Oakland Cloud Dusters
Free Flight from the San Francisco Bay Area and Beyond

Upcoming!

April 01, 2024 11:00 AM • Harry's Hofbrau in Redwood City
April 26, 2024 8:00 AM • Waegell Field
May 04, 2024 8:00 AM • Alameda Naval Air Museum
  • June 16, 2016 6:58 PM | Web Master (Administrator)

    This classic free flight film brought to our attention by Fred Terzian, was made for AMA by Jay Gerber and legendary NFL Football narrator John Facenda. 

    The scenes at Taft were filmed around 1981 at the U.S. Free Flight Champs. OCD members Bud Romak and Roger Gregory can be seen at 1:37. Fred Terzian can be seen at 1:45 on the left in a red shirt, mustache, curly hair and glasses. Manny Andrade can be seen at 2:20 and Bob and Carmen Critchlow can be seen at 8:08. Fred's sons David and Chris, Scott Persons (one of Rod's sons) can be seen at 22:41.

    Enjoy!


  • June 11, 2016 4:25 PM | Web Master (Administrator)

    The Junior United States FAI Free Flight team is preparing to compete in the World Championship at Prelip, Macedonia on August 1-7, 2016.

    AMA financial support does not completely cover World Championship team costs. Jim Parker, team manager, therefore seeks donations to make up the difference. 

    Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. For a donation of $100 or more, you will receive a Team T-shirt. 

    Please refer to Jim Parker's letter for the various ways to help the US Jr Team. 

  • April 30, 2016 10:08 AM | Web Master (Administrator)

    At this contest hosted by our club and with Bill Vanderbeek's support, participants were treated to two beautiful days of flying, delicious lunch on site and great camaraderie. Results coming soon...

    Cameraman's bias towards rubber models shows...

    Click here for pictures from the event. Photo credits to Jim Harris and Andy Bandy.

  • April 03, 2016 12:30 PM | Web Master (Administrator)

    IMPORTANT NOTICE:

    ALL FUTURE LAGUNITA OCD EVENTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED

    ALL LAGUNITA FLYING IS BANNED INDEFINITELY BY STANFORD UNIVERSITY, REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF MODEL

    OCD has received a notice from the Stanford University, banning flying at Lagunita for all types of models, including free-flight rubber powered, electric and glider models. Consequently our Small Field events planned for Lagunita have been cancelled indefinitely, including the event originally scheduled for next weekend, April 10, 2016 8:00 AM. Please disregard the reminder email sent earlier today. 

    We are currently searching for an alternative location to replace Lagunita. If you have any suggestions, please bring them to the Club's attention.

    Best regards,
    Oakland Cloud Dusters

  • March 11, 2016 2:43 AM | Web Master (Administrator)

    Here's a video from last month's IKE WC 2016 contest at Lost Hills for your enjoyment. You'll see some familiar faces!

  • February 17, 2016 1:48 PM | Web Master (Administrator)

    Dear Dusters, 

    The Events Calendar is now complete with all 2016 events on which flyers can earn OCD awards points. 

    The Plans section under OCD Library got two glider additions by our own Tim Batiuk, courtesy of NFFS Digest.

    Ronnie Espolt, Gary Hinze, and Bill Kuhl are putting together a Foam Plane Rubber Powered Airplane Contest. Click here to learn more about this Postal event.

  • January 23, 2016 10:28 PM | Web Master (Administrator)

    "Sunday was the first OCD Small Field Contest of 2016 held  at Lagunita on the Stanfurd (Go Bears!) campus.  With 4 OCDers in attendance plus a guest who got drafted into timer service, it was a low key, but truly enjoyable event.

    Events flown were CLG, HLG, P-30, and 6" CLG.  E-20 and FAC scale testing was in progress as well.  Drizzle throughout the day did not deter the participants and since the field was not flooded we didn't have to worry about stomping the baby frogs as in other years. Flying wrapped up at around 11:00am when everyone pooped out (yeah, we are miserably out of shape) but then  there was the post-contest model retrieval session.  This wonderful event was arranged for by my Hotbox P-30 which had been dragged out of the air by a gnarly oak tree Charlie Brown would have known not to fly close to.

