FAC – Stealth Squadron FAC#49

Tribute Plans & Lawrence Airport Event

Free Download Plans & Articles for 9 Tribute Event models – HERE

Click to Enlarge Images

Clubster Rick P is building this Rigid Midget from the 1952 Aeromodeller plan

Stealth Sqdn table at the August 17 National Aviation Day at Lawrence Airport

Commando launch at Woodsom Farm test field

Civil Air Patrol cadets at Lawrence Airport Aviation Day

Ryan STA launch at Woodsom Farm test field

Stealth Squadroneers exhibited stick & tissue models and handed out Guillow’s gliders at the Aug 17 Lawrence Airport Aviation Day

Aviation Day at Lawrence Airport

There’s been a lot going on gang and we’re doing our best to keep you informed. First up is a follow up to our last post A Tribute to Ed Novak.

Plan & Article Downloads Available!

Yep, all 9 Tribute Event plans (incl. articles) are now available on this site for download FREE. Not since Comet sold kits for a dime have we seen such a deal! Those keyboard wizards at HQ even put a NRE Tribute Event page on the top menu of this site to house the plans, tips, rules, etc. Several Tribute Models have already been built – Rick P’s Rigid Midget is under construction (sidebar pic) and Tom N’s got a video of his Commando flying. Better get building now as rumors are the first Tribute Event will be held this Fall at a Durham, CT meet.

Aviation Day at Lawrence Airport

Stealth Squadroneers continued their outreach to air-minded folks of all ages with a stick and tissue model airplane exhibit at the Lawrence Airport National Aviation Day on August 17. Our roving reporter was there and managed to snap a few pics of the action (sidebar). Steve E. brought a box of Guillow’s gliders left over from the terrific Spencer-Peirce Little Farm event earlier this summer. These gliders were handed out to interested kids and parents who came by our table. And what a hit they were! Kids just love these simple flying models — we’re hoping to do more of these events.

Fun Flying at Woodsom Farm

OK, you’ve finished that model and you just can’t wait until the next club meet to fly it. You’ve glided it into the couch and maybe over that patch of soft grass in your backyard, but you need a bit more room to wind it up and try a test flight or two.

Sure, you can venture to your local playground or ballfield – heck that’s where our Tribute Models were intended to be flown. Another option is the back field off the parking lot at Woodsom Farm. A few clubsters have been gathering recently at this “testing field” on calm mornings. They’ve been having a ball just flying for fun, and getting their models ready for the club flying meets (see Calendar for dates & flyers). Often this group finishes with a cup of coffee at a local shop in Amesbury. If you’re interested in getting on their group text, reach out via the Contact Us form and we’ll fill you in. Remember, this hobby and our club is all about having FUN!

Keep building and see you at the field!

A Tribute to Ed Novak

A New Tribute Event for all-sheet balsa sport flyers –

Stay Tuned for More!

Click to Enlarge Images

Ed Novak at White’s Farm (Pinkham Field) in Durham, CT in 1979

NRE Tribute Event Rules (click to view larger)

Commando from the 1943 Air Trails magazine Victory Squadron. Original model is to left; new model by clubster Tom N. at right.

The Spirit of the FAC

This post is dedicated to Ed Novak, an original member of the modern Flying Aces Club (FAC), and a long-time friend. Ed passed on earlier this summer at his home in CT.

But First….Upcoming Flying Meets!

With the FAC Nationals in Geneseo, NY in the rear window, the local New England flying meet schedule is heating up. Hope to see you at our August meets – click the links below for the details.

Aug 11 – Durham, CT

Aug 24 – Amesbury, MA

The Modern Flying Aces Club – Early Years

In the mid-late 1960’s a small group of free flight modelers in southern CT began flying rubber-powered scale and sport models in the style of the pre-WW2 era Flying Aces magazine and the original Flying Aces Club. The emphasis was on fun as characterized by the adventures and tongue in cheek humor of that fictional Flying Aces hero, Phineas Pinkham. Building and flying unique and unconventional models was encouraged, and a sometimes schmaltzy newsletter was started. The spirit caught on, the little club grew to national status, and the modern Flying Aces Club (FAC) was born. Eddie Novak was a key member of that early, wacky and creative crew of flyers.

