Flying Aces Nationals
by Dennis O. Norman
Introduction
Contestants from the US, Canada, and England met at Geneseo, New York, July 14–16, 2006, to celebrate the 15th biennial Flying Aces Club Nationals. The event was the largest gathering of free-flight (FF) Scale fliers in the world. All entrants are members of the Flying Aces Club (FAC), and US participants are also members of the AMA, which sanctions all FAC contests. The FAC Nats began in 1978 and has been held every two years since. During the "off" years the FAC holds a slightly smaller, two-day "Non-Nats," also at Geneseo.
Severe thunderstorms in the Northeast in mid-July produced harrowing travel tales. Chris Starleaf drove through six hours of blinding rain from Chicago. Dave Rees and his wife Marie came from Goldsboro, North Carolina, but were forced to turn back in Virginia and missed the event. Despite the weather, conditions were pleasant in Geneseo by July 13, when the static display and Scale judging took place in the air-conditioned comfort of the newly remodeled Quality Inn, the FAC headquarters for the Nats. As usual, hundreds of beautiful Scale models were entered. Judging lasted from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m.
FAC Nats Mark XV — Awards and Honors
- Earl Stahl Award (Best Scale model) — Bob Bojanowski, Martin Mariner
- Walt Mooney Award (Best Peanut model) — Vance Gilbert, ANEC III
- Cole Palen Award (WW I Combat winner) — Walt Farrell, Fokker D.VII
- Earl Van Gorder Award (Best WW II model) — Walt Farrell, Westland Welkin
- Angus McSchadenfueher Award (Best FAC high-wing cabin) — Orville Ohm, Aeronca Champ
- Best Scale Crash — Bob Bojanowski, Martin Mariner (also Bob Thompson mentioned in original)
- Bob Thompson Fiction Flyer Award — Rich Weber, Mystery Tailless
- Aerol Trophy Award (for losers of other races) — Dan Kane, Mr. Smoothie
- Grand Champion (non-Scale) — Vic Nippert
- Grand Champion (Scale) — Tom Hallman
- Vic Didelot FAC Spirit Award — Dave Stott
- Blue Max Awards — Stew Cummins; Clive Gamble; Neil Hodson; Allen Shields; Jim Thornton; Rich Weber
- FAC Hall of Fame Inductees:
- Peck-Polymers, Inc. (Bob and Sandy Peck)
- Bob Schlosberg
- Mike Nassise
- Vance Gilbert
Scale Highlights and Vendors
Among the most spectacular Scale models were Bob Bojanowski’s navy blue-and-white, electric-powered Martin PBM-3 Mariner and Chris Starleaf’s rubber-powered Jumbo Scale B-24J. Other notable entries included Mike Welshans’ 20‑inch-span MO-1 (fifth in Golden Age Military Scale) and Ed Pelatowski’s impressive 36.5‑inch-span stick-and-tissue Jumbo Scale rubber entry (Krylon clear finish, 160 grams).
Numerous vendors were present, including FAC vendors with commemorative T-shirts, kits, caps, magazines, and more. Colorful displays were presented by:
- Air Ace Models
- Dels Engineering
- Easy Built Models
- GizmoGeezer Products
- Golden Age Reproductions
- Lee Campbell Model Products
- Rocky Mountain Model Aviation
- Shorty’s Basement
- Others
Gary Zamory presented two new Speedee-Bilt kits (a Fairchild PT-19 and a Beech Bonanza) designed and manufactured by R.W. Anderson (115 Sue Ann Ct., Sterling, VA 20164). R.W. Anderson also produces replicas of the original Speedee-Bilt series.
Mark Fineman reported he is dealing in modelers’ estates and recently acquired a collection of 47 boxes of kits. Contact: AeroIndex, Box 1135, Cheshire, CT 06410; E-mail: Aeroindex@cox.net.
Greg Thomas of Thomas Designs showed an exquisite line of original fine-scale kits, plans, and accessories. Contact: 505 Wildflower, Burnsville, MN; Tel.: (952) 453-9527; E-mail: tdesigns@goldengate.net.
Jet Scale
Perhaps the most exciting new event was Jet Scale, with models powered by Jetex or the new Rapier rocket engines (available from Shorty’s Basement, Tel.: (740) 223-7471; E-mail: shortys89@adelphia.net).
