Category: From the Flight Line

News regarding Stealth Squadron events and happenings.

Designers Challenge: The Cricket

Download Plan, Build Model, Beat Designer’s High Time!

Scroll to End of Post to Download Plan
Steve’s 2nd Cricket Model.   Can you beat his time?
Cricket Rubber Free Flight Model

Join the Challenge Today!

You’ve seen William Skelly’s fabulous Laird Solution model plan – well here’s another super model on the other end of the complexity spectrum.  The Cricket is a simple, high flying  stick model designed by clubster Steve Evans.  Scroll to the bottom of this post to download a copy of the plan.

A Designer’s Challenge has been issued for modelers to build their own Cricket and see if they can beat Steve’s high time.  The Challenge will run through September 15 as an online “Postal” contest.   Check out the  Designer’s Challenge page for the latest Results (we’ll post all times submitted) and an  online Timesheet Form which can also be found at the bottom of the sidebar throughout this site. 

Now, a few words from our Designer Steve:

“Sometimes its nice to take a break from all the stresses of daily life these days and just do something easy, where the rewards are quick and the efforts minimal. I designed the Cricket to be just that and the first one I made rewarded me by nearly flying away, only returning to the field on a favorable breeze. After that model suffered a benchtop “incident” I decided to build a second one and also to offer the plans out (scroll down to download) along with a challenge.

After one trimming session, my best flight so far is 32 seconds. Build the Cricket and see if you can beat that mark!  This is an unofficial online contest that runs until September 15. Results will be posted on the site.”

Good luck and get flying!

Download Cricket Plan (print on three 8.5 x 11in sheets)
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Cricket

1 file(s) 1.08 MB
Download

 

Amesbury Dates Coming Soon!?

Discussions are underway with the town – stay tuned!

Use the Contact Us form  to learn of informal fun flying in the interim

 

A Glimmer of Hope

First, cross all your fingers and then all your toes too.

The Rittmeister tells us there is some activity in talking with the town about contest dates for the late summer and fall.

The town has not said “yes” and there are no dates.

Nonetheless, we are hopeful and can see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Hopefully, it’s not an oncoming train.

So, keep building and flying and keep checking back to this site for updates.

Oh,  and a small group of us have been flying weekend mornings at Woodsom.  Reach out to us via the  Contact Us form if you want to get the heads-up when we go out.

Keep Calm, Carry On & Stay safe.

NEMES 2020 – Stealth Sqdn A Big Hit

Model Building demos, flight videos, raffles – the gang pulled out all the stops..

 

 
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Video
shown at
Nemes

       (click image to view video)

It’s too easy nowadays to forget what things used to be like.
You know, kinda like that huge splash the Stealth squadroneers made at the 2020 New England Model Engineering Society (NEMES) show. 

You may recall that we had a table at the show last year which brought lots of audience interest.  That led to our exhibiting again this year – in fact, our models were featured prominently on the Event Flyer (left column).

The club rallied and met prior to the event, brainstorming several exhibits and then preparing for the big day on Feb. 15, 2020 at the classy Charles River Museum in Waltham.  It all came together flawlessly – what a team!

The Stealth table at NEMES featured the Rittmeister and George S. both building model airplanes in real time.  Rich put together a Pipit ROG and George a Tomahawk embryo endurance model.  The Pipit was raffled off later at the show along with a Piper Cub FF scale model from the Eph estate.  William S. did the raffle awards and boy, were the winners thrilled!

Steve E. and William S. answered many questions at the table from interested folks passing by  and handed out lots of business cards.

Tom N made sure the looping video and powerpoint photo slideshows were running properly.  Images on the big screen really grabbed the attention of show attendees.

After the show, the NEMES folks reached out to the Rittmeister and asked if we could make a presentation at one of their upcoming meetings.  Stay tuned for more on that skysters!

 

 

 

Postal Winner Announced!

three of the top 5 finishers braved sub-20 degree weather to fly..

 

 

Tommy Too’s Comet Puss Moth

Well gang, our first Postal Dime Scale contest is in the books.

