From Control Line to Free Flight

[Mike Griffin]

Guys, due to health issues, I cannot fly control line anymore but still love to build.  I have not flown free flight in 63 years but thought I would give it a try and get back into it.  I guess I would have to hire a kid to chase them down.  Do any of you guys fly free flight as well and can you direct me to someone or a club that might exist in the New Orleans area that I could hook up with?  I have a lot to catch up on after 63 years. 

Thank you
Mike

[Tim Wescott]

You might think about indoor free flight.  New Orleans ought to be big enough for a club, and you use way less materials.

Just be aware that CL contest balsa will be "oh, that heavy stuff".

[Dan Berry]

Mike, check your messages here.
Ross Jahnke flies in south Louisiana at a sod farm. I cannot remember where. Dick Mathis also flew there but maybe not anymore.

[Dennis Toth]

Mike,
Glad you have the spark. You might consider a simple  RC assist to the FF design to keep it within walking distance. Here is an example:   https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=7837

Best,   DennisT

[Steve Dwyer]

Mike, you piqued my interest here. First you didn't mention what type of free flight modeling you are interested. FAI Free Flight has many categories FI A thru FI N. In as much as I have a handful of 1/2A engines given to me I have never tried gas or electric powered FF. Several years ago, I attended the Flying Aces Club Nationals held in 2022 at nearby Geneseo, NY. Everything was rubber power which I found interesting, some of the models were beautiful and would soar for several minutes. The contest was a mass ascension measured for time aloft pretty cool. I was later given a Comet 24" Phantom Fury kit made from somewhere back in the 50s I believe. I built the Fury and began learning about stick and tissue and flying FF. It's an interesting area that requires a fair amount of skill to get your model trimmed. Braiding the motor using rubber bands to provide the power and duration. Using a blast tube, making a winding jig, it goes on. If you're interested in rubber power check out Easy Built Models and go online for several sites as well. There's a builder Tom Hallman that has training videos. Recalling now, the Fury flew well, I released it following a measured motor wind, it has an offset rudder opposing the prop direction. It made one large climbing circle and headed toward a neighbor's house; the yards are large. It cleared the neighbor's home and disappeared; I found it down the street where it landed on another's front lawn. I concluded the build a success. Rubber powered free flight will probably be where I'll end up when CL becomes too difficult for me. In the meantime, I'll continue to attempt to "master" the elusive pattern.
Steve

[Mike Griffin]

Mike, you piqued my interest here. First you didn't mention what type of free flight modeling you are interested. FAI Free Flight has many categories FI A thru FI N. In as much as I have a handful of 1/2A engines given to me I have never tried gas or electric powered FF. Several years ago, I attended the Flying Aces Club Nationals held in 2022 at nearby Geneseo, NY. Everything was rubber power which I found interesting, some of the models were beautiful and would soar for several minutes. The contest was a mass ascension measured for time aloft pretty cool. I was later given a Comet 24" Phantom Fury kit made from somewhere back in the 50s I believe. I built the Fury and began learning about stick and tissue and flying FF. It's an interesting area that requires a fair amount of skill to get your model trimmed. Braiding the motor using rubber bands to provide the power and duration. Using a blast tube, making a winding jig, it goes on. If you're interested in rubber power check out Easy Built Models and go online for several sites as well. There's a builder Tom Hallman that has training videos. Recalling now, the Fury flew well, I released it following a measured motor wind, it has an offset rudder opposing the prop direction. It made one large climbing circle and headed toward a neighbor's house; the yards are large. It cleared the neighbor's home and disappeared; I found it down the street where it landed on another's front lawn. I concluded the build a success. Rubber powered free flight will probably be where I'll end up when CL becomes too difficult for me. In the meantime, I'll continue to attempt to "master" the elusive pattern.
Steve

Hi Steve,

I have interest is both rubber and engine free flight.  I have a few COX .049 engines I can use but I am also interested in trying rubber power as well.  I have a lot to learn about timers and other accessories that go along with building these newer type of free flights.  The other problem will be trying to find a place to fly them down here.

Mike

[Tim Wescott]

Hi Steve,

I have interest is both rubber and engine free flight.  I have a few COX .049 engines I can use but I am also interested in trying rubber power as well.  I have a lot to learn about timers and other accessories that go along with building these newer type of free flights.  The other problem will be trying to find a place to fly them down here.

