&RLEru5ELAGE O RRDIO CONTROL MoML fl4 fS_________________________________________________ Left Chet Lanzo holds RC model won 1937 NatIonal Contest copy artIcle December 1937 Air Trails reproduction model done Lahzo display AMA Museum Right Drawing modelS-ft span almost 6 lb i 5- cT flozsnsL Z TRGET SWRLUN0 1NI4 CONDEN5ER 00 THIS IS THE STORY Radio Control model aircraft got started US tells pioneers developed RC hobby combining knowl edge skills related experiences earlier inventors background prior invention hobby RC presented preceding issue gas model gas engine two essential ingredients ar rived during early 193 Os Ham radio its compact homemade receivers transmitters also came during same period Military commercial interests demonstrated feasibility RC large boats aircraft during 1920s ingredients theretechnically clever dedicated inspired mod elers invent hobby RC aircraft HOOO L-XMi[ IA0LllNOALIhArhi1LWfl Left Circuit diagram Lanzos three-tube receiver Right Lanzo 1976 version 1934 RC-1 plane 1934 radio equipment didnt work butthe plane flies well Antique RC modern RC system Below Drawing Lanzos 1937 motorized rudder actuator METHOD Acmxrnis DDF TAB An important stimulation came June ____________1936 announcement new m Win. FWiw CLinicly-formed AMA RC event would added 1936 National Contest Detroit no RC models made ap pearance 1936 event However rumors rampant RC ships _____________being secretly built 1937 AMA Nats different wiREstory Six RC models actually appeared PILAY 14r L7Z]causing great excitement expectations following account RC event 1937 Nats again Detroit first-ever RC contest US Whether first world known certainty point may covered r information available Perhaps article will stimulate some foreign responses 58 Model Aviation z-D ~ imI iAxJdImmY ~.44 U Iq41-46 re p t40 Awm 1I 0 RECEIWIG APPARKrU8 INSTAUI V IN PLANic Left PatSweeneyand 1937 Nats second-place RC plane rudder control 10-ft span 9-lb weight Right Drawing Sweeneys RC receiver actuator reproduced August1938 Short Wave TV Magazine 1937 Nets flight lasted five seconds Left Elmer Wasman holds 1 0-lb RC model won third place 1937 rudder/aileron elevatorcontrol also engine cutoff Right Rear view Wasmans piano shows air-driven four-biaded propeller mounted front fin powerfor moving control surfaces Photos Wasman Below Jacksonville FL paper clipping 1937 shows Wasman explaining White Mystery students Sunday July 11 dawned warm clearerat ion its constrols during pre-flight Detroit Wayne County Airportground tests made written notes promise afternoon showerswhat observed no RC Hundreds Free Flight modelers whoregulations judges novices competing week inand pioneers too six models various events already testing theiraccepted being eligible RC catmodels fieldegory Official flying attempts sched morning six RC models wereuled commence early afternoon being assembled hangar variety attempts related now concepts converted reality byorder actual flight sequence pioneersare based magazine reports Chester Lanzo Cleveland OHNats recent interviews between author Patrick Sweeney Chicago ILand living fliers small extent Elmer Wasman Jacksonville FLupon authors memory exciting Walter Good Kalamazoo MIday Leo Weiss Brooklyn NY B Schiffinan New York NY help radiomen tuning adjusting ready machines ground demonstrations control operation radio judges planes ranged eight 14 feet span weighed six 16 pounds Patrick J Sweeney first entrant attempt flight late thirties oldest pilot six own-design cabin plane 10-ft span 18-in chord Total weight 9 lb 3 lb radio gear Almost 2 lb batteries system April 1986 59 p OO0It0MoooIJ046.IIlGGI00.4jJ o-Thi-i Controls varied rudder full house rudder ailerons elevator en gine No two alike originals judges carefully observed plane pilot demonstrated remote op Left Wait Good 1936KG FF model converted RC 1937 RIght Goods 1937 RC plane big won fourth place Nats rudder elevator controls large box 50-watt transmitter email box contains two receivers relays batteries small FF Gas plane picture early version Guff thunderstorm prevented Goods 1937 Nats flight demo needed 90 volts meant two 45-volt B batteries Pat ran hobby store Chicago time plenty materials know-how build large plane carry payload also flying gas models competition placed 17th out 43 1936 Nats Leo Vartanian Chicago Aeronuts told recently Pat competed regularly days radioman Ben F Porter came up three-tube receiver using superregenerative detector 5-meter band 56 60 MHz controlling rudder control used old springwound alarm clock four-point cam switch give positions neutral right neutral left etc sequence pulse transmitter push button stepped rudder next position magazine article stated began finished entry about month complete radio equipment assumed probably no extra time pre-contest test flights trim plane shake out problems1 back meet Phil Zecchi tellas description2 Finally Pat Sweeney warmed en gine signalled ready official flight few picked officials Pat brought model deserted tract runway prepared launching transmitter established distant Schematic drawing Goods 1937 actu ator showing simple gears magnet point receiving set plane tested being done newsreel crew moved camera approximate location takeoff finally Sweeney raised arms radioman stand Soon engine roaring actually behold first official flight radio-controlled gas model Guiding model its wingtip Pat ran behind until started lift its wheels off ground newsreel men shooting rapidly Suddenly model pointed its nose sky high climb evident could recover Slipping over its left wing crashed ground entire flight lasted five seconds wing tip de molished slight injury sustained motor mount Insofar could judged would have swell flight except center gravity model too far back did make another attempt cause damage event Pat Sweeney credited first attempted RC flight National Contest Elmer Wasman next welldesigned system called White Mystery because wind-driven propeller front fin No knew what did except Elmer3 industrial arts degree teaching aeronautics Jacksonville ju nior high school time 28 middle group entries concern mg age 1 l-ft-span plane chord 18 weighed 14 lb including radio gear 165 sq ft area gives 136 oz/sq ft wing loading model really needed Forster 99 engine 16-in prop fly climb marginally slow safe4 third gas model plane provided controls rudder/aileron elevator ignition cutoff engines RC event ignition type requiring spark coil batteries Elmers control system elabo rate early days radio signal went first airborne receiver 60 Model Aviation Rudder elevator actuators 1937 model Bill Good 1937 50-watttransmitter push-button control right hand Note 110-volt AC power line running back hangar photo Glen Peterson closed relay contact selector switch sequential switch five positions give up down elevator left right rudder engine cutoff Absence signal gave neutral rudder elevator full engine selector contact arm driven air paddle wheelcould stopped five contacts sending correct number pulses Ex amples pulse would give left rudder two pulses right rudder three pulses up elevator four pulses down elevator Five pulses would cut off ignition stop engine Note control function available time control held long needed pilot proceeded next control characteristic sequential system does allow simultaneous operation various controls However desired single con trol could obtained quickly set three navigation lights mounted plane connected red left rudder green right white down elevator Thus visual indication activated control did signal activate control surface selector wiper connected signal five electromagnets engaged rotating shaft selected control surface rotating shaft powered four-bladed air propeller mounted front vertical fin Again air power motive force Very cleverand complex Perhaps plane called White Mys terybecause very few understcod complicated mechanism transmitter end used simple switch watching navigation lights keep track airborne selector position receiver three-tube regenerative detector 5-meter band whole control system weighed 35 lb big ship carried easily smaller model powered Brown Jr used test bed check out individual components before mounting big plane turn fly saw dark thunderstorm approaching tried hurry things along Roy Marquardt strained launched giant plane gusty air Elmer worked busily transmit ter control plane nosed up stall sagged ground ending its flight abruptlyand much too soon suit Elmer said later hadnt time test fly big ship before meet turned out tail-heavy caused stall Such happenings nor mal developing something new Hind sight says Elmer tells him should have entered smaller ship simpler con trol first meet scored third place Elmer has retired several years divides time between Florida Illinois still spends hours Free Flight models well RC power glider models Chester Lanzo lightest plane entries just under 6 lb including 2 lb radio gear flown radio several times obtain proper balance tail angle engine downthrust must fly well itself before adding radio reasoned very wise approach Design plane basic func tional wing 9-ft span 14-in chord generous dihedral 13 per tip body 5-ft tray 3 wide 1 deep 6-in-high wire cage hold wing well above body radio parts simply fastened tray location maintain proper balance pointand very good accessibility parts Lanzo told made cabintype gas model 1934 experimented RC using spark-gap transmitter coherer receiver5 said approach failure RC plane engine vibration interrupted radios function ing Furthermore spark ignition engine swamped nearby receiver coherer undesired instructions rudder blocking out desired signals Left Overhead view Leo 1937 RC piane Fergusson prototypetwln-cyiinderengine Weiss couidnt getaterted atthe Nata Right Leo Weiss Inspecting Fergusson engine John Lopus adjusting airborne receiver eeriy tuned reed system April 1986 61 Above Leo Weiss standing behind 1 4-ft BC plane 1937 Nets 12 kneeiing spectators Modei pienked eli over Picture cornea RC ModelAwcraft Engiend 1944 Right Leo kneeling behind tail piene three RC en tries making fiightetthe 1937 Nets itwes awarded fifth piace Left Leo Weiss arm front rudder working Denny Radio-Plane Wright Field 1939 Right Ground control unit used con trol CulverCadets larger RC drones GCU also carried communications gear Leo shown atthe controls 1939 design Below Oops professional RCers sometimes make hard landing see picture poor Cuiver Cadet Wright Field 1939 RC pilot called plane RC-l today flies replica Antique RC competitions 1937 radio receiver home-built using three vacuum tubes superregen erative detector circuit operated homemade relay turn caused small geared electric train motor move rudder control through cycle neutral right neutral left etc long transmitter key held down Straight flight obtained key-down position because slowly-re sponding plane would show slight snaking path rudder oscillated back forth make turn key would released moment full rudder deflection deflected rudder would become effective plane would bank itself circling path very simple required piloting practice develop skill precision flight path control scheme another advantage Lanzo said transmitter could tuned receiver air watching rudder wiggled Such tuning com mon days Batteries problem entrants heavy costly short-livedespecially 45-volt B bat tery vacuum tube plate supply Chet found source Cleveland tiny 2oz normal ones 11 oz battery made weather sondes Its life span maximum two hours shelf life just two weeks remember con tacting company back rec ommended battery ordered latest moment sent airmail stayed 1 l-oz units two-tube transmitter used 500 volts output tube required 110-volt AC line flying site organizers anticipated need long extension cord started lcoking transmitter needed too friendly spectator brought 200-ft cord camper plugged nearby hangar use Ready fly Lanzo walked off find judges stray Free Flight gas model spiraled nearby causing frightened spectator step backwards Chets plane rupturing few ribs wing quick repair made Pat Sweeneys help Lanzo ready fly weather getting windier due approach summer thunderstorm started hurry cranked up Baby Cyclone engine set needle valve medium speed started forward launch Before could release plane engine slowed touch needle valve speeded engine off went plane slowclimbing circle Chet raced back transmitter plane gently zigged zagged pilot tried coax Figure 8 maneuver Suddenly engine quit plane glided down parking lot edge airfield flight time around two minutes must have seemed much longer Chet Chester Lanzo used gas model Free Flight experienceas well radio knowledgeto pull off first place Thus attained historical honor being first winner first RC National Contest US Prior Nats made few RC test flights plane Cleveland fact flights made park next Dick Kordas house ran AC extension out Dicks bedrcom window transmitter Lanzos philosophy starting simplest plane radio combination wise approach would have happier much longer flight 62 Model Aviation duatrn9ma9iid J6rczpemeaLMnd Left Ross Hull Byron Goodman 1937 13-ft RC glider West Hartford CT Right Diagram radio components Installa tion glider Photo drawing reproduced January1938 ModelAirplane News Hull editor ARRLs QSTmagazlne Chetwas23atthe 1937 Natsandtoday still active models special izing FF Rubber Power RC assisted Old-Timers Hes retired NASA still very busy recent projects building replica 1937 RC winner donating AMA Museum November 1984 complete Baby Cyclone vintage wing working rudder control first three places awarded basis flight performance place ment last three entries based ground demonstration did attempt fly Walt Good 8-ft-span model build 1935 close copy Kovel-Grant KG-8 powered Brown Jr engine flew Free Flight Gas meets 1936 well-tuned stable flight end season 36th FF Gas 1936 Nats Twin brother Bill just 21 years old resident radio ham W8IFD family thinking about RC KG-8 talked placing receiver antenna wires wings built 1935 fall 1936 won approval Kala mazoo College take lab course physics department design RC sys tem particularly transmitter re ceiver though professor specialist electronics offered great encouragementand three semester hours credit surprise receiver hurdle passed quickly converted onetube superregen circuit operate sensi tive relay rather its normal head phones7 trick placing variable resistor grid circuit adjusted give best current swing relay first relay constructed inexpensive meter movement No vember bread-board system working bench system mounted plane RC rudder control demonstrated Kalamazoo College Science Fair January 1937 During May six flights under radio control made Kalamazoo Air port using rudder control results tests showed necessary increase area rudder its deflection obtain effective turns also indication spiral stability KG very generous therefore very safe rudder-only control Once working RC plane given name Guff slang word college campus Very loosely trans lated meant thats lot nonsense Its impossible describe thrill first RC flights change path plane left right touch switch caused great shouts rise flights made dawn have still air get us back school eight oclock class mornings airport manager Try Woodhams awoke just time see Guff glide landing thought full-size plane landing outside airport organized search party find lost plane packed up driven back school several years later before found out what really happened now 80s lives Florida recently opportunity meet again reminisce about days rudder actuator rubberband driven gear train small electromagnet operated relay allowed gears turn whenever transmitter key held down fact result similar Lanzos cycling system because rudder would stop its current position transmitter off Cautious beeps push button would inch rudder toward sometimes yond desired position Looking back now realize control method too slowthree seconds neutral full-rudder addition pilot no knowledge rudder position except watching action plane did work rudder worked well enough con sider adding elevator control Bill added another push button another frequency transmitter operating 56 Continued page 141 Left Hulls second RC glider 18-footer ready launching slope thIs 1938 photo ARRL Right Hulls restored 1938 RC glider hangs museum Amateur Radio Relay League headquarters Newington CT photo taken July 1983 durIng Goods research visit L-R Wait Good Bill Good Laird Campbell Joel Kleinman Byron Goodman Pete Reed Note Byron Goodman inthis picture isthesame ByronGoodman shown Ross Hull inthe 1937 photo Next month RC atthe Natsfrom 1 938to1 941 April 1986 63 904 478-6745 Al Featuring fast service qualified eopIe latest equipment including SPECTRUM ANAL YZER AM FM SIGNAL GENERATOR Call Sam Leonard Tony Stiliman custom work competition needs stock complete hobby line specializing competition accessories discounted prices RADIO SOUTH-m AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER FOR Kruft Pro Line w Futeb 43 West Nine Mile Rd Pensacola FL 32514 * Sales Service er Inquiries Welcome * has seven channels receiver usually something think about install gives problems Im very happy tell has never given hint glitch Airtronics has wide range excellent servos system equipped 94554s servo features ball-bearingsupported output shaft careless motor 04-second transit time 900 735 inch-ounces output torque really like 94554s have lot luck over years So have youre market new radio dont check new Airtronics Module 7H out Let know what think think has capabilities bringing new dimension Heli-flying New LIMP Hughes 500 fuselage Also shown months photos new Hughes 500 shell 50160-size mechan ics fuselage epoxy-glass 43 long weighs 19 oz available D E matter C versions par ticular model shown photos built Jim Brandon Lakewood CA features OMP Cobra mechanics OS 50 FSR-H engine Quest gyro weighs 9 lb ready fly real hot rod fuselage designed Cobra mechanics mind has plenty room will take other kinds well Beginners corner con fusing things new Heli-flier set up throttle/rudder mixing function Helicopter radio Some Helicopter radios have very simple rudder/throttle mixing function consisting two rate knobs marked REV ACC slide switch marked LEFT/OFF/RIGHT task really very simple can dialed relatively quickly must first determine whether have left- righthanded main rotor Looking rotating disc above does rotate clockwise anti-clockwise have Schluter Hirobo Kalt Gorham product rotor spins clockwise right-handed rotor Set slide switch position marked RIGHT have diffearent-style radio adjust proper rotor rotation according its operating instructions tail-swinging problem trying overcame occurs because power added main rotor torque applied fuselage opposite direction rotation main rotor causes fuselage swing left machine right-handed rotor cure dial enough tail-rotor compensation fuselage stays straight Check adjustment holding machine steady hover giving quick blip throttle nose swings left compensation necessary nose swings right radio overcompensating radio must ad justed accordingly Once have mix set properly nose Helicopter will stay fairly stationary making climbs descending Now addition gyro nose will stable mother-in-law should able handle Good luck hope stops some twitchy tails months three-view 1960 US Department Defense issued Tech nical Specification 153 light Obser vation Helicopter Hughes submitted model 369 flying egg referring its shape 369 won campetition received its Army designation OH-6 code-named Cayuse Based Allison 250-series turbine engine Hughes product seemed ideal military service beginning Referred Hughes 500 commercial customers little machine has proved tough com petition Bell Jet Ranger Featuring fully-articulated rotor Hughes both nimble very fast Because 500s unique shape its appearance Magnum P1 TV series probably secand-most-recognized machine right hind Jet Ranger Model SOOs available Kalt Schluter Eberles Great Lakes Graup ner UMP Peka Have good month think about checking head screws engine once recently Heli show signs losing power found head leaking BCNU Lariy Jolly 5501 W Como Santa Ana CA 92703 RC History/Good Continued page 63 60 MHz built another receiver relay actuator end June six ffights made new dual control system definitely trickier control heard other entries plan ning use dual controls wanted prepared Gulls weight up 8 lb including 2 lb radio gear gave 13 oz/sq ft wing loading too much considering thick Grant wing section power Brown Jr its homemade 16-in-dia propeller Nats ground control demon stration went well sal waited turn fly Bill present since already gone job radio operator summer camp Another amateur Paul Kreiick W8QQE assisting After watching first three entries make attempts approaching storm finally arrived along rain judges scuffled hangar shelter flight attempted due Continued page 146 April 1986 