Is there a free flight model airplane forum of the caliber of TRF?

[TomLee]

As much as I enjoy model rocketry I'm also interested in rubber powered free flight model airplanes. I've built a couple Easy Built kits but can't say I've been successful in flying them so I have a lot of basic kinds of questions. I don't know anyone who builds them so I can't really get hands-on help. The Rocketry Forum, as everyone here knows, is a rich resource, dense with information from veteran enthusiasts. As I did, one can lurk here to read previous posts which address all aspects of our hobby, eventually joining the forum to be able to ask my own questions. Does anyone know of a forum or other resource for FF fans where I could have a similar experience? I'm pretty sure there must be other FF fans who belong to TRF. This one's a treasure. Thanks in advance for any leads! BTW, if this should've gone into a different forum category let me know.

 

[goose_in_co]

While I am not a serious FF modeler, I have built some and enjoy the process. Getting them to fly is another thing altogether...

Here are the ones that I know of:
Guillows Modelers: https://balsamodels.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=2
Virtual Aerodrome: https://www.virtualaerodrome.com/?p_menu=1
Stick and Tissue: https://www.stickandtissue.com/forum
Hip Pocket Aeronautics: https://www.hippocketaeronautics.com/

Some may work better than others
Look for the local club listings, some have a lot of newsletters on file that are a wealth of information.

 

[Mugs914]

Hi Tom! I also do a bit of free flight and have done on and off since I was a kid. Mostly built-up stick and tissue, rubber powered, but the occasional glider as well. I can vouch for the Hip Pocket Aeronautics forum that Goose mentioned above. I am a member and there is at least one other TRF regular over there, though at the moment I've forgotten who it is.

Hip Pocket is a great group of guys from all around the world, ranging from beginners to seasoned competitors. It is just a massive wealth of information. Great plans database too! Of the free flight forums I have checked out, it was the most like the atmosphere around TRF; helpful, friendly and, well, a little nuts at times. I think you would like it!

BTW - I would love to see some of your builds...

 

[mcderek]

Hi Tom, I'm an active Free flight participant. My avatar is me launching a F1G rubber powered plane. I also host a website called the P30 Page. Check it out at http://p30page.weebly.com/ Lot's of information on that fun competition class.

There are several free flight forums shared in previous posts. All are worth checking out. Be warned though that the Hip Pocket Builders Forum is down at the moment.

My current project is recovering an old plane that was built many years ago by a deceased club member.

 

[TomLee]

This is great! Thank you goose_in_co, Mugs914, and mcderek! I got some nice leads from goose's helpful reply and was intrigued by the Hip Pocket title so started there first a day or two ago. There was a message from the new webmaster indicating this would be down temporarily but I was able to look at a few things briefly. I left the tab open until just now but when I tried to reload the page I got an error message so I guess it's definitely down now. But I'm heartened by all these replies. Mugs, you don't really want to see my builds. They're both Easy Built embryos so there's not any originality in 'em. Building the first one I had little idea what I was doing or how to keep wing/tail/rudder surfaces from torquing. See the pic below. The second one actually flew--a wonderful thing to watch!!--until I wound the rubber too tightly and did some serious damage. They're both now in a closet. But I'll get back to you when I finish the next one. And mcderek, that's a gorgeous structure you have there. The leading and trailing edges of the wing look shiny like a hardwood. What?!? Looks like the prop is hand carved, too. I'll go visit your weebly page for more.

Again, thanks to each of you. I'm torn between finishing a couple more rockets and starting up a long build on a plane. They all require taking up space on the kitchen table. My wife is very patient but we are, of course, deep into the holiday season and table space is precious.

 

[mcderek]

Hi Tom, what did you use to shrink and seal the tissue? Warp free light structures are challenging with tissue covering. The easiest way is to wad up the tissue into a tight ball several times and then apply. This breaks down the tissue fibers and it will shrink less. Another way is to pre shrink the tissue. Attach to a frame then shrink. Once dry cut the appropriately sized tissue panel out and attach to the stab. Since it's preshrunk it will shrink less and it's easier to control the warping.

 

[mbeels]

I love rubber FF as well, although I've had less time for it lately than I'd like. I tried to visit Hip Pocket Aeronautics, but I get a database error. Is it down at the moment?

 

[TomLee]

I always applied the tissue dry, then sprayed with an alcohol/water mixture. I'd heard of pre-shrinking the tissue or applying it wet but didn't try those. Breaking the fibers seems like it'd be at cross purposes with providing structure/rigidity to the frame. But this is exactly why I want to find the FF forums that can do what TRF does so well. Thanks for the help!

 

[TomLee]

I love rubber FF as well, although I've had less time for it lately than I'd like. I tried to visit Hip Pocket Aeronautics, but I get a database error. Is it down at the moment?

Yes. From what I understand it must be a matter of reorganizing or just getting things figured out because of the handoff of administration from the previous webmaster to the new one. Seems like it'll be a temporary thing but I don't know how long it'll be down.

