Free Flight – 2020
Thanks to John Lewis for supplying the photos…
- This model is my own design called “Purple Haze”. It is powered with a Cox Tee Dee 051. The category began as ½ A power but is currently referred to as F1J. The model is around 15 years old and is outclassed by the more modern F1J models that use high performance 1cc motors with folding propellors. We introduced a class into our program called “BFFS mini power” which is designed for these older models using plain bearing motors with auto surfaces limited to VIT (Variable Incidence Tailplane) and AR (Auto Rudder). The motor run is limited to 7 seconds with a maximum total flight time of 2 minutes. Each competitor has 3 flights. This model has been very successful for me and gained first place again in 2020
- Ben Lewis launching his own design E36 (Nu- Skool) to win this year’s E36 event. Ben has grown up in an age of auto surfaces that he has used to good effect on his F1A and F1B models so it has been a bit of a learning curve to get good performance from models using old trimming techniques. Still younger people seem to learn quickly.
- Des Slattery launches his Dixielander at this years Queensland Diesel Power event. Des flies most classes of models and is well in his eighties. Des came 3rd this year in “QDP”.
- This photo was taken at Coominya this year with Kathy Burford launching one of Malcolm Campbell’s F1A models that he has competed with at recent World Championships. Kathy also flies tow line gliders and won our recent A1 straight tow club event.
- Kathy Burford usually does well in Catapult launch glider and this year she again showed the boys how it is done convincingly winning this year’s State Champs. Kathy is being timed by her partner Malcolm Campbell.
- Malcolm Campbell launching his E36 model in this year’s State Champs. Malcolm came second this year after dropping a few seconds on his last flight. E36 models are restricted to 36 inch wing span and use an electronic timer to stop the electric motor at 10 seconds. If the model is still flying at 2 minutes the timer releasing the back of the tail plane to bring the model down. Each competitor has 5 official flights. This has become our most popular event.
- Medals & Trophies supplied by the MAAQ
- The earliest model aircraft competitions were held for a class called Wakefield. In the beginning these models were built to a formula referred to as “Lsq/100” which resulted in the large fuselage cross section. The models were required to rise from the ground and were not limited with the amount of rubber. Alan Thomas sponsored this event at the Toowoomba Nationals to fly these old designs again (but allowing for modern building materials) with the Free Flight events held at Oakey. Since that time we have dispensed with the Rise Off Ground requirement and reduced the Max time to 3 minutes to allow flying at smaller venues. This is my second version of this design and I call it “Fat Boy 2” This model won again in 2020
- Kathy Burford won this years P30 State Champs with a perfect score. P30 models use 10 gms of rubber to power a 9 inch plastic propellor. Each competitor ha 3 official flights with a maximum of 2 minutes per flight for scoring purposes.