141 DIN Lookfo u fa o e hobby shop send SASE free catalog Kin-Craft Mfg Inc 14323 TwIn Ridge Ashland Kentucky 41101 606-928-4763 use best Specializing Fiber-glass tape Fiber-glass cloth Polyester resin Resin Hardener Micro-Balloons Primers ner Paint filters Engine oil & Oil kits Engine cleaner Protective gloves Dust Masks Sponge & applic kits Contact cement F ROLLLU PLANS UT PARIS 1/2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT 3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX RC History/Good Continued page 141 rain lateness day both disappointed relieved Guff awarded fourth place background 12 test flights expect stable Guff would have come through OK official flight possible Looking back wish stuck rudder control beginning simplicity learning steps early RC Both Bill now retired very busy hobbies power boater live aboard cruiser ardent ham radio operator W2C VI Liverpool NY Im living Port Richey FL am active RC history articles RC Sailplanes few AMA committees several RC clubo some ham radio W3NPS/4 talk together least twice week stationssometimes about early RC days Hes part memory bank Leo Weiss youngest RC entry 18 largest most-sophisticated RC plane entries 14-ft wing planked sheet balsa stream lined monocoque body doped both sides balsa sheets stiffen shell construction weighed 16 lb cluding radio gear builtthat big wing college rooming house hard imagine sophomore aero engineering University Michigan happened9 6 lb high-tech radio gear Leos plane alone weighed slightly Lanzos complete 9-ft RC plane Power came prototype two-cylinder Fer gusson engine rated adio gear far ahead its time hobby RC three control channels rudder elevator engine op erated three electric motors Six tuned reeds selected desired commands respondinging six different audio tones reed system later became very popular inthe 1950s soLeowasontherighttrack John Lopus W8LUS electrical engineering student U M Leos radio specialist project 56 MHz transmitter battery-powered control box three lever-switches would cause selected airborne control move quickly appropriate direc tion true multi-channel system4 did Leo get far along model hobby young age First seasoned veteran Free Flight gas models RC ship fifth gas model third model won Texaco event 1935 St Louis National Con test beating Maxwell Bassett wide margin Leo 64 mm against Maxwells third-place time 36 min Leos secret tuning Brown Jr run over 10 min per ounce fuel took plane 2000 feet big thermals floated plane min utes lucky attend Nats field witness both flights wishing KG finished timewhich wasnt few weeks before 1935 Nats Leo graduated high school age 16 didnt attend graduation ceremonies because tco busy tuning engine trying different props Back 1937 Nats Leo sembled giant model hangar tried vain start special twin engine just wouldnt run give up thought flying Later Leo told beautiful giant plane never flown course several moves after graduation became lost0 scored fifth place should mentioned Leos first RC concepts originated during fresh man year MIT built fourth gas model small electric motors oper ating controls via wires intended tethered controllable flight still college took up flying got pilots license After graduating U M 1939 aeronautical engineer went directly Wright Field first job RC target dronesthe well-known Reginald Denny Radio-Plane Major George Holloman new boss read Leos RC articles cautioned him some material Leo written considered top secret around guess RC hobby ists advanced pro fessionals realized larger realistic RC drone Leo proposed full-scale Culver Cadet lightplane idea okayed compact unit gyros RC gear servos strapped place pilot steered radio ground control unit designed Leo RC Culver Cadets used target drones during WW II still remember some Navy shipboard tests proximity fuze helped develop anti-aircraft shells tests guns shot down number Culver Cadet drones proving effectiveness proximity fuze over conventional clock fuzes result surprising since proximity fuze contained miniature radar sensed nearness target plane triggered explosive time didnt know Leo involved really jumped profes sional RC hurry After WW II Leo started own busi ness manufacturing aeronautical instru ments became very successful An interesting afterthought Roy Marquardt modeler launched Elmer Wasmans plane later board member Leos company Leo now retired leading active life Alexandria VA writing books moderating business forums B Schlffman entered plane RC event strangely enough Ive found no published words pictures about believe first name Bernie 146 Model Aviation flEW PRAIRIE gIRD SO ELECTRIC0 GAS pGWERED / - REAL RIC TRAINER ORANDMA CAN FLY 2-3 CHANNEL RADIO 49 Inch SPAN 05 ELECTRIC 049 15 GAS CATALOG $200NIT $3995 619 442-4636 fGor 619 469-8675 W BOX 2498-MA LA MESA CA 92041 INNOA FUNCucS 7 A SASE FOR NEW CATALOG MARRY N MIGLEY & 801VS INC P o Box 532 GLINWOOD ILL 80425 . SSO EASY TO BUILD HANDCRAFTED KITS AT LOW PRICES F-15 EAGLESKY RAIDERNEPTUNE Wing Span 62 inWeight 4 lbsWing Span 60 inWeight 4 lbsMng Span 62 inWeight 4 lbs Length 53 inEngine 60 -90Length 45 inEngine 45 -60Length 48 inEngine 40 Kits include Pre-built fiberglass fuselage foam cores sheeted balsa machine cut balsa tail surfaces shaped strip ailerons complete hardware pack SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TOVISA & MASTER CARD ACCEPTED HORIZON MODELS INC T-404 Kelly Ave Manchester NH 03103 603 627-9503 Lanzo remembers late Sunday after returning RC area FF Rubber events saw Schiffmans plane standing rain soaked wing water dripping bottom bamboo paper covering doped Further Chet remembers large B battery sitting bottom fuselage amazed tar chipped away 30 cells save weight Beyond meager information know very little except did fly RC plane scored sixth place Can anyone give us some help information B Schiffman 1937 RC plane writing qualifies mystery entry Ross Hull Thus far have related 1937 entries first National Con test RC model planes What about other pioneers RC did enter national event probably know experimented RC being recorded model magazines local news papers Without documented accounts pioneers may never known However group led Ross Hull Connecticut contri butions well-documented 1937 35 Hull associate editor QST magazine journal American Radio Relay League ARRL very skilled radio designer also skilled model planes experiences Australia home country Hart ford CT both countries pub lished series model plane construction local newspapers late 1920s team consisted some talented participants Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL Roland Bourne Byron Goodman Harner Selvidge active hams Hulls team planned RC project 10-ft-span gas-powered RC model dur ing spring 1937 However before construction started Hull Bourne attended Soaring Society America national sailplane meet early July 1937 Elmira NY met Carl W Thompson Jr Wilmington DE both active gas model competitor pilot full-scale gliders Carl brought 13-ft glider meet RC gear built HM Plummer W3DIA simple basic approach oft signal giving right rudder signal left rudder Hulls QST report said ship made several successful hops control working untimely crack-up ended experiment11 Perhaps Thompson/Plummer team deserves recog nition first public RC glider demon stration sure would like find moredetailed report Elmira demonstra tions Hull quickly acquired remains took back Hartford repair DeSoto writes about Hull weeks followed group did little eat sleep talk build radio-controlled model aircraft Success immediate did comeif present 1937 system crude comparison ultimate goal can called success2 Near end July first flights started hand launches down nearby slopethen madly steering glider avoid trees finally landing valley below Some flights have duration several minutes less . Guided simplicity keynote RC system consisted three-tube superregenerative receiver sensitive relay four-spoke escapement four feet twisted rubber strands furnished power turn rudder escapement wheel advanced one-quarter turn carrier pulse giving N L N R sequence action rapid nd posi tive fortunately rudder would cycle quickly through unwanted positions 10-lb glider barely twitched Remembering position came next hard part Bourne built rudder stick automatically sent correct number pulses rudder greatly reduced worry factor pilot October glider amassed over 100 flights 15 crashes equipment rebuilt over over Some crashes caused escapement getting out sync control stick caused microphonics tubes being excited clanking escape ment turn gave extra un wanted pulse During 1937 ARRL group made significant contributions invention RC along entered 1937 Nats 1938 second glider built wingspan 18 ft mono coque body formed plywood demonstrated Elmira slopes summer 1938 story told tried enter RC glider regular soaring competitionbut after hurried meeting rules committee stated must man cockpit glider survived several years RC experimentation 1980 res cued ARRL storage Laird Camp bell WiCUT help Pete Reed KiONG well-known New Eng land modeler glider restored now hangs prominent position ceiling ARRL Museum Newing ton CT Unfortunately ARRL RC project lost Ross Hull toe fatal accident August 1938 contacted 6000 volts during television receiver experiment con tributions RC expert pioneer DeSoto carried RC efforts will tell about next installment Continued page 148 April 1986 147 BENTOM BROWN JR CAMPBELL COMET COVERITE COX DUBRO EASY BUILT MODELS ENYA FAt FLYLI FOX GOLDBERG GOLDEN AGE REPRO GENE DUBOIS GUILLOW K&B K&S L R MRC OS MAX PACTRA PECK-POLYMER PERFECT R N MODELS SEAGLEN SIG STERLING- SULLIVAN SUPER TIGRE TAFFINDER TELCO TOP FLITE- TREXLER WILLIAMS & OTHERS ESTES MODEL ROCKETS Seed 5100 Cash Cheek oc Stmpn foe 44 page tabloid nice DISCOUNT Catalog 900 illustrations over 700 Kits choose MAILORDER PHONEORDER IN STORE FINN VALLEY ICIlY CENTER 357 WEaji St LansdalsPmJ9446 Summary first RC Nats 1937 provided definite step forward development controllable RC planes six planes demonstrated proper control movements radio ground tests air six showed potential control response during its brief ffight Two others crashed launch due tail-heavy trim might have prevented pre-contest test flights proper adjust ments least remaining three through dozen test flights stopped bad weather lessons learned clear keep system simpler get plenty practice flights use stable model keep system simple Reliability pilot skill also essential too early judge importance based limited flight time stage next section well review RC pioneers RC Nats 1938 through 1941 watch RC invention stumble less grow References B Porter P Sweeney Short Wave & TV Magazine August 1938 2P Zecchitella Flying Aces October 1937 Wasman Elmer Interview February 8 1985 4Weiss Leo Model Airplane News October 1937 5Lanzo Chester Interview March 23 1985 6Lanzo Chester Air Trails December 1937 January 1938 7HuIl Ross QST September 1933 8Kalamazoo Gazette January 13 1937 tWeiss Leo Interview December 1 1984 Weiss Leo Correspondence December 2 1984 Hull Ross Bourne Roland QST Octo ber 1937 DeSoto Clinton B Model Airplane News January 1938 3McEntee Howard G Air Trails Model An nual 1952 CL Aerobatics/Fancher Continued page 65 SB These heroes built finished ships appearance points mind wanted build finish plane well could also wanted develop cour age put line learn fly AMA pattern combination skills necessary best requires continually improve Like paint ing sculpture beautiful model tracts interest Interest develops questions Answers develop understanding Under standing basis participation subject Skill Classes Nats correspondents following say JT Im strong against skill classes Nats Nats just another con test opportunity AMA member see stacks up against best country cant understand argument shouldnt enter cant win TM I have never flown Stunt contest pilot although think tops CL have compete Open class AMA now defines wont its simple RM The initiation some program infuse some new blood event absolutely critical survival both Stunt organization PAMPA . way motivate new flier offer him some reasonable ex pectation least some small reward reasonable length time can mind-boggling neophyte attend first Nats see what really up against. provide up-and-com ing fliers forum can showcase abilities pay dues believe however best interest fly second class separate Expert class because whole reason having second class allow less-experienced fliers get barometer performance relative skilled fliers. addition some new entries think might see certain number less serious fliers dropping back class sent mat having top 20 fliers advance finals should maintained costs Making cut has come recognized important achievement can see no reason top two three advanced fliers could carried along. final thought has become obvious trying initiate rule mat changes submitting proposals PA MPA membership large cumbersome non-productive i feel should select committee 86 Nats charge coming up format 87 Thats gang have paraphrased comments letters Ive received today December 29 although Ill appreciate additional thoughts wont addressing subject again soon urge consider opinions expressed alert possibility rule changes Its event Lets make responsive needs New subject us Pro Stunt ersincluding yours trulytend get bogged down state-of-the-art technical minutia Nats procedures judging scratch-built original-design pieces art work like tend lose sight bigger perhaps ominous happenings about event tunnel vision brought clearly focus month ago visited local hobby dealer search some info up-to-date kits available budding Control Line 148 Model Aviation UUA BLAST FROM THE PAST JIM WALKERS CLASSIC GLIDERS 74 3 Pak5495 404 INTERCEPTOR Folding Wing Glider U-Build-It Kit5395 Add 53 postage handling first y Fly5795 3each additional P0 Box 68132 AIRCRAFT CO Portland OR 97268 rncaurn oau Heres equipment yes need glee props very best balgice--halance direct ions Carefully raffed top grade materials BUBBLE BALANCER accomodates 3/161/49/32 prop holes Other sizes available special order Dealers invited $1795 AMsisan HOWARD B HUEBL orpi ens pasSage hnndlhg Nina 6% nalen tx NoCOD/n Bos g2 Ru g Mankoto MN eeooi
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/04
Page Numbers: 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 141, 146, 147, 148
&RLEru5ELAGE O RRDIO CONTROL MoML fl4 fS_________________________________________________ Left Chet Lanzo holds RC model won 1937 NatIonal Contest copy artIcle December 1937 Air Trails reproduction model done Lahzo display AMA Museum Right Drawing modelS-ft span almost 6 lb i 5- cT flozsnsL Z TRGET SWRLUN0 1NI4 CONDEN5ER 00 THIS IS THE STORY Radio Control model aircraft got started US tells pioneers developed RC hobby combining knowl edge skills related experiences earlier inventors background prior invention hobby RC presented preceding issue gas model gas engine two essential ingredients ar rived during early 193 Os Ham radio its compact homemade receivers transmitters also came during same period Military commercial interests demonstrated feasibility RC large boats aircraft during 1920s ingredients theretechnically clever dedicated inspired mod elers invent hobby RC aircraft HOOO L-XMi[ IA0LllNOALIhArhi1LWfl Left Circuit diagram Lanzos three-tube receiver Right Lanzo 1976 version 1934 RC-1 plane 1934 radio equipment didnt work butthe plane flies well Antique RC modern RC system Below Drawing Lanzos 1937 motorized rudder actuator METHOD Acmxrnis DDF TAB An important stimulation came June ____________1936 announcement new m Win. FWiw CLinicly-formed AMA RC event would added 1936 National Contest Detroit no RC models made ap pearance 1936 event However rumors rampant RC ships _____________being secretly built 1937 AMA Nats different wiREstory Six RC models actually appeared PILAY 14r L7Z]causing great excitement expectations following account RC event 1937 Nats again Detroit first-ever RC contest US Whether first world known certainty point may covered r information available Perhaps article will stimulate some foreign responses 58 Model Aviation z-D ~ imI iAxJdImmY ~.44 U Iq41-46 re p t40 Awm 1I 0 RECEIWIG APPARKrU8 INSTAUI V IN PLANic Left PatSweeneyand 1937 Nats second-place RC plane rudder control 10-ft span 9-lb weight Right Drawing Sweeneys RC receiver actuator reproduced August1938 Short Wave TV Magazine 1937 Nets flight lasted five seconds Left Elmer Wasman holds 1 0-lb RC model won third place 1937 rudder/aileron elevatorcontrol also engine cutoff Right Rear view Wasmans piano shows air-driven four-biaded propeller mounted front fin powerfor moving control surfaces Photos Wasman Below Jacksonville FL paper clipping 1937 shows Wasman explaining White Mystery students Sunday July 11 dawned warm clearerat ion its constrols during pre-flight Detroit Wayne County Airportground tests made written notes promise afternoon showerswhat observed no RC Hundreds Free Flight modelers whoregulations judges novices competing week inand pioneers too six models various events already testing theiraccepted being eligible RC catmodels fieldegory Official flying attempts sched morning six RC models wereuled commence early afternoon being assembled hangar variety attempts related now concepts converted reality byorder actual flight sequence pioneersare based magazine reports Chester Lanzo Cleveland OHNats recent interviews between author Patrick Sweeney Chicago ILand living fliers small extent Elmer Wasman Jacksonville FLupon authors memory exciting Walter Good Kalamazoo MIday Leo Weiss Brooklyn NY B Schiffinan New York NY help radiomen tuning adjusting ready machines ground demonstrations control operation radio judges planes ranged eight 14 feet span weighed six 16 pounds Patrick J Sweeney first entrant attempt flight late thirties oldest pilot six own-design cabin plane 10-ft span 18-in chord Total weight 9 lb 3 lb radio gear Almost 2 lb batteries system April 1986 59 p OO0It0MoooIJ046.IIlGGI00.4jJ o-Thi-i Controls varied rudder full house rudder ailerons elevator en gine No two alike originals judges carefully observed plane pilot demonstrated remote op Left Wait Good 1936KG FF model converted RC 1937 RIght Goods 1937 RC plane big won fourth place Nats rudder elevator controls large box 50-watt transmitter email box contains two receivers relays batteries small FF Gas plane picture early version Guff thunderstorm prevented Goods 1937 Nats flight demo needed 90 volts meant two 45-volt B batteries Pat ran hobby store Chicago time plenty materials know-how build large plane carry payload also flying gas models competition placed 17th out 43 1936 Nats Leo Vartanian Chicago Aeronuts told recently Pat competed regularly days radioman Ben F Porter came up three-tube receiver using superregenerative detector 5-meter band 56 60 MHz controlling rudder control used old springwound alarm clock four-point cam switch give positions neutral right neutral left etc sequence pulse transmitter push button stepped rudder next position magazine article stated began finished entry about month complete radio equipment assumed probably no extra time pre-contest test flights trim plane shake out problems1 back meet Phil Zecchi tellas description2 Finally Pat Sweeney warmed en gine signalled ready official flight few picked officials Pat brought model deserted tract runway prepared launching transmitter established distant Schematic drawing Goods 1937 actu ator showing simple gears magnet point receiving set plane tested being done newsreel crew moved camera approximate location takeoff finally Sweeney raised arms radioman stand Soon engine roaring actually behold first official flight radio-controlled gas model Guiding model its wingtip Pat ran behind until started lift its wheels off ground newsreel men shooting rapidly Suddenly model pointed its nose sky high climb evident could recover Slipping over its left wing crashed ground entire flight lasted five seconds wing tip de molished slight injury sustained motor mount Insofar could judged would have swell flight except center gravity model too far back did make another attempt cause damage event Pat Sweeney credited first attempted RC flight National Contest Elmer Wasman next welldesigned system called White Mystery because wind-driven propeller front fin No knew what did except Elmer3 industrial arts degree teaching aeronautics Jacksonville ju nior high school time 28 middle group entries concern mg age 1 l-ft-span plane chord 18 weighed 14 lb including radio gear 165 sq ft area gives 136 oz/sq ft wing loading model really needed Forster 99 engine 16-in prop fly climb marginally slow safe4 third gas model plane provided controls rudder/aileron elevator ignition cutoff engines RC event ignition type requiring spark coil batteries Elmers control system elabo rate early days radio signal went