Lodge Farm FF Scale Fly in

Free Flight Scale Fly-in at Lodge farm nr Grantham.
A wonderful event in near perfect conditions and in October too. That doesn't happen very often
Bit of an epic this one as Pete Fardell was filming as well so a joint effort.
Free flight scale is the art of trimming a scale model to fly unaided, it's often a matter of tiny adjustments until that 'perfect' flight is achieved and that's pretty much what can be seen here. Some lovely flights but not all flights are lovely. The models are designed to take this kind of punishment without any real damage. When you hit that perfect flight though the reward is huge, way beyond any other form of aeromodelling I have tried
Models include:
Mike Smiths' DH Tiger Moth
Andrew Hewitt's 1913 Dyott monoplane
Ray Hall's Blackburn B2 now under my ownership and re-engined with an Indian Mills 1.3 (not yet run in properly)
Mike Smith's Airco DH4 Mail Plane
Pete Fardell's 1917 Cessna 'Jones Six'
My Cessna 170 with Redfin 030 power
Dave Causer's new DH Puss Moth - this was it's maiden flight..very impressive
Chris Chapman's re working of the old Jetex Interceptor kit now with ducted fan
Andrew Hewitt's Moraine-Soulnier Type L
Pete Fardell's Bleriot XI
Andrew Hewitt's Fokker E1
Pete Fardell's Auster Agricola
Andrew Hewitt's Nieuport 17 from his OD
Dave Causer's Luscombe Silvaire
Andrew Hewitt's Fokker DII This was an early flight it was flying brilliantly later
Pete Fardell's Fairchild Argus
Andrew Hewitt's new mini-vintage
My SAM 25 powered Tom Thumb
Chris Chapman's Fairey Delta 2 edf
For those that don't already know there is now a dedicated Facebook Group - UK Free Flight Scale Outdoor for all that is FF Scale - forthcoming events , past events, lots of model info and modellers latest builds - groups/20164...

[@gertnood]

A UK FF meet without gale force winds? Well done!

[@PGFardell]

A really good day- six hours in almost perfect conditions with bags of space. (I think everyone flew nearly everything they brought!)

[@richosvideos911]

Absolutely Magical ❤

[@xpump876]

I was really happy to see that beautiful red DH4 make several successful flights (even after what seemed to be some potentially damaging landings). DH4'a are not known for their power-off glide ratio There's and amazing photographic few seconds starting at marker ~4:16 with the sun shining off the wings that stuck with me. You Brits seem to prefer Diesel for powered scale.

[@tonydewey3023]

What a great day for you all, congratulations from Ireland

[@Brooman56]

Love these videos, takes me back to real modelling ! Well done!

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

That rubber-powered Bleriot sure looked sweet, at 7:53, 🙂👍

[@gertnood]

That 170 is a very smooth flier, looks very realistic in the climb.

[@ivantaylor8965]

What a good venue Lodge is proving to be for scale. Nice long video with some good flights. Sorry not to be with you but had to continue this year's Coupe campaign with the Europa cup event on Salisbury Plain. Clash of dates again!

[@squirrelnet28]

Thanks Ivan. Hope the Europa Cup went well for you

[@ivantaylor8965]

@@squirrelnet28 hi, yes I managed to win

[@squirrelnet28]

Nicely done Ivan

[@hotdogpilot6319]

Great stuff and a Fairey Delta 2 edf if I'm not mistaken. Cheers Chris, really enjoyed that.

[@leonardwilliams8109]

Would like to see close ups of the models. The jet looked interesting but was so far away as an example.

[@squirrelnet28]

I tend to stick to the flying for youtube but the stills I take are usually posted on HPA have a look at www.hippocketaeronautics.com/hpa_forum/index.php?topic=27591.0. or have a look at the Scale Outdoor free flight - UK facebook.com/share/n98Qt2tDaLFHbB4x/

[@kenkingsflyingmachines2382]

Sturdy biplanes! Perfect day.

[@engineeratomic]

Brilliant

[@garygullikson6349]

Do you need to compensate for changes in lift as day wears on? We used to put a shim in the trailing edge of wing as needed.

[@garygullikson6349]

Are these models purposely underpowered for competition purposes? Beautiful models!!

[@squirrelnet28]

Hi Gary Thanks for your comments. I think you've spotted the difference between US scale comps and UK ones . Over here we are scored on flying realism not duration so each part of flight is scored accordingly. Long slow climb outs and steady cruising score highly so the models are trimmed accordingly

[@vady64]

👍👍👍👍

[@paulhelman2376]

Free flight presents chalanges that RC cannot equal especially F/C ratio. 😢 (Fun/Cost)

[@garygullikson6349]

FF requires people that have mobility to retrieve models, open fields and calm air.

[@gazzertrn]

Surely those landings damage the plane . Those props would have my fingers off . Love to have a go though .

[@howardmetcalfe5293]

A l;ovely video many thanks, lots of lovely flights that brought back memories of meetings (and sites) past. The delta EDF model was most impressive, any details - please? Howard

[@squirrelnet28]

Thanks Howard. The Delta was one of Chris Chapmans. Some of his smaller models are powered by ducted fans with pager motors but I have a feeling the Fairey Delta is a bit bigger and has a different motor. Pete Fardell did an article the meeting which is in the latest Aeromodeller with a CU pic of Chris models

[@howardmetcalfe5293]

@@squirrelnet28 many thanks

[@tonywright8294]

Favorite Cessna 170 👍

[@paulhelman2376]

Power to weight ratio.

[@jsa2001]

Are using diesel engines.

[@squirrelnet28]

Hi JSA, yes small diesels from .5cc to about 1.3cc in these models

[@miguelsuarez8010]

Why those engines run at such low rpms?

[@squirrelnet28]

In the Uk FF Scale comps are judged on flying realism not duration. A slow running diesel engine turning a larger prop than normal gives a more realistic flight pattern and aesthetically sounds better than a an engine screaming its head off. We are not usually looking peak power at peak RPM

[@miguelsuarez8010]

@@squirrelnet28 Thank you. Makes sense. The only thing I observe is that maybe they could run just a little bit faster, since most of them struggle to climb.

[@squirrelnet28]

It's a good thought, though mostly we are try trim to give a gentle scale like climb out rather than the more positive one you often see with RC models

[@kenkingsflyingmachines2382]

Perfection!

[@vady64]

Тяги не хватает😢

[@crs9796]

Eat your heart out Elon.

[@jagitmax]

Your not going to get any GLIDE TO LANDING, because your not allowing the plane to get to good speed under power, adjust needle valve position to get higher engine RPM and better flight characteristics and speed then you get the lift you need for better glide down.

[@JeremyFairbairn-mv3sz]

seems a real lack of lift