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. 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

Upcoming Events

Bong Eagles’ Indoor Free Flight Contest at EAA Flight Fest – February 6-8, 2026

To be held at the EAA Museum in Oshkosh WI. Details, including plans for the new “One Design” plane – the “MishMash” – resembling an XB70 Valkyrie, are on the Events page. An invitation to the Contest by our EAA Liaison is at 2026 Bong Eagles Indoor Free Flight Meet at EAA Flight Fest – February 6-8

September 2025 Flying by Eagles

In September, Eagles participated in 2 Fun Fly events at the Burmeister Road field near Wind Lake, WI ( 2025 September Fun Flys at Burmeister Road Sod Farm ). Two members also flew at the FAC Outdoor Champs held by the Detroit Cloudbusters at the AMA field in Muncie, IN ( Bong Eagles at 2025 FAC Outdoor Champs ).

Earlier Outdoor Events in 2025

Biggest news for 2025 was the sale of Wind Lake Turf Farms. The new owners have been most hospitable, and flying has gone on at the Burmeister Road field.

First Fun Fly of the season was held at the Burmeister Road Site on June 14, followed by another one on June 28. Another 2 fun fly days were held in September.

2025 June 14 Fun Fly at Burmeister Road Sod Farm

2025 June 28 Fun Fly at Burmeister Road Sod Farm

2025 September Fun Flys at Burmeister Road Sod Farm

The Wind Lake Turf Farm site has been sold to the neighboring farm, Jasperson Sod Farms, but thanks to arrangements made by the M.A.R.K.S. club, Bong Eagles will still be able to hold events there. 2025 Sod Farm Ownership Change

the Eagles Oldtimer Meet was held there in July with good participation, especially in Old Time Stick and Cabin 2025 Bong Eagles Old Timer Free Flight Meet – July 13

The AMA Nationals for Free Flight in 2025 were held

Indoors – May 24-26 at Johnson City, TN

Outdoors – July 21-25 at Muncie, IN

Bong Eagles participated in the Outdoor Events: Bong Eagles at 2025 Outdoor FF NATS

Midwest Indoor Free Flight Events in 2025

A Flyer for the Jim Richmond Indoor Open Contest (April 5-7. 2025) at West Baden Springs, Indiana, is available: 2025 Jim Richmond Indoor Free Flight Contest at West Baden IN A summary of the Meet and a score sheet provided by the CD are at: 2025 Jim Richmond Open Indoor Free Flight Contest Results

The 2025 Midwest Indoor Championships were held by the Northern Ohio Free Flight Assn. on 5/17-5/18/2025 at the Kent State University Field House in Kent, Ohio. Registration for the contest was available at: https://www.indoorffsupply.com/events

General Notices

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.

Winter Flight Fest at EAA Museum, Oshkosh, WI, on February 7-9, 2025

Contest was held successfully, with 14 participants. A Summary and results are available at: 2025 Bong Eagles Indoor Free Flight Contest at EAA Flight Fest -Results Pictures are available at: 2025 Bong Eagles Indoor Contest at EAA Flight Fest Pictures

Our EAA Liaison, H.G. Frautschy, arranged that the Bong Eagles were able to hold our Indoor Contest at the Eagle Hangar of the EAA Museum in Oshkosh WI on February 7-9, 2025.  A Flyer and Registration form for this Event are attached at 2025 Flight Fest at EAA – Flyer and Registration Form

According to H.G., we’ll be flying a 14-gram Bostonian class, with a One-Design of the Don Typond design, the Boston Beancraft Banana. Start laying down some 1/16×1/16th balsa down on the plan! Another “One Design” contest for the Romash designed “Mashup”, a simple 14 inch span flyer, will also be held.

To get plans for the one design planes, see Planes for 2025 Bong Eagles Indoor Contest at EAA

2024 Bong Eagles Holiday Lunch

Bong Eagles held a Holiday Lunch at the Birchwood Grill in Kenosha WI on Saturday December 7 at 12:30 PM. A Flyer with information and a photo of attendees may be found at: 2024 Bong Eagles Holiday Lunch

Indoor Flying for Fall 2024

See Events Page ( Events ) and Indoor Flying Page ( Indoor ) for updates on Indoor flying at 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 starting September 26. Sadly to say, negotiations with the new management at Racine’s Memorial Hall do not allow the Eagles to continue flying there. Hall rental is now $1600 per Event, which is prohibitive. Last year, 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.

National Free Flight Contests in 2024

The Nationals for Indoor Free Flight were held July 1-5 at the Kibby Dome in Moscow, Idaho. This is a great flying site, if a bit far. Photos and flight videos are available on the AMA Flickr feed.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/modelaircraft/albums/72177720318604191/

Details are available from the NFFS Calendar at https://www.freeflight.org/free-flight-calendar/2024-indoor-nats/

AMA Outdoor Free Flight Nationals were held at the AMA Field in Muncie, Indiana on July 22-26. See https://www.modelaircraft.org/iac-calendar for event schedule, and NATS News on the AMA website ( https://nats.modelaircraft.org/nats-news ) for a summary. A photo of our President with his Bienenstein “Avenger” model made the July 23 article. His events notes are available from the Events Page.

Flying Aces Club Nationals were held at Geneseo, New York, on July 17 -20 .

http://www.FlyingAcesClub.com/ContestFlyers/24_Nats_Flyer.pdf

Outdoor Flying Events to be held by the Eagles in 2024

2024 Completed Events

The AMA Contest which was to be held August 10 was deferred to Aug 11 because of high winds on the 10th. On August 11, the rain date, the contest was halted by the Contest Director because of poor attendance. Contest Report and Event Flyer for August 10 is available through a link on the Events Page.

The location in the Milwaukee area is at the MARKS Field at Wind Lake Turf Farms ( https://windlaketurf.com/ ).

Fun Flys at Wind Lake Turf Farm

On September 15, August 24 and June 8, Fun Flys were held for Eagles who are MARKS members. Pictures of the August 24, June 8, 2024 and 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.

2024 Bong Eagles Oldtimer Contest – July 13, 2024

The contest was a success, with 9 pilots flying on Saturday. Wind from the South was a bit challenging, along with hot weather, but flying was good. Link to pictures on the Events page and in the Pictures Menu.

2024 FAC Midwest Outdoor Champs at AMA Muncie Field – September 26-27

The Cloudbusters meet at Muncie was well attended, with 26 participants Including 2 Eagles. Bad weather, approaching storm Helene, forced holding all events on the first day. More details on the Events page.

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 – Spring 2024

Midwest Indoor Championships at Kent State University, Ohio (May 25-27, 2024) were held successfully, with one Eagle, Joe B., flying in 5 events.

Link to the Flyer for this Event is on the Events Page

The Jim Richmond Indoor Open Contest (April 13-15, 2024) at West Baden Springs, Indiana, was held successfully, with one Eagle, Al S., making good flights in four events.

Other Contests

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.

2023 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 was 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.