Victorian Free Flight SocietyLast Updated March 1 , 2009
The Victorian Free Flight Society (V.F.F.S.) is a group of enthusiasts who fly 'free flight' model aircraft for fun, fitness and sport!There are 3 basic categories; gliders, rubber driven and motor powered and these can be contest machines, sport fun flyers or scale models. All are built and trimmed to fly a set flight pattern without any external control. Free Flight model aircraft are, as the name suggests, model aircraft which 'fly free', i.e. not under the direct control of the flier after they have been launched. They therefore must be built to be inherently stable and capable of sustaining themselves throughout their flight. The sport of free-flight is one with a long history of competition and endeavour, being the original aeromodeling hobby. It provides a unique blend of construction skills and physical activity, which can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a rewarding family sport providing outdoor and indoor flying pleasure at moderate expense to suit anyone's budget. To assist newcomers, V.F.F.S. members lend models and offer every assistance with advice on what to build, materials, sources of supply, construction and trimming.
MenuWhat exactly are Free Flight Model Aircraft?An Introductory Guideline to Building and Flying Model Aeroplanes - New
Competition Calendar : 2009 Last Updated March 1 , 2009Version 1: March 1 , 2009Every Competition Day in 2009 will include a Catapult Glider competition Points accumulated during the year will determine the winner at the end of the year
Feb. 8
Feb. 22
March 8
March 15
April 5
Apr. 24-26
May 17
June 7
June 21
July 12
Aug 9
Sept. 7
Sept. 13
Sept. 20
Oct 11
Nov. 8
Nov 22
Dec 7
Dec 13 Meeting and Flying VenuesMeetingsBusiness and social meetings are held on the first Tuesday each month at the Old Homestead Inn, 170 Queens Pde., North Fitzroy. Some members may care to dine at 7 before the meeting proper begins at 8 Indoor Events are at the Donvale Indoor Sports Centre,[Manningham DISC] Springvale Rd. Donvale [Melway 48F4 ] between 12-45 pm and 4-30 pm. OR at the Sandringham Athletic Centre, Thomas St. Hampton, between 10 am and 4 pm. Outdoor Events Outdoor Events are held at Exford, south of Melton. This field is accessed from the new road which runs south from Exford Rd. about 1.5 km east of the old fieldŐs gate. There are security gates across this road and the guard may not be on hand to open them. The field is entered through the seventh gate on the west side of this road [not counting the gates at Exford Rd. ] This gate is 4.6 km. south of Exford Rd. There is a VFFS lock on the gate.The location is shown in the 2008 Melways at Map 220 D 12 Contact the C.D. the evening before the comp. to ascertain that the comp. is not postponed due to weather and to check the time that the security gate will be open. Visitors will need to arrange to meet a keyholder at the gates to gain access. No dogs allowed on the property. Competition starts at 8 am and finishes at 2-30 pm. Rules Number of flights and max for Combined and Open events will be decided by the CD on the day. All Combined Vintage events include Old Timer. If there are enough entries, Old Timer will be run as a separate event. All Combined Mini events permit P-30 to fly as F1G. 'Flypaper' - Newsletter of the V.F.F.S.Taking out a subscription to 'Flypaper', the Newsletter of the V.F.F.S. is the best way to both stay informed on Victorian Free Flight Society news and coming events. It also is a great source of interesting information about Free Flight in Victoria
Further information is available from the editor Michael Glaister
'Free Flight Down Under' - Newsletter of the A.F.F.S.Taking out a subscription to 'Free Flight Down Under' the Newsletter of the Australian Free Flight Society is the best way to both stay informed on A.F.F.S. news and coming events. It also is a great source of interesting information about FF in Australia.Further information is available from the editor Vin Morgan Contact Phone NumbersPresidentDarien Cassidy Phone: +61 3 9899 0322
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Selected ReadingLinks last confirmed 6 June 2007
'Free Flight Quarterly' "Free Flight Quarterly' (FFQ) has been born from the desire to have an international English language magazine devoted exclusively to Free Flight matters....FFQ ...aspires to be a truly international magazine, not only involved with the Australian Free Flight movement, but ready to open its pages to contributors from all countries." ...more
Free Flight Webring Dedicated to the promotion of Free Flight Model Aviation: Indoor, Outdoor, Competition, Flying Aces Club, or just for fun. Any power is accepted: rubber, gas, electric or other. Not for non-flying modeling nor radio control; all sites must pertain to Free Flight.
The Wakefield International Cup : A history from 1911 by Charles Dennis Rushing This [website] describes the history of the Wakefield International Cup, the first international trophy for aeromodelling competition. The history of the Cup can be traced back to the Wakefield Gold Cup presented by the then Sir Charles Wakefield in 1911 for a competition held at Crystal Palace, England. World War I intervened and this trophy was lost, but not forgotten.
In 1927 the Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers (SMAE) approached Lord Wakefield concerning the Cup and were offered a new trophy for international competition. This trophy was the present Wakefield International Cup and was first awarded at a competition in 1928. The SMAE developed the international competition up to 1951 when it was handed to the authority of the FAI and became the award for the rubber power category at the FAI World Free Flight Championships.
...more
Selected OrganisationsLinks last confirmed 6 June 2007
Model Aeronautical Association of Australia (M.A.A.A)
M.A.A.A Official Rules : Free FlightVictorian Model Aircraft Association (V.M.A.A) www.vmaa.com.au/
V.M.A.A. Events CalendarNew South Wales Free Flight Society (N.S.W.F.F.S.) www.nswffs.com.au
Brisbane Free Flight Society (B.F.F.S.)
Fédération Aéronautiqe Internationale (FAI)
This is a PDF file - Get the Free PDF Reader Here Links last confirmed 3 October, 2007
PlansAustralian in Alphabetical Order
Buckmaster, Derek (Aus)
Buckmaster Derek - Designed in Australia (Aus)
Straney, Paul (maintained service by Peter lloyd)
BEAMS (USA) (Boeing Employees' Aerodynamic Modeling Society)
Bradley, Paul (USA)
Morrow, Michael A. (USA)
FROG (UK)
Hand Launched Gliders (UK)
Holman, Bob (USA)
Hunter, Garry (USA)
Livesay, Dave (USA)
Mooney, Walt (USA)
Ornithopter Research Library (USA) - includes several plans
Rob's Scale Free Flight Models (USA)
Small Flying Arts (USA)
Svenson,Craig (USA)
Syme, Thayer (USA)
Tardy, Christophe (France)
The Windy Sock (USA)
Kits and Materials etc.Australian in Alphabetical Order
Free Flight Technology
Pel-Aero Products
Aerodyne - Campell's Custom Kits
FAI Model Supply
Flite Tech
Free Flight Supplies
Peck Polymers
Penn Valley Hobby Center (Campbell Custom FF Kits)
Radical RC Free Flight kits incl. CLG, HLG
Sams Models
StarLink
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