And Then She Was Gone - A Free-Flight Story

I woke up on the field to a blanket of fog, but I wasn't going to let that stop me. Never saw a "fogbow" before (or solar glories, Brocken spectres) but the Gollywock found one!! Such a rarity! Filmed with a Canon PowerShot SX20, and an iPhone 11Pro & 6s. Music via MotionArray.com.
1941 Gollywock plan is available here for a nominal fee: freeflight.org...
An alternate version of the Gollywock plan (based on the 1939 design) is available here for free: outerzone.co.u...
Flying Aces Club merchandise: www.cafepress....
Center of Gravity merchandise: www.cafepress....
For more info on free-flight rubber-powered models, check these websites:
brooklyn-balsa...
www.easybuiltmo...
www.volareprodu...
www.flyingacesc...
National Free Flight Society - freeflight.org/
Mike Stuart's Flying Scale Models - www.ffscale.co.uk/
www.freeflight...

[@sirclarkmarz]

That was a better piece of filmmaking than Hollywood has produced in years .

[@chrissorlie5291]

Your camera work / editing / music selection / and writing / not to mention your building skills, are all STUNNING. Thand you very much.

[@kevincaulkett9358]

Incredible, Beatiful, Stunning Exhilarating.....as always. Your videos provide us with a safe haven of peace and tranquillity in these strange times. Thank You!

[@davidmiller4594]

I've been caring for my father 24/7 for 6 years. I haven't had a day off. The hardest thing I've never prepared for has been watching my closest friend, my father, deteriorate slowly from Dementia, Parkinson's and a stroke. Needless to say, I've been consumed with caregivers syndrome and am nowhere near the strong, self assured person I once was. I have a Playlist of Tom's videos that I play, every night to help me sleep. His work is literally saving me.

[@maxfliart]

@@davidmiller4594 Sorry to hear of the burden ur carrying. Glad the films give u solace. Cheers, David. Be well.

[@truckerjim372]

Sorry to hear this David. My mother is in a similar situation and we've been told to gather soon. I think there's a path for our messages to heaven when we launch a model skyward, remember to have some time for yourself to do this.

[@HD-su9sq]

Given the title, I was afraid to watch at first. An incredibly beautiful little film about a beautiful airplane on a magical morning, and now I'm ready to watch it again. Thank you!

[@maxfliart]

Thx. Sorry for that, but in the end it came out ok.

[@HD-su9sq]

No need to apologize. It’s just that each of your airplanes is a work of art, and it’s sad if they get damaged/lost. I was concerned the Gollywock was lost in the cornfield.

[@JFlyer1973]

@@HD-su9sq me too!!! I totally didn’t want to watch one go gone forever. Was actually a bit mad at the thought that beautiful plane was gone! Was stoked when I saw her in the grass!

[@mybookfacetube]

Just perfect. You always have the best music for your videos. Very nicely done. Thanks you.

[@douglasbeardsworth6958]

Just a beautiful capture of that championship winning bird flying so well. A bit of a leap of faith launching into the fog, but the risk/reward is huge. For all of us. Dynamite.

[@maxfliart]

Thx, DB. I'm sure if u had been there, u would've been tempted to do the same with ur beautiful OTR ship...especially after the prior weekend's wind-fest.

[@douglasbeardsworth6958]

@@maxfliart for sure! I’d have heaved the Clodhopper to follow you. They are sure to turn up on the field as the fog burns off. Somewhere….

[@Gullyrats]

YAY You found her. No batteries required for a bit a Flight FUN. BEAUTIFUL Build & Vid

[@donaldvincent]

Just sublime...Living out the dreams of the ten year old in all of us with the patience and grace of mature adult. Thanks again for this channel. You have inspired many of us to build and fly rubber powered aircraft again. As my plane flies it is my mind that soars along for the ride.

[@maxfliart]

Thx, RG, I'm glad ur enjoying the series of films.

[@patriciosilva1969]

This is peace, and art too.