 

[mcderek]

Yes. From what I understand it must be a matter of reorganizing or just getting things figured out because of the handoff of administration from the previous webmaster to the new one. Seems like it'll be a temporary thing but I don't know how long it'll be down.

The original webmaster died unexpectedly. He ran the site with a partner and the partner is currently working through all the issues including transfer of ownership. Hopefully it will all get worked out without much loss of old posts. There was lot's of great information on that site. Here's hoping!

 

[mcderek]

I always applied the tissue dry, then sprayed with an alcohol/water mixture. I'd heard of pre-shrinking the tissue or applying it wet but didn't try those. Breaking the fibers seems like it'd be at cross purposes with providing structure/rigidity to the frame. But this is exactly why I want to find the FF forums that can do what TRF does so well. Thanks for the help!

Applying tissue wet allows it to conform to complex curves. It won't help reduce the shrinking. Preshrinking does help and it will allow for a bit of rigidity. Shrinking the tissue on the stab with the stab pinned down so it can't warp will help as well.

 

[TomLee]

Hey, I see "Tri-Cities Rocketeers" under your name, Derek. I just visited the site and found it's the Washington tri-cities as I'd hoped, an area I've visited many times especially while living in Western WA. My sister lives in Richland. Next time we get up there to visit (we're living in NorCal now) I'll check to see if there are any club activities going on.

 

[Alan15578]

Back on the 80's I hung out with the Thermaleers FF club in St. Louis. I really liked that they had a winter indoor flying season. I met some great modelers. I found a couple more good flying sites. Still, I only dabbled a little in model airplane FF.

 

[mcderek]

Hey, I see "Tri-Cities Rocketeers" under your name, Derek. I just visited the site and found it's the Washington tri-cities as I'd hoped, an area I've visited many times especially while living in Western WA. My sister lives in Richland. Next time we get up there to visit (we're living in NorCal now) I'll check to see if there are any club activities going on.

Rocketry is my 'local' hobby. I helped start the Tri-Cities Rocketeers around 11 years ago. I live in Moscow, ID now so I don't make it to all the launches like I did in the early years of the club. Check out the launch calendar on the website. It would be great to see you at the Sod Farm!
I travel to Oregon and CA for Free flight competitions. A picture of me launching a F1B at Lost Hills, CA a couple years ago.

 

[TomLee]

Dabbling is the stage I'm in right now. So far the ratio of building time to flying time is pretty huge so I just haven't gone back to it, but I'm still interested in gaining the skills. In fact, I actually enjoy the building process for both those planes and rockets. I just have to choose where to put my time investment. Don't we all?!

I've watched quite a few indoor flight competitions on YouTube. The people who fly those ultralight planes with the membranous wings and huge props that spin so slowly are masters at maximizing design and trimming away every unnecessary gram. It's pretty cool. I'll watch but don't plan to dabble there at all.

 

[mcderek]

Indoor free flight is amazing! I don't fly it myself because I have to many interests already. That will probably change in the years to come because one of the best indoor free flight venues in the world is in my home town of Moscow, ID. The Kibbie Dome at the University of Idaho. Here is a video of the master glider flyer Tim Batiuk letting it rip inside the dome. Look closely and enlarge the video so you can see the glider.

 

[TomLee]

My goodness! "Letting it rip" is an understatement! He really knows his plane well to be able to throw it that hard knowing it will go that high inside the dome and trusting it'll all be just fine. It's pretty cool to watch him wind up and heave that thing. All those category designations, e.g. F1N and your F1B and F1G, are totally new to me across the free flight landscape. I'm not even sure why my two "embryos" are embryos; I just haven't taken the time yet. Lots to learn from that community!

 

[rharshberger]

Hey, I see "Tri-Cities Rocketeers" under your name, Derek. I just visited the site and found it's the Washington tri-cities as I'd hoped, an area I've visited many times especially while living in Western WA. My sister lives in Richland. Next time we get up there to visit (we're living in NorCal now) I'll check to see if there are any club activities going on.

Feel free to look us up when you are in town Tom, our 2024 Launch calendar has been posted on our website, and I can be reached here on TRF if you have an club specific questions as I currently (and for the past 5 or so years have served as the club VP). TriCities Rocketeers big event though is the SodBlaster event we hold each Labor Day weekend, 4 days of fun and flying, this year will be our 6th year of SodBlaster.

 

[mcderek]

My goodness! "Letting it rip" is an understatement! He really knows his plane well to be able to throw it that hard knowing it will go that high inside the dome and trusting it'll all be just fine. It's pretty cool to watch him wind up and heave that thing. All those category designations, e.g. F1N and your F1B and F1G, are totally new to me across the free flight landscape. I'm not even sure why my two "embryos" are embryos; I just haven't taken the time yet. Lots to learn from that community!

Yes, there are many classes in free flight for sure. The F1 B,G,N etc are FAI international class designations. Really anyone interested in Free flight should join the National Free Flight Society. Check out the website at https://www.freeflight.org/
They publish an excellent Free Flight only magazine called Free Flight Digest.

