The Flying Aces Club (FAC) is a group of devotees of a traditional rubber-powered Free Flight—the kind your Dad and Granddad did back in the model aviation heyday of the 1930s-1940s. This was the era of mass marketing in model aviation, with kit brands like Comet, Peerless, Megow, and Burd as ubiquitous as video games are today. Virtually none of these old kits are made anymore and many of the local hobby shops have disappeared, but thanks to the FAC and WESTFAC this style of modeling has not disappeared.
Now you may be thinking, “I don’t want to build a super-detailed Free Flight scale model that’ll be scrutinized by judges.” Never fear! Here are four simple (non-judged) entry points into FAC Free Flight:
1. Embryo Endurance. This is a simple scale-like event for small stick-and-tissue models of about 16-18” wingspan. Embryos are typically a three-evening build and power requirements are minimal, yet the models fly 60-120 seconds on full winds. Two excellent kits are available: The Prairie Bird from Peck Polymers ($20.95) and the “Debut” from Easybuilt Models ($23.58).
2. Old Time Rubber/Old Time Stick. These are simple models of 1930s-40s designs in the 24-36” wingspan range. They typically fly 2-3 minutes on a full wind and can be built in about a week of evenings. Many of the top designs are available in kit form, such as the Crusader, Flying Aces Moth, Gollywock, Dynamoe, Sparky and Miss Canada Senior. The following websites sell the kits, which range from $25 to 45: http://www.jimoreillymodelplans.com , http://www.easybuiltmodels.com/, http://www.a2zcorp.us/store/, and http://www.campbellscustomkits.com/. Many of these kits show a folding prop; FAC competition rules require a freewheeling prop. Free wheelers are much simpler anyway and don’t hurt performance much at all.
3. Mass Launches. Flying Aces Club contests are probably best known for head-to-head flying in mass launches, which is also the most thrilling aspect of FAC flying. Nothing compares to the nail-biting drama of a dozen or more 18”-30” scale raceplanes or fighters dueling it out in three or more simultaneous wingtip-to-wingtip heats. The best part is none of the mass launches are judged events—they only require a basic scale examination for correct color and markings, the minimum scale details such as canopies and control surface outlines, and not-excessive dihedral or tail surface enlargements. In addition, the combat mass launches (WWI and WWII) require three-dimensional armament of some kind (at least one gun barrel or one bomb). IMPORTANT: Since these are scale models it is important to note that sleek low wing racers and fighters can be intimidating to adjust for flight. As a result I recommend mid- and shoulder-wing designs for first timers as they are much easier to trim for stable flight. Two of the best choices for the Greve Race Mass Launch (1930s inline-engined racers) are the Chambermaid and Mr. Smoothie, both available as laser cut kits from Easybuilt . If you feel up to the challenge of a WWI biplane try the Fokker D-VII or Albatros D.III from Rockytop Models; both are contest winners and excellent designs. For the experienced modeler who wishes to try a low wing WWII fighter, there are many kits available. Easybuilt has the Kharkov R-10 and MiG-3 in Laser kits, Ozark Model Aviation and Dare Engineering have a great selection of the larger (27-35” span) designs by master FACer Mike Midkiff. Diels Engineering offers an extensive line of mostly combat aircraft kits. Finally there is the classic (and inexpensive) Golden Age Reproductions kit line from Penn Valley Hobby Center, which includes the following great-flying subjects in the 23-26” wingspan range: Ki-61 “Tony” (a perennial contest winner), P-51 Mustang, P-47 Thunderbolt, Boulton Paul Defiant, and BF-109E, among others.
4. Dime and Pseudo Dime Scale. These are events for small (16” wingspan) semi-scale models built from the actual 1930s 10-cent kit plans (Dime)—or from approved modern plans designed in this “throwback” style (Pseudo Dime). Hundred of plans and kits are available and models are easily built in about a week. The only detailing required is the coloring, marking and details as shown on the plans. There is no scale judging there’s simply a requirement to submit the plan and model for a compliance check. Plans are available for a scant $1 each from Mike Nassise at mnceann@aol.com. Excellent kits are also readily available in the $12-25 range, from Easybuilt Models, Penn Valley Hobby Center and DPC models.
So there you have it, proof that Flying Aces Free Flight need not be intimidating or complex. Just grab a kit or two and start cutting balsa. You
For more information on the upcoming WESTFAC III contest visit: www.westernfac.com. For more on the international Flying Aces Club including the competition rules, visit: http://www.flyingacesclub.com.
--Don DeLoach
WESTFAC Committee
Editor, National Free Flight Society Free Flight Digest
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