FAC Models

Plans for models built to Flying Aces Club rules may be found in the Newsletters of the Flying Aces Club or of their Affiliates, like the “DC Maxicuters”. Besides the current FAC Newsletters available to Members of the FAC ($25/year), the FAC website has PDF copies available for free download (Issues 1-281) up to Jan.-Feb. 2015. FAC News Back Issues – the Flying Aces Club

There is an index of Newsletters extending further, with a listing of articles and plans in each issue. index020619.pdf (flyingacesclub.com)

The website also has 2 pages listing plans available for download. Planes of various competition classes are listed, with many in the Peanut scale (13 inch wingspan) class. Plans – Page 1 – the Flying Aces Club

FAC Squadron

The Bong Eagles are sponsoring Squadron #38 of the Flying Aces Club called the Lightning Aces, in honor of MAJ Richard I. Bong, an Ace of the Pacific Theater in WWII. We can conduct events at contests using planes built to FAC rules at which FAC Kanones may be awarded.

Embryo Class

Peck Prairie Bird Embryo

Embryo class planes have wing area limited to a maximum of 50 square inches. The Prairie Bird is a very popular beginner Embryo with a long history.  Its wingspan is 16 inches and wing area is 48 square inches.  A kit is available at https://www.wind-it-up.com/  A nice YouTube video of a successful flight has been posted by joshuawfinn entitled “Peck Prairie Bird, take 2”  June 2009.  A how-to article may be found at http://www.theplanpage.com/things/pb/pb.htm

Rubber Scale

Cessna 140 from Dare Kit

Rubber Scale is a broad category covering lots of prototype aircraft. The Cessna 140 in the picture also falls in the Modern Civil class. It also gets no bonus points since it is a high wing plane with one engine. Under FAC rules a multi- engine biplane would get handicap points compared to a high wing monoplane like the Cessna. These planes are judged on resemblance to a specific prototype aircraft, including markings. There are designs with rugged or light construction, adapted to outdoor or indoor flying.

Peanut Scale

Martin MO-1 Peanut Scale model

Peanut scale models are judged like the broader Rubber Scale class, but have a wing span limited to 13 inches. The Peanut Scale model of a Martin MO-1 1920’s Naval Observation Plane was built using a plan from Model Aviation by Dave Linstrum.

Dime Scale

Jack Tisinai holding his scale model while Keith Rosenberg looks on. Ken Miller photo.

At 16 inch wing span, these planes are somewhat larger than Peanut Scale. They are either built according to plans from the Pre-WWII kits that were sold by companies like Comet, or from plans drawn with attention to similar frugal, light weight, construction principles. Plans for such “Pseudo” or “Neo” Dimers must be published in an FAC Club Newsletter to be accepted for competition. Volare Products sells a laser cut short kit of parts for a “Neo-Dimer” version of Dave Linstrum’s MO-1 shown above. Martin MO-1 Dime Scale Laser Cut Short Kit | Volaré Products (volareproducts.com), and scale documentation is available on the Volare website. The Plan had been published in the Detroit Cloud Busters Newsletter. Jack T. is holding a Dime Scale PT-19 in the photo.

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