Club Information
- MMM Monthly get together–second Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM, Castle Cafe in Castle Rock. Monitor the “groups.io” web group for info.
- For Club and Newsletter info email: johnmcgrath2@comcast.net
- Join our web group for latest updates and chatter: https://groups.io/g/MMMFreeFlight
- Join the FAC Eaglerock Squadron for scale modeling fun at: Flyingacesclub.com
- Join the National Free Flight Society at: www.freeflight.org
What we are about
- The MMM Free Flight Club is ALWAYS looking for those interested model airplane flyers that want a different challenge or just want to recreate those fun modeling experiences other than RC or Control Line. Free Flight is the original form of flying model aircraft and a step into making airplanes fly by themselves with no control. Learning this valuable technology is a wonderful experience.
- We also support Educational Programs like STEM, TSA and S/O.
- We are affiliated with the National Free flight Society (NFFS) at freeflight.org and the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) at modelaircraft.org
Monitor the MMM Web Group for latest Info at:
MMMFreeFlight@groups.io
FAC Corner – *** FAC Squadron in the Rockies… the “Colorado Eaglerock Squadron, FAC”
Magnificent Mountain Men 2024 Events:
| Event | Date | CD(s) |
| (Southwest Regionals Eloy, AZ) | 13-15 Jan 2024 | |
| Indoor at Beth Eden | 12 Jan (Fri) | John Christensen |
| Indoor at Beth Eden | 19 Jan (Fri) | John Christensen |
| Indoor at Manitou | 21 Jan (Sun) | Chuck Etherington |
| Indoor at Manitou | 4 Feb (Sun) | John McGrath |
| Indoor at Beth Eden | 16 Feb (Fri) | John Christensen |
| Indoor at Beth Eden | 23 Feb (Fri) | John Christensen |
| Indoor at Beth Eden | 1 Mar (Fri) | John Christensen |
| CO Southern Region Sci Oly (UC Pueblo) | 2 March (Sat) | John McGrath |
| Indoor at Manitou Sci Oly Build/Fly/Trim | 10 March (Sun) | Don DeLoach |
| Indoor at Beth Eden | 22 Mar (Fri) | John Christensen |
| CO State Sci Oly Tournament (UCCS) | 6 April (Sat) | John McGrath |
| Pikes Peak Ceiling Climb (Manitou Springs HS) | 7 Apr (Sun) | Don DeLoach, Sean McEntee |
| (Round Valley Dome, Eagar, AZ) | 19-21 Apr (Fri-Sun) | |
| Indoor at Beth Eden | 19 Apr(Fri) | John Christensen |
| Scramble | 28 Apr (Sun) (Postponed) | Jace Pivonka |
| Scramble | 19 May (Sun) | Rick Pangell |
| Scramble | 9 June (Sun) | Sean McEntee |
| Casino Cup, Wendover, NV | 15-17 June | Jack Murphy |
| (Indoor NATS/USIC, Moscow, ID) | 1-5 July | |
| 14-Rounder | 13-14 July | Pete McQuade, John McGrath |
| (Outdoor NATS, Muncie, IA) | 22-26 July | |
| Scramble (Late Day) | 18Aug | Darold Jones (Frank and Chuck will barbecue.) |
| Rocky Mountain FF Champs | 30 Aug – 2 Sep | Don DeLoach, Chuck Etherington, Mark Covington |
| Scramble | 22 Sep | Frank Menanno |
| Scramble | 13 Oct | Jerry Murphy |
| Scramble (Frito Pie) | 3 Nov | Darold Jones (Murph and Don will cook.) |
| Annual Meeting | 11 Jan 2025 | Pete McQuade |
Contest Fees and Dues can be paid by Paypal…scroll way down for further info.
FAI Licenses for USA
Go directly to the NAA (not AMA)
https://naa.aero/membership/fai-sporting-license
Field Notes:
FIELD CATTLE FENCING – ELECTRIC !!
Click here for info and location map: mmm-field-cattle-wire
Gate Lock Procedures on the Lowry Range
Due to a new State Land Board policy, all lessees (e.g., Conoco Phillips, the Hunt Club, the grazing lessee, etc.) and MMM now have their own locks on the gates to the LowryRange.
There are many locks on the gate now, so you need to be extra careful that you DO NOT LOCK OUT another lock by bypassing it when you lock the gate. They should all be linked in series a continuous “chain” so that any lessee can open and close the gate with their lock. Locking out someone else is a sure way to get our lock cut and removed. It also antagonizes other lessees, and we can’t afford to do that. Please make sure that any guests you invite to the field are aware of this. These things may be obvious to us, but they probably aren’t to someone new to the field or who hasn’t encountered multiple locks on a gate before.
If you have any questions about this, especially, if you’re at the gate and are uncertain of what to do, or if you need the combination (which is new since last November) please call or text:
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Pete McQuade, 719-433-5346.
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Chuck Etherington, 720-201-6218
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Don DeLoach, 719-964-7117
For security, we prefer not to give the combination over a widespread e-mail message or on the club website.
Check Back for updates
The MMM Club at the field
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- Wouldn’t You Like To Be a Part of This?
Now, some of the frequently asked questions about Free flight and what one can do to be part of it?
- How does one join? What are the dues? ( MMM dues to the club primarily defray the field lease cost for a place to fly.) Joining the MMM Club is easy. Dues are described in the linknoted at the top and for younger flyers, is waived. .
- The Club Flying Field The MMM Club is fortunate to have one of the finest Free Flight Fields available. It is leased from the Colorado State Land Board and hence their is responsibility involved. The field is located east of E470 on Quincy Avenue in Aurora Colorado. Details on accessing the field are available from the club contacts listed above in “Gate Lock Procedures,” however, the ability to fly on the field is subject to State Land Board and MMM Club Restrictions.
- Field Use and Access Current club members (AMA membership is required for membership) have 24/7 access to the field. Non club members with a valid AMA membership are welcome to fly on the field during club sponsored events.
- Can I come out to the field and watch? We encourage spectators to come out to the field during our flying events and watch the activity. One must first notify the contest director or one of the club officers. The contacts are listed above in “Gate Lock Procedures.”
- I used to build models and I am just getting back into the hobby. What should I do to catch up with the current trends? Will someone help me learn to fly a free flight model? We are a club that encourages participation and are willing to provide what help is necessary to new and returning modelers who are showing an interest in Free Flight Modeling.
- My child flies S/O or TSA models. Where are some club activities so that we can join in? The good news we mentor many S/O and TSA young flyers. The GREAT news is our kids usually take honors in the S/O and TSA programs. Our mentors are World Class and National winners.
What a good, well equipped “FF flight line for two” looks like: (Rick and Murph). Note that the basics include a model and tool box with the rest of the “support” equipment being comfort items!
Pay your MMM Dues or Contest Fees with Paypal!
- Log in to paypal.com
- Click on “Send Money” in the upper menu bar
- In the “To” block, type in mmmffclub@gmail.com, the amount, and click the button “Services”
In the next form where you confirm payment, in the Lower “Subject” and “Message” boxes state what the money is for… annual dues, entry fees and such. When pre-entering a contest that needs event selection or similar, you still need to send in the pre-registration form to the Contest Directors.