FREE FLIGHT SPORT - 2015/01 | Model Aviation Library

Author: Gene Smith

Edition: Model Aviation - 2015/01
Page Numbers: 135,136,137

Free Parking

Driving into the AMA flying site in Muncie, Indiana, for the first day of the Free Flight (FF) Nats last summer, I was dreading the potential lack of parking. With the wind coming from the northwest, I knew the flightline would be set up at the northwest corner of the field, which is an area with limited parking.

Approaching the field, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the crops had been set back far enough to allow three rows of parking! We flew from that corner most of the week. I learned that former National Free Flight Society (NFFS) President Phil Sullivan was largely responsible for the improved parking area. Phil was quick to say that he had help with the project, which is now called the Sullivan Addition.

Many thanks to Phil and those who helped him, and thanks also to the AMA for a welcome improvement.

One Design

Don't forget to put a Jay's Bird or a Reid Simpson Tornado on your building board for the 2015 One Design event at the Nats. Jay's Bird plans are available from NFFS and a kit is available from BMJR Models. Check the AMA Plans Service for Tornado plans.

Michael and Oliver Sand

One of the highlights of my experience at the Flying Aces Club (FAC) Nats last summer in Geneseo, New York, was meeting 13-year-old Oliver Sand and his father, Michael. It was their first time at the FAC Nats and they made the most of it.

George White and I invited them to set up under our shade and we got to watch Oliver in action. He put up more than 100 flights during the three-day event. Amazingly, Oliver had no tutor. He started with Guillow's World War II model kits. Since he was 9, Oliver has relied solely on information gleaned from the Internet. Michael had no modeling experience, but was extremely supportive. Oliver didn't hesitate to listen to George and me, and any other modeler who gave him advice. It was a pleasure to see a young man who loves working with his hands and mind and enjoys the thrill of model flight.

Vickers Nene Viking

Another highlight of the FAC Nats was watching Vance Gilbert's 49-inch-wingspan Vickers Nene Viking put up a beautiful flight. His model won first in Jumbo Scale. You can see that great flight on YouTube—enter the name of the airplane in the search function.

Worldwide Postal Event

For many years, Jim Mosely ran a Worldwide Free Flight Postal Competition. When he announced that he would no longer run it, Caley Hand stepped in to keep the event alive. It's a laid-back format with categories for nearly every glider or rubber-powered model you might have in your collection.

Along with flight times, you are encouraged to submit information and pictures of your models. Anecdotes about your flying experiences are welcome. Some history of the event and the rules are on Caley's new website. Many thanks to her for keeping the event alive. Now, get out there and participate!

Mia-Lynne's Triflyer

My granddaughter, Mia-Lynne, built her Triflyer from the Volare Products kit I mentioned in the November column. The parts are laser cut from quality balsa. Japanese tissue is supplied, but Mia-Lynne used some lightweight wrapping tissue that she found aesthetically appealing.

The model was tricky to adjust for flight. At best we were able to get a few seconds of flight followed by a tendency to transition into a hover! The triangular shape reminded me of a ceiling-walker toy I had years ago. I removed the stabilizer and turned it around 180°. I removed the fin and repositioned it on the stabilizer so its back was flush with the rear of the stabilizer.

We were still having short flights, so I moved the wing forward, placing the front wing mount 2 inches from the front of the motor stick and added a little more clay to the nose. I put in what I thought was a relatively safe number of turns for my backyard testing area. The Triflyer flew over the house! Whoops!

It's a fun little model. Build one and see what you can do. I suggest that if you start with the triangle format, just tack-glue the stabilizer and fin so you can reverse them if needed.

Adjustable Nose Button

John Regalbuto introduced his new and improved adjustable nose button at the FAC Nats this past summer. The button features a 7075 aluminum-alloy front flange to replace the former nylon flange. The aluminum flange provides superior clamping of the ball.

The item that attracted my attention was John's new peanut-size button. Now I have an excuse to finish the Peanut Val that has been partially completed for approximately three years! I took a photo of the Val noseblock with the adjustable nose button installed. I hope to have a picture of the finished model in time for my next column.

Howard Littman Model Aircraft

Howard Littman produces some excellent laser-cut No-Cal kits including tissue skins for the covering. A year ago I built Howard's Cutlass and had a lot of fun with that project. I just built his Brewster Buffalo No-Cal with the pre-World War II markings and I look forward to its first flights.

The Buffalo kit's wood was excellent. The 1/16-inch sheet has two cross-grain laminations of extremely lightweight 1/32-inch balsa. The plans and instructions were clean and well done.

Howard has other models available, including a twin No-Cal model of the Bristol Beaufighter. Check out his website.