[@truckerjim372]

How can something like that be so emotional?

[@truckerjim372]

😁👍

[@zas5892]

This reminds me of your daughter I had a feeling it would oh I am sorry for your loss still I really am curious what God has in store for you and your family and the reason for all the wonderful videos and what will become of all of it the way the music and the plane and the determination to fly even when you know you'll lose it I've been watching you for a few years now I'm glad I'm here...

[@maxfliart]

Thx.

[@zas5892]

I do appreciate everything you put on the internet it's uplifting it's helpful it's inspiring it's dreamy I have grandkids I have a wife and I have children that are all over the place all five of them and your music and you're flying help me a lot I appreciate that don't stop please

[@willgraves5288]

Oh, Tom. This one had me thinking so much about your daughter.

[@maxfliart]

Thx, Will. I has been nearly two years. She's with me every day. I connect with her at Wawa.

[@stephenfarthing3809]

Wonderful, you are a great ambassador for free flight, thanks for sharing!

[@robertsklenka5823]

Good juice in music worked perfectly

[@CarolsTechnology]

Stunning Tom! Everything, and the fog made it lovely!!

[@maxfliart]

Thx, Carol. I had never seen a solar glory, so it was an incredible moment for sure. Ur up early often...have u seen them before?

[@CarolsTechnology]

@@maxfliart Yes I have. Not a lot but they always amaze me!! And a foggy field like that is my joy!

[@raybayer2379]

Tremendous video. Impactfully emotional.

[@raymondo162]

i read about those bows but i never saw one live............. TOP vid

[@buff123]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing. Perfect.

[@Lego51]

This is like a live action Miyazaki film...exquisite 😲

[@paulbizard3493]

You are an artist Tom. 🙂

[@safa_abdul_rehman]

Your videos are very heart touching I feel sad and imotional, when I watch them, specially miss my dad or mom, they leave this world but I feel that they are around me, care and love for you.

[@maxfliart]

Thx. I appreciate the kind words.

[@walk4718]

Amazing elements in this one👍 So glad you found her, the winds aloft looked like it would take her down range. I have never seen a fogbow. Interesting.

[@maxfliart]

Same here. So beautiful, unexpected.

[@TAT660X]

I watch your videos and I instantly chill out 😎

[@JFlyer1973]

My gosh what a wonderful video! Tho I was apprehensive to watch that beauty get lost. Then the anticipation throughout the video knowing what the title said. Bit of an emotional rollercoaster here Tom! 🤨 Lol 😉😄 This was truly a great video. Love that plane! Just getting into stick & tissue and I binge your content every day now! Thank you for all your work and sharing it! 👍👍👍

[@kenmercer8040]

Some interesting allegorical properties in this story...

[@maxfliart]

Thx, Ken.

[@Hoverbatic]

Simply Gorgeous !

[@GlideLA]

I nominate: "...and then she was gone..." for Best Motion Picture Short, Academy Award!

[@maxfliart]

Thx. I believe I'll retitle this post.

[@GlideLA]

@@maxfliart New title is a winner. Thanks for all the relaxing and aestheticly pleasing video production.

[@robertpapps3618]

Beautiful!

[@taildragger7355]

Another Beautiful moment captured. Thank you!

[@maxfliart]

Thx. When u fly at sunrise, u never know what u will see. Always worth the effort.

[@FreeFlightDigest]

Glad you found her!

[@udostunz5070]

Beautiful video with an incredible atmosphere! Thank you.

[@williamrobinson7435]

Absolutely beautiful. That polyhedral planform is perfect for wandering out of sight in the fog. These fogbows happen quite often in E. Yorkshire; I reckon that Norse mythology wouldn't be HALF what it is without fogbows.. Mystical indeed. Another lovely video, of a great plane. Thanks so much for sharing this Tom! 🌟👍

[@jeffkrete9015]

So happy to start my day watching this! Thank you Tom.

[@pperretjr]

THANKS!

