Lawrence Air-Istocrats – 80 Years Ago This Month

Two Outdoor Meets Coming Up!  (click to view Flyer)

Durham, CT – Sun. Aug 9

Amesbury, MA – Sat. Aug 22

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“Charlie” – the mascot and logo for the Lawrence Air-Istocrats!

 

The “Bruised Finger Boys” at Grogan’s Field in North Andover, MA ca 1940’s

 

Walt Leonhardt preps his “Little Dynamite” control line model while a youthful crowd looks on.  July 1946
An Ohlsson .23 powered “Wedgy” free flight model is tuned up just prior to launch.  July 1946
An exciting Strato Cat “Speedwing” Class B Control Line model launch. July 1946
1961 Lawrence Air-Istocrats Club Charter signed by AMA President Pete Sotich.
Modeler’s Haven Hobby Shop ca 1940’s. This popular hobby shop on Manchester Street in Lawrence, MA was a hub for local aeromodelling activity for many years.

Our Club History 
Our Stealth Squadron Flying Aces Club #49 carries on the long standing tradition of Free Flight model aviation in Massachusetts’ Merrimac Valley.  Before there was such as thing as Radio Controlled model airplanes, the Lawrence Air-Istocrats were flying Free Flight and Control Line models. 

Gas powered models were the latest thing just prior to World War II and while stick and tissue free flight rubber powered models were still popular, many youthful modelers built and flew the higher performance balsa and silk free flight and control line models. 

Control line models grew in popularity as they flew in 60ft circles thus allowing them to be flown on city and town sandlots and ballfields.  This was an important consideration for many modelers who were too young to drive.

Kids and Dads saved up and bought model airplanes and engines at their local hobby shop.  Modeler’s Haven, a popular hobby shop in the mill  city Lawrence, MA, was a hub for modeling activity in the Merrimac Valley.  This store became the de facto headquarters of the Air-Istocrats model airplane club. 

My how things have changed over 80 years!   Local hobby shops have all but disappeared and noisy gas engines have been pretty much banned from public spaces.  Ongoing real estate development has resulted in fewer open spaces where free flight and even control line models can be flown.  Ever advancing radio controlled models are typically flown (with FAA restrictions) on dedicated club fields in suburban or rural areas.

Today, the Flying Aces Club harkens back to the earliest days of model aviation.  We build and fly simple, lightweight, silent and environmentally friendly rubber powered free flight model airplanes.

It’s fun to look back on our history as we continue this creative pastime.  Many thanks to clubster Kevin Barrett, one of the original “Bruised Finger Boys”, for the photos in the sidebar.

See you in the tall green stuff, skyster!

More Guillow’s!

See you at the Woodsom Farm (Amesbury, MA) Outdoor Meet Saturday May 16

Event Flyer HERE

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Clubster John K’s beautiful Guillow’s Pilatus Porter is almost ready for flight testing.

 

Sam B’s new Guillow’s 28in span Sopwith Camel. Super Capacitor electric powered – the supercap is mounted on the firewall to get as much weight forward as possible. Cowl to be installed after initial flight testing.

 

Sam’s elegant 34 inch wingspan Guillow’s Spirit of St Louis. This photo was taken before its eventful first flights.
And the aftermath.. The “Spirit” flew great – a little too great in fact. Story in this post.
Another big Guillow’s kit coming together. This one is Tom N’s 34in span Junkers Ju87 Stuka. Another Super Capacitor powered free flight scale model.
This fun little paper glider will be available as a free download in a soon to publish Historic New England blog post. Stay tuned!

New Models Galore!  

ALERT:  the outdoor season opener is Saturday May 16 on the big field at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, MA.  Check out the Flyer and get your models ready!

Simple Fun!

How young were you when you folded and flew your first paper glider?  Maybe that simple act of creating something that worked set you on a path as an engineer, artist, or even pilot. 

In preparation for the June 20 Flying Aces “Engineers in Training” event at the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm in Newbury, MA, the Stealth Squadroneers will offer a free download paper glider.  The Spencer Peircer – as the little glider is affectionately known, will be featured in an upcoming Historic New England blog post which reaches as many as 33,000 members. 

We’ll share the HNE post here when it drops.  In the meantime, why not let the gang know you’re attending the big to do on June 20 and share the event with your friends and family!

