FFML 1999-2000 NOCAL Postal Contest

Updated: 30 SEP 08

This is the site of the Free Flight Mailing List [F F M L] NOCAL Postal Contest,
an event for simple, recognizable scale model airplanes. Our contest is over now, ending on April 30, 2000.

 

A completed NOCAL model - Art Chester's "Swee' Pea" Cleveland racer.


Postal Rules  |  FAC/NOCAL Rules  |  Sponsor's Note 
|  Free Flight Mail List  |  NOCAL Basics |  Flyer's Notes 

This is the second FFML NOCAL Postal contest. It runs from December 6, 1999 through April 30, 2000 [the first contest ran from December, 1997 through March of 1998]. As entrants report their flight results, you will see them posted here.

The term "NOCAL" evidently reflects the thought of 'no calories', as in, 'no weight'. These models are quite small, limited to 16" wingspan, and light in weight - they can weigh as little as 2.5 grams. As you will note in the rules section, some of the models are required to weigh at least 6.2 grams [the weight of 2 pre-1974 U.S. one cent pieces -pennies] without the rubber strand motor, in order to equalize conditions. 

Eight events are included: 3 for indoor models (flown in a hall, gym or larger site - there are even a couple of blimp hangers available!); and 5 for outdoor models. Rules for the postal contest are listed below the results tables. The event called 'NOCAL' is defined in rules from FAC, the Flying Aces Club, a national organization intended to promote model flying.

 

PICTURES

This picture shows the 'bones' of a NOCAL; in this case it's a model of the Napier-Heston Racer,  built on the eve of WW II - to set a speed record of 500 MPH. Note the simple construction with a profile [flat] body and single surface wings and tail.


Here is David Dodge's Flapjack NOCAL from '97-98. This is a really amazing flying model of a most unusual layout for a 'flying machine'. 


This is Niels Brendel's [Hengelo, The Netherlands] nice looking Extra 300s. It should be flying sometime in February.



Here's David Duganne's Piper Vagabond.


Send flight results data, questions, comments, or pictures as .jpg files to AL @:

        aalmps@aol.com

or: AAL/mps, 1030 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 105, No. 1074, Tempe, AZ 85283 

480-839-8154 evenings and weekends

EVENTS:

INDOOR: Kit/Plan 'stock': plastic prop required

Initially, times will be posted in the order received. When the contest ends, indoor times in all categories will be adjusted by a factor in an attempt to express times as if all flights took place under the same ceiling height. The 'factor' is a multiplier: Factor = 627 / (167 + 46Xhsqr), where 'hsqr' is the square root of the specified ceiling. Experimenting with the formula will show that a 100' ceiling rates a factor of one (1).
Date Entrant's Name Model Name / Designer 3 Flight Total (sec.) Ceiling Height (ft/m) Adj. Factor Corr. Score Place
DEC 17 Norfolk, Jim / US Harvard/AT-6 / Norfolk 71 24 ft 1.598 113.46 7
FEB 8 Danjo, Akihiro / JP Super Chipmunk / Flite Craft / Canada 390 29.52 ft 1.504 586.503 1
Jan 9 Whitfield, George / UK Corsair / Lidberg 159 27 ft 1.544 245.535 3
Mar 5 Whitfield, George / UK Corsair / Lidberg 270 30 ft 1.497 404.079 2
Mar 16 Griner, J.B.M. / US BV-141 / Lidberg 103 30 ft 1.497 154.149 6
Apr 12 Griner, J.B.M. / US BV-141 / Lidberg 120 30 ft 1.497 179.591 5
Apr 22 Popilinka, Martin * / US/CZ Pietentpol / [SIG Parasol] 145 22 ft 1.638 237.537 4

* Martin is 13 and from the Czech Republic, now flying with our own Thayer Syme. Thayer suggests " I think we may have a lifer on our hands, if we can just convince him that all girls are as evil as his sister and he would be better served ignoring them as long as possible."

