I flew in my 1st contest today.
4 events.
1st was, At the pilots station you choose a card telling you 3 stunts.
Simple things, My 1st flight was roll, roll, split S. ( my 2nd flight was 3 - split S's that was fun, I did a split S' then an Immillmen then a roll then start over with a split S....doing this 3 times....)
then you tell them how long it will take and they time you. Your score is the difference between your estimated time and actual time.
2nd event was dead stick to a target in the runway. closest to the target wins.
they awarded points to come up with a final score.

I won one of the dead stick events and ended up tied for 2nd place so we had a fly off.
I chose the dead stick but I choked, coming down on the far side of the runway clipping the tall grass pretty good so I pulled it up out of the grass. As I was thinking if I could still turn towards the target, one of the experienced guys yelled out " SAVE THE PLANE " that snapped me out of stupid and I just kept the wings level and bought it down safe in the tall grass. All Joun had to do was keep it in the runway which he did giving me 3rd.

The guys were great and I had a good time..

What other events can be done at something like this?
Last year I wasnt up to flying so I watched the event and they did the same things..
We have another fun fly coming up in August



Steve

Did you have a good time? That is the important thing. Did you fly your Tiger? Once you get enough stick time on your Tiger, you will start doing the contest with some authority, you can aggressively perform those maneuvers, with confidence. Have fun with it!

That's pretty good, give yourself a big slap on the back. I belonged to three clubs and they at one time were very much into fun fly events. I got into them all but always got my clock cleaned. At last I one an event flying against some young kids and was being cheered on by all the old folks, even there parents. That event I won the beginners class and my instructor won the advanced, that made it even better for me. Your lucky to have saved the plane!! Most events have a number of planes in the trash can at the end of the event.
What else can you do?? We had the ring of death. It was a trampoline ring we set upright. You first had to do a full power flight through the ring. As the contest went on things got harder, inverted through the ring, full throttle through the ring then pull a loop and go through it again. It just kept getting dumber and dumber until there was a winner.
I have a photo someone caught just right of a planes fuse flying through the ring with the wings hanging onto the side of the ring. Things did get a little nuts.
I like the sound of some of your events, love the idea of the blind draw stunt cards!!
I really really miss fun fly's!!!

Sounds like a pretty fun competition. I would do something like that. I can't get into IMAC or pattern because of how much devotion it requires, but simple fun stuff like that sounds fun. Deadsticking is actually something I like to do in my floaty planes.

Brett, fun fly's are a total kick in the hinderpoo!!! At one time they were the king of the clubs and would bring out everyone for the day. That's when I started building throw away planes though, some of the events got harder and harder as the day went on and if you cared about your plane you were going to loose. Tower still sells some great fun fly plane kits like the Up-Roar, Dazzler and Fun-51. These kits go together fast and cheap, fly great and will do everything, not very smooth but they will do everything. After my second Up-Roar kit I made templates of every part then just started scratch building them. I always took out two planes at least, sometimes I would loan one to a friend or sometimes only came home with one!!
An OS .46 LA engine is all you need or want in one, plenty of power for these light weights and you never know what part of the plane is going to strike the earth first or hardest!!
Does it sound like I miss the fun fly's???[&o]

Gotta agree...fun flys are awesome. I STLL proudly display my "Best Crash" award I won at one years back. CRUSHED the leading edge of a Twist...and she still flew!

Steve, you ask about "other events". Here's a few I've seen, or that we've made up, etc. Please note...there are, indeed, legit "Fun Fly" competitions, rules, etc. I've flown many times with Jerry Smith, the multiple time National Funfly Champion...so you can go as far as you want with it. What's below isn't necessarily a 'formal" list...just fun events.

The classic limbo. Two poles and a bit of streamer...who can fly the lowest without hitting the ground? For an added twist, everyone has to fly it inverted.

Timed glide. You can run your motor for X amount of time from takeoff. Get as high as you can, kill the motor, see who can stay up the longest. Modify the event by requiring certain aerobatics to be performed deadstick.

Carrier landings. Draw/chalk/outline a big rectangle. Land on the deck for points.

"Chase the banner". One of the funnest things I've ever watched/done. Someone with a big slow Telemaster-esque airplane tows a long banner of crepe paper or ribbon....and everyone tries to cut it. It's HILARIOUS watching all these little zillion mph "gnats" chase after this gigantic lumbering beast. Points for each ribbon cut, etc.

Also worth noting that you can do INDOOR fun flys too. The Ember, in particular, is a FANTASTIC airplanes to do athese sorts of things in a gym or meeting hall. Grab a couple of chairs and you can pylon race the things too.

===============

One bit of advice..Gray beard's right. The BEST way to enjoy these things is to take 2-3 inexpensive, easily built/repaired planes with you. it's a real shame to lose out on a whole day of fun fly activities because something happens in the first event.

we didnt have a great turnout, 8 pilots but one forgot his radio leaving 7.
I stayed late to keep flying and one guy showed up that had not heard about the funfly.
I'm going to offer to snail mail a flyer about the funfly dates... Believe it or not some of the guys dont use a computer and dont get the e-mailed newsletters.
I bet we would get at least a couple more pilots...

