Who Are These People?

Do you remember a time when life was just a little slower and a bit more relaxed? You can recapture a time like this by participating in this hobby. Trade in your TV sets and video games for something constructive and very satisfying. You are building something with your own hands, a machine capable of working with the same physical laws of this Earth as the fabric, wood, and wire airplanes of World War I all the way to today's modern airliners, and everything in between. In this hobby, your airplane is as true and honest about it's behavior as anything you'll ever experience. It cannot lie to you nor violate these laws of nature. You must learn how it wants to behave in the air and adjust yourself and the machine accordingly.

Rubber powered aircraft are considered freeflight models, in that there are no control systems for you to use while it is flying. The airplane must be trimmed (adjusted) in such a way that it flies on it's own, preferably in nice lazy circles in the sky. You and the others around you become spectators to the majesty of flight as soon as it is released into the air. Those of us who are incurable, rejoice at the site of a well trimmed model in steady flight. The models fly from 30 seconds up to two minutes and in some cases will actually fly away! These flight times seem trivial until you experience it. You must learn to give up that urge to control things in your life when becoming a freeflight model builder.

Rubber models are constructed using the traditional stick and tissue methods developed in the 20's and 30's. There are some new advances in some of the materials and techniques, but the time honored methods are very much the basis of how they are built. These airplanes are very light, weighing in at just ounces or grams. The word "pound" is not found in our vocabulary except to describe a physical act wished upon an uncooperative airplane. Balsa wood is the chief ingredient found in "stick" and tissue is a very thin, uniform paper.

The FLYING ACES Club takes its name from a magazine popular with kids back in the 30’s and 40’s. This magazine was a collection of aviation articles, pictures, stories, and modeling activities. Many of the stories were fictional but also included current information about what was going on in aviation. The Pre-war stuff is really interesting to read as the magazine attempted to assess our air power and the capabilities of our enemies. The old magazines are collected all over the world and from time to time you can find them at contests and anywhere rubber modelers get together. In those days, the world was fascinated by aviation. It was called the “Golden Age” of aviation due in large part to all of the pioneering efforts in aircraft design, construction, and performance. Aircraft were transitioning from the stick, fabric and wire biplanes of World War I to the slick all-metal monoplanes of World War II. During this transition, some of the most interesting and beautiful airplanes were built and aviators were some of the most adventurous and daredevil people, as evidenced by their incredible journeys and feats. It was the aviation companies and the military that sponsored model building as a way to support this fascination and encourage young people to pursue careers in aviation at a time when the industry was blossoming. Models were powered by rubber motors in those days because gas engines were expensive and rare. This problem was worse during the Second World War when materials became scarce and were needed for the war effort. In order for a rubber powered airplane to fly with any degree of success, they had to be built very light. Hence the construction technique of a framework using thin pieces of balsa, spruce, and bamboo (stick) covered with a light paper made of wood or bamboo (tissue) made taught by applying water, dope (a type of paint), or even banana oil. So popular was this activity that kits and model supplies could be found in most drug and department stores.

Many of the modelers who grew up in the 1930's are still active and they keep the stick and tissue tradition alive by building, flying and promoting these models. Every one is an avid aircraft ENTHUSIAST and can identify just about any aircraft known. Many of the classes of models flown in the Flying Aces events are derived from these early designs. Not much has changed in the way these models are built or flown although there have been improvements in covering materials, adhesives, and especially the rubber which we power them with. The Flying Aces club boasts a membership of more than 1500 people in the US and worldwide. They are locally organized into squadrons so they can meet, fly, and hold contests at their respective field. The local squadrons are more interested in coming together for flying and fun and are not too wrapped up on protocol. Members of the Flying Aces are encouraged to also become members of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), a nationally known modeling association with over a million members. You will be required to be a member if you fly in some contests, particularly the National Flying Aces events (Nats) and any AMA sanctioned event. The AMA provides a larger voice to support our hobby and also provides group liability insurance coverage for any possible accident incurred while flying. Included with your AMA membership is a monthly magazine highlighting the national activities and local events.

Headquarters of the Flying Aces publishes one main newsletter titled “Flying Aces Club News”. This newsletter contains announcements of upcoming contests, results of contests, and technical information. In addition, plans are included for building models submitted by FAC members. Most local squadrons published their own newsletter highlighting local events, technical information, and (of course) more plans. Many members join other squadrons to get their newsletters because they are informative and contain more plans (in case you haven’t caught on by now, we can’t get enough plans or kits). A year's membership in the FAC that includes a subscription to the newsletter costs $15.00 per year.

To sign up write to : FAC-GHQ 3301, Cindy Lane Erie, Pa. 16506. Fortunately, they are attracting some of the younger population at a rate that will probably keep the art and technology alive for some time. You can join as many squadrons as you want.