    The model wasn't that high up, probably 20', but nobody had a pole and none of us were willing to climb up the tree in the light rain that developed.  Fortunately Ben had a spool of 50lb line that I was able to tie a weight to for use a as retrieval tool.  1 hour later the model was on the ground, in less than great shape (see attached), mostly due to the fact that the nose got separated from the rest of the fuselage (that's the little piece I am holding with my left hand).  The wing and stab were ok if you don't count the dozens of holes poked into the covering.

    Haoyang and my friend Neftali stuck it out to the bitter end (well, Neftali had to because he rode in with me) but Ben had to eventually go walk his puppies and Truman had long deserted us, later he told me that he had some serious goofing around to do at home. 

    After much deliberation, I've decided to to build a new Hotbox and repair and retire this one, my 3rd in around 37 years.  It is, after all, 23 years old and deserves to live out the rest of it's life hanging from the ceiling along with the other hanger queens.  No viking funeral for this one, it deserves a better fate.

    Oh what a grand thing is this thing we do!

    Manuel. "


  • January 13, 2016 9:58 AM | Web Master (Administrator)

    The NCFFC and other events for the year of 2016 have been added to the Events Calendar and can also be seen here in compact form. Please go to the individual event on the calendar to access the flyer, if one is available.

    At this time, please also consider renewing/starting your Friends of Waegell membership. Friends of Waegell Fund was established to financially ensure the preservation of Waegell Field, the only field currently available in Northern California suitable for holding  free flight contests. Friends of Waegell Field don't pay field rental fees at the contests.

    Please also consider renewing/starting your membership for the Lost Hills Free Flight Model Airfield.

  • January 05, 2016 10:54 AM | Web Master (Administrator)
    Post on NFFS Web Site by JLorbiecki on Mon Jan 04, 2016 7:50 am


    After a long conversation with Dave Mathewson of AMA, I verified that Free Flight models DO NOT need to be registered. We, as FFers, are under the radar in this instance and it is best that we remain that.

    RDT does not institute a control device.

    So, I request that the membership does not contact any FAA officials in regards to questions pertaining to this matter. If there are questions, they should be directed to AMA.

    AMA has spent years with this process and they do have our best interests in mind. Dealing with a federal agency such as the FAA is very frustrating (Dave stated that just when they started to get comfortable with a member of the committee, that person would be replaced with another individual and the process would have to start all over again). We need to trust AMA.

    So, unless you are flying a radio assist model (radios controlling rudder, elevator, motor, and/or ailerons) we do not need to register.

    I hope this clears up the matter with our members. Please pass this information around to any free flighters that have not seen this.

    Thanks

    John Lorbiecki
    NFFS President
  • January 05, 2016 10:46 AM | Web Master (Administrator)
    The date for the Oakland Cloud Dusters Awards Banquet at Scott's Seafood Restaurant has been confirmed as Saturday, March 19th starting at 12 noon. Please look at your calendar and confirm by email to Fred Terzian whether you can be in attendance this year or not. Cost per person is $45 and checks should be made out to "Oakland Cloud Dusters".

    Payment can be made at our next club meeting at Hometown Buffet in Newark on Thursday, January 21st or, you can mail your check to Fred Terzian.

    Email address for confirmations: 

    fterzian@pacbell.net

    Address for mailing the check: 

    Fred Terzian

    4858 Moorpark Avenue

    San Jose, CA 95129-2132

Check out the Upcoming Events page, for a listing of meetings and contests.  Please register for the event in order to receive a timely email reminder.  The reminder email will also contain any last minute information which may be helpful.

The site also manages the membership.  With your paid membership, you can access the members-only section.  As a member, you will be able to:

  • View & update your member information
  • View the names and contact information of other members
  • View club contest scores and overall standings
  • Purchase free-flight items at-cost (Badge Timers and FAI rubber)
  • Access members-only plans

The cost of membership is $15 for 12 months.  Individuals under the age of 19 (AMA Juniors and Seniors) are free, subject to verification.

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