first airborne receiver 60 Model Aviation Rudder elevator actuators 1937 model Bill Good 1937 50-watttransmitter push-button control right hand Note 110-volt AC power line running back hangar photo Glen Peterson closed relay contact selector switch sequential switch five positions give up down elevator left right rudder engine cutoff Absence signal gave neutral rudder elevator full engine selector contact arm driven air paddle wheelcould stopped five contacts sending correct number pulses Ex amples pulse would give left rudder two pulses right rudder three pulses up elevator four pulses down elevator Five pulses would cut off ignition stop engine Note control function available time control held long needed pilot proceeded next control characteristic sequential system does allow simultaneous operation various controls However desired single con trol could obtained quickly set three navigation lights mounted plane connected red left rudder green right white down elevator Thus visual indication activated control did signal activate control surface selector wiper connected signal five electromagnets engaged rotating shaft selected control surface rotating shaft powered four-bladed air propeller mounted front vertical fin Again air power motive force Very cleverand complex Perhaps plane called White Mys terybecause very few understcod complicated mechanism transmitter end used simple switch watching navigation lights keep track airborne selector position receiver three-tube regenerative detector 5-meter band whole control system weighed 35 lb big ship carried easily smaller model powered Brown Jr used test bed check out individual components before mounting big plane turn fly saw dark thunderstorm approaching tried hurry things along Roy Marquardt strained launched giant plane gusty air Elmer worked busily transmit ter control plane nosed up stall sagged ground ending its flight abruptlyand much too soon suit Elmer said later hadnt time test fly big ship before meet turned out tail-heavy caused stall Such happenings nor mal developing something new Hind sight says Elmer tells him should have entered smaller ship simpler con trol first meet scored third place Elmer has retired several years divides time between Florida Illinois still spends hours Free Flight models well RC power glider models Chester Lanzo lightest plane entries just under 6 lb including 2 lb radio gear flown radio several times obtain proper balance tail angle engine downthrust must fly well itself before adding radio reasoned very wise approach Design plane basic func tional wing 9-ft span 14-in chord generous dihedral 13 per tip body 5-ft tray 3 wide 1 deep 6-in-high wire cage hold wing well above body radio parts simply fastened tray location maintain proper balance pointand very good accessibility parts Lanzo told made cabintype gas model 1934 experimented RC using spark-gap transmitter coherer receiver5 said approach failure RC plane engine vibration interrupted radios function ing Furthermore spark ignition engine swamped nearby receiver coherer undesired instructions rudder blocking out desired signals Left Overhead view Leo 1937 RC piane Fergusson prototypetwln-cyiinderengine Weiss couidnt getaterted atthe Nata Right Leo Weiss Inspecting Fergusson engine John Lopus adjusting airborne receiver eeriy tuned reed system April 1986 61 Above Leo Weiss standing behind 1 4-ft BC plane 1937 Nets 12 kneeiing spectators Modei pienked eli over Picture cornea RC ModelAwcraft Engiend 1944 Right Leo kneeling behind tail piene three RC en tries making fiightetthe 1937 Nets itwes awarded fifth piace Left Leo Weiss arm front rudder working Denny Radio-Plane Wright Field 1939 Right Ground control unit used con trol CulverCadets larger RC drones GCU also carried communications gear Leo shown atthe controls 1939 design Below Oops professional RCers sometimes make hard landing see picture poor Cuiver Cadet Wright Field 1939 RC pilot called plane RC-l today flies replica Antique RC competitions 1937 radio receiver home-built using three vacuum tubes superregen erative detector circuit operated homemade relay turn caused small geared electric train motor move rudder control through cycle neutral right neutral left etc long transmitter key held down Straight flight obtained key-down position because slowly-re sponding plane would show slight snaking path rudder oscillated back forth make turn key would released moment full rudder deflection deflected rudder would become effective plane would bank itself circling path very simple required piloting practice develop skill precision flight path control scheme another advantage Lanzo said transmitter could tuned receiver air watching rudder wiggled Such tuning com mon days Batteries problem entrants heavy costly short-livedespecially 45-volt B bat tery vacuum tube plate supply Chet found source Cleveland tiny 2oz normal ones 11 oz battery made weather sondes Its life span maximum two hours shelf life just two weeks remember con tacting company back rec ommended battery ordered latest moment sent airmail stayed 1 l-oz units two-tube transmitter used 500 volts output tube required 110-volt AC line flying site organizers anticipated need long extension cord started lcoking transmitter needed too friendly spectator brought 200-ft cord camper plugged nearby hangar use Ready fly Lanzo walked off find judges stray Free Flight gas model spiraled nearby causing frightened spectator step backwards Chets plane rupturing few ribs wing quick repair made Pat Sweeneys help Lanzo ready fly weather getting windier due approach summer thunderstorm started hurry cranked up Baby Cyclone engine set needle valve medium speed started forward launch Before could release plane engine slowed touch needle valve speeded engine off went plane slowclimbing circle Chet raced back transmitter plane gently zigged zagged pilot tried coax Figure 8 maneuver Suddenly engine quit plane glided down parking lot edge airfield flight time around two minutes must have seemed much longer Chet Chester Lanzo used gas model Free Flight experienceas well radio knowledgeto pull off first place Thus attained historical honor being first winner first RC National Contest US Prior Nats made few RC test flights plane Cleveland fact flights made park next Dick Kordas house ran AC extension out Dicks bedrcom window transmitter Lanzos philosophy starting simplest plane radio combination wise approach would have happier much longer flight 62 Model Aviation duatrn9ma9iid J6rczpemeaLMnd Left Ross Hull Byron Goodman 1937 13-ft RC glider West Hartford CT Right Diagram radio components Installa tion glider Photo drawing reproduced January1938 ModelAirplane News Hull editor ARRLs QSTmagazlne Chetwas23atthe 1937 Natsandtoday still active models special izing FF Rubber Power RC assisted Old-Timers Hes retired NASA still very busy recent projects building replica 1937 RC winner donating AMA Museum November 1984 complete Baby Cyclone vintage wing working rudder control first three places awarded basis flight performance place ment last three entries based ground demonstration did attempt fly Walt Good 8-ft-span model build 1935 close copy Kovel-Grant KG-8 powered Brown Jr engine flew Free Flight Gas meets 1936 well-tuned stable flight end season 36th FF Gas 1936 Nats Twin brother Bill just 21 years old resident radio ham W8IFD family thinking about RC KG-8 talked placing receiver antenna wires wings built 1935 fall 1936 won approval Kala mazoo College take lab course physics department design RC sys tem particularly transmitter re ceiver though professor specialist electronics offered great encouragementand three semester hours credit surprise receiver hurdle passed quickly converted onetube superregen circuit operate sensi tive relay rather its normal head phones7 trick placing variable resistor grid circuit adjusted give best current swing relay first relay constructed inexpensive meter movement No vember bread-board system working bench system mounted plane RC rudder control demonstrated Kalamazoo College Science Fair January 1937 During May six flights under radio control made Kalamazoo Air port using rudder control results tests showed necessary increase area rudder its deflection obtain effective turns also indication spiral stability KG very generous therefore very safe rudder-only control Once working RC plane given name Guff slang word college campus Very loosely trans lated meant thats lot nonsense Its impossible describe thrill first RC flights change path plane left right touch switch caused great shouts rise flights made dawn have still air get us back school eight oclock class mornings airport manager Try Woodhams awoke just time see Guff glide landing thought full-size plane landing outside airport organized search party find lost plane packed up driven back school several years later before found out what really happened now 80s lives Florida recently opportunity meet again reminisce about days rudder actuator rubberband driven gear train small electromagnet operated relay allowed gears turn whenever transmitter key held down fact result similar Lanzos cycling system because rudder would stop its current position transmitter off Cautious beeps push button would inch rudder toward sometimes yond desired position Looking back now realize control method too slowthree seconds neutral full-rudder addition pilot no knowledge rudder position except watching action plane did work rudder worked well enough con sider adding elevator control Bill added another push button another frequency transmitter operating 56 Continued page 141 Left Hulls second RC glider 18-footer ready launching slope thIs 1938 photo ARRL Right Hulls restored 1938 RC glider hangs museum Amateur Radio Relay League headquarters Newington CT photo taken July 1983 durIng Goods research visit L-R Wait Good Bill Good Laird Campbell Joel Kleinman Byron Goodman Pete Reed Note Byron Goodman inthis picture isthesame ByronGoodman shown Ross Hull inthe 1937 photo Next month RC atthe Natsfrom 1 938to1 941 April 1986 63 904 478-6745 Al Featuring fast service qualified eopIe latest equipment including SPECTRUM ANAL YZER AM FM SIGNAL GENERATOR Call Sam Leonard Tony Stiliman custom work competition needs stock complete hobby line specializing competition accessories discounted prices RADIO SOUTH-m AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER FOR Kruft Pro Line w Futeb 43 West Nine Mile Rd Pensacola FL 32514 * Sales Service er Inquiries Welcome * has seven channels receiver usually something think about install gives problems Im very happy tell has never given hint glitch Airtronics has wide range excellent servos system equipped 94554s servo features ball-bearingsupported output shaft careless motor 04-second transit time 900 735 inch-ounces output torque really like 94554s have lot luck over years So have youre market new radio dont check new Airtronics Module 7H out Let know what think think has capabilities bringing new dimension Heli-flying New LIMP Hughes 500 fuselage Also shown months photos new Hughes 500 shell 50160-size mechan ics fuselage epoxy-glass 43 long weighs 19 oz available D E matter C versions par ticular model shown photos built Jim Brandon Lakewood CA features OMP Cobra mechanics OS 50 FSR-H engine Quest gyro weighs 9 lb ready fly real hot rod fuselage designed Cobra mechanics mind has plenty room will take other kinds well Beginners corner con fusing things new Heli-flier set up throttle/rudder mixing function Helicopter radio Some Helicopter radios have very simple rudder/throttle mixing function consisting two rate knobs marked REV ACC slide switch marked LEFT/OFF/RIGHT task really very simple can dialed relatively quickly must first determine whether have left- righthanded main rotor Looking rotating disc above does rotate clockwise anti-clockwise have Schluter Hirobo Kalt Gorham product rotor spins clockwise right-handed rotor Set slide switch position marked RIGHT have diffearent-style radio adjust proper rotor rotation according its operating instructions tail-swinging problem trying overcame occurs because power added main rotor torque applied fuselage opposite direction rotation main rotor causes fuselage swing left machine right-handed rotor cure dial enough tail-rotor compensation fuselage stays straight Check adjustment holding machine steady hover giving quick blip throttle nose swings left compensation necessary nose swings right radio overcompensating radio must ad justed accordingly Once have mix set properly nose Helicopter will stay fairly stationary making climbs descending Now addition gyro nose will stable mother-in-law should able handle Good luck hope stops some twitchy tails months three-view 1960 US Department Defense issued Tech nical Specification 153 light Obser vation Helicopter Hughes submitted model 369 flying egg referring its shape 369 won campetition received its Army designation OH-6 code-named Cayuse Based Allison 250-series turbine engine Hughes product seemed ideal military service beginning Referred Hughes 500 commercial customers little machine has proved tough com petition Bell Jet Ranger Featuring fully-articulated rotor Hughes both nimble very fast Because 500s unique shape its appearance Magnum P1 TV series probably secand-most-recognized machine right hind Jet Ranger Model SOOs available Kalt Schluter Eberles Great Lakes Graup ner UMP Peka Have good month think about checking head screws engine once recently Heli show signs losing power found head leaking BCNU Lariy Jolly 5501 W Como Santa Ana CA 92703 RC History/Good Continued page 63 60 MHz built another receiver relay actuator end June six ffights made new dual control system definitely trickier control heard other entries plan ning use dual controls wanted prepared Gulls weight up 8 lb including 2 lb radio gear gave 13 oz/sq ft wing loading too much considering thick Grant wing section power Brown Jr its homemade 16-in-dia propeller Nats ground control demon stration went well sal waited turn fly Bill present since already gone job radio operator summer camp Another amateur Paul Kreiick W8QQE assisting After watching first three entries make attempts approaching storm finally arrived along rain judges scuffled hangar shelter flight attempted due Continued page 146 April 1986 141 DIN Lookfo u fa o e hobby shop send SASE free catalog Kin-Craft Mfg Inc 14323 TwIn Ridge Ashland Kentucky 41101 606-928-4763 use best Specializing Fiber-glass tape Fiber-glass cloth Polyester resin Resin Hardener Micro-Balloons Primers ner Paint filters Engine oil & Oil kits Engine cleaner Protective gloves Dust Masks Sponge & applic kits Contact cement F ROLLLU PLANS UT PARIS 1/2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT 3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX RC History/Good Continued page 141 rain lateness day both disappointed relieved Guff awarded fourth place background 12 test flights expect stable Guff would have come through OK official flight possible Looking back wish stuck rudder control beginning simplicity learning steps early RC Both Bill now retired very busy hobbies power boater live aboard cruiser ardent ham radio operator W2C VI Liverpool NY Im living Port Richey FL am active RC history articles RC Sailplanes few AMA committees several RC clubo some ham radio W3NPS/4 talk together least twice week stationssometimes about early RC days Hes part memory bank Leo Weiss youngest RC entry 18 largest most-sophisticated RC plane entries 14-ft wing planked sheet balsa stream lined monocoque body doped both sides balsa sheets stiffen shell construction weighed 16 lb cluding radio gear builtthat big wing college rooming house hard imagine sophomore aero engineering University Michigan happened9 6 lb high-tech radio gear Leos plane alone weighed slightly Lanzos complete 9-ft RC plane Power came prototype two-cylinder Fer gusson engine rated adio gear far ahead its time hobby RC three control channels rudder elevator engine op erated three electric motors Six tuned reeds selected desired commands respondinging six different audio tones reed system later became very popular inthe 1950s soLeowasontherighttrack John Lopus W8LUS electrical engineering student U M Leos radio specialist project 56 MHz transmitter battery-powered control box three lever-switches would cause selected airborne control move quickly appropriate direc tion true multi-channel system4 did Leo get far along model hobby young age First seasoned veteran Free Flight gas models RC ship fifth gas model third model won Texaco event 1935 St Louis National Con test beating Maxwell Bassett wide margin Leo 64 mm against Maxwells third-place time 36 min Leos secret tuning Brown Jr run over 10 min per ounce fuel took plane 2000 feet big thermals floated plane min utes lucky attend Nats field witness both flights wishing KG finished timewhich wasnt few weeks before 1935 Nats Leo graduated high school age 16 didnt attend graduation ceremonies because tco busy tuning engine trying different props Back 1937 Nats Leo sembled giant model hangar tried vain start special twin engine just wouldnt run give up thought flying Later Leo told beautiful giant plane never flown course several moves after graduation became lost0 scored fifth place should mentioned Leos first RC concepts originated during fresh man year MIT built fourth gas model small electric motors oper ating controls via wires intended tethered controllable flight still college took up flying got pilots license After graduating U M 1939 aeronautical engineer went directly Wright Field first job RC target dronesthe well-known Reginald Denny Radio-Plane Major George Holloman new boss read Leos RC articles cautioned him some material Leo written considered top secret around guess RC hobby ists advanced pro fessionals realized larger realistic RC drone Leo proposed full-scale Culver Cadet lightplane idea okayed compact unit gyros RC gear servos strapped place pilot steered radio ground control unit designed Leo RC Culver Cadets used target drones during WW II still remember some Navy shipboard tests proximity fuze helped develop anti-aircraft shells tests guns shot down number Culver Cadet drones proving effectiveness proximity fuze over conventional clock fuzes result surprising since proximity fuze contained miniature radar sensed nearness target plane triggered explosive time didnt know Leo involved really jumped profes sional RC hurry After WW II Leo started own busi ness manufacturing aeronautical instru ments became very successful An interesting afterthought Roy Marquardt modeler launched Elmer Wasmans plane later board member Leos company Leo now retired leading active life Alexandria VA writing books moderating business forums B Schlffman entered plane RC event strangely enough Ive found no published words pictures about believe first name Bernie 146 Model Aviation flEW PRAIRIE gIRD SO ELECTRIC0 GAS pGWERED / - REAL RIC TRAINER ORANDMA CAN FLY 2-3 CHANNEL RADIO 49 Inch SPAN 05 ELECTRIC 049 15 GAS CATALOG $200NIT $3995 619 442-4636 fGor 619 469-8675 W BOX 2498-MA LA MESA CA 92041 INNOA FUNCucS 7 A SASE FOR NEW CATALOG MARRY N MIGLEY & 801VS INC P o Box 532 GLINWOOD ILL 80425 . SSO EASY TO BUILD HANDCRAFTED KITS AT LOW PRICES F-15 EAGLESKY RAIDERNEPTUNE Wing Span 62 inWeight 4 lbsWing Span 60 inWeight 4 lbsMng Span 62 inWeight 4 lbs Length 53 inEngine 60 -90Length 45 inEngine 45 -60Length 48 inEngine 40 Kits include Pre-built fiberglass fuselage foam cores sheeted balsa machine cut balsa tail surfaces shaped strip ailerons complete hardware pack SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TOVISA & MASTER CARD ACCEPTED HORIZON MODELS INC T-404 Kelly Ave Manchester NH 03103 603 627-9503 Lanzo remembers late Sunday after returning RC area FF Rubber events saw Schiffmans plane standing rain soaked wing water dripping bottom bamboo paper covering doped Further Chet remembers large B battery sitting bottom fuselage amazed tar chipped away 30 cells save weight Beyond meager information know very little except did fly RC plane scored sixth place Can anyone give us some help information B Schiffman 1937 RC plane writing qualifies mystery entry Ross Hull Thus far have related 1937 entries first National Con test RC model planes What about other pioneers RC did enter national event probably know experimented RC being recorded model magazines local news papers Without documented accounts pioneers may never known However group led Ross Hull Connecticut contri butions well-documented 1937 35 Hull associate editor QST magazine journal American Radio Relay League ARRL very skilled radio designer also skilled model planes experiences Australia home country Hart ford CT both countries pub lished series model plane construction local newspapers late 1920s team consisted