Class Struggle

There are 30 classes of airplanes recognized by the FAC. They are:

1. FAC PEANUT SCALE
2. FAC RUBBER SCALE
3. FAC JUMBO SCALE
4. FAC GIANT SCALE
5. FAC POWER SCALE
6. FAC PIONEER SCALE
7. GHQ PEANUT SCALE
8. THOMPSON RACE *
9. GREVE RACE *
10. SHELL SPEED DASH
11. AEROL RACE *
12. BENDIX RACE *
13. GOODYEAR RACE *
14. FORMULA RACE *
15. WWI COMBAT *
16. WWII COMBAT *
17. GOLDEN AGE CIVIL SCALE
18. GOLDEN AGE MILITARY
19. MODERN AGE CIVIL SCALE
20. MODERN AGE MILITARY
21. FAC JET CATAPULT SCALE
22. FAC NO-CAL PROFILE SCALE
23. FAC EMBRYO ENDURANCE
24. FAC OLD TIME STICK
25. FAC OLD TIME RUBBER
26. FAC 2-BIT OLD TIME RUBBER
27. FAC OLD TIME GAS REPLICA
28. FAC DIME SCALE
29. FAC OLD TIME KIT SCALE
30. FAC JIMMY ALLEN
31. FAC O.T. PLAN SCALE
* Denotes a mass launch event.

******* GENERAL FAC RULES *******

The ideals of the FAC are founded in friendly competition that promotes improvements to the appearance and flights of our models. The intentions of the GENERAL FAC RULES are to help the competitor understand the most basic of the FAC rules that all others are based upon.

1. Each entrant must be the builder of the model he / she enters.
2. Proxy entries will be allowed at the C.D.'s discretion
3. Each builder is permitted only one example of a specific design. There will be no duplicate "back-up" models allowed.
4. Each contestant may enter two different models in any event except the mass launch events where only one model may be entered per event.
5. Three models by three different builders must be entered with each making a qualifying flight in an official FAC event for the winner to be credited with a "Kanone."
6. All events are for rubber powered models except: FAC Power Scale FAC Old Time Gas Replica FAC Jet Catapult
7. All flight times are in seconds and rounded down to the last full second.
8. The minimum official flight time is 20 seconds unless a specific event rule states otherwise.
9. A maximum flight is 120 seconds unless a specific event rule states otherwise.
10. All events are hand launched unless a specific event rule states otherwise.
11. Props that feather or fold at the end of the motor run will not be allowed.
12. No condenser paper or other ultra-light covering material may be used to cover any model.
13. Foam coverings and foam material used as components within the basic structure is prohibited.
14. Foam and other non-balsa materials may be used in the construction of such "add on" parts as air scoops, radiators, machine guns, etc.
15. Engine cowls up to the firewall may be of foam or any other non-balsa material.
16. Gear arrangements with a 1:1 ratio may be used in any FAC rubber powered event.
17. A gear driven prop may not be powered by more than one rubber motor.
18. Binoculars may be used in all events.

A Little Friendly Competition

The world will never improve without competition. I contend that laziness (not necessity) is the mother of invention and competition improves and hones it to a fine edge. FAC members like to get together for a little friendly competition with the outlook for a little recognition and more importantly, camaraderie. A contest or event is invoked whereby three or more FAC members compete with a similar class of flying model. The first place winner is awarded a “Kanone” in the same way that a German WWI aviator was after scoring a victory. Second, third, and sometimes fourth place finishers get to bathe in the glory of the attempt at battle (okay, they get squat). Kanone is German World War I aviator jargon for “big cannon” which could be thought of as “hotshot” or “Ace” in America. Once a German pilot received 16 kanones (eight originally) he was awarded the “Blue Max”. The Flying Aces club tracks kanones awarded at the local and national level, and once sixteen are obtained, the member is awarded a reproduction Blue Max medal as well. This is a good time to bring up rank within the FAC. When you join, you are commissioned a First Lieutenant. You become promoted upwards in the ranks as you accumulate kanones.

Every two years the FAC hosts a national competition in Geneseo, NY called the FAC Nats. Competitors come from all parts of the country and even from international origins to compete in three days of the toughest flying you’ll find anywhere. The number of contestants is around 150 who register to fly in all of the classes available. Most competitors enter from 4 to 8 models depending on the classes they like. The toughest competition is the one that forms the basis of the Flying Aces Club, FAC Scale. This class is designed to encourage modelers to build high quality scale reproductions of actual aircraft that also fly well. Scale models are judged by a team of seasoned veterans who evaluate the model on fidelity to the original aircraft outlines, coloring, and markings. Workmanship and overall quality of the model are judged as well. Published documentation must be provided to provide proof of your choice of aircraft and authenticate the color scheme and markings. With over 150 competitors entering several models to be judged, approximately 300 to 500 models must be judged in several hours time. Sometimes, judging takes place out at the field if the number of entries is small enough. Additional points are accumulated during the flying phase. Points are awarded for the length of time the aircraft remains airborne. Bonus points (handicap) are awarded to models that are more complex or have features that would make them more difficult to fly. For example, a biplane gets 15 bonus points because planes with two wings are harder to fly than those with one wing. Flight times range between 20 to 120 seconds and over, depending on the model and the skill of the flyer. 20 seconds is the smallest number of seconds to qualify for an official flight in most cases. Flight times of over 40 seconds used to be rare but now it takes times in the 90’s to place in competition these days.

Like I said earlier, competition improves the hobby. The remaining classes are equally as competitive and require extensive attention to the smallest detail. The Old Time Rubber and Old Time Rubber Stick classes are competitive, but not as well attended. Embryo is very competitive with a large turnout. The racers classes were well attended this last Nats. The bottom line is, the more the merrier. All aircraft entered in competition must be constructed using the traditional materials for the main structural portion of the airframe. There are some exceptions but they are usually for trim items, wheels, and other small parts. There are some limitations applied to the airplane, but they are not extensive. The main idea is to promote stick and tissue construction.