Lee F. Campbell designed and kitted the Souper Coupe in the early 1990s. As a simple, straightforward model capable of winning local contests, the Souper Coupe was an excellent entry into Free Flight. Lee recently donated the kit’s prototype to the museum. ————————————————————————— For more information on the National Model […]
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New Addition: (Very) Early FF Reproductions
Reproductions of two early Free Flight record setters are now part of the museum’s collection thanks to the research of museum director Michael Smith and the research and building efforts of museum volunteer Terry Hreno. Although C. Fleming-Williams, along with W.G. Aston, are often credited with designing the first A-frame […]
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New Addition: DeHavilland Beaver CO2 FF model
John Morrill’s “Zephyr” compressed air motor and the Free Flight DeHavilland Beaver model it powered are considered to be state of the art in modern compressed air design. Designed in 2007 it won the 2009 SAM Championship mass launch, as well as three ROG events for compressed air models. The […]
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Carl Goldberg’s Prototype Zipper
Free Flight was forever changed after the introduction of Carl Goldberg’s Zipper model at the 1938 Nats. The model, with its raised pylon, undercambered airfoil and polyhedral wing is unmistakable and iconic. Want to know why the Zipper is so famous? Watch this Fly-By! The Zipper in the museum’s collection […]
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New Addition: Jaecks’ Penny Planes
Jenifer “Izzy” Jaecks visited today and donated the last two penny planes her father, Dennis Jaecks, built and flew. Dennis was an accomplished penny plane flyer, holding the Cat. II Open National Record in 1977 with a flight of 13 minutes 42 seconds. Jenifer donated the two models in honor […]
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New Addition: Stratolark
Flying the Stratolark, Francis Heeb won the Mulvihill contest for the 3rd time in 1965. The Stratolark, which combined two of Frank’s previous Wakefield designs, boasts a 56″ fuselage, 300 square inch wing area and a hand-carved 24-28 prop. With a wing loading of 2.85 ozs. per 100 square inches […]
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New Addition: Sifleet’s F1E Model Airplane
Launched from a hill, Free Flight Slope Soaring Gliders (FAI Class F1E) fly in a straight line into the wind. To allow them to stay on course, models are equipped with a magnet-based automatic steering device attached to the rudder on the forward fin. Built in 2002, Robert K. Sifleet’s […]
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The Nut Family of FF Scale Models
Its not quite finished, but the museum’s Peanut Scale exhibit is coming along – check it out! While generally referred to as the “Peanut Scale” exhibit, the exhibit also features other related classes of Free Flight that are small, scale, and rubber-powered. The centerpiece of the exhibit are the models […]
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Step-by-Step: Building a Dallaire Howard Pete
August 2015: After research into the beginnings of Peanut Scale, museum volunteer Vance Gilbert begins building a reproduction of Henry Struck’s Howard Pete, built from Dallaire Plans. Flying the Howard Pete, Struck won the first Peanut Scale contest at a 1967 Flying Aces competition. Vance documented the build process with […]
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Step-by-Step: Building a 1931 National Heath Parasol
Late summer 2015: After extensive research into the history of Peanut Scale models, museum volunteer Tom Hallman builds a 12″ Heath Parasol FF model airplane for the museum. Built from National Model Aircraft & Supply Co. plans, the Heath Parasol kit was one of the first produced as part of […]
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