some talented participants Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL Roland Bourne Byron Goodman Harner Selvidge active hams Hulls team planned RC project 10-ft-span gas-powered RC model dur ing spring 1937 However before construction started Hull Bourne attended Soaring Society America national sailplane meet early July 1937 Elmira NY met Carl W Thompson Jr Wilmington DE both active gas model competitor pilot full-scale gliders Carl brought 13-ft glider meet RC gear built HM Plummer W3DIA simple basic approach oft signal giving right rudder signal left rudder Hulls QST report said ship made several successful hops control working untimely crack-up ended experiment11 Perhaps Thompson/Plummer team deserves recog nition first public RC glider demon stration sure would like find moredetailed report Elmira demonstra tions Hull quickly acquired remains took back Hartford repair DeSoto writes about Hull weeks followed group did little eat sleep talk build radio-controlled model aircraft Success immediate did comeif present 1937 system crude comparison ultimate goal can called success2 Near end July first flights started hand launches down nearby slopethen madly steering glider avoid trees finally landing valley below Some flights have duration several minutes less . Guided simplicity keynote RC system consisted three-tube superregenerative receiver sensitive relay four-spoke escapement four feet twisted rubber strands furnished power turn rudder escapement wheel advanced one-quarter turn carrier pulse giving N L N R sequence action rapid nd posi tive fortunately rudder would cycle quickly through unwanted positions 10-lb glider barely twitched Remembering position came next hard part Bourne built rudder stick automatically sent correct number pulses rudder greatly reduced worry factor pilot October glider amassed over 100 flights 15 crashes equipment rebuilt over over Some crashes caused escapement getting out sync control stick caused microphonics tubes being excited clanking escape ment turn gave extra un wanted pulse During 1937 ARRL group made significant contributions invention RC along entered 1937 Nats 1938 second glider built wingspan 18 ft mono coque body formed plywood demonstrated Elmira slopes summer 1938 story told tried enter RC glider regular soaring competitionbut after hurried meeting rules committee stated must man cockpit glider survived several years RC experimentation 1980 res cued ARRL storage Laird Camp bell WiCUT help Pete Reed KiONG well-known New Eng land modeler glider restored now hangs prominent position ceiling ARRL Museum Newing ton CT Unfortunately ARRL RC project lost Ross Hull toe fatal accident August 1938 contacted 6000 volts during television receiver experiment con tributions RC expert pioneer DeSoto carried RC efforts will tell about next installment Continued page 148 April 1986 147 BENTOM BROWN JR CAMPBELL COMET COVERITE COX DUBRO EASY BUILT MODELS ENYA FAt FLYLI FOX GOLDBERG GOLDEN AGE REPRO GENE DUBOIS GUILLOW K&B K&S L R MRC OS MAX PACTRA PECK-POLYMER PERFECT R N MODELS SEAGLEN SIG STERLING- SULLIVAN SUPER TIGRE TAFFINDER TELCO TOP FLITE- TREXLER WILLIAMS & OTHERS ESTES MODEL ROCKETS Seed 5100 Cash Cheek oc Stmpn foe 44 page tabloid nice DISCOUNT Catalog 900 illustrations over 700 Kits choose MAILORDER PHONEORDER IN STORE FINN VALLEY ICIlY CENTER 357 WEaji St LansdalsPmJ9446 Summary first RC Nats 1937 provided definite step forward development controllable RC planes six planes demonstrated proper control movements radio ground tests air six showed potential control response during its brief ffight Two others crashed launch due tail-heavy trim might have prevented pre-contest test flights proper adjust ments least remaining three through dozen test flights stopped bad weather lessons learned clear keep system simpler get plenty practice flights use stable model keep system simple Reliability pilot skill also essential too early judge importance based limited flight time stage next section well review RC pioneers RC Nats 1938 through 1941 watch RC invention stumble less grow References B Porter P Sweeney Short Wave & TV Magazine August 1938 2P Zecchitella Flying Aces October 1937 Wasman Elmer Interview February 8 1985 4Weiss Leo Model Airplane News October 1937 5Lanzo Chester Interview March 23 1985 6Lanzo Chester Air Trails December 1937 January 1938 7HuIl Ross QST September 1933 8Kalamazoo Gazette January 13 1937 tWeiss Leo Interview December 1 1984 Weiss Leo Correspondence December 2 1984 Hull Ross Bourne Roland QST Octo ber 1937 DeSoto Clinton B Model Airplane News January 1938 3McEntee Howard G Air Trails Model An nual 1952 CL Aerobatics/Fancher Continued page 65 SB These heroes built finished ships appearance points mind wanted build finish plane well could also wanted develop cour age put line learn fly AMA pattern combination skills necessary best requires continually improve Like paint ing sculpture beautiful model tracts interest Interest develops questions Answers develop understanding Under standing basis participation subject Skill Classes Nats correspondents following say JT Im strong against skill classes Nats Nats just another con test opportunity AMA member see stacks up against best country cant understand argument shouldnt enter cant win TM I have never flown Stunt contest pilot although think tops CL have compete Open class AMA now defines wont its simple RM The initiation some program infuse some new blood event absolutely critical survival both Stunt organization PAMPA . way motivate new flier offer him some reasonable ex pectation least some small reward reasonable length time can mind-boggling neophyte attend first Nats see what really up against. provide up-and-com ing fliers forum can showcase abilities pay dues believe however best interest fly second class separate Expert class because whole reason having second class allow less-experienced fliers get barometer performance relative skilled fliers. addition some new entries think might see certain number less serious fliers dropping back class sent mat having top 20 fliers advance finals should maintained costs Making cut has come recognized important achievement can see no reason top two three advanced fliers could carried along. final thought has become obvious trying initiate rule mat changes submitting proposals PA MPA membership large cumbersome non-productive i feel should select committee 86 Nats charge coming up format 87 Thats gang have paraphrased comments letters Ive received today December 29 although Ill appreciate additional thoughts wont addressing subject again soon urge consider opinions expressed alert possibility rule changes Its event Lets make responsive needs New subject us Pro Stunt ersincluding yours trulytend get bogged down state-of-the-art technical minutia Nats procedures judging scratch-built original-design pieces art work like tend lose sight bigger perhaps ominous happenings about event tunnel vision brought clearly focus month ago visited local hobby dealer search some info up-to-date kits available budding Control Line 148 Model Aviation UUA BLAST FROM THE PAST JIM WALKERS CLASSIC GLIDERS 74 3 Pak5495 404 INTERCEPTOR Folding Wing Glider U-Build-It Kit5395 Add 53 postage handling first y Fly5795 3each additional P0 Box 68132 AIRCRAFT CO Portland OR 97268 rncaurn oau Heres equipment yes need glee props very best balgice--halance direct ions Carefully raffed top grade materials BUBBLE BALANCER accomodates 3/161/49/32 prop holes Other sizes available special order Dealers invited $1795 AMsisan HOWARD B HUEBL orpi ens pasSage hnndlhg Nina 6% nalen tx NoCOD/n Bos g2 Ru g Mankoto MN eeooi
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/04
Page Numbers: 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 141, 146, 147, 148
&RLEru5ELAGE O RRDIO CONTROL MoML fl4 fS_________________________________________________ Left Chet Lanzo holds RC model won 1937 NatIonal Contest copy artIcle December 1937 Air Trails reproduction model done Lahzo display AMA Museum Right Drawing modelS-ft span almost 6 lb i 5- cT flozsnsL Z TRGET SWRLUN0 1NI4 CONDEN5ER 00 THIS IS THE STORY Radio Control model aircraft got started US tells pioneers developed RC hobby combining knowl edge skills related experiences earlier inventors background prior invention hobby RC presented preceding issue gas model gas engine two essential ingredients ar rived during early 193 Os Ham radio its compact homemade receivers transmitters also came during same period Military commercial interests demonstrated feasibility RC large boats aircraft during 1920s ingredients theretechnically clever dedicated inspired mod elers invent hobby RC aircraft HOOO L-XMi[ IA0LllNOALIhArhi1LWfl Left Circuit diagram Lanzos three-tube receiver Right Lanzo 1976 version 1934 RC-1 plane 1934 radio equipment didnt work butthe plane flies well Antique RC modern RC system Below Drawing Lanzos 1937 motorized rudder actuator METHOD Acmxrnis DDF TAB An important stimulation came June ____________1936 announcement new m Win. FWiw CLinicly-formed AMA RC event would added 1936 National Contest Detroit no RC models made ap pearance 1936 event However rumors rampant RC ships _____________being secretly built 1937 AMA Nats different wiREstory Six RC models actually appeared PILAY 14r L7Z]causing great excitement expectations following account RC event 1937 Nats again Detroit first-ever RC contest US Whether first world known certainty point may covered r information available Perhaps article will stimulate some foreign responses 58 Model Aviation z-D ~ imI iAxJdImmY ~.44 U Iq41-46 re p t40 Awm 1I 0 RECEIWIG APPARKrU8 INSTAUI V IN PLANic Left PatSweeneyand 1937 Nats second-place RC plane rudder control 10-ft span 9-lb weight Right Drawing Sweeneys RC receiver actuator reproduced August1938 Short Wave TV Magazine 1937 Nets flight lasted five seconds Left Elmer Wasman holds 1 0-lb RC model won third place 1937 rudder/aileron elevatorcontrol also engine cutoff Right Rear view Wasmans piano shows air-driven four-biaded propeller mounted front fin powerfor moving control surfaces Photos Wasman Below Jacksonville FL paper clipping 1937 shows Wasman explaining White Mystery students Sunday July 11 dawned warm clearerat ion its constrols during pre-flight Detroit Wayne County Airportground tests made written notes promise afternoon showerswhat observed no RC Hundreds Free Flight modelers whoregulations judges novices competing week inand pioneers too six models various events already testing theiraccepted being eligible RC catmodels fieldegory Official flying attempts sched morning six RC models wereuled commence early afternoon being assembled hangar variety attempts related now concepts converted reality byorder actual flight sequence pioneersare based magazine reports Chester Lanzo Cleveland OHNats recent interviews between author Patrick Sweeney Chicago ILand living fliers small extent Elmer Wasman Jacksonville FLupon authors memory exciting Walter Good Kalamazoo MIday Leo Weiss Brooklyn NY B Schiffinan New York NY help radiomen tuning adjusting ready machines ground demonstrations control operation radio judges planes ranged eight 14 feet span weighed six 16 pounds Patrick J Sweeney first entrant attempt flight late thirties oldest pilot six own-design cabin plane 10-ft span 18-in chord Total weight 9 lb 3 lb radio gear Almost 2 lb batteries system April 1986 59 p OO0It0MoooIJ046.IIlGGI00.4jJ o-Thi-i Controls varied rudder full house rudder ailerons elevator en gine No two alike originals judges carefully observed plane pilot demonstrated remote op Left Wait Good 1936KG FF model converted RC 1937 RIght Goods 1937 RC plane big won fourth place Nats rudder elevator controls large box 50-watt transmitter email box contains two receivers relays batteries small FF Gas plane picture early version Guff thunderstorm prevented Goods 1937 Nats flight demo needed 90 volts meant two 45-volt B batteries Pat ran hobby store Chicago time plenty materials know-how build large plane carry payload also flying gas models competition placed 17th out 43 1936 Nats Leo Vartanian Chicago Aeronuts told recently Pat competed regularly days radioman Ben F Porter came up three-tube receiver using superregenerative detector 5-meter band 56 60 MHz controlling rudder control used old springwound alarm clock four-point cam switch give positions neutral right neutral left etc sequence pulse transmitter push button stepped rudder next position magazine article stated began finished entry about month complete radio equipment assumed probably no extra time pre-contest test flights trim plane shake out problems1 back meet Phil Zecchi tellas description2 Finally Pat Sweeney warmed en gine signalled ready official flight few picked officials Pat brought model deserted tract runway prepared launching transmitter established distant Schematic drawing Goods 1937 actu ator showing simple gears magnet point receiving set plane tested being done newsreel crew moved camera approximate location takeoff finally Sweeney raised arms radioman stand Soon engine roaring actually behold first official flight radio-controlled gas model Guiding model its wingtip Pat ran behind until started lift its wheels off ground newsreel men shooting rapidly Suddenly model pointed its nose sky high climb evident could recover Slipping over its left wing crashed ground entire flight lasted five seconds wing tip de molished slight injury sustained motor mount Insofar could judged would have swell flight except center gravity model too far back did make another attempt cause damage event Pat Sweeney credited first attempted RC flight National Contest Elmer Wasman next welldesigned system called White Mystery because wind-driven propeller front fin No knew what did except Elmer3 industrial arts degree teaching aeronautics Jacksonville ju nior high school time 28 middle group entries concern mg age 1 l-ft-span plane chord 18 weighed 14 lb including radio gear 165 sq ft area gives 136 oz/sq ft wing loading model really needed Forster 99 engine 16-in prop fly climb marginally slow safe4 third gas model plane provided controls rudder/aileron elevator ignition cutoff engines RC event ignition type requiring spark coil batteries Elmers control system elabo rate early days radio signal went first airborne receiver 60 Model Aviation Rudder elevator actuators 1937 model Bill Good 1937 50-watttransmitter push-button control right hand Note 110-volt AC power line running back hangar photo Glen Peterson closed relay contact selector switch sequential switch five positions give up down elevator left right rudder engine cutoff Absence signal gave neutral rudder elevator full engine selector contact arm driven air paddle wheelcould stopped five contacts sending correct number pulses Ex amples pulse would give left rudder two pulses right rudder three pulses up elevator four pulses down elevator Five pulses would cut off ignition stop engine Note control function available time control held long needed pilot proceeded next control characteristic sequential system does allow simultaneous operation various controls However desired single con trol could obtained quickly set three navigation lights mounted plane connected red left rudder green right white down elevator Thus visual indication activated control did signal activate control surface selector wiper connected signal five electromagnets engaged rotating shaft selected control surface rotating shaft powered four-bladed air propeller mounted front vertical fin Again air power motive force Very cleverand complex Perhaps plane called White Mys terybecause very few understcod complicated mechanism transmitter end used simple switch watching navigation lights keep track airborne selector position receiver three-tube regenerative detector 5-meter band whole control system weighed 35 lb big ship carried easily smaller model powered Brown Jr used test bed check out individual components before mounting big plane turn fly saw dark thunderstorm approaching tried hurry things along Roy Marquardt strained launched giant plane gusty air Elmer worked busily transmit ter control plane nosed up stall sagged ground ending its flight abruptlyand much too soon suit Elmer said later hadnt time test fly big ship before meet turned out tail-heavy caused stall Such happenings nor mal developing something new Hind sight says Elmer tells him should have entered smaller ship simpler con trol first meet scored third place Elmer has retired several years divides time between Florida Illinois still spends hours Free Flight models well RC power glider models Chester Lanzo lightest plane entries just under 6 lb including 2 lb radio gear flown radio several times obtain proper balance tail angle engine downthrust must fly well itself before adding radio reasoned very wise approach Design plane basic func tional wing 9-ft span 14-in chord generous dihedral 13 per tip body 5-ft tray 3 wide 1 deep 6-in-high wire cage hold wing well above body radio parts simply fastened tray location maintain proper balance pointand very good accessibility parts Lanzo told made cabintype gas model 1934 experimented RC using spark-gap transmitter coherer receiver5 said approach failure RC plane engine vibration interrupted radios function ing Furthermore spark ignition engine swamped nearby receiver coherer undesired instructions rudder blocking out desired signals Left Overhead view Leo 1937 RC piane Fergusson prototypetwln-cyiinderengine Weiss couidnt getaterted atthe Nata Right Leo Weiss Inspecting Fergusson engine John Lopus adjusting airborne receiver eeriy tuned reed system April 1986 61 Above Leo Weiss standing behind 1 4-ft BC plane 1937 Nets 12 kneeiing spectators Modei pienked eli over Picture cornea RC ModelAwcraft Engiend 1944 Right Leo kneeling behind tail piene three RC en tries making fiightetthe 1937 Nets itwes awarded fifth piace Left Leo Weiss arm front rudder working Denny Radio-Plane Wright Field 1939 Right Ground control unit used con trol CulverCadets larger RC drones GCU also carried communications gear Leo shown atthe controls 1939 design Below Oops professional RCers sometimes make hard landing see picture poor Cuiver Cadet Wright Field 1939 RC pilot called plane RC-l today flies replica Antique RC competitions 1937 radio receiver home-built using three vacuum tubes superregen erative detector circuit operated homemade relay turn caused small geared electric train motor move rudder control through cycle neutral right neutral left etc long transmitter key held down Straight flight obtained key-down position because slowly-re sponding plane would show slight snaking path rudder oscillated back forth make turn key would released moment full rudder deflection deflected rudder would become effective plane would bank itself circling path very simple required piloting practice develop skill precision flight path control scheme another advantage Lanzo said transmitter could tuned receiver air watching rudder wiggled Such tuning com mon days Batteries problem entrants heavy costly short-livedespecially 45-volt B bat tery vacuum tube plate supply Chet found source Cleveland tiny 2oz normal ones 11 oz battery made weather sondes Its life span maximum two hours shelf life just two weeks remember con tacting company back rec ommended battery ordered latest moment sent airmail stayed 1 l-oz units two-tube transmitter used 500 volts output tube required 110-volt AC line flying site organizers anticipated need long extension cord started lcoking transmitter needed too friendly spectator brought 200-ft cord camper plugged nearby hangar use Ready fly Lanzo walked off find judges stray Free Flight gas model spiraled nearby causing frightened spectator step backwards Chets plane rupturing few ribs wing quick repair made Pat Sweeneys help Lanzo ready fly weather getting windier due approach summer thunderstorm started hurry cranked up Baby Cyclone engine set needle valve medium speed started forward launch Before could release plane engine slowed touch needle valve speeded engine off went plane slowclimbing circle Chet raced back transmitter plane gently zigged zagged pilot tried coax Figure 8 maneuver Suddenly engine quit plane glided down parking lot edge airfield flight time around two minutes must have seemed much longer Chet Chester Lanzo used gas model Free Flight experienceas well radio knowledgeto pull off first place Thus attained historical honor being first winner first RC National Contest US Prior Nats made few RC test flights plane Cleveland fact flights made park next Dick Kordas house ran AC extension out Dicks bedrcom window transmitter Lanzos philosophy starting simplest plane radio combination wise approach would have happier much longer flight 62 Model Aviation duatrn9ma9iid J6rczpemeaLMnd