Tag: From the Flight Line

Postal Dime Winners Announced!

Trailing Edge repeats and takes the Cap AGAIN!  Giov wins the NBM Kanone!

click photos to view full size

 

Trailing Edge’s Curtiss SBC-3 Dime Scale Model (Published in that great Newsletter MaxFAX – highly recommended!)

 

The Wing Commander’s Cap!

JetKo was in a commanding position.  His 61 sec Aeroneer flight in bone-chilling 12 degree weather yielded a very high bonus-enhanced score.

But March turned and a pair of Curtiss Helldivers appeared screaming out of the late winter sun.   The poor Aeroneer was left smoking on the tarmac and the deed was done.

The Wing Commander’s Cap …sigh…  Once more it will return to Virginia,  that nemesis of the North.

Trailing Edge Triumphs.. Again

Ughh!  We’re trying to forget the Tom Brady trash talk after last year’s win.  It’s hard.  Angus even stacked the deck…. pffft! 

We gotta give TE some credit though.  He did use a different model to win this time.  Not one to fiy the same crate and win year after year.  That’s style. 

OK, OK TE, a slight tip o the cap to you.  Remember though, this ain’t no Schneider Cup and you don’t get to keep the Cap!

Giov Wins Top Non-Blue Max Spot

Well now we’re talking!  All the way from the frozen tundra of upstate NY.  Angus questioned the vintage of that T-28, but since Giov is a second-time entrant and he also flew a new model.  He’s in.  Congrats!

We think this might be Giov’s first Kanone.  ALL HAIL!

the Billings Baby Bullet!

Sacre Bleau!!  Flying rubber-powered stick and tissue models in MINUS ELEVEN DEGREES??!!  Yep, all the way from Montana, Baby Bullet truly pegged the Temperature Bonus meter.  Bullet  finished his DGA-9 Dimer at about 7:15 pm, walked across the street, flew it and got on the Tallyboard.  The True Spirit of the Skies!  Kudos to  OOS Sand  and NRE for similar Spirit.  A tip o the cap to you all! 

 

2022 Roudenbush Model Building Class – Feb Indoor Results

Register for the Model Building Class at Westford’s Roudenbush Center now.  Classes start in March!

 

click to view Feb 6 results full size

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Click to view March 13 Indoor Contest Flyer
  Model Class will build the 30in wingspan Condor pictured here

March 13 next Indoor Contest

Click on the Contest Flyer image at left to view the details.

While you’re at it check out the Feb 6 contest results at left as well.

Oh, and there’s only about a week to ten days left to get in your Postal Dime Contest entry.  We’ve had a few more entries and it looks like our southern flyers are in the catbird seat again!  Will it be you that gives the C’ville Flyer a run?

2022 Modeling Class starts March 16

You may recall that clubster Steve Evans ran a model airplane building class last year where a bunch of folks built and flew his Skylark design.  If you missed it, check out the report with pics here.

Well, Steve’s at it again and the new Roudenbush class will start on March 16.  There’s still time to Register, but you better do it quick!  Click on the link below and the Hobbies/Gaming subheader link from there to register.

REGISTER FOR MODEL CLASS

The 30 inch wingspan Condor pictured in flight in the header photo will be the class build subject.  This is a bigger model than Skylark and will be just a super flyer.  We really like that flat wing center section.

Hopefully, we’ll see a bunch of these flying out on Woodsom Farm this coming outdoor season.

See you on the flightline skyster!

 

 

 

Roudenbush’s Model Building Class Graduates!

The first Class at Westford’s Roudenbush Center recently graduated and flew their Skylark models

 

click photos to view full size

A young flyer watches his Skylark head into the blue
Steve & Gary discuss launch technique
Brrr! A chilly November day didn’t dampen enthusiasm to fly!
Steve E and students enjoying a great flying session at Texas Rd flying their Skylarks. From left to right, Steve E, Joe M., Rob L. and his son, Dave A. and Gary M.

Model building & Flying FUN!

The first Model Airplane Building Class at Westford’s Roudenbush Center recently completed and flew their Skylark models.

The models flew well, with one Skylark putting in a 54 second flight flight in the crisp November air.  That’d be a great flight at any of our local meets (see updated Calendar page for coming indoor flying sessions).

Kudos to Clubster Steve E for leading the class at the Roudenbush where the Skylarks were built over several weekly classes.  The creative hands-on  activity even caught the attention of the Lowell Sun newspaper which ran a photo feature recently!

And kudos to the Model Builders as well.  We look forward to seeing these Skylarks and other new models and modelers at our upcoming flying sessions. 

Steve tells us that another Model Building Class will be starting up at the Roudenbush sometime in 2022.  So stay tuned and join in the fun!

Skylark is the latest of Steve’s Free Flight rubber powered model designs.  Watch Steve fly his Skylark here.

What fun it is to watch new folks experience this rewarding hobby.

See you on the flightline skyster!

 

 

 

November 6 Meet Pics/Results – Indoor One Design Announced!

see lots more pics on Photos page and John R’s Google photos

Contest Results
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click photos to view full size

 

Smiles all around. Yes, those free flight model airplane folks are just so much fun to be around!
How many can you name?  Team Skelly always comes fully loaded to fly. William’s new enlarged Nassise P-47 in the background flew exceptionally well and looked really great in its Easybuilt Mt Fuji olive and gray tissue.
A Fleet Floatplane model flies through the early morning sun
Check out the abundant details on Matt K’s beautiful Piper Vagabond peanut scale model. Matt owns and flies the real full-sized Vagabond too! We’d say that’s the best sort of scale documentation….n’est-ce pas?

