Tag: Stealth Squadron

Sam’s Trimming Guide for Challenging Aircraft

Remember: Meets at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury on August 20, and September 10-11, 2022.  See you there!

 

BY  
Sam Brauer

Look for the “smile in the trailing edge of the port wing- but a straight line in the starboard wing

Advanced Flight Trimming Techniques

You may have seen clubster John Koptonak’s 10 Step Trimming Guide in a recent Flying Aces Club newsletter.  It’s a great piece and has been helpful to many folks in getting their Free Flight models to fly.

Sam Brauer goes a bit further with his article presented here.  Sam focuses on low-winged models which we all know can be tricky to trim out.  In his article, Sam discusses on-field aerodynamic adjustments (washout, decalage, rudder, thrustline and weight) and their impact on model airplanes in free flight.
(NOTE: Webster’s defines decalage as the difference in angle of incidence of the two wings of a biplane, but for our purposes decalage is the difference in angle of incidence between the wing and the horizontal stabilizer of a model airplane.)

Sam knows what he’s talking about.  At the recent 2022 FAC Nationals meet in Geneseo, he ran deep into the final heats of several very competitive mass launch events. 

Great job carrying the torch for the Stealth Sqdn, Sam.  And thanks for sharing your flight trimming techniques!  

Click the link below to read the article.

Read Article Now

 

Upcoming Amesbury Flying Meets & Geneseo FAC Nationals Pics

We’re back Flying at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury on August 20, and September 10-11, 2022.

click images to view full size

Top Dog FAC 2022 Nationals in Geneseo
Sam launches Super Capacitor-powered Wildcat
Tom Frank John and John w Howell Miller Racers
The Texas Kellys with their Corsairs
John K launches his JetCat into Geneseo Sky
Geneseo Flyers Relax Over Ice Cream
Claudette Imelda and John at Registration Table

Mark your calendars skysters!

Woo Hoo!  We’re back flying on the big field at Woodsom Farm for our next two meets.  Grab that pencil and mark your calendars now gang, ’cause you don’t want to miss any of the ozone-splitting free flight aero-action!

Saturday, August 20, 2022 – Stealth Squadron Late Summer Meet, Amesbury MA

Saturday & Sunday, September 10-11, 2022- Stealth Squadron Early Fall Meet, Amesbury MA

FAC Nationals 2022 – Geneseo, NY

Ah yes!  Mecca for FACers worldwide and the stick and tissue FF modeling paparazzi for the last 4o years.. the Big Show..G-town.. G-tropolis.. the Flying Aces Club Nationals at Geneseo in beautiful upstate New York.

This year the big Meet ran from Wednesday July 13 through Saturday July 16.  The weather was fabulous with light and variable winds on several of the flying days and no rain.  Saturday was magical with bright skies, thermals and nary a breath of wind for most of the day.   Many long cloud-hopping flights were put up, often with the model landing a short stroll away from the launch point.

The Stealth Sqdn, Glastonbury Modelers and Pinkham Field Irregulars were well represented with several clubsters placing high among the finishers in several big events.

A special shout out is in order for clubsters Claudette M and Imelda K who helped FAC IT czar Rick P with Entrant Registration for the Contest.  Claudette also spent a lot of time in the GHQ tent processing timing slips – and she even helped run at least one mass launch event out on the field.  Our hats are off to you both – you’re the best!

Speaking of the best – John R was there with his trusty iphone capturing the action as it unfolded.  We’ll let his pictures tell the story.  We’ve posted a few here, but you can see the full FAC Nats 2022 collection HERE.  Many thanks for these John!

We know a bunch more Stealth Squadroneers would have loved to have made it to the Nats.  Hopefully next year we’ll see you there skyster!

Ipswich Pony Express Photos – June 25 meet

Clubster John R. took some great photos!  Check them out HERE

click images to view full size

Rich Z’s FAC Scale winning Ercoupe
Sean R launches his spiffy new Nassise P-40
Vance Gs beautiful Kalinen ambulance a/c.
WW1 hijinks. George’s SE5 won the event
Tom N’s new Sopwith Tabloid fell to George S’ SE-5 in the WW1 Combat event

Great weather, Light Turnout

Some folks were on vacation.  Some folks were at the beach.  And some folks were enjoying a long leisurely bike ride (clubster Steve K did stop by on his Cannondale to check out the flying action). 

Maybe it was the rescheduled date from the previous weekend which was very windy.  Regardless, it was a terrific flying day with light winds and thermals.  A couple models landed in the nice shade trees ringing the field, but were retrieved without damage.  Flying at the Pony Express field was low-key with lighthearted yet keen competition.   A fine time was had by all.

A hearty thanks goes out to Rich Z who made the arrangements for the field and worked with the town to reschedule the meet to a day with better weather.  Well done!

Genial John R. drove up from Boston and had his iphone working overtime capturing the action.  It’s always fun to see John’s pictorial take on our meets.

Check out John’s pics at https://photos.app.goo.gl/dQHaAjcxEN1vfAuT7

John says have some fun with the pics – go ahead and post your comments/captions, etc.

Thanks skysters!

Supercapacitor Electric Power for FAC Models

Supercapacitors offer many advantages as power systems for lightweight Free Flight models

 

A typical supercapacitor power system

BY  
Sam Brauer

Sam’s supercapacitor powered free flight models

Not Your Grandpa’s FF Model!

How often have you heard a bystander say “I used to build models like that as a kid”?  

