Free Flight: Sport & Scale

Free Flight Sport & Scale Bill Warner FREE FLIGHT pilot ejected controls F-102A froze plane continued its merry way free-flight mode An article Winter 1986 Journal American Aviation Historical Society sent Bob Scholberg out Arizona tells story 1960 incident occurred near Kansas City MO seems after Mayday call about 15 mm elapsed before another F-102 got formation Loose Goose decided keep flying roughly triangular course bringing wing plane close under low wing errant ship pilot could level wing other craft using airflow own wing way maverick plane could induced either fly straight roll After hour 20 min offree flight abandoned F-102 finally ran out fuel over unpopulated area crashed Inasmuch Indoor fliers have known guide microfilm-covered ships lium-filled balloon string magnet steer ing old hat Europe might raise question what indeed true free flight Attempts control flight model shouting aside would legal use RC model herd errant FF back onto field never bumped about Frenchman used pneu matic timer pull double-sided blade-type cain through sets followers actuate models rudder elevator Using program built side cain rudder side elevator other could produce figure eights loops like use proprtional two-speed engine control actuated timer considered cheating wont long before someone will work up entire flight program using miniatur ized electronics memory anything RC model will far cry rubberband-powered models little bomb-drop flap-lowering controls actuated slackening rubber winds down Still things like fuse- SillyPutty-operated DTs give some degree control model Perhaps fact devices tricks dont work too well like cam-controlled rudder old Mattel electric-powered Super Star toy will make moot point have admit feeling bit uneasiness upon seeing some Old-Timers standing beside lovely Free Flight models radio transmitters hands guess pure free flight semicontrolled flight Pure free flight would what sheet newspaper thermal does Everything else could rated purity scale Models controlled adjustments make flying surfaces before being launched would low end scale active control via radio would high end Mike Mulligans Jumbo Rubber Cranwell CLA 3 free-floating rudder step towards less control Whats definition free flight Nibbling project doing something day seems approach modelers have found useful remarks direction brought ton mail supporting value doing little something day Around end January mentioned started Stinson Reliant Guliwing model 82-in span built-up ribs basis working few minutes day air Taft Memorial Day have heard nearly dozen modelers have intending build elegant beast years have sitting around various stages construction ages Well gang shall decide what going dream projects today Lay out tonight what going attack its adding few gussets stab built 1940 get up tomorrow glue em three months youll 90 days older model builtinstead just being 90 days older 74 Model Aviation Bill Noonans Mitsubishi Kamikaze Peanut presentiy winging its way Japan proxy-fiown contest weighs mere 15 grams Photo Biii Noonan No Rd inspired bythe sightof Cieveiand Modeis prototype Stinson ReiiantGuliwing theAMA museum yourcoiumnist spent iess houra day over 4-month period getting own version buiit Silk-covered FF coursel modei weighs between 4 5 ib uses PAW 19 dIesel powerand 10 x4 prop has ciockwork-operated throttle-back mechanism executes perfect ROG takeoffseven rough terrainand looks great air took first Power Scale 1987 US FF Champs Taft CA Photos Phyllis Warner Incredible Canadian DickAllen seems havetaken newtack endless series Gee Bee funographs Does signal beginning new trend Time will tell Glossy magazine paper makes great sur face simulating metal parts models Exhaust stacks rolled papertubes Plane Warners Mooney-plan Avro Baby racer some addresses bring little black book up date National Free Flight Society 8383 Zan canaro Ct Citrus Hts CA 95610 mere $15 makes member brings year Journal too heavy Scale well worth supporting Oldtimer Model Supply PO Box 7334 Van Nuys CA 91409 note box number change OTMS has taken over Jim Crockett collection old-time model plans $2 can get scaled-to-Peanut-size plan collection separate catalog See what ordering Hannans Runway PO Box Escondido CA 92025 now has Vol II Bill Hannans new book Called Peanuts Pistachios 2 easily worth $495 price plus $150 postage contains three-views much-sought-after 1911 Caudron well couple ofsurefire subPeanut plans lots photos hints couple surprise three-views some fantastic Scale subjects skysters have asked about Joe Fitsgibbons Golden Age Reproductions best knowledge Joe still available PO Continued page 170 Sary Awad 15-year-old modeler Los Angeles CA L used Peck-Polymers Lacey M-1 0 Peanut place