Barnstormers of Flite Fest '25 - ideas welcome

FoamyDM

Building Fool-Flying Noob
Moderator
Barnstorming
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Flite test and model aviators in general are fascinated with the WWI biplanes, and the flying Circus era, where rabid enthusiast of full scale aviation were trying to show the new marvels of aviation. And one of the most amazing to see is a barnstorm. Where a bipe or a one wing plane flew threw an open barn!
barnstorming was born.
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It has been discussed in years past, the with so many great planes of the era that have been released and loved. This year's jenny, the scout XL, and last year's PT-17 biplane dawn patrol. That we though this 10th anniversary Flite Fest might behold a scale Barn for real. But alas jets prevailed.:(

Mission
This thread is to figure out how we can make this barnstorming happen.

My Barnstorming History
I realized after backing off the fervor of how-could-we-make-this-a-reality thought train barreling through, as to why am I so tickled by the idea. (Besides it sounding like a difficult but fun challenge.)
And this is it, I was looking for thrills and chills;
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FoamyDM

Building Fool-Flying Noob
Moderator
Discussion:

Let's start our idea discussion will likely be in these categories;

  1. Barn size (outside and opening)
  2. Good ways to build/have a portable barn
  3. Games to play with it.
  4. Amenities for if there's time.
  5. Other
 

FoamyDM

Building Fool-Flying Noob
Moderator
1. Barn size
My thoughts are that the opening size dictates the rest. So twice the size of the typical wingspan same with height. The scout XL is 5' by 3'.

So a roughly 10'x6' door would be good.

I think it should be as long as it is wide.
 

FoamyDM

Building Fool-Flying Noob
Moderator
2. Good ways to build/have a portable barn
I was originally thinking folded sheets of insulation foam with 2x4s fo bracing...

I have a 5x8 trailer that I can devote some space to. But this idea would be a bit.... Cumbersome (though cool). Then I thought what if it were two facades, with a tarp for sides... :unsure:

Yeah, then a 10'x20' pop up was suggested by @Captain Video . I'm thinking carport would provide support at the end for a facade. But either way... Much better idea.

And they come in RED.
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FoamyDM

Building Fool-Flying Noob
Moderator
Door Panels
I am thinking barn door panels on each end would be important to keep the approach a "Hit or Miss."
 

LitterBug

Techno Nut
Moderator
The "carport" I found on craigslist had a silver top.... So roof colored. Side walls and doorways not provided, but hey, we have 11 months to plan and collect stuff. :)

I also want to fly a barn through the barn.... (or at least a doghouse)
 

LitterBug

Techno Nut
Moderator
I have been looking for videos with film footage from the '20s showing any attemps of flying through a barn. Only thing I have found so far is crashing into structures and a TON of other unbelievable stunts.





Seeing some the old footage, and hearing some of the music, makes me want to throw some 78s on the Victrola and build a Jenny!!
 
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wittpilot

Just Plane Crazy
Very neat idea. Interestingly enough, a gentleman and a friend of mine came to FF this year for the first time. He is actually what you would call a "real life Barnstormer". He has a New Standard Biplane and a Travel Air and gives rides. Sometimes he actually does the rides right out of farmers fields! Give the guy a gander... He's a cool dude.

 

FoamyDM

Building Fool-Flying Noob
Moderator
So should we have 4 fpv cameras
Very neat idea. Interestingly enough, a gentleman and a friend of mine came to FF this year for the first time. He is actually what you would call a "real life Barnstormer". He has a New Standard Biplane and a Travel Air and gives rides. Sometimes he actually does the rides right out of farmers fields! Give the guy a gander... He's a cool dude.

Freakin' cool. Do you know Dewey?
If so please PM me a contact, I would love to interview him on the aviation RC Noob Podcast. And his plane would be a perfect bipe livery.
 

L Edge

Master member
Why not have a showstopper of a barnstormer flying thru a wall as shown at 21 sec of the mid video.

All you need is 2 posts to hold it up, a wall painted like a barn or house where the wall is made out of thin balsa wood. Size should be about 4 foot high by 8 feet long for a top pilot to hit.

Now, let a miniature Jenny(whatever) take off and line up and do it's thing at full power. Ever watch a pylon race and see 2 balsa planes collide? It's a snowstorm of balsa.

Guaranteed, it would be a show stopper.
 

wittpilot

Just Plane Crazy
So should we have 4 fpv cameras

Freakin' cool. Do you know Dewey?
If so please PM me a contact, I would love to interview him on the aviation RC Noob Podcast. And his plane would be a perfect bipe livery.
I do! I can PM you his contact info later today! I will say that he is also suuuuuuper busy and he's almost entirely hard to track down lol. But it's always worth a try. He has been entertaining doin ghis own podcast for awhile now as well.
 

FoamyDM

Building Fool-Flying Noob
Moderator
I do! I can PM you his contact info later today! I will say that he is also suuuuuuper busy and he's almost entirely hard to track down lol. But it's always worth a try. He has been entertaining doin ghis own podcast for awhile now as well.
I really appreciate it.