Boy, that brought some magic memories back to me. Due to age and health I have since given up model flying, but in my peak heyday I was New Zealand national free flight champion and national champion of champions - 1980 to '83 inclusive. Although flying in all disciplines (r/c, c/l and f/f) my greatest love was free flight from FAI events to peanut scale.
Have to say, I was pretty skeptical about watching a production from the 70's and was expecting it to be cheesy at best; I couldn't have been more wrong and in the end watched the entire 32 minutes. Fascinating to see the entirety of the FF sport and an incredibly well written documentary. It's really quite inspiring, from the micro light 30 minute flyers to the development of carbon fiber props for the FAI comp planes, I have a much greater appreciation for the sport of Free Flight.
Watched a couple of these events many years ago. Once in Madera,Ca. and the other at Taft. These guys and gals had more fun than I have ever seen at any "competition". There were guys way past middle age with wild grins, like little kids, running around chasing (and diving from their) planes. It was awesome.
The best part of this is the earnestness and serious acceptance of this hobby as sport. It helps that the great John Facenda narrated, the same man that used to narrate the NFL films of the same era.
Amazing video! I'm a huge fan of F/F models and reached a good skill level in building and flying several classes: OHLG, Peanut, Rubber Scale. Also built and flew a few C/L planes with engines ranging from .049 to .35, and an R/C glider (Midwest Essence). My flying experience with C/L was a bit traumatic as I discovered I have some kind of kinetic disturbance that makes me feel dizzy with the circular motion... Had to give up on this stuff. My R/C flying experience was short as well - and a bit frustrating, as I had no time for training and didn't go very far. My best flying experience ever was an OOS flight with a self-designed OHLG, 20" wingspan, all-balsa model. After 4 minutes riding a thermal it disappeared into the clouds. I'll never forget that special moment, I felt happy as a child (I was already 38). So sad to see the new generations throwing their youth into the garbage, planted on their chairs day after day playing all sorts of stupid games *sigh*!
I don't think that there's many kids out there these days that get the same magical excitement that me and my brother had back in the day with this fascinating and creative hobby probably due to this plastic all done for you or simulated at the touch of a button world youngsters live in today.
I never thought of using bubbles to get a sense of air conditions! I'm a slightly successful lifetime modeller and very much of this looks familiar to me. I remember borrowing a cigarette when I left my dethermalizer fuse home. It worked, though it burned faster. :-) Some really talented people and nice planes here!
Now we have power sail planes, I can fly for well over an hr on one battery. Fly up real fast, glide back down, doing that so many times without stopping. Amazing how far we've come lol
How far we've come...or have we, sometimes I feel like we've lost touch with the simple art of true miniature aircraft flying? I'd say the biggest advance in modern RC are the electronics, radio and servos we use nowadays but the aircraft have barely changed in all this time. How joyful a time it must have been without the Chinese ARF's that have flooded the market in our time.
Times have changed. All of the model airfields that I have visited in the last few years are full of grumpy old greybeards flying their multi-thousand dollar toys, whose sole occupation is to chase any aspiring new members away.
Great film, though it was confined to the US. Since then, other countries have taken the technological lead in free flight technology, especially Ukraine.
Boy, that brought some magic memories back to me. Due to age and health I have since given up model flying, but in my peak heyday I was New Zealand national free flight champion and national champion of champions - 1980 to '83 inclusive. Although flying in all disciplines (r/c, c/l and f/f) my greatest love was free flight from FAI events to peanut scale.
Thats cool! any old planes for sale? hehe
@@Tom-mk7iq My children have sold them all, along with all my building equipment. The only way I could cut myself off entirely from the hobby.
Me too ! Nostalgic ! I used to go flying these planes with my dad and he used to call me his co-pilot :)
Love Free Flight
Have to say, I was pretty skeptical about watching a production from the 70's and was expecting it to be cheesy at best; I couldn't have been more wrong and in the end watched the entire 32 minutes. Fascinating to see the entirety of the FF sport and an incredibly well written documentary. It's really quite inspiring, from the micro light 30 minute flyers to the development of carbon fiber props for the FAI comp planes, I have a much greater appreciation for the sport of Free Flight.
What nostalgia. Man, the fun we had.
This type of film is why I enjoy UA-cam.How difficult would this have been to find a few years ago?
Very enjoyable... from a time when we had hope and faith in the future..... wow, bit heavy 😎🚁💨💨💨💨💨💨
But right on point
Watched a couple of these events many years ago. Once in Madera,Ca. and the other at Taft. These guys and gals had more fun than I have ever seen at any "competition". There were guys way past middle age with wild grins, like little kids, running around chasing (and diving from their) planes. It was awesome.