[@stephenmiller9124]

Simply superb!

[@jean-jacquesescolle8051]

Absolument magnifique félicitations pour votre vidéo tres enrichissante. bravo.

[@maxfliart]

Thx.

[@Tadrjbs]

Incredible...

[@johnmajane3731]

Thank you beautifully done.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Lovely Tom, just missed the ditch as well 👍

[@maxfliart]

Yes...then there's that. They come so close, often.

[@ZUSMANELEN]

One of the most poetical flight! Please, just keep up the good work! MAXFLIART...? MAXFLIPOESY! FLY. poetically...always.

[@maxfliart]

Thx, Elen.

[@ramonmedina1974]

Bravo!

[@mattnsim]

Exceptional video work.

[@jetflyer102]

Great video. Amazing.

[@claudioselvini741]

Wonderful, 4 minutes of pure poetry.

[@davidquerry8869]

Those ditches are like airplane magnets. That was my first thought, lets check the ditch.

[@maxfliart]

Ha...that was my second thought, after the first quick scan & drive around. I got lucky.

[@Colin399]

Superb

[@coffeyhj]

Wow…deeply touching. Thank you for sharing.

[@Cytogreg]

Wonderful, beautiful art!!! Thank you!

[@1freedlander]

Very nice feeling of freeflight. Looks like you aren't using a folding prop. Perhaps in lieu of a dethermalizer? Are you using the original Gollywok wing airfoil (thicker in those days) or a modern thinner version? Back in the day, building a model from a plan and seeing it fly was a great thrill, because some effort was expended and a result accomplished. That simple lesson is still needed for today's youth. Thanks for a wonderfully nostalgic journey. Rudolph

[@maxfliart]

Thx. I'm using the 1941 post-war plan, exactly as designed. The plan link is in the film description. It does have a DT but I don't use it in the morning. She uses the 13.5" carved prop, but it's not a folder, since those are disallowed in Flying Aces Club contests here in the US. I've never seen a model fly better, so I go to her often when the sky is beautiful and calm.

[@diestimmeausdemnirvana8286]

After reading title of vid, I was relieved that you found her in the end. Btw, it's hard to decide if you're better at model building or filming. Both is excellent.

[@maxfliart]

Thx.

[@suburbangorilla5515]

Very nicely done!

[@etfavs9375]

Excellent flight and a very artistically edited video. Keep those videos coming!

[@ericboehm9457]

Wow........

[@maxfliart]

U would've loved that day, Eric. 0 - 2mph all day!

[@johnlouden8978]

Beeauuuuteeeful,

[@mpojr]

flew an rc P51 thru a cloud once pulled the throttle back and it exited the cloud were l was not looking l was luckey to get it back in one piece.

[@Hallo-Hallo]

😍

[@balfasladicra5270]

is this blackpool rock 3 by j owen?

[@maxfliart]

No, it's the Gollywock.

[@titaniumhen]

Where do you buy the rubber bands and the winder?

[@maxfliart]

Both Easy Built & Volare can help u out. Their links are listed in the film description.

[@titaniumhen]

@@maxfliart Thank you. From 1970 through 1999 I used to build balsa planes (U-control 26' and 52' limes), and then R/C planes. It's been 22 years since my last build. I recently bought several Guillows kits (Rubber powered) to build. The tips in the EasyBuiltmodels are fantastic tips!! They bring back a lot of memories of paper work. (I had drifted into Monokotes for building). I am going to enjoy trying paper again. I have an airbrush that I use for my plastic model building and will use this to apply the water/alcohol, and then to eventually paint the paper. Calif,

[@maxfliart]

@@titaniumhen That's quite a history. Welcome back to balsa, Henry. Have fun!

[@motoflyte]

But, you didn't actually lose it...right? How many planes have you actually lost ?

[@maxfliart]

Right. I found her 1/4 mile away. Over the years, I've lost 1/2 dozen or so. I've been lucky.

[@NANNIRC]

CLAP CLAP CLAP!!