 

INDOOR: Unlimited: any wood, any prop 

Date Entrant's Name Model Name/Designer 3 Flight Total (sec.) Ceiling Height (ft/m) Adj. Factor Corr. Score Place
Jan 23 Danjo, Akihiro / Japan Lacey M-10 / Danjo 770 29.52 ft 1.504 1157.968 1
Dec 20 Rash, Fred / US White Monoplane canard pusher/ Baird-Assel 514 116 ft .947 486.505 8
Jan 13 Duganne, David / US Piper Vagabond/ Duganne 213.95 21 ft 1.660 355.075 14
Feb 24 Rash, Fred / US White Monoplane canard pusher/ Baird-Assel-Rash 916 116 ft .947 867.001 2
Feb 27 Tornkvist, Birgit / Sweden Wittman Witt's V racer/ George Tornkvist 446 24.5 ft 1.589 708.513 5
Mar 5 Brendel, Niels / NL Extra 300S / N. Brendel 298 29.52 ft 1.504 448.149 11
Mar 30 Baughman, Gary / US Bonzo / Baughman 553 34 ft 1.441 796.673 3
Mar 30 Crawford, Dohrman / US Waterman Gosling / Linstrum 276 34 ft 1.441 397.616 12
Mar 30 Perryman, George / US Floyd Bean Special / Perryman 266 34 ft 1.441 383.210 13
Dec 29 Linkosalo, Tapio / FI FW44 Stieglitz / Linkosalo 403 26.7 ft 1.549 624.379 7
Mar 18 Brendel, Gert/ NL AT6 / G. Brendel 235 29.52 ft 1.504 353.406 15
Mar 22 Perryman, George/ GA;US Floyd Bean Special / Perryman 463 34 ft 1.441 667.015 6
Mar 22 Stevens, Robert*/ TN;US Tipsy Jr / Lidberg 329 34 ft 1.441 473.970 9
Mar 22 Luebbe, Brian* / TN;US Fike / ? 315 34 ft 1.441 453.801 10
Mar 22 Andrews, Karen* / TN;US PI-6 / ? 177 34 ft 1.441 254.993 16
Mar 22 Lavender, Tim* / TN;US Goon / ? 103 34 ft 1.441 148.386 17
Mar 22 Trisler, Terry / KS;US Fike / Marret 520 34 ft 1.441 749.132 4

Note from Dohrm Crawford: * Members of Smyna Church of Christ group from Tennessee. Great group, led by Rev. Tim Lavender who was so busy he only got in one flight.
 

 

 

INDOOR: Electric: unlimited as to power, energy type/size
Date Entrant's Name Model Name / Designer 3 Flight Total (sec.) Ceiling Height (ft/m) Adj. Factor Corr. Score Place
Jan3,'98 Example Fleming, John Beech 'Staggerwing'/Lidberg 449 22 ft 1.638 735.5 NA

 

John Fleming has sent us a picture of his electric Staggerwing Beech from the 97-98 Postal. Look closely and you can see the red LED that flashes in flight.





OUTDOOR: Kit/Plan 'stock': plastic prop required
[3 - 2 minute max flights can be followed by a 4th unlimited flight]
Date Entrant's Name Model Name / Designer 3 Flight Total (sec.) 4th flight (sec.) Total Score Place
MAR ? Powers, Steve age 12-13 TEAM HiMax / Bredehoft 121 - 121 3
MAR 26 Steinebach, Chris P-40 / Lidberg 206 - 206 2
APR 26 Patton, John * Napier-Heston / Lidberg 302 - 302 1
APR 26 Bredehoft, George ** Stuka / ? 120 - 120 4
* John says his last flight was easily a 120 sec. max, but actually was about 5 minutes!
** George reports that after a series of frustrating test flights, his model made a 5 min 30 sec OOS!

If nothing else, these 2 flights perhaps reinforce my often-said comment that NOCALs provide the very best return on a minimal investment of time and money!



OUTDOOR: Unlimited: any wood, any prop
[3 - 2 minute max flights can be followed by a 4th unlimited flight]
Date Entrant's Name Model Name / Designer 3 Flight Total (sec.) 4th flight (sec.) Total Score Place
Mar 22 Danjo, Akihiro / JP Dayton-Wright RB1 / Bredehoft 193* - - 1

* Last flight = MAX + OOS !

