Free Flight Technical Committee

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News from the FFTC - issue 47

News from the FFTC - issue 46

News supplement October 2011

Please click October 2011 News Supplement for details.

Call for Team Managers and Assistant Team Managers - Free Flight and Space

The FFTC is calling for applications for these posts for both the Free Flight European Championships and the Space World championships. Click here for details.

News from the FFTC - issue 45

Click news from the FFTC - issue 45.

Rule Changes 2012

Please click here for the proposed rule changes for 2012

RCDT - a statement from the FFTC

Please click here for the FFTC's statement on the use of RCDT.

Important messages from Peter Williams

1. Please note that the Competition Callendar shown in the latest issue of BMFA NEWS (August 2011) is not current. It is the 2010 callendar.
Please use the callendar issued with FFTC News No 44.

2. You are reminded that the Equinox Cup will take place at Salisbury Plain on 17 and 18 September. See below for details.

News from the FFTC - issue 44

Click news from the FFTC - issue 44.

Equinox Cup 2011

Click here for entry form, here for details, here for hotels and other accomodation and here for a location map.

BMFA East Anglian Gala 2011

Click Anglian Gala 2011 for details.

News from the FFTC - issue 43

Click news from the FFTC - issue 43.

Free Flight Team Selection 2011

The 2011 Free Flight Team Selection events will take place as follows:

Team Selection 1 - 18 & 19 June at Salisbury Plain.
Team Selection 2 - 10 & 11 September at Sculthorpe
Team Selection 3 - 8 & 9 October at Salisbury Plain.

Competitors are encouraged to pre-enter with the offer of a big discount for entry to all three events using the form available here.
If you want to take advantage of this discount please ensure that your entry is sent to arrive no later than 11 June 2011

News from the FFTC - issue 42

Click news from the FFTC - issue 42.

Omission

Please note that there is an omission in the 2011 Free Flight Rule Book. The first lines of rule 3.7.4 (underlined below) were omitted from the 2010 Rule book and the mistake carried over to the 2011 Rule Book. The correct rule is detailed below:

Rule 3.7.4 Electric Class (BMFA Electric)

Motor limitations:

For Brushed motors…….. maximum total motor(s) size of '600'
For Brushless motors…… maximum total bare motor(s) weight 100 grams

items (b), (c) and (d) are correct as published.

July, 2011 Oxford MFC Dreaming Spires Gala

Vintage (10 am start) L/W Rubber, Vintage Glider, Classic Glider ( both 50 metre line max),

Vintage HLG inc Catapult.

Modern ( 10am start) P30/E30 Combined, Silent Open Tailless, Rapier R30.

F/F Scale ( 2.00pm start ) all-in, no documentation, IC engines 1.5cc max. All flyers require BMFA insurance. Venue Port Meadow, Wolvercote, Oxford. Contact – Charlie Newman 01865 426129

Contest Calendar

Click on Contest Calendar in the navigation bar above for the latest update.

Stonehenge Cup 2011

Click here for publicity document, here for contest details and here for entry form.

News from the FFTC - issue 41

Click news from the FFTC - issue 41.

2011 FF Rule Changes

Please click here for the 2011 rule changes.

Classic Models - a note from Chris Strachan

For BMFA eligibility in either Classic or Vintage the requirement goes on publication date of the plan. Hence publication in the 59/61 Zaic year book does not make a model eligible for BMFA Classic competition. (we have had this particular source queried a number of times as it contains a lot of designs flown in the Classic period which would be very competitive)

The eligibility rules for SAM 35 are, of course, rather different.

Technical Articles

For 2011 the E30 rules change from an unlimited motor run to a one minute motor run. For those who have problems working out how to stop the motor after the run, and want some help, 3 articles are provided here showing 'how to...'. The first article deals with an electronic solution, the second provides a mechanical method, and the third gives some useful notes on suppliers and other oddments.

BMFA Free flight and Space Calendar 2011

Click here for Ver. V2 of the 2011 calendar.

News from the FFTC - issue 40

Click news from the FFTC- issue 40. This includes changes to the rule book that apply from Jan.1st 2011 and rule change proposals for 2011.

Southern Coupe League

It has been decided to make results from 8th Area meeting at Salisbury Plain eligible for the Southern Coupe League, in addition to those from Ashdown Forest, Merryfield and Beaulieu.

FLYING NORTH – the re-print

There’s been an encouraging response to the idea of a re-print of Flying North, the 163 page book covering the model flying career of Jack North, and including 23 previously un-published plans of his aircraft. Access to Jack’s drawings and notes dating back to 1938 means that there are a number of designs in the book likely to be tempting to the nostalgia-minded.

Readers of the first edition seem to have enjoyed it::

“…no other modeller's life and times can ever have been so comprehensively covered"

"I hope it becomes a classic."

"I am glad I bought Flying North. ..... such a huge chunk of nostalgia"

"... am immensely impressed. A splendid effort"

"A fitting memorial to an unforgettable personality. I am sure the book will become an instant classic, treasured by aeromodellers all over the world"

"A very balanced record of Jack's modelling and professional activities"

"The best aeromodelling book since the Zaic Yearbooks"

As a result of the interest, we’ve produced a spiral-bound version as a short print run, which is available now. If you have already expressed an interest you will have received your copy by now, but to get your own copy of this unique record of a major innovator in British free-flight, contact Martin Dilly on 020 8777 5533, write to 20, Links Road, West Wickham, Kent BR4 0QW or e-mail:
MartinDilly@compuserve.com.

The price in the UK is £18; airmail to Europe £20 or to anywhere else £22. Cheques should be payable to BMFA F/F Team Support Fund,in pounds sterling only, and drawn on a bank with a branch in the UK; you may also order by credit card. All proceeds help to fund the expenses of those representing Great Britain at World and European FF Championships.

Analysis of 2009 contests

Phil Ball has analysed the 2009 contests and made comparisons with earlier years. Click here for details.

Area Free Flight Contacts

Please click Area Contacts for details of Area contacts.

News from Chris Strachan - CD Box mobile phone.

The CD box has a mobile phone - you are recommended to enter the number into your mobile and take it down wind on retrieval in case there is a need at a BMFA contest to contact the CD. 0793 576 4810