Hi Guys Thanks for these videos, I have been flying and a member of AMA since the 1970s , And enjoy watching them over and over.
Great video, may I suggest the AMA consider doing new versions of these?
The best part of this is the earnestness and serious acceptance of this hobby as sport. It helps that the great John Facenda narrated, the same man that used to narrate the NFL films of the same era.
It was interesting watching the postures of people as they watched their creation fly, so intense, as if transmitting their will to the model.
I purchased most of the AMA videos on VHS, now I can watch almost anywhere with new devices. Very well done, all the videos.
Amazing video! I'm a huge fan of F/F models and reached a good skill level in building and flying several classes: OHLG, Peanut, Rubber Scale. Also built and flew a few C/L planes with engines ranging from .049 to .35, and an R/C glider (Midwest Essence). My flying experience with C/L was a bit traumatic as I discovered I have some kind of kinetic disturbance that makes me feel dizzy with the circular motion... Had to give up on this stuff. My R/C flying experience was short as well - and a bit frustrating, as I had no time for training and didn't go very far.
My best flying experience ever was an OOS flight with a self-designed OHLG, 20" wingspan, all-balsa model. After 4 minutes riding a thermal it disappeared into the clouds. I'll never forget that special moment, I felt happy as a child (I was already 38). So sad to see the new generations throwing their youth into the garbage, planted on their chairs day after day playing all sorts of stupid games *sigh*!
Thank you for AMA. Wonderful film. I think all modellers in the World must to see it.
I don't think that there's many kids out there these days that get the same magical excitement that me and my brother had back in the day with this fascinating and creative hobby probably due to this plastic all done for you or simulated at the touch of a button world youngsters live in today.
I love history in general but this was very interesting and educational. Thank you
Best 32 minutes I spent this afternoon... Thank you for sharing.
One of AMA's best videos ever...
I love these types of video
Man, I learned soooo much about flight in general, from this video. Thank you to all that were involved who arent passed on tho the next world.
Such peace and innocence
Excellent video watched the entire thing thank you!
I'd bet that the Narrator is John Fascenda, (sp?), who did a huge amount of N F L Films. Great Video.
If you had money riding on that bet, you'd have a few extra dollars in your pocket.
I never thought of using bubbles to get a sense of air conditions!
I'm a slightly successful lifetime modeller and very much of this looks familiar to me. I remember borrowing a cigarette when I left my dethermalizer fuse home. It worked, though it burned faster. :-)
Some really talented people and nice planes here!
This is gold!
Now we have power sail planes, I can fly for well over an hr on one battery. Fly up real fast, glide back down, doing that so many times without stopping. Amazing how far we've come lol
It's a good video. Love the music.
Most of these planes are very well designed and built
Very Nice !
John Facenda reminds me of my childhood!
Enjoyed it. Thank you.
Wonderful What Year Was this Produced
I remember going to a competition in Taft about 50 years ago. It wa so much fun to watch as a kid. Are they still doing it in Taft.
I built and launched a totally invisible one 65 years ago and it is still flying today. It takes imagination to see......
I love this,it looks like the early Seventies! I wish they had actual sound and not the annoying music!
Nice:-)
I'm here for the music score
How far we've come...or have we, sometimes I feel like we've lost touch with the simple art of true miniature aircraft flying? I'd say the biggest advance in modern RC are the electronics, radio and servos we use nowadays but the aircraft have barely changed in all this time. How joyful a time it must have been without the Chinese ARF's that have flooded the market in our time.
Times have changed. All of the model airfields that I have visited in the last few years are full of grumpy old greybeards flying their multi-thousand dollar toys, whose sole occupation is to chase any aspiring new members away.
Those guys were running the hobby thirty years ago, and probably for fifty years before that. The local R/C boat guys are great, though.
3:31 to this day, he’s still searching for his glider...
I feel like this is something Hunter S. Thompson wouldve enjoyed writing about...
It's a shame that the owner of the Taft flying site no longer allows modeling activities.
I would love to know the name and author of the poem if anyone knows it?
Takes me back to my dads cellar. He thought me allot.
Sure doesn’t look like any of that was english
I hope you're talking about model aircraft
Nice
Wing fold at 15:57
at 4:30 I really like the soundtrack, does anyone know what it is? shazam has nothing.
Дякую за спогади...
youtube's new ad placement is annoying,ads are placed mid- sentence or even mid-word! I found the video music too loud compared to the narration.
Is this the same announcer as the old NFL films. Roger Staubach steps onto the feild like a greek god......
Great film, though it was confined to the US. Since then, other countries have taken the technological lead in free flight technology, especially Ukraine.
We couldn't take it! The music is too horrible and disruptive! Why oh why did they include it?