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