Here are some things to consider when selecting a kit, or if planning to build from scratch, construction tips, and rules related discussions to help you in the process of building a plane.  Includes much good information from a variety of experienced sources.

• Wondering How to Get Started? Look here first! – An overview to get you going.
• A Guide to SO Planes by Chuck Markos –  Excellent starting material
• Jeff Englert’s Building Tips – a little dated in places, but still has some good information.  Currently being updated
• Glue and Glue Management for Indoor Models (Video) – Make your planes strong, and avoid unnecessary weight
• Rubber Tying for Indoor Duration Model Airplanes (Video) – Tie motors to store maximum energy and fly longer
• Wing and Box Trimming (Video) – What to do if your plane doesn’t fit into the box, or if your box is slightly too large
• Covering (Video) –  Demonstration of covering with Ultrafilm

Note: Many more videos are available in the NFFS Video Library on YouTube, or the Video Catalog tab, above, on this page.

You’ve finished building, and you are eager to start flying.  It is pretty easy to be successful, but equally easy to end up frustrated, if you don’t know what to do.  Take a look at these resources, which will guide you through the process of getting your bird up into the air!

• Basic Step by Step Trimming – Wondering how to get started?  Look here first! – An Overview to Get You going –  How do I fly my airplane? What do I do to get better flight times?By Coach Brian.
• Basic Step by Step Trimming –   (Coming in Mid-November) Another resource that discusses trimming a newly completed plane, including video from a student workshop.
• Trimming Reference –  This document discusses the hows and whys of vertical trim, stability, and circular flight path.   For a step by step guide to trimming an airplane, see the trimming resources below.
• Winding with a Torque Meter  (Video) –  Winding a rubber motor to max torque and then backing off to launch torque for effective utilization of rubber.
• Winding without a Torque Meter – This document references the above video, with details that you should change if you are winding without a torque meter.  Includes a step by step set of instructions that you can print and take with you to the gym.
• Make a Simple, Cheap, Torque Meter (video) – Built from free paint stir sticks and a guitar string. Costs as little as one dollar and takes only 30 minutes to construct. Winding with a torque meter is critical to success in the flying events. See this related PDF document.
• Winding without a Torque Meter – Basic winding steps. Coming soon!
• Max Turns Calculator – Live calculator for estimate of max rubber turns before breaking based on rubber dimensions .
• Rubber Tying for Indoor Duration Model Airplanes (Video) – Tie rubber motors to exact mass without slipping
• Flight Log Example – A very complete flight log with many parameters that will help to document and improve your flying

Let’s say you have your planes flying consistently well.  Or, you want to incorporate advanced building techniques into your plane. Here are some things you can try in order to add a few more seconds to your flight times, or to scratch build your own plane or modify your kit.

• Example Flight Log – A very complete flight log with many parameters that will help to document and improve your flying
• Prop Pitch / Rubber Motor Balance (Video) – Optimize the propeller pitch to the rubber cross section for maximum efficiency
• Prop Building for Rubber Powered Indoor Airplane Models (Video) – Build your own props, demo with small Scraps prop
• Making a Wire Pigtail Thrust Bearing  (video) – An alternative to using pre-made aluminum or plastic prop hangers, you can form one out of wire

A collection of videos most pertinent to the current year’s SO Flight event,
but also a selection of other NFFS Free Flight video topics, can be found on this page. 

A collection of good stuff from a wide variety of sources.  There is something here that will help your flying, regardless of your current level of expertise.

Science Olymiad Student Center Forum – Ask questions, discuss problems, connect with students and experienced coaches. Navigate to Build Events, then Flight.

Kits

Laser Cut Planes – Simple build, interlocking assembly

Freedom Flight Models – Advanced kits, excellent build manuals, many materials incl. custom cut rubber

J&H Aerospace – Excellent kits, manuals, and online videos. Many parts and tools as well

Retro RC – choose “Scholastic Kits and Accessories” from menu

Guru Engineering Tech – Planes from a winning coach

Ward Scientific  – A basic kit including a plan, wood, covering, tools

Tools, Rubber, etc.

Indoor Free Flight Supply – Basic and advanced tools for building and flying, rubber

FAI Model Supply – Stock rubber sizes in bulk, Ikara props, other parts

Indoor Specialties – Tools, prop hangers, covering. Currently closed for Covid, but has some resource articles available

Volare Products – Tools, wood, rubber, props, and other supplies

Miscellaneous

Aircraft Forces, Moments, and Stability – Aerodynamic principles and discussion of airplane stability

Bucket Prop – Forming prop blades on a cone or cylinder, Search for “bucket” in the HPA library

Wright Stuff Paper – A comprehensive guide to Flight planes, written by former SO competitor Patrick Schwartz.

Coaches’ Clinic – A presentation that reviews the Flight event, changes from last year, and tips and tricks.
In Video, PDF, and PPT formats, with placeholders for presenter’s name and contact info.