In fact, Ed was perhaps the first FAC junior flyer not related to the club founders Dave Stott and Bob Thompson. His parents would drive him to the first FAC meets at Pinkham Field in Durham, CT. Yes, that Pinkham Field is the same Whites Farm field that we fly at in Durham, CT today!

The Spirit of the FAC!

Ed was a relentless advocate for the Spirit of those early wacky and adventuresome Flying Aces. Flying model competition was important and as this aspect of the FAC grew, Ed was there to remind us there was more to our Flying Aces Club – Fun!

To celebrate this Spirit and Eddie’s influence over the years, the Pinkham Field Irregulars (as that group of local flyers is known) have come up with a new Ed Novak Tribute Event. This is a fun celebration of the simple all-sheet balsa sport models popularized in WW2 era model magazines.

Rules for the Tribute Event are presented HERE. A number of construction Plans and Articles for these models will be made available for download (free) from this website soon.

The Louis Garami “Commando” published in a 1943 issue of Air Trails is one of these Tribute models. At the top of this post, we’re happy to share a photo of Louis’ original model and one recently built from his plans by clubster Tom N.

We’ll let you know when the downloads are available on our club website here. Stay tuned and keep that building board at the ready!

Latecoere Rescue & June 24 Ipswich Meet

Fly at the Pony Express Field in Ipswich, MA on Saturday June 24!

Click to Enlarge Images

John K. came with a trunkload of models. The near-finished Howard Ike racer from the Cleveland Plan shows a lot of promise!

Rick P and his Flying Aces Flea rubber sport and duration model. Love that color scheme!

Sam B. with his SuperCapacitor powered Dumas Aeronca Champion

Vance G’s beautiful Latecoere 26-2 before being treed in Durham

Flying Aces Scale and GHQ Peanut Scale results from the Jun 11 Durham meet..

Vance G’s Latecoere teeters at the end of a 50ft retrieval pole. Model was brought down to the ground with minimal damage.

Air/Tree Rescue in Durham!

Free flight model airplanes and trees. An inevitable combination.

But first, remember there’s another meet coming up June 24 in beautiful Ipswich, MA. Check the Flyer HERE for Directions and key contacts.

OK, back to Pinkham Field in Durham on June 11. The weather in the morning was near-perfect, with light and variable breezes. Many high and long flights were put up.

The breeze picked up by afternoon, however, and Vance G had only to get one more official flight in on his Latecoere 26 FAC Scale model. The inverted flight time scoring should give it an edge against higher bonus point models. Unfortunately, the wind carried the Latecoere off course and it was last seen disappearing into the top of a tree at the edge of the field. The famed Stott Air-Tree Rescue Service sprang into action.

The youthful eyes of William S spotted the Latecoere deep in branches and leaves 50 feet up an un-climbable tree. The outlook for recovery was bleak.

Paul S broke out the old aluminum pole and, aided by Tom N, began bolting the telescoping sections together. The fully extended pole was snaked between branches eventually reaching the model. A superzoom camera was used to guide the hook on the pole tip directly underneath the model. A gentle arms-length push and incredibly, the model was lifted out the topside of the tree. Retrieval still looked doubtful.

Vance weighed his options as the model swayed back and forth on the whippy tip of the pole. He trusted the team. With Tom holding the base, Paul used both hands and all his strength to pull the pole out of the branches. Miraculously, the pole came out of the tree and the model mostly held together. The Latecoere was mercifully released from the tip as the pole was brought to the ground. An exhale of relief and laughter – the Stott Air-Tree Rescue Service had come through again!

Stuff like this is what makes the Flying Aces Club great.

Check out the sidebar pics for more on the June Durham meet.

See you at the Pony Express Field in Ipswich on June 24!

Season’s Greetings!

Cricket

The Cricket is a simple, high flying stick model designed by Stealth Squadron clubster Steve Evans. Build one and submit your time in the Designer’s Challenge on the Stealth Sqdn website at www.http://stealthsquadron-fac49.com