Rapier-powered aircraft were flown by:
- Ronny Gosselin (Opal Rakar)
- Dan Kane (Blohm und Voss P.215; Focke-Wulf Flitzer; Hawker Hunter)
- Paul Morris (BAC Lightning)
- Marty Richey (Blohm und Voss P.215 and P.212)
- Lindsey Smith (Blohm und Voss P.215)
- Chris Starleaf (MiG-17)
- Mike Stuart (F-105 and Fiat G.91)
- Phillip Weinstein (Blohm und Voss P.215)
- Dennis O. Norman (Hawker Hunter)
The Blohm und Voss P.215 was a crowd favorite and a phenomenal flier, with flights typically in the 35–40 second range. Judging by the reaction, Jet Scale may become a premier event in future FAC competitions.
Montreal’s Squadron 71 — "Snow Owl Squadron"
One of the most enthusiastic groups present was Montreal’s Squadron 71 Harfane (Snow Owl Squadron), led by Ronny Gosselin. Members included Luc Martin, Bernard Dion, Larry Marshall, and Patrick Brouchard. The group displayed joie de vivre and panache; their club emblem was displayed on a flag over their tent and each member wore a handsome pewter badge with the Snow Owl motif. The squadron members proved to be talented, hardworking, and promised to return in greater numbers.
People, Conversations, and Anecdotes
Several acquaintances and new friends stopped to chat:
- Michael Markowski of Aeronautical Publishers (Hummelstown, PA) discussed the value of model-airplane building and considered publishing a thoughtful book on the subject.
- David Boals (Monrovia, CA) shared reminiscences of his model-building experiences.
- Larry Dodd took and developed beautiful contest photographs and graciously presented some to the author.
- Del Balunek (Avon, OH) and Rocky Russo (Salt Lake City, UT) shared an encyclopedic knowledge of topics including the French and Indian War, regaling many with humorous and insightful remarks.
Notable Incidents and Memorials
The 2006 FAC Nats had its share of comical catastrophe and mystery:
- Vance Gilbert crashed his Jumbo Avia BH-25 so severely that, with his permission, John Stott administered a coup de grâce by running it over with his motorbike. Vance then scooped the remains into a ball and crushed them further by bear-hugging Dave Stott. Bob Bojanowski plans to mount the flattened remains under glass.
- A memorial flight saluting the late Hurst Bowers was held Friday night. Don Srull brought Hurst’s faded orange-and-black General Aristocrat, which had a pilot figure representing Hurst’s friend Bill Winter, and placed a 30-minute charge on the model’s battery. At 8:30 p.m. Don launched the model for its final flight. The Aristocrat circled slowly, lost altitude as if it were rubber-powered, landed and rolled, then regained speed and soared out of sight. At roughly 9 p.m. a local farmer returned the model after it landed on his farm; it was returned unscathed and placed outside Don’s door, much to his surprise.
- At noon on July 16 a tribute to departed FAC members involved a small yellow model attached to a cluster of helium balloons. After Ralph Kuenzi’s toast, Dave Stott released the balloons. The cluster drifted horizontally, descended, and then astonishingly began rising again, carried aloft by a powerful thermal.
- Jack Moses’ Messerschmitt M-20 was snagged midair by a streamer from the Snow Owl Squadron’s flagpole. The model floated gracefully for several minutes before being rescued.
International Representation
England was represented by Lindsey Smith and his wife Jane, Mike Stuart, and expatriate Brits Paul Morris (now of Canada), Ted Allebone (now in Michigan), and Tony Hall-Willis. Each brought colorful, beautifully crafted models for all to enjoy.
FAC Hall of Fame — Special Recognition
Special recognition was given to this year’s FAC Hall of Fame inductees:
- Peck-Polymers, Inc. (owned by the late Bob Peck and his widow Sandy, who recently put the company up for sale)
- Bob Schlosberg (longtime contest director, great builder, and innovator)
- Mike Nassise (newsletter editor, plans designer, contest director, and FAC Council member)
- Vance Gilbert (great modeler, helper, and entertainer)
Many others remain worthy of future Hall of Fame recognition.
Thanks and Acknowledgments
Thanks to the efforts of Lin and Juanita Reichel, Roy and Diane Courtney, Ross Mayo, Fran Ptaszkiewicz, Sue Starleaf, and a magnificent group of volunteers, this year’s FAC Nats was one of the smoothest and most enjoyable to date. Thanks also to Russ Brown, Bob Clemens, Larry Dodd, and Fred Wunsche for providing excellent photographic coverage for Model Aviation (MA).
If you want more information about the FAC or want to become a member and receive the FAC’s multipage, plans-filled newsletter, contact: Colonel Lin Reichel, Commander in Chief, FAC FAC-GHQ, 3301 Cindy Ln., Erie, PA 16506
Author
Dennis O. Norman dennis@airracemodels.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