Yes it was a blast! some of the guys talked about getting nervous But I had no expectations other than bringing the plane home in one piece.
I'll probably look into running one of these next year and give the old timers a break. They've been doing all the work....


I like the idea of a limbo contest.. Our grass runway is 75' wide. Run crepe paper between two poles and try to fly under it?
extra points for inverted, extra points if you cut the paper, would that be safe/doable?
Make the poles adjustable and let the pilot choose the hight?

steve

Oh yeah, fun fly events are great for both flyers and those watching. We've done the timed flights.. timed from the moment the plane rolls to the time it stops rolling on landing. We usually go for two minutes, but it can be done different ways.. varied times with a pick of a numbered card out of a hat.

Another is most loops in 20 seconds and another one is as you described.

We even had a taxi contest... put cones on the ground and we have to maneuver them like a skier would do in a slalom race.

Another is a precision landing.. or carrier landing where a length of runway is marked out and the pilot has to land within the marked area.

And, as already said... it's all about having fun.. but you also learn because it all requires some practice.. ha.. oops.. that's the "P" word, isn't it.. [X(]

CGr

On the hard packed runway clubs we had the slalum, slaoum?? The ski even anyway, you get the idea. Had to drive your plane through a course set up with milk cartons then finish by busting a balloon with the prop, all on the clock. Trike geared planes are the better for this event. A lot harder then most people would think, a lot of ground looping and running iton things!!

Steve,

What you describe for a limbo setup is just perfect. The crepe paper won't damage an aircraft at all. You can add some extra challenge by putting the poles closer too, so depth perception becomes a part of the event.

I'm wondering how far you can stretch crepe paper between two poles ( how much sag in the middle ) and how sturdy the poles would have to be..I would hope the poles would break away if a plane hits it..
And would a stronger wind cause a problem with the paper? I'm on vacation this week so I think I'll try this out. I dont have to wait for a fun fly. I'll ask anyone there if they mind me stringing it across the runway

I'll try an 8' piece of 1/2" pvc for the poles. Stuck in the ground angled away, the paper should bow them in. or would a weight at the bottom of the pole let them tip easier if a plane strikes. I dont want to damage any planes..

That would give me a 7 foot hight minus whatever the bow in the middle is. then lower it 1 foot at a time. Are you sure the plane will plow right through? what if the prop missis and I catch a wheel? will I rip right through like nothing happened? Or will I nose dive into the ground?

Steve

Wingless trainer races have been a hugh hit around here for the last couple of years.

John

I was the dragging plane at our last fun fly/ demonstration and it was a blast. I can't imagine crepe paper causing any type of interference if you catch it with something other than the prop. I can hardly get it to stay across the ceiling at my kids birthday parties.

One other thing I've seen and have been dying to try is target practice. You draw a big target, runway or otherwise. Rubberband a dixie cup onto your plane and put a tissue paper full of flour into it...fly up to an agreed altitude and drop the 'bomb'. I've seen guys roll to do it. loop or even hump it out. I imagine with all of the insurance rules and liabilities that have been coming down that this event is no longer practiced but I'm sure I'll still try it one day....

Mr. Buckner you're going to have to elaborate on that one...all I can see is fuses getting swiss cheesed on the first pylon....

Has been very successful here with a big following right off and the fellows do not even have to be soloed and indeed its usually the timid newbys who win.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...06427302&hl=en


John

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HA..... Oh My God thats funny...... I nearly fell off my chair I was laughing so hard.... It looks like a great event. Perfect for the old timers that really aren't sure of their personal airworthiness skills anymore....

Its perfect for new timers and inbetweeners as well. It has netted us at least four new racers locally for our RC Pro Warbird pylon races and proved to be the perfect hook. Its very hard to get new racers in any pylon discipline and this has proved a good vehicle to do just that but surprisingly also been a good hook just to garter new members/flyers.


John

my club had a funfly today also. good fun!!!!

Sportrider, what events did your club have?

I bought crepe paper at the dollar store last night. Its stronger than I thought, I was able to stretch it out to 80 feet with not to much sag in the middle.
the poles will have to be pretty secure though. It took a fair amount of force to stretch it out.

Now if it stops raining......

steve

I set the limbo rig up today at the field.

I have two 15" metal stakes that pound into the ground.
The PVC poles fit perfect over the stakes.
the poles stand straight but will bend easy if hit with a plane.
Crepe paper is 80' on a roll, just the width of our runway.
Paper was 8' - 9' high in the center of the runway.

It sounded like it would be easy to fly this but after seeing it set up, at my skill level, this looks pretty tough.
better pilots could have it lower.

I would give a penalty for cutting the ribbon!
to much work to replace it.
Score points for flying under the ribbon.
How many times can you fly under it in 2 minutes?

Sorry forgot camera.