Mike

Hip Pocket is primarily a free flight forum.  There's a lot of people there who seem very astute.  You can probably ask there and find a flying field.

https://www.hippocketaeronautics.com/hpa_forum

[M Spencer]

Theres something about ' body ' to dope , as compared to lacquer , its said .

As in , silver spray lacquer dosnt ' build up 'when flatting off -whereas ' dope ' is to a degree , a filler ?

[John Park]

The name Dave Rees springs immediately to mind - he switched from C/L aerobatics (remember his Dazzler 40?) to designing a succession of beautiful free flight scale rubber models, in the same mode as Tom Hallman (whose Maxfliart website is well worth a look).

[Mike Griffin]

I want to thank each and everyone of you for your help.  I am investigating all of this.  I have made contact with Ross Janke.

Mike

[john e. holliday]

Wel glad you are trying something.  My self while replacing the floor in my I found stuff I had forgotten about.   The dust on the woodworking equipment was thick and I had a tough time getting the Shop Smith going.  Finally found new blade on the Ebay.  A lot of stuff went under the floor as I didn't want to try fixing it up as far as airplanes.  I am still amazed as the duplicate stuff I have.  Did get rid of a few planes ready to fly with a little surface cleaning.  One complaint was a guy who decided the engine needed a tear down and cleaned.  Then it wouldn't run right once it was back together.   I let him know the engine ran great the last time I flew the plane.  Finally found out he had bad fuel.  But now I am spending time doing wood working stuff like restoring benches and lawn chairs.   Built a shelf cabinet to put the storage boxes of engines.   Need to get a battery so I can run some of them again.   Love the sound of a Fox .35 stunt on the bench/saw horses.  When I get time I may try selling again.  Right now I have told a guy if he would come over from Manhatten I would make it worth while the gas and time he may use.   Nothing yet.   Right now catching up on yard work and cutting wood for projects.  But when you are not allowed to drive or have a car you do what you can.  They won't even let me go to Home Depot or Lowes.

[Paul Gittel]

Hi Mike,
            I've cut and pasted this from the SAM web site's Club page. Hope this helps. Paul

Northwest Louisiana Antique Aeromodelers
Patrick LeRay
6135 Dillingham Ave
Shreveport
LA
71106
(318) 868-8228
59
The Cloud Climbers of Southeast Louisiana
Carl Bakay
118 Gentry Circle
Lafayette
LA
70508
(800) 676-7302
15
NE Louisiana SAM   Tommy Gray   966 Coulee Creek Rd.   Jonesboro   LA   71251   (318) 267-2040

[Mike Griffin]

Hi Mike,
            I've cut and pasted this from the SAM web site's Club page. Hope this helps. Paul

Northwest Louisiana Antique Aeromodelers
Patrick LeRay
6135 Dillingham Ave
Shreveport
LA
71106
(318) 868-8228
59
The Cloud Climbers of Southeast Louisiana
Carl Bakay
118 Gentry Circle
Lafayette
LA
70508
(800) 676-7302
15
NE Louisiana SAM   Tommy Gray   966 Coulee Creek Rd.   Jonesboro   LA   71251   (318) 267-2040

Thank you Paul.

Mike

[M Spencer]

looks like your onto this ' old time ' stuff .

Here they were into Big free flight things with onboard starters and an ounce of fuel , trying to get 1/2 hour flights .

Any old free flight thing , converted to rudder only r c , with a  D T tailplane , if its thermalsvile out your way .

Id thought ailerons & rudder on the left thumb , for a soarer . Glider .

I got a new two channel set for $ 2 . So might be able to affoard a battery .  .

All the old free flight scale , with rudder & throtle , you should be able to get back to where they left , if you cnt stand eercise .
If your after a thrill , if its windy , yr cheap & nasty pom foam & butchers paper PVA Power Scale slope , would keep you busy .

https://rcbookcase.com/categories.php?publisher_id=6
oops .
the cheap foam arsey things , found free , at times .


Dont forget to put rivets in the holes , when you take the wing fences off . 

Id seen this , then at North Shore R C field , which is flat and drops into a valley at the upwind end ,
A foamy lookalike did this . Stiff breeze . Howled along at 10 foot full tit , as he pulled up , the shock
at the bump / windsheer - at the runway end , and it blew apart and scattered . Just like this . Oh dear .

https://www.facebook.com/groups/PSS.Power.Scale.Soaring/

https://www.pssaonline.co.uk/2005/04/15/power-scale-soaring-part-3/