Would appreciate some suggestions

[Mike Griffin]

Our club here in New Orleans in flirting with maybe having a fun fly in, not a contest.  We would appreciate some event ideas from those of you who have done these before.  I know a balloon bust is one that is popular. What other events have y'all done that was enjoyed?

Thank you for the help

Mike

[Motorman]

1/2a combat, clown race, foxberg, perky speed, fox speed, most loops in one minute.

MM

[eric rule]

Since you have a couple of electric powered Ringmasters (and other models as well) why not offer them for flights in the Fun Fly? That way folks who show up can experience ECL flight. It may be a way to get more folks involved in the event (especially if they do not have a model of their own ready to fly).

[JoeJust]

Mike, seriously, Why have a "contest" within a "fun fly"?  Here in he NW people that almost never compete in a contest show up and fly what they bring. CL contests are a great part of our wonderful hobby, but not everything by a long shot.
Joe

[big ron]

Since you have a couple of electric powered Ringmasters (and other models as well) why not offer them for flights in the Fun Fly? That way folks who show up can experience ECL flight. It may be a way to get more folks involved in the event (especially if they do not have a model of their own ready to fly).

I would be interested in flying something electric

[tom hampshire]

Mike, I'd try some nostalgia combat, per the posts about GSCB.  When Tom Schaefer and I started it 3 years ago, I guessed at 6-8 fliers, he at 10-12.  We were astounded when fifty showed up.  The parking lot hadn't been that full in years, and about 6 of the guys who came out were local, but totally unknown to both of us.  Yet they still had an airplane or two, just waiting for some CD to offer what they wanted.

[Mike Griffin]

Mike, seriously, Why have a "contest" within a "fun fly"?  Here in he NW people that almost never compete in a contest show up and fly what they bring. CL contests are a great part of our wonderful hobby, but not everything by a long shot.
Joe

Hey Joe,

Maybe I was a little confusing with my post.  The last thing I wanted to do was to bill this as any kind of contest.  My thoughts were exactly as yours, bring whatever you want to fly and we will set up some fun things for you to try.  No prizes or awards for anything, just have fun busting some balloons or whatever else we come up with.  Does that give the atmosphere of a contest?  That was the last thing we wanted to convey.  What do most people do at a fun fly?  I have never participated in one so I honestly don't know .

Thank you

Mike

[Mike Griffin]

Ron and Eric

Great suggestion and we can certainly do that.  The electric thing I mean.

Mike

[Mike Griffin]

We had actually considered putting on a contest here in New Orleans and I had talked with Brent and Doug at the Baton Rouge contest about it.  They, of course, offered their support and advice but after discussing it with my fellow club members, we thought a fun fly might be better for several reasons .  New Orleans would draw a few folks I think because of all the attractions we have in the city, i.e. The French Quarter, food, etc.  Our club voted some time ago to sever ties with AMA for several reasons, so doing a "sanctioned" contest is not an option but a fun fly is feasible.

I appreciate all of your suggestions

Mike

[Mark Scarborough]

one thing that is done at some local fun flies,, and I incorporated it into our RC club fun days,, for every flight a person makes,, he gets a playing card,, doesn't matter what they fly,, just fly,, then at the end of the day, whoever has the best poker hand with five of their cards, wins the raffle prize for the day. We typically have some cool stuff for the prize. This allows the person who is just learning to be "competitive" with the more experienced guys

[FLOYD CARTER]

Right, Mark.  The WOLF Club (Salem, OR) calls it "Lucky Hand" for C/L.  I think they have a $10 entry.  The winner of the best poker hand gets cash, followed by other donated merchandise prizes.  I never could get better than a pair, while others would get a Full House, or something good.

BTW.  Good luck on your recent jump into EXPERT!  Now you have to fly against Paul, Howard, and the Canadian gang.

Floyd

[dave siegler]

high speed, low speed and stunt (no pattern impression pilots vote) with the same airplane.