Guillow’s Flight Test Reports

Sure it’s been cool, but there have been nice days and modelers have been out flying their new models.  Clubster Sam B has been busy building some of Guillow’s most challenging kits.  While many modelers build these kits as display models, Sam flies his models, and with new tech Super Capacitor electric power to boot.  Here’s an early May test flying report:

“First- the Camel does fly.  It meandered over the field, coming close to some trees.  This was on maybe 3.2V (supercapacitor charge).  Didn’t really climb out, but toddled around nicely.  The upshot is that there’s plenty of reserve power.”

 

And then Sam flew his new Guillows Spirit of St Louis.  “At 3.3 V (supercap charge) I got close to a lap, so I opted for 3.4V. This produced a nice climb to about 20′ and then it dawned on me the airplane was still going up. I went chasing as the airplane climbed over some pretty tall trees- gotta be a couple of hundred feet up- maybe more. Somewhere around 3 minutes and change, the airplane lodged in a tree about 30 feet up.  It was coming down at that point.” 

 

The next day, Sam stopped by his test field on the way to the Durham meet.
” I got my Spirit back- but it’s a major rebuild. Talked to the farmer- he said the cows were eating it. I don’t think so- it’s not chewed- but the fuse has been crushed and the wing is busted up pretty well. This was not crash damage. I’m really going to enjoy the next steak I eat….”

So the excitement continues to build in anticipation of the Guillow’s 100th anniversary celebration at the FAC Nats in Geneseo this July.  You don’t want to miss that one skyster!

See you in the tall green stuff!

Final Indoor Meet – Outdoor Season Begins

Georgetown Indoor Meet Sunday April 19!

Event Flyer HERE

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Pinkham Field (Durham, CT) 2026 Full Day Contest & Mini-Meet Schedule

 

Sam B was presented the Congeniality Award for his inspired performance in the WW2 mass launch event at the April 12 Glastonbury indoor meet.
Richard B’s Rich Weber-designed Dewoitine fighter flew well at the Woodsom test field
Chet B’s old Bostonian grabs altitude at Woodsom Farm
The Rittmeister’s pretty Guillow’s Skyraider makes a pass at the Woodsom Farm test field in mid-April, 2026

Get Outdoors!  

But before you do….

ALERT! Indoor Flying at Penn Brook School in Georgetown, MA this Sunday 4/19/2026.  See the Flyer HERE and join us!

Durham, CT Outdoor Meet Fliers Posted

You knew that we recently posted the Dates and Flyers for the upcoming Outdoor Meets at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, MA.  

Well, the Flyers for the Outdoor Model Meets at Pinkham Field in Durham, CT have also now been added to the Calendar.  Meet Flyers will display if you click the Coming Events links on the homepage.  Or click the Pinkham Field schedule image in the sidebar to get a full view of all the Flying Aces Club flying meets in Durham, CT.  Come on out and fly those models you’ve built over this long winter with like-minded folks.  Building stick and tissue model airplanes is a great hobby and sharing that with old and new friends is a big part of the fun!

Remember, you can fly your Jolly Roger outdoors in the Pinkham Field Stick events!

Several Boston-area clubsters have already been out flying at the Woodsom Farm testing field (see pics in sidebar).  Let us know via the Contact Us form if you’d like to join in on these impromptu flying sessions.  The gang often goes out for coffee or lunch after the flying is done.   

See you in the gym and the field!

February Georgetown Meet Pics & Outdoor Flyers

Georgetown Indoor Meet Sunday Mar. 15!

Event Flyer HERE

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Two new Guillow’s models shown at the March 11 club meeting in the Georgetown, MA library. 

 

Steve E’s beautiful new me-109. Flies great!
Dave K compares his new Peanut Peck Zero (light gray) with Steve’s veteran model. Beautiful models!
Richard B shows off his new Wright WP-1 dime scale model. It’s from the Volare short kit.
Another new Guillow’s model. Chris M’s big B-29 is sure to darken the Geneseo sky at the FAC NATS this summer!
Tom M flew his Pete Kaiteris designed “New York Minute” at the Feb 22 Penn Brook School meet in Georgetown, MA. Yes, it’s a Pinkham Field Stick model!

Build, Fly, Fun!  

ALERT! Indoor Flying at Penn Brook School in Georgetown, MA this Sunday 3/15/2026.  See the Flyer HERE and join us!

Woodsom Farm Outdoor Meet Fliers Posted

Well, a few warm sunny days and a modelers’ thoughts turn to flying outside. Unfortunately, that pesky snow is still in the way.  No worries, we’ve still got a couple more indoor flying dates – check the Calendar and take advantage while you can.  

