 117 Daniel Tracy prepares Fl B Wakefield Note folding stooge winding tube used protect model case broken rubber motor Jason Greer Smackover AR flew K&B 21 powered Nibite B Broken foot suffered chase bike accident didnt sideline John Gas Oliver tailboom auto stab auto rudder bunt Barron long winds Coupe help father Andrew four people six straight maxes going seventh round Tom loerger maxed last round FlA Glider about half-dozen top fliers California showed up including three four former team members rolling hills upwind trees small thermals limited flyoff four contestants AMA Open Power events auto-surface model has become necessity make winners circle simple model can make through first three flights seven second engine run two-minute max first second flyoff flights five-second engine run two-minute max remaining flights four-second engine run 2/2-minute max require pure performance 118 Model Aviation le flight flown break day decides winner Dawn Unlimited event Most models easily capable five six minutes dead air Faust Parkers F1J looked like scaled-down FiC MP Jet Jonathan Watson sensibly wears eye ear protection fires up tuming folding carbon-fiber prop carbon-fiber D-box Tee Dee T-Bird nine-year-old Canton Michigan Martyn Cowley assembles foam-wing FlA towline Ross Jahnke Baton Rouge won Coupe own design glider model features three-piece wing construction Carbon-fiber motor tube traditional balsa-and-tissue wing Winning requires highperformance model also requires consistent also requires careful attention detail good chase crew rack up two dozen flights needed win best examples new Open Power model Ed Kecks winning C-Gas model Based very successful FlC models design uses now-standard carbonfiber D-box wing stab construction allows very stiff wing wingspan well excess 100 inches Timer-controlled auto functions allow vertical climb altitude-gaining bunt over glide best treats contest Wednesday night watching Ed put up max after max set record great after-dinner show folks National Free Flight Society picnic However high-tech trend Power has people discussing need less-demanding lessexpensive Power event considerable amount discussion about Slow Open Power event popular England using less-powerful engines no auto surfaces Almost everyone talked own ideas need such event Some felt current Nostalgia Gas already fills need Others suggested Nostalgia rules too limiting Bob Johannes suggested best way get Power flying bunt model powered mild engine feels models auto surfaces much easier trim since power glide phases flight can adjusted separately Using less-powerful engine will slow things December1998 119 Many-time team member Randy Weller gets assist father Ed programs electronic timer FlA Electronic timers increasingly popular class Art Ellis studies air awaits signs lift before launching catapult glider inside pena common launch area fliers Off 30 maxes Ed Kecks record-setting C Gas model Henry Spence adjusts Nelson FiG model used derived successful series FiGs event well Gasplaced fourth third FiG down make adjustments less critical Nostalgia Gas two most-popular designs far Jays Bird T-Bird saw several juniors flying T-Birds /2A Power wellquite credit 40 year-old design also good number Geefs regular Nostalgia events special one-design event model chosen one-design event held number contests during year Geef model chosen 1998 Just about everyone seemed using some sort thermal-detecting device bubble machines often adapted toys themistors showed rise fall temperature elaborate devices recorded graphed ups downs air Barron family memorable Nats experiences Sunday before Nats John Barron age 12 fell riding chase bike broke foot put him out action flying FlA Monday also keep him representing US Junior World Championships Romania held few weeks after Nats John foot cast kept flying several Rubber events Meanwhile Johns younger brother Peter age 10 having problems own early flights FlA failed dethermalize father Andrew off after model Peter went back got another model out asked Open flier Brian Van Nest help launches next two rounds Meanwhile Andrew tracked down model some 18 miles away after flight about 1 /2 hours Peter 120 Model Aviation ie Thompson Athens AL very good Nats scoring wins two Power events checks out air before firing up winning B Gas model Phil Klintworth Fairfield Glade TN winds Moffett Winding stooges almost universally used Rubber eventsallows one-person operation Richard Wood launches Jetex-powered model Rocket event Warren Kurth Davenport IA checks conditions sets up Davis Model Products now imports Jetex fuel engines near pen prior flight Old-Time HLG will substituting older brother Junior World Champs Romania contest management excellent year thanks efforts CD Phil Sullivan assistant CD Joe Mekina dozens helpers especially interesting feature year flyoff Junior Catapult Glider incorporated days prizegiving real crowdpleaser way make annual event Given nature of events rather sprawled-out flightline impossible tell ahead constantly checking tabulations CD tent FAI events flown rounds did allow better sense ahead flyoffs several events did allow dramatic resolution especially enjoyed second Coupe flyoff Ross Jahnke just nipping Andrew Ringlien light rain two NFFS-sponsored dinners well-attended Wednesday night picnic field provided informal way relax Thanks NFFS President Bob Stalick NEFS Membership Chairman Hank Nystrom Texas Timers putting picnic together banquet held Thursday night included presentations Models Year awards well inductions NFFS Hall Fame Speakers included 1998 Sympo editor Daniel Tracy Digest editor Chris Weinreich location Horizon Center provided much space previous years mber 1998 121 Clever dethermalizer Carl Perkins Jimmie Allen Skokie rubber model uses pivoting stabilizer Fuse snuffer tube under wing Bob Johannes St Charles MO checks stab Power Alex Marsh Granger IN Gollywock Half-century old Wally model Seelig timer controls VIT bunt DT functions Simmers design still popular modelers ages