Of course we know our simple stick and tissue models are a combination of art, craftsmanship and engineering.  And yes, that rubber strand power source has been around since the beginning of the hobby itself. 
A rubber motor is a simple, cheap and incredibly efficient power source, but advances in small electric power systems provide us with an alternative.    
Clubster Sam Brauer has been messing around fitting simple and cheap supercapacitor power systems to his small Free Flight models.  And he’s had tremendous success as witnessed by our roving reporter at a recent Pinkham Field meet in Durham, CT.

Sam is back with another article sharing his learnings, explaining the advantages of supercap systems and even recommending where to get the components to make your own system.   Many thanks to Sam for sharing!

Click the link below to read his article and do keep us posted if you try out a supercap power system!

Read Article Now

 

Photos from May 14 Outdoor Season Opener at Woodsom Farm

visit the Photos page for more pics

click images to view full size

Evan and dad Rob with Skylark
Sean with his new Leopard Moth
Steve with his new Corvette
Steve K winds his Hi-Climber
Matt’s stunning Pfalz DIII FAC Scale model  featured a balsa monocoque fuselage

Outdoor Season opener a big success!

Well gang, the 2022 Stealth Sqdn outdoor flying season got off to a strong start on Saturday May 14.

The weather at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, MA started off with more wind than expected.  But the wind moderated by midday and many long flights were made.

New Models

Flyers were productive over the long winter building season and several new models were seen in the air.

Steve E was spotted flying his big Condor and another new rakish sport model he calls Corvette.  Terrific new designs from Steve.

Sean R entered a great flying Leopard Moth in the Golden Age Civil event.  We think this was from an EasyBuilt kit.

Several Comet T-Crafts from the Indoor One Design event were seen flitting about. 

Vance G put in a few promising test flights with his outstanding new Latecoere FAC Scale Model.  Vance built this from enlarged Steve Griebling plans published in an old Crosswinds newsletter.

Tom N flew his new flat-winged Airdevel Fokker Transport dime scale model.

And there were many more.

Hot Competition

Camaraderie and freindly competition is featured in all Stealth Sqdn meets,  but there were a couple special moments at the May 14 meet. 

Sean R won the hotly contested WW2 mass launch event with his reduced-size version of the Nassise Mustang.

The P-51 “Old Crow” flew straight and long using up much of the field to edge out Tom N’s Polikarpov I-153.

Sean in turn got edged out in the Golden Age/Modern Civil event.  His DH Leopard Moth just couldn’t hang in there against Rich Z’s Guillow’s Fairchild 24 which was flown by Evan P.

Vance G’s dainty little General Airistocrat was flying great and won the Peanut Scale event. 

It was a great day.  See you in June  at the Ipswich Polo Field meet skyster!

 

Outdoor Flying Season Kickoff – May 14 Meet, Amesbury MA

First outdoor meet of the season!

View the full Contest Flyer with directions & contacts HERE.

Mark the second Saturday in May on your calendars  Skysters!  Fly with the Stealth Squadroneers on the beautiful rolling fields of Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, MA.

After being cooped up all winter the gang is ready to get out and fly.  Many new models will be shown and flown, so plan to be there!

Events are as posted on the flyer above. 

Come out and join the fun even if you don’t have a model.  We’ll help you learn more about stick and tissue free flight models and this rewarding hobby.

See you on the flightline!

 

Last Indoor Meet April 3rd – Outdoor Amesbury Dates Posted

Fly Indoors in Georgetown MA on Sunday April 3!

view photos from March 13 Indoor Meet

Clive G’s DH Leopard Moth
Well be flying Outdoors at Woodsom Farm soon!
  Click to view Flyer full-size

Glastonbury April 10 meet Cancelled!

Whew, we’ve got lots of info to share about upcoming club activities!

First, your last opportunity to fly Indoors this season is this coming Sunday April 3.  Yep,  we’ll be flying in  the Penn Brook Middle School gym in Georgetown MA.  Check out the flyer at top of this post for the Event roster.  See you there!

Check out clubster John Rood’s terrific photos from the March 13 indoor meet here.

And unfortunately the April 10 Meet in Glastonbury CT has been CANCELLED

2022 OUTDOOR AMESBURY DATES SET

Good news here gang.  A full slate of dates has been set for Outdoor Meets at fabulous Woodsom Farm in Amesbury MA.

Check the Upcoming Dates in the sidebar, or the Calendar page of this site and mark you calendars.  Time to get those new models finished up and ready to go!

We’ll be flying many of our popular events at these meets.  Look for the specific Contest Flyers to be posted as the dates approach.   We’ll be posting the Pinkham Field (Durham CT) meet dates soon too.  Lot’s of flying is on the horizon for 2022 for sure!

See you on the flightline skyster!

 

 

 

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! 

 

One Day Left!

The 2022 Postal Dime Contest ends soon – Get out and FLY!

 

Click to view Tallyboard!
Old pal Bill Orphan wears the Squadron Commanders Cap! (view full size)

Just Do It!

The rest of today and tomorrow – that’s all you’ve got skysters.  

The 2022 Postal Dime Contest wraps up tomorrow at 12 midnight in your local time zone.

All the cool flyers are on the Tallyboard.  Several have just stepped out their front or back door and gotten in a flight.

Like the sneaker company says – JUST DO IT!

Be like Bill (header) and take your shot at fame and glory.

 

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

Page 1

Page 2

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!