Fine Spring weather is coming of course.  We posted the outdoor flying dates on the big field at Woodsom Farm recently and we’ve now added the Meet Flyers to the Calendar.  These Flyers provide directions to the field, key contacts,  and a list of competition events for the meet.  You can fly your stick & tissue models (no RC) for fun, but you still should register and pay a modest entry fee to offset the field rental.

Consider entering one or more of the events.  It’s all for fun and a great way to improve.   

Hard Winter = New Models!

We’ve had a rough winter.  The upside is lots of new models are getting built.  An impressive fleet of new airplanes showed up at the February indoor meet in Georgetown, MA (see sidebar pics).    

Guillow’s kits are especially popular.  Many of us remember building these as kids, and several have noted how they seem to go together easier now.  Chalk that up to experience, maybe a bit more patience, and new technology (laser cut parts).   

Several clubsters have been building at the monthly club meetings and this is a  casual way to learn building techniques, ask questions and meet other club members.  Like our meets, it’s all low-key and for fun. 

Join the club to get on the mailing list to hear when and where these club meetings are taking place.

See you in the gym!

Oh, Winter Wild!

See you at the Georgetown MA Indoor Meet Sunday Feb. 22!

Event Flyer HERE

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A Mooney Druine Turbulent ravished mid-flight by a hungry Owl on Mt. Killington earlier this month.

 

The perpetrator! – mean old Mr Bard Owl!
The FAC Guillow’s Postal Contest is on! Learn more in this Post.
Mitch K’s Guillow’s Spitfire is finished and ready to take flight.
Ah, the pleasures of winter flying in New England!
An intrepid flyer checks the wind speed off frozen Cape Cod Bay in early February.

Stay warm.  Fly Indoors!  

Penn Brook School in Georgetown, MA this coming Sunday 2/22/2026.  Be there and join our happy (and warm) crew of fliers.  See the Flyer HERE!

Frigid Flying Follies

You can’t fool mother nature, but some folks just can’t help but try.   Sure, there’s two feet of snow on the ground and the thermometer’s plunging faster than a starlet’s neckline.  But heck we’ve gotta fly!

Stories of aero derring-do are coming in from across the frigid northeast.  Did you get wind of clubsters John & Kathi R. trekking down the Cape with a U.K. pal to fly off the frozen dunes during the worst snowstorm in years?  No?  Well, check out John’s photostream HERE.   Now, that’s some good ‘ol Yankee hospitality!

Or how about Mitch K’s terror-filled test flight high up on snowy Mt. Killington, VT?  Mitch tossed his new Druine Turbulent over the powdery snow in his front yard  only to have a Bard Owl snatch the little red model out of the air mid-flight!  Mr. Owl quickly found the Druine less than tasty and dropped the carcass to the snow.  Repairs are underway.   

Guillow’s Postal Contest!

So you can’t wait until the FAC NATS for Guillow’s fun, or you’re just too far away?  

The Guillow’s Postal Contest is underway now and you can fly your Modern or Golden Age Guillow’s models in the event.  To enter, simply take a photo of your model, include it with your best flight time and submit per the instructions HERE.  

Anyone can enter this Postal Event, whether you’ll be in Geneseo for the NATS or not.

Scores will be posted in future issues of the Flying Aces Club News. The Postal Contest ends on December 31, 2026.  Sure sounds like fun, eh skyster? 

Well  that’s all for now.  See you in the gym…. or the deep white stuff if you dare!

Go Guillow’s!

See you at the Georgetown MA Indoor Meet Sunday Jan. 11

Event Flyer HERE

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Mitch used all the kit parts and stringers, but cut them back on the inside to reduce weight. Lighter flies better!

 

More “added lightness” is evident in the Spitfire’s wing frame. Use the stock plastic cowl!
Here’s the 34in span Stuka under construction by Tom N. Note the laser cut parts. No lightening planned for this model – it’ll be gas powered free flight scale!
A challenging subject! This Rufe was started by Jim W’s girlfriend years ago. Will it be finished up and flying this spring?
Guillow’s 500 Series Spitfire kit on clubster Mitch K’s workbench. This is the die cut version, but many Guillow’s kits are now available with laser cut parts.

Guillow’s 100th Anniversary!  

Happy New Year – and what a year it’s going to be for us model airplane enthusiasts!

Three cheers for traditional stick & tissue modeling!