FREE FLIGHT DURATION i ZWIiA L [E p44 U WITH ALMOST 250 contestants dozens events spread over five days Nats hard describe let alone chronicle What follows some random observations hope accompanying photographs will least give some flavor annual event AMAs International Aeromodeling Center Muncie Indiana no Lost Hills certainly very good Category III site weather cooperates did year big enough three minute maxes needed larger FAL events FlA Glider FiB Wakefield FiC Power excellent contest management wisely allowed modelers considerable flexibility launch location enabling fliers use longest portion field number flights off field necessitating searches surrounding corn beans chase bike radio transmitter model almost standard equipment Although weather good moderate wind few hours light rain day picking lift often proved tricky Wakefield example December1998 117 Daniel Tracy prepares Fl B Wakefield Note folding stooge winding tube used protect model case broken rubber motor Jason Greer Smackover AR flew K&B 21 powered Nibite B Broken foot suffered chase bike accident didnt sideline John Gas Oliver tailboom auto stab auto rudder bunt Barron long winds Coupe help father Andrew four people six straight maxes going seventh round Tom loerger maxed last round FlA Glider about half-dozen top fliers California showed up including three four former team members rolling hills upwind trees small thermals limited flyoff four contestants AMA Open Power events auto-surface model has become necessity make winners circle simple model can make through first three flights seven second engine run two-minute max first second flyoff flights five-second engine run two-minute max remaining flights four-second engine run 2/2-minute max require pure performance 118 Model Aviation le flight flown break day decides winner Dawn Unlimited event Most models easily capable five six minutes dead air Faust Parkers F1J looked like scaled-down FiC MP Jet Jonathan Watson sensibly wears eye ear protection fires up tuming folding carbon-fiber prop carbon-fiber D-box Tee Dee T-Bird nine-year-old Canton Michigan Martyn Cowley assembles foam-wing FlA towline Ross Jahnke Baton Rouge won Coupe own design glider model features three-piece wing construction Carbon-fiber motor tube traditional balsa-and-tissue wing Winning requires highperformance model also requires consistent also requires careful attention detail good chase crew rack up two dozen flights needed win best examples new Open Power model Ed Kecks winning C-Gas model Based very successful FlC models design uses now-standard carbonfiber D-box wing stab construction allows very stiff wing wingspan well excess 100 inches Timer-controlled auto functions allow vertical climb altitude-gaining bunt over glide best treats contest Wednesday night watching Ed put up max after max set record great after-dinner show folks National Free Flight Society picnic However high-tech trend Power has people discussing need less-demanding lessexpensive Power event considerable amount discussion about Slow Open Power event popular England using less-powerful engines no auto surfaces Almost everyone talked own ideas need such event Some felt current Nostalgia Gas already fills need Others suggested Nostalgia rules too limiting Bob Johannes suggested best way get Power flying bunt model powered mild engine feels models auto surfaces much easier trim since power glide phases flight can adjusted separately Using less-powerful engine will slow things December1998 119 Many-time team member Randy Weller gets assist father Ed programs electronic timer FlA Electronic timers increasingly popular class Art Ellis studies air awaits signs lift before launching catapult glider inside pena common launch area fliers Off 30 maxes Ed Kecks record-setting C Gas model Henry Spence adjusts Nelson FiG model used derived successful series FiGs event well Gasplaced fourth third FiG down make adjustments less critical Nostalgia Gas two most-popular designs far Jays Bird T-Bird saw several juniors flying T-Birds /2A Power wellquite credit 40 year-old design also good number Geefs regular Nostalgia events special one-design event model chosen one-design event held number contests during year Geef model chosen 1998 Just about everyone seemed using some sort thermal-detecting device bubble machines often adapted toys themistors showed rise fall temperature elaborate devices recorded graphed ups downs air Barron family memorable Nats experiences Sunday before Nats John Barron age 12 fell riding chase bike broke foot put him out action flying FlA Monday also keep him representing US Junior World Championships Romania held few weeks after Nats John foot cast kept flying several Rubber events Meanwhile Johns younger brother Peter age 10 having problems own early flights FlA failed dethermalize father Andrew off after model Peter went back got another model out asked Open flier Brian Van Nest help launches next two rounds Meanwhile Andrew tracked down model some 18 miles away after flight about 1 /2 hours Peter 120 Model Aviation ie Thompson Athens AL very good Nats scoring wins two Power events checks out air before firing up winning B Gas model Phil Klintworth Fairfield Glade TN winds Moffett Winding stooges almost universally used Rubber eventsallows one-person operation Richard Wood launches Jetex-powered model Rocket event Warren Kurth Davenport IA checks conditions sets up Davis Model Products now imports Jetex fuel engines near pen prior flight Old-Time HLG will substituting older brother Junior World Champs Romania contest management excellent year thanks efforts CD Phil Sullivan assistant CD Joe Mekina dozens helpers especially interesting feature year flyoff Junior Catapult Glider incorporated days prizegiving real crowdpleaser way make annual event Given nature of events rather sprawled-out flightline impossible tell ahead constantly checking tabulations CD tent FAI events flown rounds did allow better sense ahead flyoffs several events did allow dramatic resolution especially enjoyed second Coupe flyoff Ross Jahnke just nipping Andrew Ringlien light rain two NFFS-sponsored dinners well-attended Wednesday night picnic field provided informal way relax Thanks NFFS President Bob Stalick NEFS Membership Chairman Hank Nystrom Texas Timers putting picnic together banquet held Thursday night included presentations Models Year awards well inductions NFFS Hall Fame Speakers included 1998 Sympo editor Daniel Tracy Digest editor Chris Weinreich location Horizon Center provided much space previous years mber 1998 121 Clever dethermalizer Carl Perkins Jimmie Allen Skokie rubber model uses pivoting stabilizer Fuse snuffer tube under wing Bob Johannes St Charles MO checks stab Power Alex Marsh Granger IN Gollywock Half-century old Wally model Seelig timer controls VIT bunt DT functions Simmers design still popular modelers ages