 


OUTDOOR: REALLY Unlimited: FOAM OK, any prop
[3 - 2 minute max flights can be followed by a 4th unlimited flight]
Date Name Model Name / Designer 3 Flight Total (sec.) 4th flight (sec.) Total Score Place
1APR,'98 Longacre, Jacob Goon / Linstrum

160

   160 NA


OUTDOOR: Electric: unlimited as to power, energy type/size
[3 - 2 minute max flights can be followed by a 4th unlimited flight]
Date Entrant's Name Model Name / Designer 3 Flight Total (sec.) 4th flight (sec.) Total Score Place
Feb7,'98 Example Fleming, John Staggerwing Beech/ Lidberg 419 169 588 NA


Here's our latest addition to the event list for the FFML NOCAL Postal - we should see some 'smokin' times here!
And, if you say "This isn't exactly 'rocket' science!", I'll counter that by saying that your truly is/was a 'rocket scientist' by virtue of being an 'engineering aide, GS-2/CO-OP student" at White Sands Proving Grounds, NM, from 1954 thru 1957, where i ran tracking telescopes photographing missle flights and intercepts.

OUTDOOR: JETEX / RAPIER Rocket power
[3 - 2 minute max flights can be followed by a 4th unlimited flight]
Date Entrant's Name Model Name / Designer 3 Flight Total (sec.) 4th flight (sec.) Total Score Place
1930s Example Goddard, Robert ?/ Goddard 419 169 588 NA

   

NOCAL FFML Postal Contest Rules


WHO: Anyone who would like to enter; FFML membership is not a requirement.

WHY: Because FF modelers seem to like to measure their model's performance against their own best efforts and against the results of others.

WHEN: December 7, 1999 thru April 30, 2000.

WHERE: Fly wherever/whenever you like. The postal has two divisions: Outdoor, and Indoor.

Initially, times will be posted in the order received. When the contest ends, indoor times in all categories will be adjusted by a factor in an attempt to express times as if all flights took place under the same ceiling height. The ' factor' is a multiplier: Factor = 627 / (167 + 46Xhsqr), where 'hsqr' is the square root of the specified ceiling. Experimenting with the formula will show that a 100' ceiling rates a factor of one (1).

WHAT: NOCAL models. FAC rules will be followed, except that there is a 2 min maximum for outdoor - if the model is still in flight at 2 minutes, the time is recorded as 2 minutes. If 3 consecutive maximum flights are achieved, then a 4th can be made with unlimited time.

There is no maximum flight time for indoor, but all indoor models must weigh a minimum of 6.2 grams (the weight of 2 pre-1974 US pennies), without motor. Weight can be checked using a simple stick beam balance with equal legs and 2 pennies on one end with the model hung from the other leg. 

FAC membership is encouraged, but not required. Any design/designer is OK, but entrant certifies compliance with the FAC rules regarding recognizable scale model with proper markings, etc.

FAC NOCAL rules are listed below. What we're talking about is a scale, profile rubber model (& electric power, too!), of no more than 16" wingspan.

In both Indoor and Outdoor categories, the following events will be held:

 

"Kit/Plan stock" = plastic prop required
"Unlimited" = any wood, any prop
"Electric" = unlimited as to power, energy type

  and, for Outdoor only 
"Really Unlimited"
"Jetex/Rapier Rocket "


HOW: Report your scores by email, telephone, or snail letter. Scores will be tabulated and available for viewing (all scores received each week) at this site as they begin to be reported. Report the 3 best flights in any series, no more often than once a week. 

Please report: your name; 'kit/plan', 'unlimited', 'really unlimited', 'electric'; 'indoor' or 'outdoor'; ceiling height if indoor; model name & designer; 3 best times + 4th, if applicable; and the date. Result notes may include photos as .jpg files, comments or specs on plane or power if you like.

