Stealth Squadron FAC#49

The Zen of Indoor Free Flight: A Modeler’s Take

“The key goal in successfully flying indoors? A repeatable, reliable, power pattern!”

BY
Sam Brauer

Try indoor FF

Long-time Radio Control (RC) and Free Flight (FF) modeler Sam Brauer has been having increasing competitive success in our indoor meets in recent years. His Golden Age Reproductions P-51 Mustang is the scourge of the Glastonbury indoor WW2 mass launch events and his RAF B.E.2c “farm tractor” is a threat whenever it flies. Clearly, Sam has figured out how to make free flight models fly really well indoors.

We asked Sam to share some of his learnings and he came through with this informative and thought-provoking article. Never one to shy away from a debatable point (whaddya mean I don’t have to build straight!!), Sam will challenge your thinking. You can’t argue with his success…so open your mind, click the link below and listen up!

Read Article Now

Announcing Postal Dime Scale Contest!

Submit your flight times using the Postal Timesheet form in the Sidebar or on the Postal Contest page.

Enter your FAC Dime Scale model!

We’re bringing back the FAC Postal Contest – a real crowd-pleaser from the early days of the Flying Aces Club. This is a virtual event that allows flyers who can’t normally attend our contests to join the fun and go for the glory. Anyone can win so get out and fly your FAC Dime Scale model.

The Contest starts on Turkey-Day November 28, 2019 and ends on St. Patrick’s Day March 17, 2020. All flights are to be made outdoors and there will be a Temperature bonus to keep things even for those flying out of colder airdromes. That’s right, the colder the day you fly – the more bonus added to your flight time!

Check out the Postal Contest page of this site for the up to date Results Table – we’ll post the top 20 times submitted. Rules and online Timesheet Form can be found on this page. Look for the Timesheet Form at the bottom of the sidebar throughout the site as well.

This is meant to be a fun thing, not a go-for-broke max times only event. Get creative and use your best FAC Spirit! We encourage entries from all locations worldwide. Photos or videos of your model or flight are welcomed and we’ll try our best to post them on the Stealth Sqdn site for all to enjoy.

Have at it Skysters!

5min+ ROW Free Flight Rubber Powered Model Airplane

About 10 miles north of the Massachusetts border where the Connecticut River bends to starboard and flows south toward Long Island Sound, lies a tranquil place called Retreat Meadows. Here, a special breed of aeromodellers fly their aircraft free, rising off the still waters into the cool Vermont sky.

Our Stealth Squadron roving reporter recently caught up with Jim Woolwough, to learn more about his fantastic free flight rubber model “Thin Ice” and the quest for a 5 minute rise-off-water (ROW) flight over Retreat Meadows.

For perspective: the standing Mulvihill Rubber ROW world record flight is 5min 44sec made by Robert Hauk on September, 7, 2019.
In 1929, Bert Pond (AMA Hall of Fame) held the ROW world record with a 2min 52 sec flight made with an “A Frame” Twin Pusher on floats.

Jim Woolnough describes “Thin Ice” his fantastic model airplane and the quest for a 5 minute rise-off-water (ROW) flight

Retreat meadows, Vt – site of the flight

(click to enlarge)

2019-20 Indoor Season Kicks Off!

fly in the gym!

OK gang, the weather’s turning colder and the Indoor flying season is here.

Check the links at right to see the dates in Georgetown and Glastonbury. Glastonbury kicks off on Sunday Nov. 10, while Georgetown kicks off on Jan. 5.

There are lots of opportunities to fly free flight rubber in the gyms. Don’t forget to build your Pipit and join the fun!

“click the links below to view flying dates in Georgetown, MA and Glastonbury, CT”

Georgetown

Glastonbury

Fall 2019 Contest Photos – Amesbury & Durham

View Pictures, highlights & Results

We had some truly great flying days at this Fall’s local meets. Unfortunately, turnout for the Oct 13 Woodsom Farm meet was light. If you were not able to attend, please try to make upcoming meets – we need your participation and it’s assured you’ll have fun.

We’ve posted photo essays of the recent Amesbury MA and Durham CT meets. View these on the Pictures Page to get a sense for the goings-on at the field. Feel free to post your comments.

Click the image at left to view the full results of the October 13 Amesbury Meet.

See you at the next meet!

Stealth Squadron Fall Contest – October 13 in Amesbury, MA

Update: sat 10/12 flying cancelled

all events flown on sunday 10/13!

Click the image at left to view the full contest flyer which includes Directions, Event Roster, Contest Director contact info, etc.

Location will be at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, MA about 30 minutes north of Boston.

Come on out and fly with us. If you don’t have a model airplane we’ll help you get started in this rewarding hobby.

2019-20 One Design: Plans & Rules

Fly your PIPIT at upcoming indoor flying sessions & contests in Georgetown, MA, or Glastonbury, CT

Download Rules & Plans Here!

Build the simple 12 inch wingspan PIPIT ROG and join the fun in the gym!

2018-19 One Design Rules (PIPIT ROG) 8.73 KB

Download

PIPIT ROG Construction Plan 234.05 KB

Download

NOTE: this model qualifies to enter the FAC Pinkham Field Stick events flown at the Durham CT outdoor FAC contests and mini-meets as well.

From the Beginner’s Workbench: The Amazing In-Flight Rewinder

“And if you overwind your main motor without using a blast tube, the interaction with the Rewinder has a way of spectacularly compounding the catastrophe. “

BY
George Skelly

The Amazing In-Flight Rewinder

a tale from the beginner’s workbench

A newcomer to the hobby shares his humorous take on the esoteric mysteries of stick and tissue free-flying model airplanes and the quest to defy the unyielding force of gravity. Delving into the gray area between art, science and Rube Goldberg imagineering, the author shares his journey to the realization that there is something more to the magical extended flight of an apparently simple rubber band powered model airplane. Join him in his light-hearted search for a greater understanding of our hobby.

Read Story Now

September 15 Fall Fly-In Meet – Durham CT

join us!

The next local meet is this coming Sunday Sept 15 at Whites Farm in Durham, CT about a 2hr drive from Boston.

Click the image at left to view the full contest flyer which includes the event roster, Contest Director contact info, etc.

Directions to Whites Farm in Durham

Several Stealth Sqdn members will be attending and competing to represent our club. Make the drive and join in the fun!

Stealth Squadron Summer Meet – September 8 in Amesbury, MA

Update!

This meet is moved to Sunday Sept 8 due to inclement weather forecast for Saturday Sept 7 with Hurricane Dorian. Location will be at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, MA about 30 minutes north of Boston.