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