Victorian Free Flight SocietyLast Updated February 3 , 2010
The Victorian Free Flight Society (V.F.F.S.) is a group of enthusiasts who fly 'free flight' model aircraft for fun, fitness and sport!There are 3 basic categories; gliders, rubber driven and motor powered and these can be contest machines, sport fun flyers or scale models. All are built and trimmed to fly a set flight pattern without any external control. Free Flight model aircraft are, as the name suggests, model aircraft which 'fly free', i.e. not under the direct control of the flier after they have been launched. They therefore must be built to be inherently stable and capable of sustaining themselves throughout their flight. The sport of free-flight is one with a long history of competition and endeavour, being the original aeromodeling hobby. It provides a unique blend of construction skills and physical activity, which can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a rewarding family sport providing outdoor and indoor flying pleasure at moderate expense to suit anyone's budget. To assist newcomers, V.F.F.S. members lend models and offer every assistance with advice on what to build, materials, sources of supply, construction and trimming. MenuWhat exactly are Free Flight Model Aircraft?An Introductory Guideline to Building and Flying Model Aeroplanes
Competition Calendar : 2010 Competition Calendar 2010February 7 February 21 March 7 March 21 April 18 State Championships at Springhurst; May 7, 8 and 9. May 7 May 8 May 9 Note: The F1A, F1B and F1C competitions will be qualifying events for the World Championship 2011 Team Trials. May 16 June 6 June 20 July 11 July 25 Aug 8 September 6 [Monday] Sept. 12 Sept. 26 Oct 10 Nov. 7 Nov 21 Dec 6 [Monday] Dec 12 Rules The M.A.A.A Rules Book applies with the following exceptions or additions: The number of flights and the maximum flight times for Combined and Open events will be decided by the Contest Director on the day. All Combined Vintage events include Old Timer. Old Timer will be run as a separate event when there are sufficient entries. All Combined Mini events permit P30 to fly as F1G. Outdoor Scale This competition is for flying scale models of any full sized aircraft. Run in compliance with the M.A.A.A Rules Book except that rubber power is allowed as well as internal combustion, CO2, and electric power. Combined Percentage Open This competition is for models that would normally be flown in different classes each with different maximum times; eg. 2 minute max for P30, F1G, F1H, and F1J; and 3 minute max for F1A, F1B, F1C, Garnham Trophy and Open Rubber. Each competitor attempts a max for the class of his model. Usually the objective is to gain 3 maxes but the Contest Director decides on the day. Example: If a P30 model scores 120, 120, and 115 seconds to gain an official score of 355/360 (ie. 98.6%) and if an Open Rubber scores 180, 180, and 170 seconds to gain an official score of 530/540 (ie. 98.1%) then the P30 is leading because it has achieved a higher percentage of the possible maximum score. Living Room Stick
Bostonian Models entered in VFFS Bostonian events must comply with these rules with the following additions:
Sandfly Formula for Arthur Smith Indoor Free Flight Trophy
Precision Free Flight for Arthur Smith Indoor Free Flight Trophy
Indoor Reduced Scale Wakefield
Peanut Scale This competition is for flying scale models of any full sized aircraft. Run in compliance with the M.A.A.A Rules Book. Indoor Open Scale This competition is for flying scale models of any full sized aircraft. Documentation: As required for Peanut Scale. Dimensions: No restrictions. Weight: Less than 40 grams. Fidelity to Scale: Static score to be determined by the judge of the competition. Motive Power: Any form of motive power except internal or external combustion. Flights:
VFFS Grand End of Year Scale Day This competition is for flying scale models of any full sized aircraft. Documentation: Optional but recommended. Builder of the Model: The model(s) must be built be the competitor. Dimensions: No restrictions. Weight: Less than 40 grams. Fidelity to Scale: A static score is awarded by co-competitors ranking the models from the best down, (ie. 1, 2, etc.). Motive Power: Any form of motive power except internal or external combustion. Flights:
Awards: The first three places will be won by models that have the best (lowest) aggregate of static ranking and flight realism ranking. Meeting and Flying VenuesMeetings Business and social meetings are held on the first Tuesday each month at The Recreation Hotel, 170 Queens Pde., North Fitzroy [Melway Map 2C E3]. Members may care to dine from 6.30 pm before the meeting proper begins at 8.00 pm. Indoor Events Indoor events are held at the:
Sport flying of indoor free flight models, (rubber power or small low power electrics) is welcome at VFFS run competition events provided fliers are mindful of the priority of competition flying. Spectators are welcome at any time at Manningham DISC indoor events and visiting flyers of free flight models are also welcome but insurance regulations limit flying to a maximum of four times unless the model flier is a current financial member of a model aircraft club or special interest group properly affiliated with the MAAA. A hall rental fee of $10.00 applies if you wish to fly. Notes: Outdoor Events Outdoor Events are held at the VFFS field at Eynesbury, south of Melton, [Melway maps 220 D12 and 226]. The field is off Haul Road and is accessed by travelling through Eynesbury township. Enter the Eynesbury township via Eynesbury Road which turns off the Parwan - Exford Road, [Melway map 220 H2]. Drive through the town, past the golf course then turn right and head north for about one kilometer. The gate to the field is the first gate on the west side of Haul Road. There is a VFFS lock on the gate. The total distance from the Parwan - Exford road to the gate is 7-8 km. Please contact the Contest Director the evening before the event to ascertain that the event has not been postponed or moved to an adjacent paddock. The VFFS field is part of Eynesbury Station which is an active pastoral enterprise and stock requirements can cause the use a neighbouring paddock. Visitors will need to check at what time the gate will be open or arrange to meet a keyholder at the gate to gain access. Please observe the following:
Competition events start at 8 am and normally finishes at or before 2.30 pm. Contest Directors are normally named with contacting information in the issue of Fly Paper published immediately before the event. Spectators are welcome at any time at VFFS outdoor events and visiting flyers of free flight models are also welcome but insurance regulations limit flying to a maximum of four times unless the model flier is a current financial member of a model aircraft club or special interest group properly affiliated with the MAAA. 'Flypaper' - Newsletter of the V.F.F.S.Taking out a subscription to 'Flypaper', the Newsletter of the V.F.F.S. is the best way to both stay informed on Victorian Free Flight Society news and coming events. It also is a great source of interesting information about Free Flight in Victoria
Further information is available from the editor Michael Glaister
'Free Flight Down Under' - Newsletter of the A.F.F.S.Taking out a subscription to 'Free Flight Down Under' the Newsletter of the Australian Free Flight Society is the best way to both stay informed on A.F.F.S. news and coming events. It also is a great source of interesting information about FF in Australia.Further information is available from the editor Vin Morgan Contact Phone NumbersPresidentRon Bird Phone: +61 3 9846 6297
Secretary
Selected ReadingLinks last confirmed 6 August 2009
'Free Flight Quarterly' "Free Flight Quarterly' (FFQ) has been born from the desire to have an international English language magazine devoted exclusively to Free Flight matters....FFQ ...aspires to be a truly international magazine, not only involved with the Australian Free Flight movement, but ready to open its pages to contributors from all countries." ...more
Free Flight Webring Dedicated to the promotion of Free Flight Model Aviation: Indoor, Outdoor, Competition, Flying Aces Club, or just for fun. Any power is accepted: rubber, gas, electric or other. Not for non-flying modeling nor radio control; all sites must pertain to Free Flight.
The Wakefield International Cup : A history from 1911 by Charles Dennis Rushing This [website] describes the history of the Wakefield International Cup, the first international trophy for aeromodelling competition. The history of the Cup can be traced back to the Wakefield Gold Cup presented by the then Sir Charles Wakefield in 1911 for a competition held at Crystal Palace, England. World War I intervened and this trophy was lost, but not forgotten.
In 1927 the Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers (SMAE) approached Lord Wakefield concerning the Cup and were offered a new trophy for international competition. This trophy was the present Wakefield International Cup and was first awarded at a competition in 1928. The SMAE developed the international competition up to 1951 when it was handed to the authority of the FAI and became the award for the rubber power category at the FAI World Free Flight Championships.
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Selected OrganisationsLinks last confirmed 6 August 2009
Model Aeronautical Association of Australia (M.A.A.A)
M.A.A.A Official Rules : Free FlightVictorian Model Aircraft Association (V.M.A.A) www.vmaa.com.au/
V.M.A.A. Events CalendarNew South Wales Free Flight Society (N.S.W.F.F.S.) www.nswffs.com.au
Brisbane Free Flight Society (B.F.F.S.)
Fédération Aéronautiqe Internationale (FAI)
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PlansLinks last confirmed 6 August, 2009Australian in Alphabetical Order
Straney, Paul (maintained service by Peter lloyd)
Bradley, Paul (USA)
Morrow, Michael A. (USA)
FROG (UK)
Hand Launched Gliders (UK)
Holman, Bob (USA)
Hunter, Garry (USA)
Livesay, Dave (USA)
Mooney, Walt (USA)
Ornithopter Research Library (USA) - includes several plans
Rob's Scale Free Flight Models (USA)
Small Flying Arts (USA)
Svenson,Craig (USA)
Syme, Thayer (USA)
Tardy, Christophe (France)
The Windy Sock (USA)
Kits and Materials etc.Links last confirmed 6 August, 2009Australian in Alphabetical Order
Free Flight Technology
Pel-Aero Products
FAI Model Supply
Free Flight Supplies
Peck Polymers
Penn Valley Hobby Center (Campbell Custom FF Kits)
Radical RC Free Flight kits incl. CLG, HLG
Sams Models
StarLink
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