AMA Charter 2258, Flying Aces Club Squadron – #38

Newsletter: Tales of the Eagles

Objective of the Eagles:  Promote camaraderie and competition among flyers of free flight model aircraft in the Southern Wisconsin /  Northern Illinois Area.

Who are the Bong Eagles: The Bong Eagles are a free flight model airplane club based in south-eastern Wisconsin. The Bong Eagles are affiliated with the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA = https://www.modelaircraft.org ), the USA Community of aircraft modelers, which promotes safe and sane operation of model aircraft. The name commemorates Major Richard I. Bong, a USAAF pilot with 40 victories in the Pacific theater in WWII and a native of Wisconsin. Our original flying site at the Bong Recreation area near Burlington WI is named after him. Sadly, the overgrowth of brush in the “runway” portion of the park where we have flown is no longer friendly to flying and retrieving free flight model airplanes. During the winter months indoor contests and fun flying take place in Racine Memorial Hall in Racine, Wisconsin.  Because of precautions against the COVID-19 Virus these meets had been suspended, but as of October 6, 2021 they have resumed. See Events and the Flying Sites – Indoor pages for updates.

 Why Fly Free Flight Planes:  Why do modelers still fly planes without radio control, almost as they would have over 80 years ago?  First of all, you surmount the challenge of making and adjusting something that will fly well as it leaves your hand or the launch table.   You need to adjust control surfaces and propeller thrust line, and position the center of gravity, for the plane to fly well in climb and glide.  You can build light, without radio gear, and use less power. These challenges give the Eagles a thrill and a sense of accomplishment.

Acknowledgements: As someone who has participated in Contests sponsored by the Bong Eagles for over 10 years, I would like to thank all the members who have shown me hospitality, even before I joined the Club.  I’d also like to thank those Eagles who took the trouble to get AMA Sanction and listing in Model Aviation for the contests.  The Eagles would like to thank Ken Miller for his years of service, from before 2000 to 2014, running the website and taking photos at events, and to thank Mike K. for restarting it on WordPress.  I am glad that website content management is getting ever easier, and that Mike and I can bring the site up to date again.  Given the constraints of the 2020-2021 pandemic, with fewer normal contacts between members, the website is more important.  We hope we can bring more folks into this wonderful hobby.

Announcements

Next Indoor Flying date for Fall 2024 – October 2 at Racine Memorial Hall

See Events Page ( Events ) and Indoor Flying Page ( Indoor ) for updates on Indoor flying at Memorial Hall and for an alternative location, run by the Winnebago County RC Flyers in Oshkosh, WI . The Woodland Aeromodelers also sponsor Indoor flying at Trinity Lutheran School in Burr Ridge, IL on Thursday evenings. Next date for flying at Racine in Fall 2024 will be October 2. Dates for flying at Memorial Hall were set through 2024, but may need re-negotiating with a new hall management. There were enough flyers in October and November for a good time. A lively group of Science Olympiad flyers added to the fun in December, February and March.

Winter Flight Fest at EAA Museum, Oshkosh, WI, on February 9-11, 2024

The Contest was a success, with 12 flyers entered. The Bostonian Event had the most entries, with 8 planes. Times for one design “Stringless Wonders” were around 90 seconds.     2024 EAA Winter Flight Fest Flyer and Registration Form‘

Results and pictures from the Meet are available from links on the Events Page

Midwest Indoor Contests This Spring

Registrations for the Jim Richmond Indoor Open Contest (April 13-15, 2024) at West Baden Springs, Indiana, and the Midwest Indoor Championships at Kent State University, Ohio (May 25-27, 2024) are available at: https://www.indoorffsupply.com/events

Links to Flyers for these Events are on the Events Page

Wasp Indoor Postal Contest

Bong Eagles are invited to participate in an Indoor free flight contest for small R.O.G. planes called Wasps. Plans were published in the Jan-Feb 2024 Issue of the Flying Aces Newsletter, copied from Aeromodeller in 1942. Deadline for entries is April 30. Eagles can use the Memorial Hall flying dates to make their entries, Links to details are on the Events Page.

“Sky Battle” Postal Contest for simple planes – April 26 to May 5

As announced in the March issue of “Model Aviation”, a postal contest for pilots of simple planes like the Guillows “StratoStreak” is open at http://www.skybattle.org. The flight window runs from April 26 to May 5. More details may be found on the Events Page.

Outdoor Flying Events to be held by the Eagles in 2024

Contest dates will be July 13 and August 10 (In case of rain, contests will be held the following day). The location in the Milwaukee area is at the MARKS Field at Wind Lake Turf Farms ( https://windlaketurf.com/ ). Starting June 8, there are Fun Flys scheduled for Eagles who are MARKS members. Pictures of the September 16, 2023, Fun Fly are available on Pictures and Events pages. See Events and Flying Sites – Outdoor Pages for details. NOTE: Map to Turf Farm updated since WI 20 paving is complete.

Bong Eagles Sponsors a Flying Aces Club Squadron – #38 the “Lightning Aces”

Building Tips

The Eagles are adding building tips to their descriptions of the various free flight planes. The first one of these, on covering with film, has been added to the Indoor Models page under the Model Types Tab. A new tab “Building Tips “has been added to the menu to supplement “Flying Aids”. A page on “Building Light” has been added there as well.

Previous Events

Bong Eagles Holiday Lunch – December 9, 2023

The Holiday Lunch was held on Saturday December 9, 2023 at the Birchwood Grill in Kenosha WI. Twelve Members and wives attended. A good time was had by all. Pictures are posted on the Flyer page.