Left Ross Hull Byron Goodman 1937 13-ft RC glider West Hartford CT Right Diagram radio components Installa tion glider Photo drawing reproduced January1938 ModelAirplane News Hull editor ARRLs QSTmagazlne Chetwas23atthe 1937 Natsandtoday still active models special izing FF Rubber Power RC assisted Old-Timers Hes retired NASA still very busy recent projects building replica 1937 RC winner donating AMA Museum November 1984 complete Baby Cyclone vintage wing working rudder control first three places awarded basis flight performance place ment last three entries based ground demonstration did attempt fly Walt Good 8-ft-span model build 1935 close copy Kovel-Grant KG-8 powered Brown Jr engine flew Free Flight Gas meets 1936 well-tuned stable flight end season 36th FF Gas 1936 Nats Twin brother Bill just 21 years old resident radio ham W8IFD family thinking about RC KG-8 talked placing receiver antenna wires wings built 1935 fall 1936 won approval Kala mazoo College take lab course physics department design RC sys tem particularly transmitter re ceiver though professor specialist electronics offered great encouragementand three semester hours credit surprise receiver hurdle passed quickly converted onetube superregen circuit operate sensi tive relay rather its normal head phones7 trick placing variable resistor grid circuit adjusted give best current swing relay first relay constructed inexpensive meter movement No vember bread-board system working bench system mounted plane RC rudder control demonstrated Kalamazoo College Science Fair January 1937 During May six flights under radio control made Kalamazoo Air port using rudder control results tests showed necessary increase area rudder its deflection obtain effective turns also indication spiral stability KG very generous therefore very safe rudder-only control Once working RC plane given name Guff slang word college campus Very loosely trans lated meant thats lot nonsense Its impossible describe thrill first RC flights change path plane left right touch switch caused great shouts rise flights made dawn have still air get us back school eight oclock class mornings airport manager Try Woodhams awoke just time see Guff glide landing thought full-size plane landing outside airport organized search party find lost plane packed up driven back school several years later before found out what really happened now 80s lives Florida recently opportunity meet again reminisce about days rudder actuator rubberband driven gear train small electromagnet operated relay allowed gears turn whenever transmitter key held down fact result similar Lanzos cycling system because rudder would stop its current position transmitter off Cautious beeps push button would inch rudder toward sometimes yond desired position Looking back now realize control method too slowthree seconds neutral full-rudder addition pilot no knowledge rudder position except watching action plane did work rudder worked well enough con sider adding elevator control Bill added another push button another frequency transmitter operating 56 Continued page 141 Left Hulls second RC glider 18-footer ready launching slope thIs 1938 photo ARRL Right Hulls restored 1938 RC glider hangs museum Amateur Radio Relay League headquarters Newington CT photo taken July 1983 durIng Goods research visit L-R Wait Good Bill Good Laird Campbell Joel Kleinman Byron Goodman Pete Reed Note Byron Goodman inthis picture isthesame ByronGoodman shown Ross Hull inthe 1937 photo Next month RC atthe Natsfrom 1 938to1 941 April 1986 63 904 478-6745 Al Featuring fast service qualified eopIe latest equipment including SPECTRUM ANAL YZER AM FM SIGNAL GENERATOR Call Sam Leonard Tony Stiliman custom work competition needs stock complete hobby line specializing competition accessories discounted prices RADIO SOUTH-m AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER FOR Kruft Pro Line w Futeb 43 West Nine Mile Rd Pensacola FL 32514 * Sales Service er Inquiries Welcome * has seven channels receiver usually something think about install gives problems Im very happy tell has never given hint glitch Airtronics has wide range excellent servos system equipped 94554s servo features ball-bearingsupported output shaft careless motor 04-second transit time 900 735 inch-ounces output torque really like 94554s have lot luck over years So have youre market new radio dont check new Airtronics Module 7H out Let know what think think has capabilities bringing new dimension Heli-flying New LIMP Hughes 500 fuselage Also shown months photos new Hughes 500 shell 50160-size mechan ics fuselage epoxy-glass 43 long weighs 19 oz available D E matter C versions par ticular model shown photos built Jim Brandon Lakewood CA features OMP Cobra mechanics OS 50 FSR-H engine Quest gyro weighs 9 lb ready fly real hot rod fuselage designed Cobra mechanics mind has plenty room will take other kinds well Beginners corner con fusing things new Heli-flier set up throttle/rudder mixing function Helicopter radio Some Helicopter radios have very simple rudder/throttle mixing function consisting two rate knobs marked REV ACC slide switch marked LEFT/OFF/RIGHT task really very simple can dialed relatively quickly must first determine whether have left- righthanded main rotor Looking rotating disc above does rotate clockwise anti-clockwise have Schluter Hirobo Kalt Gorham product rotor spins clockwise right-handed rotor Set slide switch position marked RIGHT have diffearent-style radio adjust proper rotor rotation according its operating instructions tail-swinging problem trying overcame occurs because power added main rotor torque applied fuselage opposite direction rotation main rotor causes fuselage swing left machine right-handed rotor cure dial enough tail-rotor compensation fuselage stays straight Check adjustment holding machine steady hover giving quick blip throttle nose swings left compensation necessary nose swings right radio overcompensating radio must ad justed accordingly Once have mix set properly nose Helicopter will stay fairly stationary making climbs descending Now addition gyro nose will stable mother-in-law should able handle Good luck hope stops some twitchy tails months three-view 1960 US Department Defense issued Tech nical Specification 153 light Obser vation Helicopter Hughes submitted model 369 flying egg referring its shape 369 won campetition received its Army designation OH-6 code-named Cayuse Based Allison 250-series turbine engine Hughes product seemed ideal military service beginning Referred Hughes 500 commercial customers little machine has proved tough com petition Bell Jet Ranger Featuring fully-articulated rotor Hughes both nimble very fast Because 500s unique shape its appearance Magnum P1 TV series probably secand-most-recognized machine right hind Jet Ranger Model SOOs available Kalt Schluter Eberles Great Lakes Graup ner UMP Peka Have good month think about checking head screws engine once recently Heli show signs losing power found head leaking BCNU Lariy Jolly 5501 W Como Santa Ana CA 92703 RC History/Good Continued page 63 60 MHz built another receiver relay actuator end June six ffights made new dual control system definitely trickier control heard other entries plan ning use dual controls wanted prepared Gulls weight up 8 lb including 2 lb radio gear gave 13 oz/sq ft wing loading too much considering thick Grant wing section power Brown Jr its homemade 16-in-dia propeller Nats ground control demon stration went well sal waited turn fly Bill present since already gone job radio operator summer camp Another amateur Paul Kreiick W8QQE assisting After watching first three entries make attempts approaching storm finally arrived along rain judges scuffled hangar shelter flight attempted due Continued page 146 April 1986 141 DIN Lookfo u fa o e hobby shop send SASE free catalog Kin-Craft Mfg Inc 14323 TwIn Ridge Ashland Kentucky 41101 606-928-4763 use best Specializing Fiber-glass tape Fiber-glass cloth Polyester resin Resin Hardener Micro-Balloons Primers ner Paint filters Engine oil & Oil kits Engine cleaner Protective gloves Dust Masks Sponge & applic kits Contact cement F ROLLLU PLANS UT PARIS 1/2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT 3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX RC History/Good Continued page 141 rain lateness day both disappointed relieved Guff awarded fourth place background 12 test flights expect stable Guff would have come through OK official flight possible Looking back wish stuck rudder control beginning simplicity learning steps early RC Both Bill now retired very busy hobbies power boater live aboard cruiser ardent ham radio operator W2C VI Liverpool NY Im living Port Richey FL am active RC history articles RC Sailplanes few AMA committees several RC clubo some ham radio W3NPS/4 talk together least twice week stationssometimes about early RC days Hes part memory bank Leo Weiss youngest RC entry 18 largest most-sophisticated RC plane entries 14-ft wing planked sheet balsa stream lined monocoque body doped both sides balsa sheets stiffen shell construction weighed 16 lb cluding radio gear builtthat big wing college rooming house hard imagine sophomore aero engineering University Michigan happened9 6 lb high-tech radio gear Leos plane alone weighed slightly Lanzos complete 9-ft RC plane Power came prototype two-cylinder Fer gusson engine rated adio gear far ahead its time hobby RC three control channels rudder elevator engine op erated three electric motors Six tuned reeds selected desired commands respondinging six different audio tones reed system later became very popular inthe 1950s soLeowasontherighttrack John Lopus W8LUS electrical engineering student U M Leos radio specialist project 56 MHz transmitter battery-powered control box three lever-switches would cause selected airborne control move quickly appropriate direc tion true multi-channel system4 did Leo get far along model hobby young age First seasoned veteran Free Flight gas models RC ship fifth gas model third model won Texaco event 1935 St Louis National Con test beating Maxwell Bassett wide margin Leo 64 mm against Maxwells third-place time 36 min Leos secret tuning Brown Jr run over 10 min per ounce fuel took plane 2000 feet big thermals floated plane min utes lucky attend Nats field witness both flights wishing KG finished timewhich wasnt few weeks before 1935 Nats Leo graduated high school age 16 didnt attend graduation ceremonies because tco busy tuning engine trying different props Back 1937 Nats Leo sembled giant model hangar tried vain start special twin engine just wouldnt run give up thought flying Later Leo told beautiful giant plane never flown course several moves after graduation became lost0 scored fifth place should mentioned Leos first RC concepts originated during fresh man year MIT built fourth gas model small electric motors oper ating controls via wires intended tethered controllable flight still college took up flying got pilots license After graduating U M 1939 aeronautical engineer went directly Wright Field first job RC target dronesthe well-known Reginald Denny Radio-Plane Major George Holloman new boss read Leos RC articles cautioned him some material Leo written considered top secret around guess RC hobby ists advanced pro fessionals realized larger realistic RC drone Leo proposed full-scale Culver Cadet lightplane idea okayed compact unit gyros RC gear servos strapped place pilot steered radio ground control unit designed Leo RC Culver Cadets used target drones during WW II still remember some Navy shipboard tests proximity fuze helped develop anti-aircraft shells tests guns shot down number Culver Cadet drones proving effectiveness proximity fuze over conventional clock fuzes result surprising since proximity fuze contained miniature radar sensed nearness target plane triggered explosive time didnt know Leo involved really jumped profes sional RC hurry After WW II Leo started own busi ness manufacturing aeronautical instru ments became very successful An interesting afterthought Roy Marquardt modeler launched Elmer Wasmans plane later board member Leos company Leo now retired leading active life Alexandria VA writing books moderating business forums B Schlffman entered plane RC event strangely enough Ive found no published words pictures about believe first name Bernie 146 Model Aviation flEW PRAIRIE gIRD SO ELECTRIC0 GAS pGWERED / - REAL RIC TRAINER ORANDMA CAN FLY 2-3 CHANNEL RADIO 49 Inch SPAN 05 ELECTRIC 049 15 GAS CATALOG $200NIT $3995 619 442-4636 fGor 619 469-8675 W BOX 2498-MA LA MESA CA 92041 INNOA FUNCucS 7 A SASE FOR NEW CATALOG MARRY N MIGLEY & 801VS INC P o Box 532 GLINWOOD ILL 80425 . SSO EASY TO BUILD HANDCRAFTED KITS AT LOW PRICES F-15 EAGLESKY RAIDERNEPTUNE Wing Span 62 inWeight 4 lbsWing Span 60 inWeight 4 lbsMng Span 62 inWeight 4 lbs Length 53 inEngine 60 -90Length 45 inEngine 45 -60Length 48 inEngine 40 Kits include Pre-built fiberglass fuselage foam cores sheeted balsa machine cut balsa tail surfaces shaped strip ailerons complete hardware pack SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TOVISA & MASTER CARD ACCEPTED HORIZON MODELS INC T-404 Kelly Ave Manchester NH 03103 603 627-9503 Lanzo remembers late Sunday after returning RC area FF Rubber events saw Schiffmans plane standing rain soaked wing water dripping bottom bamboo paper covering doped Further Chet remembers large B battery sitting bottom fuselage amazed tar chipped away 30 cells save weight Beyond meager information know very little except did fly RC plane scored sixth place Can anyone give us some help information B Schiffman 1937 RC plane writing qualifies mystery entry Ross Hull Thus far have related 1937 entries first National Con test RC model planes What about other pioneers RC did enter national event probably know experimented RC being recorded model magazines local news papers Without documented accounts pioneers may never known However group led Ross Hull Connecticut contri butions well-documented 1937 35 Hull associate editor QST magazine journal American Radio Relay League ARRL very skilled radio designer also skilled model planes experiences Australia home country Hart ford CT both countries pub lished series model plane construction local newspapers late 1920s team consisted some talented participants Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL Roland Bourne Byron Goodman Harner Selvidge active hams Hulls team planned RC project 10-ft-span gas-powered RC model dur ing spring 1937 However before construction started Hull Bourne attended Soaring Society America national sailplane meet early July 1937 Elmira NY met Carl W Thompson Jr Wilmington DE both active gas model competitor pilot full-scale gliders Carl brought 13-ft glider meet RC gear built HM Plummer W3DIA simple basic approach oft signal giving right rudder signal left rudder Hulls QST report said ship made several successful hops control working untimely crack-up ended experiment11 Perhaps Thompson/Plummer team deserves recog nition first public RC glider demon stration sure would like find moredetailed report Elmira demonstra tions Hull quickly acquired remains took back Hartford repair DeSoto writes about Hull weeks followed group did little eat sleep talk build radio-controlled model aircraft Success immediate did comeif present 1937 system crude comparison ultimate goal can called success2 Near end July first flights started hand launches down nearby slopethen madly steering glider avoid trees finally landing valley below Some flights have duration several minutes less . Guided simplicity keynote RC system consisted three-tube superregenerative receiver sensitive relay four-spoke escapement four feet twisted rubber strands furnished power turn rudder escapement wheel advanced one-quarter turn carrier pulse giving N L N R sequence action rapid nd posi tive fortunately rudder would cycle quickly through unwanted positions 10-lb glider barely twitched Remembering position came next hard part Bourne built rudder stick automatically sent correct number pulses rudder greatly reduced worry factor pilot October glider amassed over 100 flights 15 crashes equipment rebuilt over over Some crashes caused escapement getting out sync control stick caused microphonics tubes being excited clanking escape ment turn gave extra un wanted pulse During 1937 ARRL group made significant contributions invention RC along entered 1937 Nats 1938 second glider built wingspan 18 ft mono coque body formed plywood demonstrated Elmira slopes summer 1938 story told tried enter RC glider regular soaring competitionbut after hurried meeting rules committee stated must man cockpit glider survived several years RC experimentation 1980 res cued ARRL storage Laird Camp bell WiCUT help Pete Reed KiONG well-known New Eng land modeler glider restored now hangs prominent position ceiling ARRL Museum Newing ton CT Unfortunately ARRL RC project lost Ross Hull toe fatal accident August 1938 contacted 6000 volts during television receiver experiment con tributions RC expert pioneer DeSoto carried RC efforts will tell about next installment Continued page 148 April 1986 147 BENTOM BROWN JR CAMPBELL COMET COVERITE COX DUBRO EASY BUILT MODELS ENYA FAt FLYLI FOX GOLDBERG GOLDEN AGE REPRO GENE DUBOIS GUILLOW K&B K&S L R MRC OS MAX PACTRA PECK-POLYMER PERFECT R N MODELS SEAGLEN SIG STERLING- SULLIVAN SUPER TIGRE TAFFINDER TELCO TOP FLITE- TREXLER WILLIAMS & OTHERS ESTES MODEL ROCKETS Seed 5100 Cash Cheek oc Stmpn foe 44 page tabloid nice DISCOUNT Catalog 900 illustrations over 700 Kits choose MAILORDER PHONEORDER IN STORE FINN VALLEY ICIlY CENTER 357 WEaji St LansdalsPmJ9446 Summary first RC Nats 1937 provided definite step forward development controllable RC planes six planes demonstrated proper control movements radio ground tests air six showed potential control response during its brief ffight Two others crashed launch due tail-heavy trim might have prevented pre-contest test flights proper adjust ments least remaining three through dozen test flights stopped bad weather lessons learned clear keep system simpler get plenty practice flights use stable model keep system simple Reliability pilot skill also essential too early judge importance based limited flight time stage next section well review RC pioneers RC Nats 1938 through 1941 watch RC invention stumble less grow References B Porter P Sweeney Short Wave & TV Magazine August 1938 2P Zecchitella Flying Aces October 1937 Wasman Elmer Interview February 8 1985 4Weiss Leo Model Airplane News October 1937 5Lanzo Chester Interview March 23 1985 6Lanzo Chester Air Trails December 1937 January 1938 7HuIl Ross QST September 1933 8Kalamazoo Gazette January 13 1937 tWeiss Leo Interview December 1 1984 Weiss Leo Correspondence December 2 1984 Hull Ross Bourne Roland QST Octo ber 1937 DeSoto Clinton B Model Airplane News January 1938 3McEntee Howard G Air Trails Model An nual 1952 CL Aerobatics/Fancher Continued page 65 SB These heroes built finished ships appearance points mind wanted build finish plane well could also wanted develop cour age put line learn fly AMA pattern combination skills necessary best requires continually improve Like paint ing sculpture beautiful model tracts interest Interest develops questions Answers develop understanding Under standing basis participation subject Skill Classes Nats correspondents following say JT Im strong against skill classes Nats Nats just another con test opportunity AMA member see stacks up against best country cant understand argument shouldnt enter cant win TM I have never flown Stunt contest pilot although think tops CL have compete Open class AMA now defines wont its simple RM The initiation some program infuse some new blood event absolutely critical survival both Stunt organization PAMPA . way motivate new flier offer him some reasonable ex pectation least some small reward reasonable length time can mind-boggling neophyte attend first Nats see what really up against. provide up-and-com ing fliers forum can showcase abilities pay dues believe however best interest fly second class separate Expert class because whole reason having second class allow less-experienced fliers get barometer performance relative skilled fliers. addition some new entries think might see certain number less serious fliers dropping back class sent mat having top 20 fliers advance finals should maintained costs Making cut has come recognized important achievement can see no reason top two three advanced fliers could carried along. final thought has become obvious trying initiate rule mat changes submitting proposals PA MPA membership large cumbersome non-productive i feel should select committee 86 Nats charge coming up format 87 Thats gang have paraphrased comments letters Ive received today December 29 although Ill appreciate additional thoughts wont addressing subject again soon urge consider opinions expressed alert possibility rule changes Its event Lets make responsive needs New subject us Pro Stunt ersincluding yours trulytend get bogged down state-of-the-art technical minutia Nats procedures judging scratch-built original-design pieces art work like tend lose sight bigger perhaps ominous happenings about event tunnel vision brought clearly focus month ago visited local hobby dealer search some info up-to-date kits available budding Control Line 148 Model Aviation UUA BLAST FROM THE PAST JIM WALKERS CLASSIC GLIDERS 74 3 Pak5495 404 INTERCEPTOR Folding Wing Glider U-Build-It Kit5395 Add 53 postage handling first y Fly5795 3each additional P0 Box 68132 AIRCRAFT CO Portland OR 97268 rncaurn oau Heres equipment yes need glee props very best balgice--halance direct ions Carefully raffed top grade materials BUBBLE BALANCER accomodates 3/161/49/32 prop holes Other sizes available special order Dealers invited $1795 AMsisan HOWARD B HUEBL orpi ens pasSage hnndlhg Nina 6% nalen tx NoCOD/n Bos g2 Ru g Mankoto MN eeooi