second 87 US FF Champs official flights averaged nearly 2 minutes Bob Weatherell San Diego CAR wowed crowd Taft year fantastic DH Hornet Moth Two rubbermotorsdrivethe propthrough gears inthe nose Itisquite realistic flight Photo Phyllis Warner October 1987 75 Mike Mulligan has prop blades timed thatthey just missthe dummy engine cylinders Cranwell CLA-3 Jumbo Rubber ship won event Taft year after piston has started downward engine connect 1 -volt battery Incidentally ignition occurs points proceed start engine engine will opennot close After engine run giow plug long battery running spark timing advanced moving connected will allow get fuel timer arm against direction propeller regulated hassle ignition sys rotation until maximum rpm obtained tem technique good way isolate fuel problems ignition problems Run ignition engine times until thoroughiy acquainted its operation before install airplane head flying field start engine open needle valve three four turns choke engine turning propeller holding finger over air intake will draw fuel engine Retard spark energize ignition system Crank engine normal manner until starts Adjust needle valve spark advance alternately until engine running properly engine fails start remove spark plug lead high-tension lead spark plug hold its end near engine neighborhood urning prop watching high-voltage spark will quickly learn good idea touch bare end high-tension lead part engine part body cranking engine no spark try advancing ignition timer bit since may have retarded much sparking cannot occur Also check see points clean dry proper clearanceabout 012 RMcM Oil points will create insulating film prevent sparking Other causes no spark poor electrical connections bad batteries broken hookup wires have spark engine doesnt fire check fouled spark plug Remove plug hook high-tension lead its normal spot plug hold metal base plug against engine rotating prop ignition system course should see good hot spark jump between spark plug electrodes plug fouled oil wont work Also just automobile spark plugs possible plug have internal failure will prevent firing Its always good idea carry spare spark plug flying field ignition system checks out experiment needle valve setting prime engine few drops fuel exhaust port else fails screw giow plug Catalogs Ijust received neat catalog OldTimer Model Supply PO Box 7334 Van Nuys CA 91409 OTMS operated Ken Sykora longtime enthusiast Old-Timer modeling have read articles SCIF newsletter Flightplug signs King Sugar Ken offers hard-to-locate items mainly rubber-power field including extensive inventory rubber-model plans Stahi Struhl Lindberg Comet Megow Scien tific etc New tools also received sample new sanding block called appropriately GrateShapes come grit bonded surfaces sold shapes including flats grooves making V-shaped edges radiuses suitable leading edges other curved model parts round bars really work well manufacturer Bell Rock Indus tries 6486 Hwy 179Suite 108 Sedona AZ 86336 See ad magazine Clarence Haught 3226 Honeysuckle Dr Coeur dAlene ID 83814 FF Duration/Murphy Continued page 73 fire As added precaution have small fire extinguisher keep handy never know light structures may take few seconds steam steam very hot get fingers too close vapor either have pair old insulated winter work gloves use procedure work fine Heavy structures like large wing Gas model take longer soak steam before becoming pliable enough reshape What steam does induce moisture wood struc ture balsawood gets very soft pliable moisture added move model component out steam retain overbend hold short time until area cools somewhat results either too drastic still satisfactory repeat process until have warp-free panel specific warp situation desire can repeat process times slightest dam age model may wish check model few days see warp results holding place simple process very few models escape least teakettle session before finding way test field hope helps offspring say get steamed quite often What mean 1988 SAM Champs 1987 SAM Society Antique Modelers Championships ongoing Seguin TX writing Meanwhile plans proceeding 1988 Midwest-sponsored ver sion held Mid America Airport near Lawrenceville IL Bob Larsh SAM Midwest VP has advised arrangements have firmed up Vincennes University officials dormi tories bean feed banquet Vincennes just few miles back across Red Skelton Bridge spans mighty Wabash River separates Indiana Illinois area dates yet confirmed will prob ably mid-July enable local farmers bring potato crop before big-footed Free Flighters show up Bob says official flying will span four days all-day MECA Model Engine Collectors Association Collectogether ing scheduled day preceding took two-day Old-Timer Free Right Contest last June sponsored