Own rules carrier attack no throttle, (balloon bust bomb drop and spot landing)

mass fly, how many guys can you get in the circle at the same time?  

junkyard wars

Bislob anything.



Oh bring lots of food.

fun silly prizes.  

[Balsa Butcher]

For years our club (the now defunct "Vacaville Skylarks) had a contest in November called the 'Turkey Shoot" (November=Thanksgiving=Turkey, get it?). Events (usually) were "Slow Race" (done individually, thirty or so laps, as slow as you can go but stay in the air. One trick was to put your prop on backwards). Barrier Balloon bust, where you had to go under one obstacle, over a second the back for the balloon pop. Naturally, the close the obstacles (flexible dowls jury rigged to step ladders outside the circle) the harder it was to pop a balloon. At the time Balloon Busting was a regular feature at contest so just popping a balloon was not difficult enough. Lots of crashes with this one.  3rd event (if your plane made it that far) was speed limit combat. Optional event for a special prize (usually a large can of cranberry sauce) was the "Hole in One" where you tried to fly your airplane into a trashcan within the circle, yes it would be upright. Only had one chance at this one. 

Key was only one airplane allowed for each event, suction fuel systems, must ROG, whatever-what usually showed up were old ringmasters, oft crashed modified combat planes and beat up sport type airplanes. Many did not survive the meet, but that was part of the game. No cancellations for weather, often it would be held in the rain. Flying surface was grass, the rougher the better. Grand prize was a 25 pound turkey, sometimes 2nd and third places were given decreasingly smaller turkeys. So it was sort or a contest but really more of fun fly. Was well attended for many years. Just an idea...it was fun.

[Mark Scarborough]

Right, Mark.  The WOLF Club (Salem, OR) calls it "Lucky Hand" for C/L.  I think they have a $10 entry.  The winner of the best poker hand gets cash, followed by other donated merchandise prizes.  I never could get better than a pair, while others would get a Full House, or something good.

BTW.  Good luck on your recent jump into EXPERT!  Now you have to fly against Paul, Howard, and the Canadian gang.

Floyd

Thats where I stole the idea from,, our RC club fun flies were more about eating than flying so this got us more activity,, since I am not the president now, they kind of drifted away from it, and we are back to a barbque with a couple flights,, pretty sad,,

as to my jump to expert,, thanks,, I figured If I wanted to push my flying development, it was a needed move,, however,, I wont be flying against Paul, Howard and the dreaded Canadian continent,, for the time being I will be flying against myself LOL,, thats enough of a challange

Hope to make all the contests next year,, and hope you make it as well Floyd

[FLOYD CARTER]

I have decided to retire from C/L stunt competition.  Having a bit of trouble staying with the plane on overhead 8, and such.  Could be old age finally creeping up.  I'll attend all the contests to cheer for my friends and take pictures.

I still fly every chance I can get.

Floyd

[john e. holliday]

The first years I was with the Sky Devils we would a couple of fun flies in which there was no competition.  The wives would get together an organize a pic nic.  Us boys would play with our toy airplanes and just fly.   The wife and I had a large play turned up side down to keep the little one in one spot.   But fun flies should be just that,  fly for fun if you want to or not.  Dave had a kind of fun fly at the circle we were asked to vacate a couple of years ago.   

[bob whitney]

  how about a spot landing at the end of what ever u decide to do.

[RC Storick]

Get some of the girls from the French Quarter to do a Hootchie Cootchi in the pits. That'll get attention.  Make it real fun fly.

Now Chief this is not the PI.

[Mark Scarborough]

I have decided to retire from C/L stunt competition.  Having a bit of trouble staying with the plane on overhead 8, and such.  Could be old age finally creeping up.  I'll attend all the contests to cheer for my friends and take pictures.

I still fly every chance I can get.

Floyd

well FLoyd,, I look forward to seeing you hang out,, sorry to hear you decided not to fly contestrs anymore,, but that is after all a personal choice and it sounds like you will still enjoy flying and building,,