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/04
Page Numbers: 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 141, 146, 147, 148
&RLEru5ELAGE O RRDIO CONTROL MoML fl4 fS_________________________________________________ Left Chet Lanzo holds RC model won 1937 NatIonal Contest copy artIcle December 1937 Air Trails reproduction model done Lahzo display AMA Museum Right Drawing modelS-ft span almost 6 lb i 5- cT flozsnsL Z TRGET SWRLUN0 1NI4 CONDEN5ER 00 THIS IS THE STORY Radio Control model aircraft got started US tells pioneers developed RC hobby combining knowl edge skills related experiences earlier inventors background prior invention hobby RC presented preceding issue gas model gas engine two essential ingredients ar rived during early 193 Os Ham radio its compact homemade receivers transmitters also came during same period Military commercial interests demonstrated feasibility RC large boats aircraft during 1920s ingredients theretechnically clever dedicated inspired mod elers invent hobby RC aircraft HOOO L-XMi[ IA0LllNOALIhArhi1LWfl Left Circuit diagram Lanzos three-tube receiver Right Lanzo 1976 version 1934 RC-1 plane 1934 radio equipment didnt work butthe plane flies well Antique RC modern RC system Below Drawing Lanzos 1937 motorized rudder actuator METHOD Acmxrnis DDF TAB An important stimulation came June ____________1936 announcement new m Win. FWiw CLinicly-formed AMA RC event would added 1936 National Contest Detroit no RC models made ap pearance 1936 event However rumors rampant RC ships _____________being secretly built 1937 AMA Nats different wiREstory Six RC models actually appeared PILAY 14r L7Z]causing great excitement expectations following account RC event 1937 Nats again Detroit first-ever RC contest US Whether first world known certainty point may covered r information available Perhaps article will stimulate some foreign responses 58 Model Aviation z-D ~ imI iAxJdImmY ~.44 U Iq41-46 re p t40 Awm 1I 0 RECEIWIG APPARKrU8 INSTAUI V IN PLANic Left PatSweeneyand 1937 Nats second-place RC plane rudder control 10-ft span 9-lb weight Right Drawing Sweeneys RC receiver actuator reproduced August1938 Short Wave TV Magazine 1937 Nets flight lasted five seconds Left Elmer Wasman holds 1 0-lb RC model won third place 1937 rudder/aileron elevatorcontrol also engine cutoff Right Rear view Wasmans piano shows air-driven four-biaded propeller mounted front fin powerfor moving control surfaces Photos Wasman Below Jacksonville FL paper clipping 1937 shows Wasman explaining White Mystery students Sunday July 11 dawned warm clearerat ion its constrols during pre-flight Detroit Wayne County Airportground tests made written notes promise afternoon showerswhat observed no RC Hundreds Free Flight modelers whoregulations judges novices competing week inand pioneers too six models various events already testing theiraccepted being eligible RC catmodels fieldegory Official flying attempts sched morning six RC models wereuled commence early afternoon being assembled hangar variety attempts related now concepts converted reality byorder actual flight sequence pioneersare based magazine reports Chester Lanzo Cleveland OHNats recent interviews between author Patrick Sweeney Chicago ILand living fliers small extent Elmer Wasman Jacksonville FLupon authors memory exciting Walter Good Kalamazoo MIday Leo Weiss Brooklyn NY B Schiffinan New York NY help radiomen tuning adjusting ready machines ground demonstrations control operation radio judges planes ranged eight 14 feet span weighed six 16 pounds Patrick J Sweeney first entrant attempt flight late thirties oldest pilot six own-design cabin plane 10-ft span 18-in chord Total weight 9 lb 3 lb radio gear Almost 2 lb batteries system April 1986 59 p OO0It0MoooIJ046.IIlGGI00.4jJ o-Thi-i Controls varied rudder full house rudder ailerons elevator en gine No two alike originals judges carefully observed plane pilot demonstrated remote op Left Wait Good 1936KG FF model converted RC 1937 RIght Goods 1937 RC plane big won fourth place Nats rudder elevator controls large box 50-watt transmitter email box contains two receivers relays batteries small FF Gas plane picture early version Guff thunderstorm prevented Goods 1937 Nats flight demo needed 90 volts meant two 45-volt B batteries Pat ran hobby store Chicago time plenty materials know-how build large plane carry payload also flying gas models competition placed 17th out 43 1936 Nats Leo Vartanian Chicago Aeronuts told recently Pat competed regularly days radioman Ben F Porter came up three-tube receiver using superregenerative detector 5-meter band 56 60 MHz controlling rudder control used old springwound alarm clock four-point cam switch give positions neutral right neutral left etc sequence pulse transmitter push button stepped rudder next position magazine article stated began finished entry about month complete radio equipment assumed probably no extra time pre-contest test flights trim plane shake out problems1 back meet Phil Zecchi tellas description2 Finally Pat Sweeney warmed en gine signalled ready official flight few picked officials Pat brought model deserted tract runway prepared launching transmitter established distant Schematic drawing Goods 1937 actu ator showing simple gears magnet point receiving set plane tested being done newsreel crew moved camera approximate location takeoff finally Sweeney raised arms radioman stand Soon engine roaring actually behold first official flight radio-controlled gas model Guiding model its wingtip Pat ran behind until started lift its wheels off ground newsreel men shooting rapidly Suddenly model pointed its nose sky high climb evident could recover Slipping over its left wing crashed ground entire flight lasted five seconds wing tip de molished slight injury sustained motor mount Insofar could judged would have swell flight except center gravity model too far back did make another attempt cause damage event Pat Sweeney credited first attempted RC flight National Contest Elmer Wasman next welldesigned system called White Mystery because wind-driven propeller front fin No knew what did except Elmer3 industrial arts degree teaching aeronautics Jacksonville ju nior high school time 28 middle group entries concern mg age 1 l-ft-span plane chord 18 weighed 14 lb including radio gear 165 sq ft area gives 136 oz/sq ft wing loading model really needed Forster 99 engine 16-in prop fly climb marginally slow safe4 third gas model plane provided controls rudder/aileron elevator ignition cutoff engines RC event ignition type requiring spark coil batteries Elmers control system elabo rate early days radio signal went first airborne receiver 60 Model Aviation Rudder elevator actuators 1937 model Bill Good 1937 50-watttransmitter push-button control right hand Note 110-volt AC power line running back hangar photo Glen Peterson closed relay contact selector switch sequential switch five positions give up down elevator left right rudder engine cutoff Absence signal gave neutral rudder elevator full engine selector contact arm driven air paddle wheelcould stopped five contacts sending correct number pulses Ex amples pulse would give left rudder two pulses right rudder three pulses up elevator four pulses down elevator Five pulses would cut off ignition stop engine Note control function available time control held long needed pilot proceeded next control characteristic sequential system does allow simultaneous operation various controls However desired single con trol could obtained quickly set three navigation lights mounted plane connected red left rudder green right white down elevator Thus visual indication activated control did signal activate control surface selector wiper connected signal five electromagnets engaged rotating shaft selected control surface rotating shaft powered four-bladed air propeller mounted front vertical fin Again air power motive force Very cleverand complex Perhaps plane called White Mys terybecause very few understcod complicated mechanism transmitter end used simple switch watching navigation lights keep track airborne selector position receiver three-tube regenerative detector 5-meter band whole control system weighed 35 lb big ship carried easily smaller model powered Brown Jr used test bed check out individual components before mounting big plane turn fly saw dark thunderstorm approaching tried hurry things along Roy Marquardt strained launched giant plane gusty air Elmer worked busily transmit ter control plane nosed up stall sagged ground ending its flight abruptlyand much too soon suit Elmer said later hadnt time test fly big ship before meet turned out tail-heavy caused stall Such happenings nor mal developing something new Hind sight says Elmer tells him should have entered smaller ship simpler con trol first meet scored third place Elmer has retired several years divides time between Florida Illinois still spends hours Free Flight models well RC power glider models Chester Lanzo lightest plane entries just under 6 lb including 2 lb radio gear flown radio several times obtain proper balance tail angle engine downthrust must fly well itself before adding radio reasoned very wise approach Design plane basic func tional wing 9-ft span 14-in chord generous dihedral 13 per tip body 5-ft tray 3 wide 1 deep 6-in-high wire cage hold wing well above body radio parts simply fastened tray location maintain proper balance pointand very good accessibility parts Lanzo told made cabintype gas model 1934 experimented RC using spark-gap transmitter coherer receiver5 said approach failure RC plane engine vibration interrupted radios function ing Furthermore spark ignition engine swamped nearby receiver coherer undesired instructions rudder blocking out desired signals Left Overhead view Leo 1937 RC piane Fergusson prototypetwln-cyiinderengine Weiss couidnt getaterted atthe Nata Right Leo Weiss Inspecting Fergusson engine John Lopus adjusting airborne receiver eeriy tuned reed system April 1986 61 Above Leo Weiss standing behind 1 4-ft BC plane 1937 Nets 12 kneeiing spectators Modei pienked eli over Picture cornea RC ModelAwcraft Engiend 1944 Right Leo kneeling behind tail piene three RC en tries making fiightetthe 1937 Nets itwes awarded fifth piace Left Leo Weiss arm front rudder working Denny Radio-Plane Wright Field 1939 Right Ground control unit used con trol CulverCadets larger RC drones GCU also carried communications gear Leo shown atthe controls 1939 design Below Oops professional RCers sometimes make hard landing see picture poor Cuiver Cadet Wright Field 1939 RC pilot called plane RC-l today flies replica Antique RC competitions 1937 radio receiver home-built using three vacuum tubes superregen erative detector circuit operated homemade relay turn caused small geared electric train motor move rudder control through cycle neutral right neutral left etc long transmitter key held down Straight flight obtained key-down position because slowly-re sponding plane would show slight snaking path rudder oscillated back forth make turn key would released moment full rudder deflection deflected rudder would become effective plane would bank itself circling path very simple required piloting practice develop skill precision flight path control scheme another advantage Lanzo said transmitter could tuned receiver air watching rudder wiggled Such tuning com mon days Batteries problem entrants heavy costly short-livedespecially 45-volt B bat tery vacuum tube plate supply Chet found source Cleveland tiny 2oz normal ones 11 oz battery made weather sondes Its life span maximum two hours shelf life just two weeks remember con tacting company back rec ommended battery ordered latest moment sent airmail stayed 1 l-oz units two-tube transmitter used 500 volts output tube required 110-volt AC line flying site organizers anticipated need long extension cord started lcoking transmitter needed too friendly spectator brought 200-ft cord camper plugged nearby hangar use Ready fly Lanzo walked off find judges stray Free Flight gas model spiraled nearby causing frightened spectator step backwards Chets plane rupturing few ribs wing quick repair made Pat Sweeneys help Lanzo ready fly weather getting windier due approach summer thunderstorm started hurry cranked up Baby Cyclone engine set needle valve medium speed started forward launch Before could release plane engine slowed touch needle valve speeded engine off went plane slowclimbing circle Chet raced back transmitter plane gently zigged zagged pilot tried coax Figure 8 maneuver Suddenly engine quit plane glided down parking lot edge airfield flight time around two minutes must have seemed much longer Chet Chester Lanzo used gas model Free Flight experienceas well radio knowledgeto pull off first place Thus attained historical honor being first winner first RC National Contest US Prior Nats made few RC test flights plane Cleveland fact flights made park next Dick Kordas house ran AC extension out Dicks bedrcom window transmitter Lanzos philosophy starting simplest plane radio combination wise approach would have happier much longer flight 62 Model Aviation duatrn9ma9iid J6rczpemeaLMnd Left Ross Hull Byron Goodman 1937 13-ft RC glider West Hartford CT Right Diagram radio components Installa tion glider Photo drawing reproduced January1938 ModelAirplane News Hull editor ARRLs QSTmagazlne Chetwas23atthe 1937 Natsandtoday still active models special izing FF Rubber Power RC assisted Old-Timers Hes retired NASA still very busy recent projects building replica 1937 RC winner donating AMA Museum November 1984 complete Baby Cyclone vintage wing working rudder control first three places awarded basis flight performance place ment last three entries based ground demonstration did attempt fly Walt Good 8-ft-span model build 1935 close copy Kovel-Grant KG-8 powered Brown Jr engine flew Free Flight Gas meets 1936 well-tuned stable flight end season 36th FF Gas 1936 Nats Twin brother Bill just 21 years old resident radio ham W8IFD family thinking about RC KG-8 talked placing receiver antenna wires wings built 1935 fall 1936 won approval Kala mazoo College take lab course physics department design RC sys tem particularly transmitter re ceiver though professor specialist electronics offered great encouragementand three semester hours credit surprise receiver hurdle passed quickly converted onetube superregen circuit operate sensi tive relay rather its normal head phones7 trick placing variable resistor grid circuit adjusted give best current swing relay first relay constructed inexpensive meter movement No vember bread-board system working bench system mounted plane RC rudder control demonstrated Kalamazoo College Science Fair January 1937 During May six flights under radio control made Kalamazoo Air port using rudder control results tests showed necessary increase area rudder its deflection obtain effective turns also indication spiral stability KG very generous therefore very safe rudder-only control Once working RC plane given name Guff slang word college campus Very loosely trans lated meant thats lot nonsense Its impossible describe thrill first RC flights change path plane left right touch switch caused great shouts rise flights made dawn have still air get us back school eight oclock class mornings airport manager Try Woodhams awoke just time see Guff glide landing thought full-size plane landing outside airport organized search party find lost plane packed up driven back school several years later before found out what really happened now 80s lives Florida recently opportunity meet again reminisce about days rudder actuator rubberband driven gear train small electromagnet operated relay allowed gears turn whenever transmitter key held down fact result similar Lanzos cycling system because rudder would stop its current position transmitter off Cautious beeps push button would inch rudder toward sometimes yond desired position Looking back now realize control method too slowthree seconds neutral full-rudder addition pilot no knowledge rudder position except watching action plane did work rudder worked well enough con sider adding elevator control Bill added another push button another frequency transmitter operating 56 Continued page 141 Left Hulls second RC glider 18-footer ready launching slope thIs 1938 photo ARRL Right Hulls restored 1938 RC glider hangs museum Amateur Radio Relay League headquarters Newington CT photo taken July 1983 durIng Goods research visit L-R Wait Good Bill Good Laird Campbell Joel Kleinman Byron Goodman Pete Reed Note Byron Goodman inthis picture isthesame ByronGoodman shown Ross Hull inthe 1937 photo Next month RC atthe Natsfrom 1 938to1 941 April 1986 63 904 478-6745 Al Featuring fast service qualified eopIe latest equipment including SPECTRUM ANAL YZER AM FM SIGNAL GENERATOR Call Sam Leonard Tony Stiliman custom work competition needs stock complete hobby line specializing competition accessories discounted prices RADIO SOUTH-m AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER FOR Kruft Pro Line w Futeb 43 West Nine Mile Rd Pensacola FL 32514 * Sales Service er Inquiries Welcome * has seven channels receiver usually something think about install gives problems Im very happy tell has never given hint glitch Airtronics has wide range excellent servos system equipped 94554s servo features ball-bearingsupported output shaft careless motor 04-second transit time 900 735 inch-ounces output torque really like 94554s have lot luck over years So have youre market new radio dont check new Airtronics Module 7H out Let know what think think has capabilities bringing new dimension Heli-flying New LIMP Hughes 500 fuselage Also shown months photos new Hughes 500 shell 50160-size mechan ics fuselage epoxy-glass 43 long weighs 19 oz available D E matter C versions par ticular model shown photos built Jim Brandon Lakewood CA features OMP Cobra mechanics OS 50 FSR-H engine Quest gyro weighs 9 lb ready fly real hot rod fuselage designed Cobra mechanics mind has plenty room will take other kinds well Beginners corner con fusing things new Heli-flier set up throttle/rudder mixing function Helicopter radio Some Helicopter radios have very simple rudder/throttle mixing function consisting two rate knobs marked REV ACC slide switch marked LEFT/OFF/RIGHT task really very simple can dialed relatively quickly must first determine whether have left- righthanded main rotor Looking rotating disc above does rotate clockwise anti-clockwise have Schluter Hirobo Kalt Gorham product rotor spins clockwise right-handed rotor Set slide switch position marked RIGHT have diffearent-style radio adjust proper rotor rotation according its operating instructions tail-swinging problem trying overcame occurs because power added main rotor torque applied fuselage opposite direction rotation main rotor causes fuselage swing left machine right-handed rotor cure dial enough tail-rotor compensation fuselage stays straight Check adjustment holding machine steady hover giving quick blip throttle nose swings left compensation necessary nose swings right radio overcompensating radio must ad justed accordingly Once have mix set properly nose Helicopter will stay fairly stationary making climbs descending Now addition gyro nose will stable mother-in-law should able handle Good luck hope stops some twitchy tails months three-view 1960 US Department Defense issued Tech nical Specification 153 light Obser vation Helicopter Hughes submitted model 369 flying egg referring its shape 369 won campetition received its Army designation OH-6 code-named Cayuse Based Allison 250-series turbine engine Hughes product seemed ideal