January 11 Indoor Flying in Georgetown, MA

Yep, 2026 is off to a flying start.  Say boo to bad weather and fly indoors.  If you missed the Jan 4 contest at Glastonbury HS in CT, we’re flying again this Sunday Jan 11 at the Penn Brook school in Georgetown, MA.  You’ve been building away over the holidays and here’s your chance to get some airtime.  

The Event Flyer has all of the details including directions to the gym and key contacts.

Guillow’s at the 2026 FAC NATS

 What, you haven’t heard the news?!  Well, join our parent org, the national Flying Aces Club, and get with the program.  Their bi-monthly hardcopy newsletter brings you all the best in the stick & tissue modeling world including several full-size building plans in every issue.  Sign up at flyingacesclub.com!

If you’re a modeler, you likely know about Guillow’s.  But did you know it’s the oldest continuously operating model airplane company in the world?  And sure, puff your chest out a bit because Guillow’s is located right here in Wakefield, MA!

Stealth Squadroneers love Guillow’s models.  We usually have a handful of Guillow’s models flying at our meets and they win competition events too!

 We’ve hosted the family fun “Flying Aces Take Flight” event with Guillow’s at the Spencer Peirce Little Farm in Newbury, MA the past two summers and it’s scheduled again for 2026.

So hear ye, hear ye local modelers – here’s your chance to “go national” and fly your Guillow’s model in free flight with like-minded folks from around the country and beyond.  Join your fellow Stealth Squadroneers – the Guillow’s Home Team – in beautiful Geneseo, New York this coming July.

The FAC will recognize Guillow’s models flown in each of their NATS competition events and there will be a fun “mass launch” of all Guillow’s models as part of the Guillow’s 100th Anniversary celebration.  Models should be built right out of the Guillow’s kit box using the kit wood (die cut or laser cut) and plastic parts.  The model may be lightened by sanding and/or reducing the width of the sheetwood parts.  More guidance will be posted here soon.  Stay tuned. 

In the meantime, check out the pictures in the sidebar to see how some clubsters are already building their Guillow’s models.  It’ll be fun to chat it up with your fellow modelers at the indoor flying meets and find out who’s building what and how they’re doing it.

See you in the gym skyster!

Georgetown Indoor Event Roster Set

Check out the Georgetown MA Indoor Event Flyer HERE

Build & Fly!

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Indoor Meet dates and competition events at the Penn Brook Middle School in Georgetown, MA. Full Flyer HERE.

 

Good Bye Outdoor Flying Season!
It was a bit of a hike to the Embryo Endurance ROG table. Windy day!
Fabulous engine detail on Vance G’s Laird Limousine FAC Scale model!
Tom N’s Dave Livesay designed AT-6 won Simplified Scale at the Nov 8 Woodsom

Outdoor Season Wrap Up  

Halloween has come and gone and the first snow flakes have fallen.  Thanksgiving is around the corner and the model building season has begun.  Hopefully, you’ve got a new project underway – a Jolly Roger one design perhaps.   Not started yet?  Well, download the plan and get to the building board.  You’ll have a model ready to fly in no time!  

The Georgetown Indoor Meet Flyer has been posted – check your model fleet and join us to fly in one or more of the Events.  It’s fun!

November 8 Finale at Woodsom Farm

Ah, the wind!  Good bye to the light and variable breezes we enjoyed for most of the Fall flying season.  Jackets, hot coffee and longer chases were the order of the day at the Nov 8 meet at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, MA.  As always, flyers enjoyed a nice day out on the field with new and old friends.   The Pinkham Field Stick event was as exciting as ever and a bevy of beautiful rubber-powered free flight scale models were flying nicely.  A simple Megow Primary was the only scale glider flown – at times it looked more like a kite than a model airplane on the towline!

Check out the Event Results below:

See you on the flightline skyster!

Gear Up for Indoor Flying!

Jolly Roger is the 2025-26 indoor season One Design!  Get the Plan HERE 

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Tom G’s big, beautiful Guillow’s SE5 climbs out into the blue Woodsom sky
Chris M’s neat little Stuka put up some great flights at the Oct 11 meet
Rick H with his high-flying “Flying Fool” NRE Tribute model
Richard B launches his Guillows Jetstream. Lots of Guillow’s models were flying at the Oct. 11 meet
Jolly Roger flight results from the first indoor flying session at Glastonbury HS on Oct. 12
Steve E watches his P-51 Mustang circle overhead at the Oct. 11 Woodsom Farm meet

Two More Outdoor Meets Coming Up!  

