Aeromodeling’s roots are in Free Flight (FF), and FF is alive and well to this day. Among the various categories and associations of FF modelers is a national society known as the Flying Aces Club (FAC).
From the group’s website, "The Flying Aces Club is a society of individuals with a common interest that at times borders on a passion. It is our intent to preserve and promote the traditional building and flying of free flight stick and tissue model aircraft. Although competitive at times, the sharing of innovations, assistance and camaraderie is second nature to all that believe in the unique spirit of the Flying Aces Club." Visit www.flyingacesclub.comfor more information.
Among the nationwide FAC squadrons is the Tuckahoe Free Flighters (TFF), an FAC chapter in Hammonton, New Jersey. The following report is from TFF President Jim Smith:
The TFF began in the 1940s as the Trenton MAC, which had members in the dozens and was quite successful. Most of the members flew FF, but there were a few Control Line fliers as well. I’m not sure where they flew back then, but I know that by the late 1960s, they were flying at Washington Crossings State Park. The location prompted a name change to the Crossings Free Flight Group.
By the 1980s, the site size dwindled, as did membership. Arrangements were made to start flying at Coyle Field in Woodland Township, roughly 30 miles east of Trenton, New Jersey. (If you fly full-scale, Coyle VOR is on the field.) The group flew there until 2010.
I joined the club around 2003 and, as did the rest, soon found Coyle less than perfect. Sand, gravel, and scrub brush cover most of the ground. Because it is a Forest Service field, we also had to share with water bombers, a fish warden in a Cessna 206, and the U.S. Air Force/Army for dropping equipment by parachute.
On a chance visit to the Tuckahoe Turf Farm with my father-in-law so he could fly RC, I realized it was big enough for us to fly FF at one end and the RC guys could have the other. Arrangements were made with management, and we were in! I had been club president for about a year and that was my first major accomplishment!
Today we fly as often as we like. There are no restrictions for when we can fly. Our terrific vice president, Jerry Litschi, notifies members by email whenever a member tells Jerry that they are going to fly so that no one should miss a flying day.
We have 22 members, most of whom are active. We fly everything from Hand-Launch Gliders to all FAC events, and a few of us fly National Free Flight Society Power events. We are FAC Chapter 36. We hold three contests a year, the first and last of which are FAC contests, and the middle one is reserved for a different mix. More information is available at https://flyingacesclubsquadron36.godaddysites.com.
Give FF a look, and remember, it’s not about what you fly, it’s about the friends you make.