military service beginning Referred Hughes 500 commercial customers little machine has proved tough com petition Bell Jet Ranger Featuring fully-articulated rotor Hughes both nimble very fast Because 500s unique shape its appearance Magnum P1 TV series probably secand-most-recognized machine right hind Jet Ranger Model SOOs available Kalt Schluter Eberles Great Lakes Graup ner UMP Peka Have good month think about checking head screws engine once recently Heli show signs losing power found head leaking BCNU Lariy Jolly 5501 W Como Santa Ana CA 92703 RC History/Good Continued page 63 60 MHz built another receiver relay actuator end June six ffights made new dual control system definitely trickier control heard other entries plan ning use dual controls wanted prepared Gulls weight up 8 lb including 2 lb radio gear gave 13 oz/sq ft wing loading too much considering thick Grant wing section power Brown Jr its homemade 16-in-dia propeller Nats ground control demon stration went well sal waited turn fly Bill present since already gone job radio operator summer camp Another amateur Paul Kreiick W8QQE assisting After watching first three entries make attempts approaching storm finally arrived along rain judges scuffled hangar shelter flight attempted due Continued page 146 April 1986 141 DIN Lookfo u fa o e hobby shop send SASE free catalog Kin-Craft Mfg Inc 14323 TwIn Ridge Ashland Kentucky 41101 606-928-4763 use best Specializing Fiber-glass tape Fiber-glass cloth Polyester resin Resin Hardener Micro-Balloons Primers ner Paint filters Engine oil & Oil kits Engine cleaner Protective gloves Dust Masks Sponge & applic kits Contact cement F ROLLLU PLANS UT PARIS 1/2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT 3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX RC History/Good Continued page 141 rain lateness day both disappointed relieved Guff awarded fourth place background 12 test flights expect stable Guff would have come through OK official flight possible Looking back wish stuck rudder control beginning simplicity learning steps early RC Both Bill now retired very busy hobbies power boater live aboard cruiser ardent ham radio operator W2C VI Liverpool NY Im living Port Richey FL am active RC history articles RC Sailplanes few AMA committees several RC clubo some ham radio W3NPS/4 talk together least twice week stationssometimes about early RC days Hes part memory bank Leo Weiss youngest RC entry 18 largest most-sophisticated RC plane entries 14-ft wing planked sheet balsa stream lined monocoque body doped both sides balsa sheets stiffen shell construction weighed 16 lb cluding radio gear builtthat big wing college rooming house hard imagine sophomore aero engineering University Michigan happened9 6 lb high-tech radio gear Leos plane alone weighed slightly Lanzos complete 9-ft RC plane Power came prototype two-cylinder Fer gusson engine rated adio gear far ahead its time hobby RC three control channels rudder elevator engine op erated three electric motors Six tuned reeds selected desired commands respondinging six different audio tones reed system later became very popular inthe 1950s soLeowasontherighttrack John Lopus W8LUS electrical engineering student U M Leos radio specialist project 56 MHz transmitter battery-powered control box three lever-switches would cause selected airborne control move quickly appropriate direc tion true multi-channel system4 did Leo get far along model hobby young age First seasoned veteran Free Flight gas models RC ship fifth gas model third model won Texaco event 1935 St Louis National Con test beating Maxwell Bassett wide margin Leo 64 mm against Maxwells third-place time 36 min Leos secret tuning Brown Jr run over 10 min per ounce fuel took plane 2000 feet big thermals floated plane min utes lucky attend Nats field witness both flights wishing KG finished timewhich wasnt few weeks before 1935 Nats Leo graduated high school age 16 didnt attend graduation ceremonies because tco busy tuning engine trying different props Back 1937 Nats Leo sembled giant model hangar tried vain start special twin engine just wouldnt run give up thought flying Later Leo told beautiful giant plane never flown course several moves after graduation became lost0 scored fifth place should mentioned Leos first RC concepts originated during fresh man year MIT built fourth gas model small electric motors oper ating controls via wires intended tethered controllable flight still college took up flying got pilots license After graduating U M 1939 aeronautical engineer went directly Wright Field first job RC target dronesthe well-known Reginald Denny Radio-Plane Major George Holloman new boss read Leos RC articles cautioned him some material Leo written considered top secret around guess RC hobby ists advanced pro fessionals realized larger realistic RC drone Leo proposed full-scale Culver Cadet lightplane idea okayed compact unit gyros RC gear servos strapped place pilot steered radio ground control unit designed Leo RC Culver Cadets used target drones during WW II still remember some Navy shipboard tests proximity fuze helped develop anti-aircraft shells tests guns shot down number Culver Cadet drones proving effectiveness proximity fuze over conventional clock fuzes result surprising since proximity fuze contained miniature radar sensed nearness target plane triggered explosive time didnt know Leo involved really jumped profes sional RC hurry After WW II Leo started own busi ness manufacturing aeronautical instru ments became very successful An interesting afterthought Roy Marquardt modeler launched Elmer Wasmans plane later board member Leos company Leo now retired leading active life Alexandria VA writing books moderating business forums B Schlffman entered plane RC event strangely enough Ive found no published words pictures about believe first name Bernie 146 Model Aviation flEW PRAIRIE gIRD SO ELECTRIC0 GAS pGWERED / - REAL RIC TRAINER ORANDMA CAN FLY 2-3 CHANNEL RADIO 49 Inch SPAN 05 ELECTRIC 049 15 GAS CATALOG $200NIT $3995 619 442-4636 fGor 619 469-8675 W BOX 2498-MA LA MESA CA 92041 INNOA FUNCucS 7 A SASE FOR NEW CATALOG MARRY N MIGLEY & 801VS INC P o Box 532 GLINWOOD ILL 80425 . SSO EASY TO BUILD HANDCRAFTED KITS AT LOW PRICES F-15 EAGLESKY RAIDERNEPTUNE Wing Span 62 inWeight 4 lbsWing Span 60 inWeight 4 lbsMng Span 62 inWeight 4 lbs Length 53 inEngine 60 -90Length 45 inEngine 45 -60Length 48 inEngine 40 Kits include Pre-built fiberglass fuselage foam cores sheeted balsa machine cut balsa tail surfaces shaped strip ailerons complete hardware pack SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TOVISA & MASTER CARD ACCEPTED HORIZON MODELS INC T-404 Kelly Ave Manchester NH 03103 603 627-9503 Lanzo remembers late Sunday after returning RC area FF Rubber events saw Schiffmans plane standing rain soaked wing water dripping bottom bamboo paper covering doped Further Chet remembers large B battery sitting bottom fuselage amazed tar chipped away 30 cells save weight Beyond meager information know very little except did fly RC plane scored sixth place Can anyone give us some help information B Schiffman 1937 RC plane writing qualifies mystery entry Ross Hull Thus far have related 1937 entries first National Con test RC model planes What about other pioneers RC did enter national event probably know experimented RC being recorded model magazines local news papers Without documented accounts pioneers may never known However group led Ross Hull Connecticut contri butions well-documented 1937 35 Hull associate editor QST magazine journal American Radio Relay League ARRL very skilled radio designer also skilled model planes experiences Australia home country Hart ford CT both countries pub lished series model plane construction local newspapers late 1920s team consisted some talented participants Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL Roland Bourne Byron Goodman Harner Selvidge active hams Hulls team planned RC project 10-ft-span gas-powered RC model dur ing spring 1937 However before construction started Hull Bourne attended Soaring Society America national sailplane meet early July 1937 Elmira NY met Carl W Thompson Jr Wilmington DE both active gas model competitor pilot full-scale gliders Carl brought 13-ft glider meet RC gear built HM Plummer W3DIA simple basic approach oft signal giving right rudder signal left rudder Hulls QST report said ship made several successful hops control working untimely crack-up ended experiment11 Perhaps Thompson/Plummer team deserves recog nition first public RC glider demon stration sure would like find moredetailed report Elmira demonstra tions Hull quickly acquired remains took back Hartford repair DeSoto writes about Hull weeks followed group did little eat sleep talk build radio-controlled model aircraft Success immediate did comeif present 1937 system crude comparison ultimate goal can called success2 Near end July first flights started hand launches down nearby slopethen madly steering glider avoid trees finally landing valley below Some flights have duration several minutes less . Guided simplicity keynote RC system consisted three-tube superregenerative receiver sensitive relay four-spoke escapement four feet twisted rubber strands furnished power turn rudder escapement wheel advanced one-quarter turn carrier pulse giving N L N R sequence action rapid nd posi tive fortunately rudder would cycle quickly through unwanted positions 10-lb glider barely twitched Remembering position came next hard part Bourne built rudder stick automatically sent correct number pulses rudder greatly reduced worry factor pilot October glider amassed over 100 flights 15 crashes equipment rebuilt over over Some crashes caused escapement getting out sync control stick caused microphonics tubes being excited clanking escape ment turn gave extra un wanted pulse During 1937 ARRL group made significant contributions invention RC along entered 1937 Nats 1938 second glider built wingspan 18 ft mono coque body formed plywood demonstrated Elmira slopes summer 1938 story told tried enter RC glider regular soaring competitionbut after hurried meeting rules committee stated must man cockpit glider survived several years RC experimentation 1980 res cued ARRL storage Laird Camp bell WiCUT help Pete Reed KiONG well-known New Eng land modeler glider restored now hangs prominent position ceiling ARRL Museum Newing ton CT Unfortunately ARRL RC project lost Ross Hull toe fatal accident August 1938 contacted 6000 volts during television receiver experiment con tributions RC expert pioneer DeSoto carried RC efforts will tell about next installment Continued page 148 April 1986 147 BENTOM BROWN JR CAMPBELL COMET COVERITE COX DUBRO EASY BUILT MODELS ENYA FAt FLYLI FOX GOLDBERG GOLDEN AGE REPRO GENE DUBOIS GUILLOW K&B K&S L R MRC OS MAX PACTRA PECK-POLYMER PERFECT R N MODELS SEAGLEN SIG STERLING- SULLIVAN SUPER TIGRE TAFFINDER TELCO TOP FLITE- TREXLER WILLIAMS & OTHERS ESTES MODEL ROCKETS Seed 5100 Cash Cheek oc Stmpn foe 44 page tabloid nice DISCOUNT Catalog 900 illustrations over 700 Kits choose MAILORDER PHONEORDER IN STORE FINN VALLEY ICIlY CENTER 357 WEaji St LansdalsPmJ9446 Summary first RC Nats 1937 provided definite step forward development controllable RC planes six planes demonstrated proper control movements radio ground tests air six showed potential control response during its brief ffight Two others crashed launch due tail-heavy trim might have prevented pre-contest test flights proper adjust ments least remaining three through dozen test flights stopped bad weather lessons learned clear keep system simpler get plenty practice flights use stable model keep system simple Reliability pilot skill also essential too early judge importance based limited flight time stage next section well review RC pioneers RC Nats 1938 through 1941 watch RC invention stumble less grow References B Porter P Sweeney Short Wave & TV Magazine August 1938 2P Zecchitella Flying Aces October 1937 Wasman Elmer Interview February 8 1985 4Weiss Leo Model Airplane News October 1937 5Lanzo Chester Interview March 23 1985 6Lanzo Chester Air Trails December 1937 January 1938 7HuIl Ross QST September 1933 8Kalamazoo Gazette January 13 1937 tWeiss Leo Interview December 1 1984 Weiss Leo Correspondence December 2 1984 Hull Ross Bourne Roland QST Octo ber 1937 DeSoto Clinton B Model Airplane News January 1938 3McEntee Howard G Air Trails Model An nual 1952 CL Aerobatics/Fancher Continued page 65 SB These heroes built finished ships appearance points mind wanted build finish plane well could also wanted develop cour age put line learn fly AMA pattern combination skills necessary best requires continually improve Like paint ing sculpture beautiful model tracts interest Interest develops questions Answers develop understanding Under standing basis participation subject Skill Classes Nats correspondents following say JT Im strong against skill classes Nats Nats just another con test opportunity AMA member see stacks up against best country cant understand argument shouldnt enter cant win TM I have never flown Stunt contest pilot although think tops CL have compete Open class AMA now defines wont its simple RM The initiation some program infuse some new blood event absolutely critical survival both Stunt organization PAMPA . way motivate new flier offer him some reasonable ex pectation least some small reward reasonable length time can mind-boggling neophyte attend first Nats see what really up against. provide up-and-com ing fliers forum can showcase abilities pay dues believe however best interest fly second class separate Expert class because whole reason having second class allow less-experienced fliers get barometer performance relative skilled fliers. addition some new entries think might see certain number less serious fliers dropping back class sent mat having top 20 fliers advance finals should maintained costs Making cut has come recognized important achievement can see no reason top two three advanced fliers could carried along. final thought has become obvious trying initiate rule mat changes submitting proposals PA MPA membership large cumbersome non-productive i feel should select committee 86 Nats charge coming up format 87 Thats gang have paraphrased comments letters Ive received today December 29 although Ill appreciate additional thoughts wont addressing subject again soon urge consider opinions expressed alert possibility rule changes Its event Lets make responsive needs New subject us Pro Stunt ersincluding yours trulytend get bogged down state-of-the-art technical minutia Nats procedures judging scratch-built original-design pieces art work like tend lose sight bigger perhaps ominous happenings about event tunnel vision brought clearly focus month ago visited local hobby dealer search some info up-to-date kits available budding Control Line 148 Model Aviation UUA BLAST FROM THE PAST JIM WALKERS CLASSIC GLIDERS 74 3 Pak5495 404 INTERCEPTOR Folding Wing Glider U-Build-It Kit5395 Add 53 postage handling first y Fly5795 3each additional P0 Box 68132 AIRCRAFT CO Portland OR 97268 rncaurn oau Heres equipment yes need glee props very best balgice--halance direct ions Carefully raffed top grade materials BUBBLE BALANCER accomodates 3/161/49/32 prop holes Other sizes available special order Dealers invited $1795 AMsisan HOWARD B HUEBL orpi ens pasSage hnndlhg Nina 6% nalen tx NoCOD/n Bos g2 Ru g Mankoto MN eeooi
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/04
Page Numbers: 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 141, 146, 147, 148
&RLEru5ELAGE O RRDIO CONTROL MoML fl4 fS_________________________________________________ Left Chet Lanzo holds RC model won 1937 NatIonal Contest copy artIcle December 1937 Air Trails reproduction model done Lahzo display AMA Museum Right Drawing modelS-ft span almost 6 lb i 5- cT flozsnsL Z TRGET SWRLUN0 1NI4 CONDEN5ER 00 THIS IS THE STORY Radio Control model aircraft got started US tells pioneers developed RC hobby combining knowl edge skills related experiences earlier inventors background prior invention hobby RC presented preceding issue gas model gas engine two essential ingredients ar rived during early 193 Os Ham radio its compact homemade receivers transmitters also came during same period Military commercial interests demonstrated feasibility RC large boats aircraft during 1920s ingredients theretechnically clever dedicated inspired mod elers invent hobby RC aircraft HOOO L-XMi[ IA0LllNOALIhArhi1LWfl Left Circuit diagram Lanzos three-tube receiver Right Lanzo 1976 version 1934 RC-1 plane 1934 radio equipment didnt work butthe plane flies well Antique RC modern RC system Below Drawing Lanzos 1937 motorized rudder actuator METHOD Acmxrnis DDF TAB An important stimulation came June ____________1936 announcement new m Win. FWiw CLinicly-formed AMA RC event would added 1936 National Contest Detroit no RC models made ap pearance 1936 event However rumors rampant RC ships _____________being secretly built 1937 AMA Nats different wiREstory Six RC models actually appeared PILAY 14r L7Z]causing great excitement expectations following account RC event 1937 Nats again Detroit first-ever RC contest US Whether first world known certainty point may covered r information available Perhaps article will stimulate some foreign responses 58 Model Aviation z-D ~ imI iAxJdImmY ~.44 U Iq41-46 re p t40 Awm 1I 0 RECEIWIG APPARKrU8 INSTAUI V IN PLANic Left PatSweeneyand 1937 Nats second-place RC plane rudder control 10-ft span 9-lb weight Right Drawing Sweeneys RC receiver actuator reproduced August1938 Short Wave TV Magazine 1937 Nets flight lasted five seconds Left Elmer Wasman holds 1 0-lb RC model won third place 1937 rudder/aileron elevatorcontrol also engine cutoff Right Rear view Wasmans piano shows air-driven four-biaded propeller mounted front fin powerfor moving control surfaces Photos Wasman Below Jacksonville FL paper clipping 1937 shows Wasman explaining White Mystery students Sunday July 11 dawned warm clearerat ion its constrols during pre-flight Detroit Wayne County Airportground tests made written notes promise afternoon showerswhat observed no RC Hundreds Free Flight modelers whoregulations judges novices competing week inand pioneers too six models various events already testing theiraccepted being eligible RC catmodels fieldegory Official flying attempts sched morning six RC models wereuled commence early afternoon being assembled hangar variety attempts related now concepts converted reality byorder actual flight sequence pioneersare based magazine reports Chester Lanzo Cleveland OHNats recent interviews between author Patrick Sweeney Chicago ILand living fliers small extent Elmer Wasman Jacksonville FLupon authors memory exciting Walter Good Kalamazoo MIday Leo Weiss Brooklyn NY B Schiffinan New York NY help radiomen tuning adjusting ready machines ground demonstrations control operation radio judges planes ranged eight 14 feet span weighed six 16 pounds Patrick J Sweeney first entrant attempt flight late thirties oldest pilot six own-design cabin plane 10-ft span 18-in chord Total weight 9 lb 3 lb radio gear Almost 2 lb batteries system April 1986 59 p OO0It0MoooIJ046.IIlGGI00.4jJ o-Thi-i Controls varied rudder full house rudder ailerons elevator en gine No two alike originals judges carefully observed plane pilot demonstrated remote op Left Wait Good 1936KG FF model converted RC 1937 RIght Goods 1937 RC plane big won fourth place Nats rudder elevator controls large box 50-watt transmitter email box contains two receivers relays batteries small FF Gas plane picture early version Guff thunderstorm prevented Goods 1937 Nats flight demo needed 90 volts meant two 45-volt B batteries Pat ran hobby store Chicago time plenty materials know-how build large plane carry payload also flying gas models competition placed 17th out 43 1936 Nats Leo Vartanian Chicago Aeronuts told recently Pat competed regularly days radioman Ben F Porter came up three-tube receiver using superregenerative detector 5-meter band 56 60 MHz controlling rudder control used old springwound alarm clock four-point cam switch give positions neutral right neutral left etc sequence pulse transmitter push button stepped rudder next position magazine article stated began finished entry about month complete radio equipment assumed probably no extra time pre-contest test flights trim plane shake out problems1 back meet Phil Zecchi tellas description2 Finally Pat Sweeney warmed en gine signalled ready official flight few picked officials Pat brought model deserted tract runway prepared launching transmitter established distant Schematic drawing Goods 1937 actu ator showing simple gears magnet point receiving set plane tested being done newsreel crew moved camera approximate location