Yes, the Indoor flying season is right around the corner.  In fact, it’s already started – the first flying session in Glastonbury, CT was on October 12.  But there’s still a couple opportunities to fly in the cool fall air; check the Upcoming Events on the sidebar and plan to join us at the field.

Fabulous Weather at Woodsom Farm!

What wonderful flying weather we’ve had this Fall!  The Stealth Squadroneers put up many terrific flights at the Woodsom Farm Oct. 11 meet.  The Pinkham Field Stick event was a highlight with Steve E leading the pack by late morning with a near 2min flight on his Goose Canard.  Doug G chased him hard, eventually hooking a thermal with his Blue Ridge Special.  Unfortunately it flew off the field and into the top of a tall pine tree just 4 seconds short of Steve’s time.  Drat!  Pinkham Field Stick can be a tricky event as it’s easy to lose your model taking you out of the competition.  Fortunately, these models are quick to build and easily to replace.  The Jolly Roger is a great choice as you can also fly this year’s One Design model in the Pinkham Field Stick event!

Cast an orb over the Event Results below:

2025-2026 Indoor Flying Dates Posted!

Ah, they’re here finally.  The indoor meet dates for both the Penn Brook School in Georgetown, MA and the Glastonbury High School in CT have been posted to the Calendar on this site.  As always, you’ll see the next few upcoming dates in the Coming Events on the homepage sidebar.  Indoor flying is fun.  You can count on good weather, but those walls can get in the way sometimes! 

Jolly Roger One Design Downloads Available!

We’ve finally gotten around to posting the One Design model Plan, Construction Article and Rules for the 2025-26 Indoor season.  Download the Plan and Article – free as always – from the One Design page on this site.

Jolly Roger is an unusual pusher canard design, but it’s easy and quick to build.  A bunch of them have already been flying and putting up good times in the Glastonbury HS gym – see the October Results chart in the sidebar.

Hustle over to the building board and get yours ready for the next indoor flying session!

See you on the flightline skyster!

Come Fly With Us!

See you at the Saturday, Oct 11 Woodsom Farm meet! 

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A budding model aviation enthusiast at the Sept 13 Spencer Peirce Little Farm event. Event More Photos HERE
Flightline at the Woodsom Farm Sept 21 Stealth Sqdn meet.
Racers mass launch at the Sept 14 Durham, CT Pinkham Field meet
Steve E’s new Schweizer towline scale glider at the Sept 21 Woodsom Farm meet
Doug G’s Embryo launch at the Sept 21 Woodsom Farm meet
Chambermaid racer climbout at the Sept 14 Durham meet
Hawker S’s Flying Aces Moth flew in the FAC Sport event at the September 14 Durham, CT meet.

Join in on the Fun!  

The leaves are turning and the air is crisp.  Perfect weather for flying old time free flight model airplanes!  There’s been a veritable hurricane model flying activity going on in the Northeast.  Let’s do a quick recap. 

Sept 13 Flying Aces Take Flight! Event

The weather was perfect for this Guillow’s-sponsored public event at Historic New England’s Spencer-Peirce Little Farm in Newbury, MA.  Light winds made for lots of flying for the Stealth Squadron’s traditional stick & tissue models and the Guillows Jetstream models that were handed out with each Admission Ticket.  Full scale light aircraft flew overhead throughout the event, taking off or landing at the adjacent Plum Island airport.  A terrific time was had by all of the youngsters and the young at at heart.  Clubster John R kept things interesting on the PA system and has posted some great photos of the event HERE.   Thanks to all who participated – and see you at next year’s event! 

Amesbury, MA & Durham, CT model airplane meets

The day after the SPL event, Pinkham Field at Whites Farm in Durham, CT was buzzing with stick & tissue model airplanes filling the sky.  This field is the birthplace of the modern Flying Aces Club and has been the site of traditional rubber powered free flight model airplane flying for decades.  Mark your calendar for the November 16 “Turkey Fly” outdoor season closing meet.  It’s a classic!

The Stealth Squadroneers have been busy flying their models on the big rolling fields of Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, MA.   A few photos from the Sept 21 meet are presented in this post.  You’ll have another opportunity to fly and join the fun at Woodsom Farm this coming Saturday October 11.  Check out the FLYER for the contest event roster, directions, etc. 

Georgetown, MA Indoor Dates Coming Soon!

Rumor is that the Rittmeister has received confirmation on the Indoor Flying Dates at the Penn Brook Middle School in Georgetown, MA.  Keep an eye on the Calendar page on this site for the updates.   The Indoor Flying season is almost upon us (gasp!) 

See you at the flying field!