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