host clubs Tri-County Aero Club TCAC SAM 57 SAM chapter based Marion IL guys gals certainly looking ward big event 88 Sounds like great fun will giving exact dates other pertinent details next column Keep listen ing Meanwhile see ya downwind Harry Murphy 3824 Oakwood Blvd Ander son IN 46011 FF Scale/Warner Continued page 75 Box 13 Braintree MA 02184 Delays answer ing correspondence filing orders have due some bad luck Joe has neverto knowledgecashed customers check until merchandise its way Having trouble getting silk tight models days Ill admit have real bear time last two planes cover wet silk have beautifully tight wrinide free plane start apply dope yet have piece wrinkled sagging garbage finish desperation finally set aside namebrand nitrate dope Sig Lite-Cote used some nut-brown GI surplus nitrate Bobby Chambers gave years ago Despite its age having turned color tightened up sadlooking covering beautifully warned nitrate dope nitrate dope anyone knows good reliable tautening opposite nontautening popular jargon nitrate dope let us old supplies running low Continued page 172 170 Model Aviation 4 gotta borrow glow borrow 4 besi OPS GLOW PLUGS Are Available Local Hobby Shop Parts People Comfeeto% %uo44 PO Box 26247 Orleans LA 70186 0-535-2568 Whitehead pre-Wright flight controversy heating up abetted continuing efforts dedicated group aero-historians crafts men up Fairfield CT Gustave Whitehead may have beaten Wil Orv air couple years folks have built replica No 21 Whitehead machine first flew sum mer last year will probably have further test flown time reading Flights up 330 ft length altitudes up five feet have far proven craft airworthy controllable using throttles No 21 two props remember Testing will enter new phase Whitehead engines can replicated installed replace present ultralight-type engines interesting sidelight replicas flights has still-air takeoff capabilities ship did take off fly still air will recall original Wright flier capable taking off still air under its own power required 27-mph head wind Kittyhawk catapult Dayton Whitehead two 10-horsepower engines opposed Wrights single 12-horsepower also another engine connected front wheels get up takeoff speed Remember horsepower ratings back days gave low-rpm torquea fact dis covered replica builders film Magnificent Men Flying Machines problems getting air modern high-revving engines double horsepower originals Bill ODwyer almost single-handedly kept Whitehead inquiry going over past 25 years says should watch 60 Minutes October Americans will get exposure Whitehead flights first time Continuing subject dummy engines interesting approach subject suggested Gene Pierre Princeton NJ manufac tures nifty fake fins wrap around partial cylinders smoothing piece aluminum foil flat clean surface using edge flat rubber eraser next places foil dull-sideup over file has clean undamaged parallel teeth uses flat single-cut file about inch wide has about nine inches toothed area rubs foil end eraser direction files tooth ridges After removing foil file Gene paints foil dull black Floquil model railroad paint allows itto dry lightly sands direction ridges may require two coats idea clean off just high parts leave black paint grooves cuts strips finished product 900 lines about V-in wide glues balsa dummy cylinders using medium CyA glue sample sent quite striking may just right next Peanut project Applications planes larger Peanuts can done simple expedient cutting some strips thin plastic credit cards about right width fins desired Strips about inch long t-in wide good glue stack alternating edges about V16 lower Thicker strips doubled strips can used between fin pieces level side strips effect have made own file such Gene uses different spacings between fins different fin widths Some practice getting just right depth impression foil using bigger sizes necessary foil cheap get grooves little too deep can pull little flatter after painting sanding theyll wrap around dummy cylinder easily Finally planned pil grimage Southern California Flightmasters Annual September should advised event has put off until December 56 1987 Events will include Rubber AMA Scale Gas AMA Scale Peanut Scale Jumbo Scale Multi-Engine Scale FF Jet Scale will banquet Saturday night following Scale judging flying set new field near March AFB Sunday Drop SASE details Until next time keep using wooden props bend yer crankshaft crash Bill Warner 423-C San Vicente Blvd Santa Monica CA 90402 Ex-Cels/Dunlop Continued page 79 Remove fuselage board fit glue carbon fiber X bulkheads part guaranteed try patience hang Now punch out -in-dia discs carbon fiber mat Lightly spray side 3M 77 contact glue before glue dry fold around joints Continued page 174 172 Model Aviation