Season close at Woodsom Farm!

What perfect flying weather we had for the Nov 6, 2021 contest.

Mostly warm temps and light breezes made for just a super meet.

Good friends from New York and Connecticut made the trip to fly compete and have fun.  John Rood and spouse Kathi came up from Boston, ran a few events and took some great pics.   We’ve presented a few here, but check this Link to see the entire collection.

And don’t forget gang, there’s still one more chance to fly free flight models outdoors this season.  The Pinkham Field Turkey Fly is this coming Sunday Nov. 14.  Click the meet flyer image at top of the left column for the details. 

There’s more!  The Indoor Season will commence just after the New Year opens in early January.  Meet/Contest dates will be posted to the Calendar on this site very soon. 

The One-Design model for the coming indoor season has been selected – the Comet 20in Taylorcraft.  Check out the One Design page on this site for the details including download links for the full-sized construction plan and event rules.

There’s lots more coming soon gang so check into this Homepage often for the latest.

See you on the flightline skyster!

 

 

 

October 10 Woodsom Farm Pics Posted!

click Link  for lots more pics

click photos to view full size

John & Kathi Rood

 

Like puppets on a string, four FF scale models jockey for position in the 2nd sortie in the World War 1 combat event.

Flying at Woodsom Farm!

The day dawned overcast and chilly. 
But that didn’t deter the intrepid Stealth Squadroneers who showed up at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, MA to fly their model airplanes.

Clubster John Rood and spouse Kathi made the trek from Boston and captured some great moments.   We’ve presented a few here, but check this Link to see the entire collection.

Kathi did a most excellent job of managing most of the mass launch events too.  Many thanks Kathi & John – what a terrific group of folks we have in this club.

Clubster Steve Evans flew his elegant Skylark rubber free flight sport and endurance model.  Our roving photog captured this neat flight VIDEO.  Steve is teaching a model building course at the Roudenbush Center in Westford, MA where they’re building the Skylark.  Contact him at twigsandtissue@gmail.com if you’d like to join the course and the build.

And the outdoor flying season isn’t over yet!  Two November meets are scheduled for 11/6 (Amesbury, MA) and 111/14 (Durham, CT).  Don’t miss these last chances to fly outside with the gang this year.

See you on the flightline skyster!

 

 

 

Sept 19 Durham Meet Pics Posted!

check the Photos page for lots more pics

click photos to view full size

 

 

 

 

John Stott few the original Blip model from the Dave Stott hangar. This model has personality and was a construction feature in a long ago issue of Model Builder magazine. Blip flew great for John as it always had for Dave. Fun!

Flying at Pinkham Field!

The Fall meet on the same field where many of the early Flying Aces Club meets were held was a lot of fun. The wind was up in the morning (still flyable), but had dropped by mid afternoon which resulted in many nice flights. Sometimes it pays to wait to get your official flight in for the events.

Clubster and FAC IT Czar Rick Pendzick was awarded his Blue Max by John Stott while Phineas looked on with approval. 

Our roving Photog captured the action.  Some are presented here.  Check the Photos page on this site for lots more pics.

Next meets coming up are October 9 back at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, followed by a couple of season-ending meets in November.  Check the Calendar on this site for the details including CD contacs and Events to be flown.

See you on the flightline skyster!

 

 

 

August Meet Pics Posted!

check the Photos page for lots more pics

click photos to view full size

 

The Bumblebee 2 flies! The drama of free flight scale modeling is captured in this action shot. This 13in wingspan model is powered by 2 loops of 3/16 Tan driving a 9in plastic prop. Not many Peanut Scale models can handle this much power.

September Meets coming up!

In August we had two great back to back meets at Pinkham Field (CT) and Woodsom Farm (MA). 

Our roving Photog attended both meets and captured the action.  Some are presented here.  Check the Photos page on this site for lots more pics.

Another two back-to-back meets are scheduled in these same locations in September (9/11 & 9/19). Check the Calendar on this site for the details including CD contacs and Events to be flown.

Fall in New England is the best time to fly Outdoor free flight models so plan to attend one or both of these meets. 

See you on the flightline skyster!

 

 

 

Postal Dime Winners Announced!

Trailing Edge takes the top 3 spots and the Cap!  Daedalus wins the NBM Kanone!

click photos to view full size

 

Trailing Edge’s Comte AC4 Dimer

 

Daedalus’ Fairchild PT-19 Dimer
The Wing Commander’s Cap!

And just like that – it’s over.

The snow has melted, the ice has thawed, the crocus are sprouting and the 2021 Postal Dime Contest is closed and in the books.

Trailing Edge Triumphs

And the Wing Commander’s Cap now resides (virtually) in the great state of Virginia with Trailing Edge.  Yep, like it was “no big deal” on a nice mid-January day, the Edge put up three multi-minute flights with three different Dime Scale models.  Quite the aerial FAC Hat Trick for sure.
Our heartiest congrats go out to Trailing Edge for this stellar performance!

Daedalus Wins Top Non-Blue Max Spot

Ah, so it turns out Trailing Edge is a well-known Flying Ace with lots of experience winning contests.  We suspected as much! 
Our top NBM finisher was Daedalus putting in a one minute flight on a small frozen local flying field in Massachusetts.  

Hat’s off to both winners and all of the flyers who braved the winter weather with their fragile stick and tissue models.  From Vermont to Texas and NY, CT, MA, KY, and VA in between, we enjoyed hearing from you.  Stand proud and get ready to go for it again next time!

 

 

 

NEMES 2020 – Stealth Sqdn A Big Hit

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

 

 
 (click image to enlarge) 

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!