– Flyer: 2023 Bong Eagles Holiday Lunch Flyer

Outdoor Flying Events held by the Eagles in 2023

Contest dates were July 8 and August 5. The location in the Milwaukee area was at the MARKS Field at Wind Lake Turf Farms ( https://windlaketurf.com/ ). Starting June 10, there are Fun Flys scheduled for Eagles who are MARKS members. Pictures of the September 16 Fun Fly are available on Pictures and Events pages. See Events and Flying Sites – Outdoor Pages for details. NOTE: Map to Turf Farm updated since WI 20 paving is complete.

Old Timers Contest was held on July 8 as scheduled. Despite rain before 10 AM the field dried quickly and weather was very fine in the afternoon. Links to the Results and a Picture Page for the contest are on the Events Page.

AMA Meet was held on August 5 as scheduled. Despite some wind, the flyers had a good time. Links to the Results and a Picture Page for the contest are on the Events Page.

Event flyers / Registration Forms for Contests are available – Links on Events Page

Bong Eagles Tee Shirt Campaign Successful

The Campaign for Bong Eagles Tee Shirts at Custom Ink was successful. Thanks to Mike K., for setting it up. 44 Tee shirts were sold. The campaign ended May 31.

Winter Flight Fest at EAA Museum, Oshkosh, WI, on February 10-12, 2023

The Bong Eagles’ Contest at the EAA Winter Flight Fest was a success, with 22 flyers participating. The public event on Saturday was well attended, and the Eagles portion of the Air Show in the EAA Museum was well received. Pages with scores for the various contest events and pictures are linked on the Events page.

2023 EAA Flight Fest Flyer and Registration Form

Jim Richmond Open Indoor Contest at West Baden, IN – April 1-3, 2023

This contest was held in the Atrium of the West Baden Springs Hotel. It was well attended, and many flights were logged in a variety of AMA and FAI disciplines. The results have been posted, with links on the Events page. A photo page has been posted. For more details see the Events Page and the Event Flyer:

EVENT FLYER – 2023 Jim Richmond Open at West Baden, IN

2023 Kent State Indoor Free Flight Contest – April 22 & 23

Held at the Kent State Field House in Ohio, a large Category II site. Over 20 fliers participated. See the Events Page for a link to the results.

2023 Kent State Indoor Free Flight Meet Flyer April 22-23

2023 NOFFA Free Flight Championships – Outdoors at Muncie IN

June 3-4 – Flyer on Events Page.

Last Year’s Outdoor Contests

July 10, 2022 – Old Timer Contest – This was a successful outing with 8 Flyers and good weather – links to results and pictures are available on the Events Page

August 7, 2022 – Annual Outdoor contest. – Cancelled because of Rain

NATIONAL EVENTS – See Events Page for Flyers

AMA INDOOR FREE FLIGHT NATIONALS

     June 19-23, 2023 Kibbie Dome, Moscow, Idaho

Information on this event may be found at modelaviation.org .

Pictures from the 2022 Indoor AMA Free Flight Nats may be found on Flickr.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/modelaircraft/albums/72177720299253848

2023 Brainbuster / NFFS Indoor Free Flight Meet at Johnson City, TN

On July 14 – 16, the East Tennessee State University Mini Dome will be the site of the Brainbuster Indoor Free Flight Meet. Hopefully, a good turnout will preserve this Category III Indoor site for flying. Registration at https://www.indoorffsupply.com/events . Details and Schedule for flying are available in the attached PDF.

2023 Johnson City Indoor Free Flight Meet – July 14 – 16

2023 Flying Aces Club Non-NATS

July 12-15, 2023 National Warplane Museum Field, Geneseo New York – The FAC Non-NATS is an alternative contest at Geneseo, held by the FAC in odd years. The 2022 NATS turned out well, with mostly good weather and some booming thermals. At least one Bong Eagle member of the FAC Lightning Aces was able to compete.

AMA OUTDOOR FREE FLIGHT NATIONALS & NFFS OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 17 – 22, 2023            AMA International Field, Muncie, Indiana

In 2022, Bong Eagles members flew in 10 events at the AMA Nats, with good results in mostly good weather. Pictures from the 2022 and 2023 Nats are available on AMA Flickr Albums.

2022: https://www.flickr.com/photos/modelaircraft/albums/72177720300832421

2023: https://www.flickr.com/photos/modelaircraft/albums/72177720311054768

A summary of Eagles participation may be found on the Events Page.

September 2023 Events at AMA International Field, Muncie, Indiana

2023 Rudy Kluiber Free Flight Follies

Dates: September 8-10, 2023. AMA International Field, Muncie, Indiana

Meet includes AMA and FAC Events.

Flyer: 2023 Rudy Kluiber Free Flight Follies Flyer – Sept. 8-10

2023 Flying Aces Club Outdoor Champs

Dates: September 21-22, 2023. AMA International Field, Muncie, Indiana

See Events Page for link to Flyer.

Events Completed: In 2023 Joe B. and our friends Harrison K. and Jack T. competed. Results in FAC Newsletter. Weather was good for flying

2023 Ted Dock Free Flight Meet (See AMA Field Calendar)

Dates: September 23-24, 2023. AMA International Field, Muncie, Indiana

2023 SAM Free Flight Championships (See AMA Field Calendar)

Dates: September 22-24, 2023. AMA International Field, Muncie, Indiana

Weather fine on first day. Nostalgia Class B Nitro FF planes made lots of noise.