2024 EAA Winter Flight Fest (2/09-11/2024) CD’s Summary

EAA Winter Flight Fest 2024 Contest by Jeff Annis
This year attendance was down with 12 contestants, flying 183 official flights in 17 different events, coming from the states of Wisconsin, Colorado, Illinois, and Ohio. The contest ran for 3 days starting on Friday Feb. 9 at 2 PM and ended about Noon on Sunday Feb. 11. After the museum closed we were able to fly until 10 PM on both Friday and Saturday. On Saturday the museum was open to the families from 8 AM until 4 PM with numerous aviation related activities and displays for kids to participate in. Our group, explained about free flight models on display, demonstrated indoor free flight models, and participated in two indoor air shows by flying a Wasp Mass launch. The EAA Ski Plane fly-in was cancelled again this year due a lack of snow. Waves of people continued to come to the event throughout the day, with attendance estimated to be similar to last year.
Two new events added this year were the Stringless Wonder flying wing and Wasp small tractor model published in the Jan. 1942 issue of Aero Modeller (also see Jan-Feb 2024 FAC Newsletter). The cute Wasp model has a 10 inch span, twin circular rudder, single gear, and small 3.5 inch diameter prop. Best Wasp duration flight of 2:10 was made by John Kagan, who also won the Wasp mass launch. Several of the times from this contest have already been submitted to the World Wasp postal contest that runs until May 31. Stringless Wonder events offered this year were the Mass Launch, Stock Duration and Expert Duration. Best time in Stock duration was 1:39 by Jocelyn Buxton and 3:01 by Jim Buxton. Other winners of events were Jack Tisinai in Peanut scale, Jeff Annis in Dime scale, Alden Frautschy in NO Cal scale, and Rob Romash in Cat. Glider.
Many thanks to HG Frautschy for organizing this event with the EAA and John Lorbiecki for making the outstanding laser engraved awards incorporating the classic Bong Eagles logo. All had a great time flying in this unique Eagle Hangar venue surrounded by historical vintage WWII aircraft.

Results