| It's unbelievable how quickly we can lose sight of the | | | | ribbon is stretched between two poles that are fifty |
| face-splitting fun in our favourite model airplane | | | | feet apart and five feet high. Fun fliers compete in |
| hobby! You're either trying too hard or too confused | | | | several of these tasks; all are timed. Missions include |
| by all the choices. And what do you do next? | | | | tasks like learning to taxi accurately on the runway, |
| Sailplanes? Warbirds? Combat? Control-line? Racing? | | | | to climb in altitude and glide, to fly for exactly three |
| Perhaps you should re-discover what this great model | | | | minutes, to perform a spot landing, or to complete a |
| airplane hobby is all about and try some fun flying. | | | | bomb drop. |
| Whether you need friendly advice, tips on flying your | | | | The National Competition Fun Fly Association |
| model airplane or have questions about different | | | | (NCFFA), is the approved Special Interest Group for |
| model airplanes or equipment, Fun Flying groups | | | | fun flying by the Academy of Model Aeronautics |
| feature fellow enthusiasts who are willing to help the | | | | (AMA). The group features standard tasks and model |
| novice. They are not concerned with the size, shape, | | | | airplane missions, as well as a general layout of fun |
| or scale of your model airplane. Instead, they focus | | | | flying. |
| on the joy of flying, on learning new techniques, and | | | | In keeping with the spirit of fun, however, the |
| on how to reap the most benefit from each model | | | | association suggests that groups create safe, new |
| airplane. | | | | tasks and missions for fun fly events. New tasks and |
| Typically, fun fly groups gather to compete in a | | | | missions keep the fun growing for old-timers and |
| series of missions or tasks. The idea is that through | | | | offer more choices for newcomers. People have |
| practicing new maneuvers, the novice will become a | | | | done things like landing with a dead engine, or playing |
| master. Tasks are divided into two categories: | | | | musical airplanes, (last one down when the music |
| unlimited and fun fly. The unlimited category places | | | | stops is out). |
| no limit on the design or equipment of your model | | | | So what might one of these fun fly events look like? |
| airplane, apart from meeting the Academy of Model | | | | Picture a model airplane warbird, sailplane, and combat |
| Aeronautics' (AMA) safety code for radio-controlled | | | | model plane all racing one another. Next, a |
| fliers. | | | | taped-together foam plane performs aerobatics, |
| Tasks in this category are timed from the point of | | | | followed by a scratch built balsa model airplane, fresh |
| intentional movement to the end of the maneuver | | | | paint glistening in the sun. The greatest advantage of |
| and point that the wheels touch the ground. The fun | | | | these events is the learning factor: where else can |
| fly category may place limits, like minimum wing | | | | you be exposed to so many different planes and |
| loading or radio features, or may remain unlimited. | | | | styles of flying? |
| These tasks are usually mission oriented, but can be | | | | Your next step? Take what you've learned here and |
| timed as well. Participants enter a category in either | | | | get back to some fun. Remember, all RC model |
| the masters class, (top level), or the sportsman class, | | | | airplanes are created equal in the eyes of fun. |
| (entry level). | | | | __________________________________ |
| The tasks involve aerobatic precision with such | | | | Bruce Bird makes it easy for the beginner to quickly |
| stunts as loops, rolls, touchdown and take-off with | | | | get a grasp of the broadrange of exciting activities |
| your model airplane, and limbo passes in which a | | | | that make up airplane modeling. |