PRIZES: We will have some nice certificates. [prevailing thought seems to be that awards are not all that necessary]

FAC NOCAL Rules

from FAC = The Flying Aces Club

[Note: FAC specifies 'No maximum flight time', but we have imposed max times for outdoor NOCALs as noted above. In addition, note the minimum weight rules in some categories of the Postal contest.]

NO-CAL PROFILE SCALE

1. A simple event for recognizable profile models with a wingspan limit of 16 inches.

2. Total of three flights to determine score. Highest total score wins. Fly-off to break ties.

3. Any flight of 20 seconds or longer is official. All flights to be hand launched. No maximum flight time.

4. Model must have control outlines, registrations numbers or letters, etc.

5. Model must be in correct color scheme, have documentation to prove it.

6. Model must also have full landing gear. No profile gears. Retractable gear may be built in the up position.

7. All wing struts must also be on the model. Judges decisions are final. 

No, we don't have NOCAL cops who will come to inspect your plane - the honor system prevails.

 (Note from Bob Clemens during the first postal contest: "It's interesting to note that Rule #7 was severely ignored in the past, especially at the USIC in Johnson City. Some strutted aircraft modeled with NO struts at all. Boooo!")

Sponsor's Note



See the AALmps Catalog , with listings of NOCALs and other plans/kits plans offered.

Postal Rules  | FAC/NOCAL Rules  | Sponsor's Note 
| NOCAL Plans  | Free Flight Mail List |  Flyer's Notes 


Flyer's Notes:

[from Fred Rash, Feb 24, 2000]
Please enter my today's results in the No-Cal Postal: Indoor: Unlimited: any wood, any prop
Feb24, 2000 Rash, Fred White Monoplane canard pusher 916 sec 116 ft
Assel~Baird~Rash
********
Now for the all the gory details that may or may not be of interest.

Thanks for sponsoring the postal again. Only one other person besides me flys indoor near here and he flys only sport models. Therefore the postals frequently help get me out to fly and improve. When the USIC comes to Johnson City, TN each May-June, then I have a lot more flying colleagues for 5 days.

Two weeks ago today I had double hernia surgery and by today I had regained enough energy to put up four flights at the East Tennessee State University Mini-Dome. The first flight was Federation ROG and I broke a LE dihedral joint in the rafters. My goal was 8 minutes; I once did 7:55.

The other three flights were No-Cal for the postal. Times were 5:15, 4:56, and 5:05. Since my previous personal high time was 5:05 and I had only broken 5 minutes twice before, I was overjoyed with these results. Note that these results are not competitive at the USIC, but they raise my personal standard somewhat.

The Mini-Dome was an interesting place today. Workers were putting down artificial turf for a track meet tomorrow and Saturday. A cargo door was open all the time and a forklift and a Zamboni were in use. I managed to dodge these obstacles and do not believe that I thermaled over these vehicles. The likelihood of loosing a model tends to keep me away from the vehicles ! I had gawking, questions, and expressions of good luck from those working in the Mini-Dome.

Thanks again for sponsoring the Postal.
Fred Rash

From George Bredehoft we hear:
Hi Al,
The biggest "complaint I have about the NoCal contest is the timeframe. I have no opportunity to fly during the winter without going to (what I call) extremes. That's why there have been no entries from Battle Creek!
Well, if you like, I can enter someone. I am working with my son and two friends in Science Olympiad. One boy has taken to modeling very well. The Science Olympiad plane was his first model and he wanted more, so I gave him my HiMax NoCal plan. He built it and it flies well - too well for my back yard. I can give you three flight times based on low power flights.

His name is Steve Powers and he is 12 or 13. The plane is T.E.A.M. HiMax from my plans.
Flight times: 48 seconds (resulted in 1 hour in a tree!)
37 seconds
36 seconds

After the tree episode (featuring me and the plane in a maple tree), we really limited winds to about 700 (in the 35-40 second range) to keep the plane safe. They (the 3 junior high boys and my 4 year old) repeated many, many flights that afternoon. I think Steve may become a modeler, at least for a little while.
George A. Bredehoft

Webmaster: AL @    aalmps@aol.com