A Wingman’s Second Time Around

Free Flight Scale By Tom Hallman | [email protected] As seen in the July 2024 issue of Model Aviation. "USE THE GOOD WOOD." This is a heartfelt phrase I’ve heard far too often in recent years, after flying friends and mentors leave us behind and as we fly without them on the many fields and indoor venues around the world. In other words, build with your best stuff now because you might not be around to use it tomorrow. While it’s a good motto to live by, there’s a backstory to this axiom that should also be considered.

A large group of happy modelers after successfully flying their late friends’ models at the Legends of FF event in Wawayanda NY. Photo by Michael Sand. A few years ago, a couple of friends and I were invited to the home of Dave Rees’ son in North Carolina, where we went to "save" 50 models of Dave’s because the family could no longer store them. Dave was a mentor to many, including myself. I couldn’t imagine my modeling life if not for his influence and caring toward a then rather young newbie to the Free Flight (FF) rubber-powered game. Each of us selected 15 or so models and returned to our homes in Alabama, Virginia, and Pennsylvania to keep them in safe storage. I selected a few for myself then gave the rest away to mutual friends here in the Northeast. We had all seen his models fly many times throughout the years, so it was quite a treat and an honor to be able to hold and study them more closely. We came to realize that many others had done the same for the families of their late flying buddies. After a suggestion by Mark Houck (co-contest director at our annual Flying Aces Club [FAC] contest in Wawayanda, New York), we decided to pause our upcoming contest one morning and get as many of these dormant models as we could back into the air as our friends had once flown them for so many years. The late, great Dave and Marie Rees proudly pose after a soaring flight by Marie’s 36-inch wingspan rubber-powered Vega, designed by Dave. This beautiful 36-inch wingspan Bellanca 28-92 by Dave was flown again by the author after it was rescued from an eventual purge. The model is very stable and scalelike. We called the event "Our Legends of FF," because on this day, the legends chosen and models gathered were ours, honoring those who had flown with us on this field or others in the East. My hope is that groups around the world do the same locally with their legends. On the morning of the tribute event, we were greeted by a beautiful sky and mild drift. Fifteen fliers dusted off the models by their mentors or friends, individually tossing the birds skyward in a respectful sequence, giving each model and legend a well-deserved spotlight. It was emotional yet joyful and memorable. So, while selecting "the good wood" for your next project, pick up one of your late friend’s models and give it some TLC, make it flight ready and airworthy, and then drop it into one of your flight boxes and make sure it gets air under its wings the next time you hit the trim field. There’s not a better way to honor their memory. I’ve done this quite often in recent years and have always come away with a warm feeling of reflection and contentment. If the model goes out of sight, so much the better. What could be more fitting? Besides, I’m sure your friend merely wanted to get another close look.

Old Models, New Fleet

This might be categorized as teaching an old model new tricks, but it’s more of a suggestion to take a look at your aging fleet this year and see whether there are any old dogs that still look as though they want to be a part of the game, rather than being tossed into the purging scrap heap. I’ve done this with a few of my models that are in the 20-plus-years-old range (that’s 65 in human years). This worn-out Armstrong Whitworth Ape by the late Bob Lundberg took to the air again against a beautiful sunset in Wawayanda NY. It was flown and photographed by the author. This 21-inch wingspan Loose Racer, built by the author from Dave Livesay plans, was in need of major repairs and a new tissue covering after 18 years of heavy flying. The beautifully restored Loose Racer is back in flying form and ready to round the pylons at the next FAC Thompson Trophy Race mass launch.