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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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: 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 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 […]
Continue reading#FantasyFreeFlight: A 1915 Aeromodeling Conversation
Here’s a snippet of what modeling was like for the model airplane pioneers 100 years ago, in poem form. Hopefully, this puts you in the mood for #FantasyFreeFlight, starting next week! “A Conversation Between A Model Boy and a Passing Old Lady” By Arthur Elton Nealy Lady- Little Boy, what […]
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The earliest small scale flying model
What do you know about the history of early Free Flight models? The museum is looking for the earliest advertised kit or published plan of a scale model with a wingspan of 13″ or less. There’s some history below to jog your memory. If you have anything to share, please […]
Continue readingNew Addition: Airco DH-2 Peanut Scale FF model
Larry Kruse called Tom Hallman’s Peanut Scale FF model of an Airco DH-2 “arguably the most perfect Peanut Scale model ever produced.” Extensively researched and detailed, the model won the Walt Mooney Award for the best Peanut Scale model at the 2000 Flying Aces Club Nationals. Since 2000, the model […]
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