BMFA Free Flight Scale Nats 2024

The annual BMFA Free Flight Scale Nationals at Buckminster.
The competition has a static element in which the models are judged for scale accuracy against documentary evidence. The flying part consisted of 6 rounds where the models are judged for flying realism by two judges the best scoring flight counts and the two scores added together
Models featured
I/C powered
Andrew Hewitt's 1913 Dyott monoplane
Mike Smith's DH4 Mail Plane (Class Winner)
Rubber Powered
Pete Fardell's Morane Saulnier TP
Mike Smith's RANS S7 Courier
Martin Pike's ABC Robin (Class Winner)
Unfortunately I couldn't make it this year so huge thanks to Phil Smith for filming the event

[@sarahwinfield3989]

There is something about free-flight that other branches of model flying don't have and I have tried them all from slope-soaring to R/C gliders. Thanks for posting

[@ivandenisovich6005]

Wonderful, but such a shame that the number of entries was so low. Is it a venue issue? Or simply that we're sadly losing many of the cohort.

[@squirrelnet28]

That may have had effect and several key players were away on holiday at the time

[@sblack48]

Trimming these things is such an art. You can really tell when someone has it really dialed in. It’s magical to watch. After that rc looks like cheating!

[@peterbrown7130]

Does that red biplane have a timer that brings the motor back to idle rather than full cut? Neat idea if so to stop that power off plummet 😀

[@squirrelnet28]

Yes it does. A simple clockwork timer fitted to an RC throttle

[@tedsmith3407]

We are losing to many young people to the armchair computer players ,the days of balsa bashing and getting balsa cement on your figures is long gone plus the smell of clear dope and castor oil those were the days who remember them?

[@FlyingBuzzard]

Do not blame the tech, blame those who refuse to grow up or grow with the tech. Kids today do not want some "I know it all " to tell them they "know it all " and everything they do is right and every one else is wrong . I hear those tales all the time and younger folks can not stand to participate with geezers like that . And as an old geezer I can testify to the fact I do not put up with it either , why would I expect some kids to do so ? Bah ha ha ha

[@ivantaylor8965]

@@FlyingBuzzard hi, I don't know quite where you are coming from with this. In all the years I have flown free flight I can't remember any occasion when the young have been met with anything but help and encouragement from the FF community and in the most friendly manner. The almost bullying attitude you suggest maybe found in other branches of the hobby that you know more about. Regarding not encompassing modern technology we do in fact use anything that can be used with effect in this gentle art. The numbers are dropping in all the main aeromodelling disciplines according to BMFA stats except Drone flyers. This was a very poor turnout for a national championships and I should have perhaps supported it even though it clashed with a very important family event also the venue is not of my liking.

[@FlyingBuzzard]

@@ivantaylor8965 the FF community is small in scope compared to the RC side and there lies the issue with the "club" mentality where youngsters complain I guess I should have explained that better . But all branches are suffering due to various reasons . from the economy to simple older folks not able. to fewer new participants and new tech . Drones ( which is now refered to by the FAA as EVEYTHNG that flies that is unmanned ) be it model planes to heli's to quadcopters, we all are thrust into that same barrel . quads are just easier to fly and takes little learning to do so . But all have their issues and pro's and con's Over Regulation and inflation is killing every hobby, especially the RC Aviation one Enjoy

[@miguelsuarez8010]

I do remember those days and miss them so much!

[@brettbuck7362]

Its far more basic than that - no one has cared about aviation in any significant way for about 60 years, and particularly no one cares about model aviation. Model building, in general (flying, plastic, solid, FF/CL/RC (building at least)) is now an extreme niche activity and dying rapidly. Young people do things that interest them, aviation is no more interesting to them than busses.

[@lrg3834]

The US Mail model flies well and predictably. Well done!

[@TRHARTAmericanArtist]

I painted the plane in the thumbnail for an illustration. Nice to see I got the colors right. 😊

[@simonfunwithtrains1572]

Free flight! that's why radio control was invented.

[@nigbiker2592]

Lovely aircraft. What were the wind speeds that day?

[@PGFardell]

Generally about 6-8mph I think, with some nice lulls too. Very good conditions by UK standards anyway.

[@davew3130]

Amazing models!!

[@billbright1755]

Beautiful!

[@BAGHEAD1995]

Must pull tight on that gurney wind that rubber 😔😔. Throw high and never forget life is the pull of rubber can’t get that warm feeling anymore. Balsa .

[@hermanhandbrush4402]

Fun!

[@eliasblum753]

I love these traditional models, but true FF is not for me. I like 'radio assisted free flight' (flying FF style models in a FF style way, but with R/C on throttle and rudder. I wouldn't have the courage to just let a model go and do its own thing without some way to bring it back and keep it out of trees. Neither would I have the skill or patience to trim a model so perfectly.

[@michaelwhinnery164]

Alot of these fellas don't have that skill or patience either. This just seems wierd. To spend all that time and effort just to throw your model into the air and watch it smash itself into the ground.

[@michaelwhinnery164]

Why ? Rc equipment is very affordable and while they still crash they don't always crash.

[@squirrelnet28]

Because the challenge of building and trimming a model to fly on its own and the resulting reward when it does is huge, way more to me than flying RC. I fly Rc gliders as well but prefer Free Flight Scale, it's just a different discipline to RC

[@jimwatson842]

Last two words on a cockpit voice recorder…

[@cornclose]

Where is Buckminster please ?

[@squirrelnet28]

Buckminster is the BMFA's National Centre Nr Grantham nationalcentre.bmfa.org

[@cornclose]

@@squirrelnet28 Thank you squirrel.