There was some terrifically inspired flying in foot-deep snow and freezing temperatures to grab at the vaunted Squadron Commander’s cap.

William the Kid held the crown through the New Year, putting up a nice flight over the frigid tarmac of mystical Texas Road field.  Oliver S made a daring  run for the glory in the depths of February with two models (one a twin!) in similarly frosty conditions at a remote Western MA field.

The legendary Pinkham Field Irregulars threw up an aerial armada of Dime Scalers in a futile attempt to purloin the Squadron Commander’s cap off to Connecticut. 

But in the end it was our fickle old friend Hung, who made his presence known on a late January day at Woodsom farm, spiriting Tommy Too’s Puss Moth dimer on a 2:36min thermal ride.  Yes Virginia, there are thermals in the middle of winter!

And look closely at the results skysters – way down, but there nonetheless.  Yep, even Captain Downthrust himself mailed in an entry…how and from where is unknown, but the flight was listed Pinkham Field.  Y’all were in the best of FAC company.  Stand proud and get ready to go for it again next time!

 

 

 

March 22, 29, April 5 Indoor Meets Cancelled!

Due to Corona Virus, the March 22, 29 and April 5 Indoor Flying Sessions are Cancelled.

 

Updated Indoor Cancellations

We’ve received news of more Indoor meet/flying session cancellations.  Updated list is below.  Please use the Contact Us form if any questions.

 Indoor Meet/Flying Session CANCELLATIONS (so far):

  • Sunday 3/22 at Penn Brook Middle School, Georgetown, MA
  • Sunday 3/29 at Glastonbury High School, Glastonbury CT
  • Sunday 4/5 at Penn Brook Middle School, Georgetown, MA

This is due to the obvious Corona Virus precautions.

We are holding the April 19 Glastonbury Modelers Indoor Contest (full day) on the Calendar for now.  Stay tuned as to developments.

This is a great time to build a model. 

Keep Calm, Carry On & Stay safe.

Time is Running Out!

Get your flights in by 12 midnight on Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2020

 

Postal Dime Scale Contest Ends Soon!

Like those backyard mechanics scrambling to get their homebuilt speed ship together for the big race — you’re running out of time!

Of course we’re talking about our Postal Dime Scale event which wraps up on St Patty’s Day, March 17.   That’s next Tuesday for those calendar-challenged skysters among us.

So check the skies for thermals, dust off your flying box and stooge and head to the field with your best 10 center in a last ditch bid for glory.  You can do it!  Heck, they said Rudy Kling couldn’t beat those big-horsepower radials in the ’37 Thompson too.

Forget the temperature bonus (unless you’re in Alaska) and hunt for thermals.  The weather’s warming up and the croci are blooming…  It’ll take nearly a 3 minute flight to catch Tommy Too and his Comet Puss Moth, but that’s nothing if you can get your crate up there in Hung’s cloud-cuddling grasp.  You know what they say, nothing ventured..

Check out the Postal Contest page for the latest tally and to submit your flight time using the online timesheet. 

Time is running out!

 

 

Pics: Feb 9 Georgetown Meet

Click HERE to view Pics!

What fun we had in the Penn Brook Middle School gym in Georgetown a couple weekends back

The header photo above shows the gang getting the rules rundown on the Pipit “12 Minutes of Georgetown” – an event where Pipit flyers scramble to make as many laps around the balloon tethered around the orange cone set at center midcourt.  It was exciting to watch as some flyers turned their Pipits left while others turned in the opposite direction.   At the March 22 meet we’ll be flying the Pipits in head to head pylon racing – be there to join the action…or at least observe.

See you then!

Click HERE to view Pics!

“check out the great photos from our last indoor flying session & contest”

Now that’s a Pugnacious nose! Rich Z’s Polikarpov bipe FAC scale model is a real treat. Gotta love that fearless pilot in the cockpit!

 Thanks Andy F for the photos!

 

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 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!

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2018-19 One Design Rules (PIPIT ROG)

1 file(s) 8.73 KB
Download

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PIPIT ROG Construction Plan

1 file(s) 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.