Free Flight Resource List by Bob Clemens
Getting Started
Updated January 2008
Thanks to the dedication and hard work by several hundred dedicated entrepreneurs around the country, an amazing array of free flight necessities are readily available. Sadly, most of their products cannot be found in hobby shops or other retail outlets and can only be obtained via mail order using catalogs or the Internet. The following is a basic list of some of these “hidden” resources (there are many more), and is aimed primarily at newcomers and “returnees” to the hobby of free flight. Those vendors highlighted in yellow offer many model kits suitable for inexperienced firt-timers.
Please feel free to copy and distribute this list, and understand that merchandise availability, prices, e-mail addresses, and web site URL’s are subject to change without notice.
Bob Clemens, WNYFFS Rochester, NY
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Just getting started? Here are some suggestions:
It’s a good idea to start with one of the many relatively simple, easy-to-build models available in kit form. They can be flown indoors in a school gym or auditorium or outdoors when the air is calm. They fly well despite their unsophisticated designs.
- The AMA Cub, a very simple to build and robust model that flies well. Some hobby shops carry this kit. You can see a picture of the Cub and order kits on the AMA web site, www.modelaircraft.org, either singly or in bulk packages of 12 and 40 kits for group projects. The Delta Dart, sold by Midwest Products (see above), is a clone of the AMA Cub. AMA stands for Academy of Model Aeronautics, the national governing body of model aviation in the United States. Visit www.luminet.net/~bkuhl/rubber.htm where you’ll find lots of excellent basic Cub information. I highly recommend this site!
- Butterfly, Mayfly, and Bulldog ready-to fly indoor models from FAI Model Supply. They're ready to go, right out of their boxes! The Minnow ROG is another good beginner kit from FAI, and can be flown indoors or out.
- Right Flyer, a sturdy and great-flying model from Midwest Products (also from FAI and school science suppliers).
- Prairie Bird and Bostonian Pup non-scale endurance models, Nesmith Cougar and Lacey M-10 peanut scale models. All four are from Peck-Polymers and are basic stick-and-tissue models with boxy built-up fuselages and wheels with simple structures. They are excellent fliers, suggested as second or third projects, and will hone building skills needed for more sophisticated subjects, such as scale models. NOTE: Peck Polymers changed ownership in early 2007, but their excellent kits and modeling accessories are still available. This includes their easy-to-build Peck ROG, another good beginner kit.
- 15:1 and 10:1 K&P rubber winders from FAI, Midwest Products, and others. K&P winders have yellow plastic cases.
There’s nothing like a good book- or video:
Books on free flight modeling are few, but Hannan’s Runway stocks some good ones, such as “Rubber Powered Model Planes” by Don Ross, “Indoor Scale Model Flying” by Fred Hall, and “Model Aircraft Aerodynamics” by Martin Simons. Also in stock at the Runway are excellent videos on modeling, such as “Basics of Rubber Power,” “How to Cover Models with Japanese Tissue,” and a number of others with action-packed coverage of various prestigious model airplane contests. NOTE: Bill Hannan announced in early 2007 that he is phasing out most of his business. Check his web site for updated merchandise availability.
Try an AMA Cub or the Right Flyer
The AMA Cub is a simple, very easy to build rubber-powered model. The balsa wood sticks that comprise its wing and tail framework are glued directly to the paper plan, which when trimmed becomes the covering. Tens of thousands of Cubs have been built since it was first kitted back in the early 1970’s. It’s robust and can be flown indoors or out, the latter when the air is calm. You can see a picture of the Cub and order kits on the AMA web site, www.modelaircraft.org, either singly or in bulk packages of 12 and 40 kits for group projects. The Delta Dart sold by Midwest Products is a clone of the AMA Cub. See their web site. Visit www.luminet.net/~bkuhl/rubber.htm where you’ll find lots of excellent basic Cub information. I highly recommend this site!
The Right Flyer model from Midwest Products (see vendor list) is a good trainer for newcomers to free flight modeling. Somewhat more complex to build than a Cub, it’s a fine flier and can fly for a minute and a half or more under a 20 ft. ceiling. Its sturdy construction, using a tough paper covering material, can withstand a beginner's rough handling as well as the inevitable collisions with walls, chairs, and other obstacles usually found at indoor flying sites. It can be flown outdoors too, providing the air is calm. Midwest sells kits of the Right Flyer in “class packs” of eight and 24 models as well as single kits. Some hobby shops may carry the single kits, or can order them. The Flyer kit is complete with very good instructions. Midwest also sells their own version of the AMA Cub.
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| Tom Hallman Photo |