 

[ksaves2]

Yeah, As long as one haves an immaculately big field/range it's o.k. to fly free flight planes. If one gets caught in a monster thermal though, it's bye-bye time.
Sorta like flying HPR. I did R/C sailplanes back in the day in a big mowed field out my backyard (at the time) and hit a couple of "monster" thermals that took them up to monstrous heights. It was a rare thing though. Sometimes put 'em on the high start rubber launcher and "up and down".

The hawks/eagles/buzzards showed me when I was observing where to fly and search out thermals when I wasn't flying. I didn't go there with my R/C sailplanes so not to molest them if they were there. If they were not there though I'd try and take the sailplanes to the areas they pointed out.

At times I'd launch with no wildlife birds around and go to those places they pointed out with my prior observation, I caught some monster thermals. Had some great flights. Had some 45 minute to 2 hour flights and no motor noise to bother anyone. I installed a mechanical mixer to reflex the ailerons as flaps on late approach and spoilers on top so it didn't take so long to get down. Man I could get it to drop like a rock if I wanted to! Got into a couple of monster thermals and deployed the spoilers so I could upset the lift and get the sailplane down. At the time, I was lying on my back to look straight up at the sailplane in the air.

I can say "I'VE FLOWN/SOARED WITH EAGLES" as I've launched up on highstart rubber and eagles/buzzards saw my R/C sailplane was in a good thermal and started circling with my R/C sailplanes!!! That's an exclamation I'm so proud to own. That was so cool as I didn't molest them and I was circling/flying with the birds as they joined up with my R/C model! They didn't mess with my sailplane. They were probably traveling through to get to get to another area.

Heck they were up close and could see my sailplane! That happened three times. They were so close I think they heard the servo motors on the controls in my sailplane. If one has the area (I don't anymore} if you get the chance to fly R/C sailplanes go for it as you'll increase your chances to fly with eagles and you don't have to be in "Top Gun" to do it. Kurt Savegnago

 

[K'Tesh]

@the OP... To answer your question... I doubt it... Wouldn't it be hard to be free flight when your CG is >= 1.5 calibers ahead of your CP?

 

[modeltrains]

I'm pretty sure there must be other FF fans who belong to TRF.

I would be one of them although haven't actively modeled for over a decade now.

Not a forum but a website very much worth looking at,

Welcome to Mike's flying scale model pages​

https://www.ffscale.co.uk/

 

[lr64]

@the OP... To answer your question... I doubt it... Wouldn't it be hard to be free flight when your CG is >= 1.5 calibers ahead of your CP?

Not necessarily. The Thermal Delta Dart, kitted by Sig as the Thermal Dart, needs more than that, I think. ;-)
https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=12716

It's crude, but it flies remarkably well. Even with that terrible prop. The Outerzone listing shows a better prop.
---------------------
Another free flight forum that is not bad:
https://www.rcgroups.com/free-flight-64/
This one can be interesting:
https://www.rcgroups.com/vintage-and-old-timer-designs-209/
This site gives the rules for embryo and a whole bunch of other good stuff:
https://flyingacesclub.com/wp/
-------------
Don't be intimidated by the indoor stuff. I once helped a newbie with his first limited pennyplane. We got it up over 5 minutes, or was it 6?
Here's a good article: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9707741&postcount=346
Here's a newsletter with the Cezar Banks novice pennyplane in it: https://indoornewsandviews.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/inav-137a.pdf

I used to fly EZB, but never broke 15 minutes.

 

[MClark]

Not necessarily. The Thermal Delta Dart, kitted by Sig as the Thermal Dart, needs more than that, I think. ;-)
https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=12716

It's crude, but it flies remarkably well. Even with that terrible prop. The Outerzone listing shows a better prop.
---------------------
Another free flight forum that is not bad:
https://www.rcgroups.com/free-flight-64/
This one can be interesting:
https://www.rcgroups.com/vintage-and-old-timer-designs-209/
This site gives the rules for embryo and a whole bunch of other good stuff:
https://flyingacesclub.com/wp/
-------------
Don't be intimidated by the indoor stuff. I once helped a newbie with his first limited pennyplane. We got it up over 5 minutes, or was it 6?
Here's a good article: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9707741&postcount=346
Here's a newsletter with the Cezar Banks novice pennyplane in it: https://indoornewsandviews.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/inav-137a.pdf

I used to fly EZB, but never broke 15 minutes.

I have made many of these. Prop from a Sleek Streak, tissue paper from gift wrapping (mom would iron it flat for me).
There was an AMA Cub of similar design.
They fly quite well.

 

[Mugs914]

I would be one of them although haven't actively modeled for over a decade now.

Not a forum but a website very much worth looking at,

Welcome to Mike's flying scale model pages​

https://www.ffscale.co.uk/

+100 for Mike Stuart's site. Very inspirational! Tons of great pics, videos and plans!