takeoff finally Sweeney raised arms radioman stand Soon engine roaring actually behold first official flight radio-controlled gas model Guiding model its wingtip Pat ran behind until started lift its wheels off ground newsreel men shooting rapidly Suddenly model pointed its nose sky high climb evident could recover Slipping over its left wing crashed ground entire flight lasted five seconds wing tip de molished slight injury sustained motor mount Insofar could judged would have swell flight except center gravity model too far back did make another attempt cause damage event Pat Sweeney credited first attempted RC flight National Contest Elmer Wasman next welldesigned system called White Mystery because wind-driven propeller front fin No knew what did except Elmer3 industrial arts degree teaching aeronautics Jacksonville ju nior high school time 28 middle group entries concern mg age 1 l-ft-span plane chord 18 weighed 14 lb including radio gear 165 sq ft area gives 136 oz/sq ft wing loading model really needed Forster 99 engine 16-in prop fly climb marginally slow safe4 third gas model plane provided controls rudder/aileron elevator ignition cutoff engines RC event ignition type requiring spark coil batteries Elmers control system elabo rate early days radio signal went first airborne receiver 60 Model Aviation Rudder elevator actuators 1937 model Bill Good 1937 50-watttransmitter push-button control right hand Note 110-volt AC power line running back hangar photo Glen Peterson closed relay contact selector switch sequential switch five positions give up down elevator left right rudder engine cutoff Absence signal gave neutral rudder elevator full engine selector contact arm driven air paddle wheelcould stopped five contacts sending correct number pulses Ex amples pulse would give left rudder two pulses right rudder three pulses up elevator four pulses down elevator Five pulses would cut off ignition stop engine Note control function available time control held long needed pilot proceeded next control characteristic sequential system does allow simultaneous operation various controls However desired single con trol could obtained quickly set three navigation lights mounted plane connected red left rudder green right white down elevator Thus visual indication activated control did signal activate control surface selector wiper connected signal five electromagnets engaged rotating shaft selected control surface rotating shaft powered four-bladed air propeller mounted front vertical fin Again air power motive force Very cleverand complex Perhaps plane called White Mys terybecause very few understcod complicated mechanism transmitter end used simple switch watching navigation lights keep track airborne selector position receiver three-tube regenerative detector 5-meter band whole control system weighed 35 lb big ship carried easily smaller model powered Brown Jr used test bed check out individual components before mounting big plane turn fly saw dark thunderstorm approaching tried hurry things along Roy Marquardt strained launched giant plane gusty air Elmer worked busily transmit ter control plane nosed up stall sagged ground ending its flight abruptlyand much too soon suit Elmer said later hadnt time test fly big ship before meet turned out tail-heavy caused stall Such happenings nor mal developing something new Hind sight says Elmer tells him should have entered smaller ship simpler con trol first meet scored third place Elmer has retired several years divides time between Florida Illinois still spends hours Free Flight models well RC power glider models Chester Lanzo lightest plane entries just under 6 lb including 2 lb radio gear flown radio several times obtain proper balance tail angle engine downthrust must fly well itself before adding radio reasoned very wise approach Design plane basic func tional wing 9-ft span 14-in chord generous dihedral 13 per tip body 5-ft tray 3 wide 1 deep 6-in-high wire cage hold wing well above body radio parts simply fastened tray location maintain proper balance pointand very good accessibility parts Lanzo told made cabintype gas model 1934 experimented RC using spark-gap transmitter coherer receiver5 said approach failure RC plane engine vibration interrupted radios function ing Furthermore spark ignition engine swamped nearby receiver coherer undesired instructions rudder blocking out desired signals Left Overhead view Leo 1937 RC piane Fergusson prototypetwln-cyiinderengine Weiss couidnt getaterted atthe Nata Right Leo Weiss Inspecting Fergusson engine John Lopus adjusting airborne receiver eeriy tuned reed system April 1986 61 Above Leo Weiss standing behind 1 4-ft BC plane 1937 Nets 12 kneeiing spectators Modei pienked eli over Picture cornea RC ModelAwcraft Engiend 1944 Right Leo kneeling behind tail piene three RC en tries making fiightetthe 1937 Nets itwes awarded fifth piace Left Leo Weiss arm front rudder working Denny Radio-Plane Wright Field 1939 Right Ground control unit used con trol CulverCadets larger RC drones GCU also carried communications gear Leo shown atthe controls 1939 design Below Oops professional RCers sometimes make hard landing see picture poor Cuiver Cadet Wright Field 1939 RC pilot called plane RC-l today flies replica Antique RC competitions 1937 radio receiver home-built using three vacuum tubes superregen erative detector circuit operated homemade relay turn caused small geared electric train motor move rudder control through cycle neutral right neutral left etc long transmitter key held down Straight flight obtained key-down position because slowly-re sponding plane would show slight snaking path rudder oscillated back forth make turn key would released moment full rudder deflection deflected rudder would become effective plane would bank itself circling path very simple required piloting practice develop skill precision flight path control scheme another advantage Lanzo said transmitter could tuned receiver air watching rudder wiggled Such tuning com mon days Batteries problem entrants heavy costly short-livedespecially 45-volt B bat tery vacuum tube plate supply Chet found source Cleveland tiny 2oz normal ones 11 oz battery made weather sondes Its life span maximum two hours shelf life just two weeks remember con tacting company back rec ommended battery ordered latest moment sent airmail stayed 1 l-oz units two-tube transmitter used 500 volts output tube required 110-volt AC line flying site organizers anticipated need long extension cord started lcoking transmitter needed too friendly spectator brought 200-ft cord camper plugged nearby hangar use Ready fly Lanzo walked off find judges stray Free Flight gas model spiraled nearby causing frightened spectator step backwards Chets plane rupturing few ribs wing quick repair made Pat Sweeneys help Lanzo ready fly weather getting windier due approach summer thunderstorm started hurry cranked up Baby Cyclone engine set needle valve medium speed started forward launch Before could release plane engine slowed touch needle valve speeded engine off went plane slowclimbing circle Chet raced back transmitter plane gently zigged zagged pilot tried coax Figure 8 maneuver Suddenly engine quit plane glided down parking lot edge airfield flight time around two minutes must have seemed much longer Chet Chester Lanzo used gas model Free Flight experienceas well radio knowledgeto pull off first place Thus attained historical honor being first winner first RC National Contest US Prior Nats made few RC test flights plane Cleveland fact flights made park next Dick Kordas house ran AC extension out Dicks bedrcom window transmitter Lanzos philosophy starting simplest plane radio combination wise approach would have happier much longer flight 62 Model Aviation duatrn9ma9iid J6rczpemeaLMnd Left Ross Hull Byron Goodman 1937 13-ft RC glider West Hartford CT Right Diagram radio components Installa tion glider Photo drawing reproduced January1938 ModelAirplane News Hull editor ARRLs QSTmagazlne Chetwas23atthe 1937 Natsandtoday still active models special izing FF Rubber Power RC assisted Old-Timers Hes retired NASA still very busy recent projects building replica 1937 RC winner donating AMA Museum November 1984 complete Baby Cyclone vintage wing working rudder control first three places awarded basis flight performance place ment last three entries based ground demonstration did attempt fly Walt Good 8-ft-span model build 1935 close copy Kovel-Grant KG-8 powered Brown Jr engine flew Free Flight Gas meets 1936 well-tuned stable flight end season 36th FF Gas 1936 Nats Twin brother Bill just 21 years old resident radio ham W8IFD family thinking about RC KG-8 talked placing receiver antenna wires wings built 1935 fall 1936 won approval Kala mazoo College take lab course physics department design RC sys tem particularly transmitter re ceiver though professor specialist electronics offered great encouragementand three semester hours credit surprise receiver hurdle passed quickly converted onetube superregen circuit operate sensi tive relay rather its normal head phones7 trick placing variable resistor grid circuit adjusted give best current swing relay first relay constructed inexpensive meter movement No vember bread-board system working bench system mounted plane RC rudder control demonstrated Kalamazoo College Science Fair January 1937 During May six flights under radio control made Kalamazoo Air port using rudder control results tests showed necessary increase area rudder its deflection obtain effective turns also indication spiral stability KG very generous therefore very safe rudder-only control Once working RC plane given name Guff slang word college campus Very loosely trans lated meant thats lot nonsense Its impossible describe thrill first RC flights change path plane left right touch switch caused great shouts rise flights made dawn have still air get us back school eight oclock class mornings airport manager Try Woodhams awoke just time see Guff glide landing thought full-size plane landing outside airport organized search party find lost plane packed up driven back school several years later before found out what really happened now 80s lives Florida recently opportunity meet again reminisce about days rudder actuator rubberband driven gear train small electromagnet operated relay allowed gears turn whenever transmitter key held down fact result similar Lanzos cycling system because rudder would stop its current position transmitter off Cautious beeps push button would inch rudder toward sometimes yond desired position Looking back now realize control method too slowthree seconds neutral full-rudder addition pilot no knowledge rudder position except watching action plane did work rudder worked well enough con sider adding elevator control Bill added another push button another frequency transmitter operating 56 Continued page 141 Left Hulls second RC glider 18-footer ready launching slope thIs 1938 photo ARRL Right Hulls restored 1938 RC glider hangs museum Amateur Radio Relay League headquarters Newington CT photo taken July 1983 durIng Goods research visit L-R Wait Good Bill Good Laird Campbell Joel Kleinman Byron Goodman Pete Reed Note Byron Goodman inthis picture isthesame ByronGoodman shown Ross Hull inthe 1937 photo Next month RC atthe Natsfrom 1 938to1 941 April 1986 63 904 478-6745 Al Featuring fast service qualified eopIe latest equipment including SPECTRUM ANAL YZER AM FM SIGNAL GENERATOR Call Sam Leonard Tony Stiliman custom work competition needs stock complete hobby line specializing competition accessories discounted prices RADIO SOUTH-m AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER FOR Kruft Pro Line w Futeb 43 West Nine Mile Rd Pensacola FL 32514 * Sales Service er Inquiries Welcome * has seven channels receiver usually something think about install gives problems Im very happy tell has never given hint glitch Airtronics has wide range excellent servos system equipped 94554s servo features ball-bearingsupported output shaft careless motor 04-second transit time 900 735 inch-ounces output torque really like 94554s have lot luck over years So have youre market new radio dont check new Airtronics Module 7H out Let know what think think has capabilities bringing new dimension Heli-flying New LIMP Hughes 500 fuselage Also shown months photos new Hughes 500 shell 50160-size mechan ics fuselage epoxy-glass 43 long weighs 19 oz available D E matter C versions par ticular model shown photos built Jim Brandon Lakewood CA features OMP Cobra mechanics OS 50 FSR-H engine Quest gyro weighs 9 lb ready fly real hot rod fuselage designed Cobra mechanics mind has plenty room will take other kinds well Beginners corner con fusing things new Heli-flier set up throttle/rudder mixing function Helicopter radio Some Helicopter radios have very simple rudder/throttle mixing function consisting two rate knobs marked REV ACC slide switch marked LEFT/OFF/RIGHT task really very simple can dialed relatively quickly must first determine whether have left- righthanded main rotor Looking rotating disc above does rotate clockwise anti-clockwise have Schluter Hirobo Kalt Gorham product rotor spins clockwise right-handed rotor Set slide switch position marked RIGHT have diffearent-style radio adjust proper rotor rotation according its operating instructions tail-swinging problem trying overcame occurs because power added main rotor torque applied fuselage opposite direction rotation main rotor causes fuselage swing left machine right-handed rotor cure dial enough tail-rotor compensation fuselage stays straight Check adjustment holding machine steady hover giving quick blip throttle nose swings left compensation necessary nose swings right radio overcompensating radio must ad justed accordingly Once have mix set properly nose Helicopter will stay fairly stationary making climbs descending Now addition gyro nose will stable mother-in-law should able handle Good luck hope stops some twitchy tails months three-view 1960 US Department Defense issued Tech nical Specification 153 light Obser vation Helicopter Hughes submitted model 369 flying egg referring its shape 369 won campetition received its Army designation OH-6 code-named Cayuse Based Allison 250-series turbine engine Hughes product seemed ideal military service beginning Referred Hughes 500 commercial customers little machine has proved tough com petition Bell Jet Ranger Featuring fully-articulated rotor Hughes both nimble very fast Because 500s unique shape its appearance Magnum P1 TV series probably secand-most-recognized machine right hind Jet Ranger Model SOOs available Kalt Schluter Eberles Great Lakes Graup ner UMP Peka Have good month think about checking head screws engine once recently Heli show signs losing power found head leaking BCNU Lariy Jolly 5501 W Como Santa Ana CA 92703 RC History/Good Continued page 63 60 MHz built another receiver relay actuator end June six ffights made new dual control system definitely trickier control heard other entries plan ning use dual controls wanted prepared Gulls weight up 8 lb including 2 lb radio gear gave 13 oz/sq ft wing loading too much considering thick Grant wing section power Brown Jr its homemade 16-in-dia propeller Nats ground control demon stration went well sal waited turn fly Bill present since already gone job radio operator summer camp Another amateur Paul Kreiick W8QQE assisting After watching first three entries make attempts approaching storm finally arrived along rain judges scuffled hangar shelter flight attempted due Continued page 146 April 1986 141 DIN Lookfo u fa o e hobby shop send SASE free catalog Kin-Craft Mfg Inc 14323 TwIn Ridge Ashland Kentucky 41101 606-928-4763 use best Specializing Fiber-glass tape Fiber-glass cloth Polyester resin Resin Hardener Micro-Balloons Primers ner Paint filters Engine oil & Oil kits Engine cleaner Protective gloves Dust Masks Sponge & applic kits Contact cement F ROLLLU PLANS UT PARIS 1/2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT 3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX RC History/Good Continued page 141 rain lateness day both disappointed relieved Guff awarded fourth place background 12 test flights expect stable Guff would have come through OK official flight possible Looking back wish stuck rudder control beginning simplicity learning steps early RC Both Bill now retired very busy hobbies power boater live aboard cruiser ardent ham radio operator W2C VI Liverpool NY Im living Port Richey FL am active RC history articles RC Sailplanes few AMA committees several RC clubo some ham radio W3NPS/4 talk together least twice week stationssometimes about early RC days Hes part memory bank Leo Weiss youngest RC entry 18 largest most-sophisticated RC plane entries 14-ft wing planked sheet balsa stream lined monocoque body doped both sides balsa sheets stiffen shell construction weighed 16 lb cluding radio gear builtthat big wing college rooming house hard imagine sophomore aero engineering University Michigan happened9 6 lb high-tech radio gear Leos plane alone weighed slightly Lanzos complete 9-ft RC plane Power came prototype two-cylinder Fer gusson engine rated adio gear far ahead its time hobby RC three control channels rudder elevator engine op erated three electric motors Six tuned reeds selected desired commands respondinging six different audio tones reed system later became very popular inthe 1950s soLeowasontherighttrack John Lopus W8LUS electrical engineering student U M Leos radio specialist project 56 MHz transmitter battery-powered control box three lever-switches would cause selected airborne control move quickly appropriate direc tion true multi-channel system4 did Leo get far along model hobby young age First seasoned veteran Free Flight gas models RC ship fifth gas model third model won Texaco event 1935 St Louis National Con test beating Maxwell Bassett wide margin Leo 64 mm against Maxwells third-place time 36 min Leos secret tuning Brown Jr run over 10 min per ounce fuel took plane 2000 feet big thermals floated plane min utes lucky attend Nats field witness both flights wishing KG finished timewhich wasnt few weeks before 1935 Nats Leo graduated high school age 16 didnt attend graduation ceremonies because tco busy tuning engine trying different props Back 1937 Nats Leo sembled giant model hangar tried vain start special twin engine just wouldnt run give up thought flying Later Leo told beautiful giant plane never flown course several moves after graduation became lost0 scored fifth place should mentioned Leos first RC concepts originated during fresh man year MIT built fourth gas model small electric motors oper ating controls via wires intended tethered controllable flight still college took up flying got pilots license After graduating U M 1939 aeronautical engineer went directly Wright Field first job RC target dronesthe well-known Reginald Denny Radio-Plane Major George Holloman new boss read Leos RC articles cautioned him some material Leo written considered top secret around guess RC hobby ists advanced pro fessionals realized larger realistic RC drone Leo proposed full-scale Culver Cadet lightplane idea okayed compact unit gyros RC gear servos strapped place pilot steered radio ground control unit designed Leo RC Culver Cadets used target drones during WW II still remember some Navy shipboard tests proximity fuze helped develop anti-aircraft shells tests guns shot down number Culver Cadet drones proving effectiveness proximity fuze over conventional clock fuzes result surprising since proximity fuze contained miniature radar sensed nearness target plane triggered explosive time didnt know Leo involved really jumped profes sional RC hurry After WW II Leo started own busi ness manufacturing aeronautical instru ments became very successful An interesting afterthought Roy Marquardt modeler launched Elmer Wasmans plane later board member Leos company Leo now retired leading active life Alexandria VA writing books moderating business forums B Schlffman entered plane RC event strangely enough Ive found no published words pictures about believe first name Bernie 146 Model Aviation flEW PRAIRIE gIRD SO ELECTRIC0 GAS pGWERED / - REAL RIC TRAINER ORANDMA CAN FLY 2-3 CHANNEL RADIO 49 Inch SPAN 05 ELECTRIC 049 15 GAS CATALOG $200NIT $3995 619 442-4636 fGor 619 469-8675 W BOX 2498-MA LA MESA CA 92041 INNOA FUNCucS 7 A SASE FOR NEW CATALOG MARRY N MIGLEY & 801VS INC P o Box 532 GLINWOOD ILL 80425 . SSO EASY TO BUILD HANDCRAFTED KITS AT LOW PRICES F-15 EAGLESKY RAIDERNEPTUNE Wing Span 62 inWeight 4 lbsWing Span 60 inWeight 4 lbsMng Span 62 inWeight 4 lbs Length 53 inEngine 60 -90Length 45 inEngine 45 -60Length 48 inEngine 40 Kits include Pre-built fiberglass fuselage foam cores sheeted balsa machine cut balsa tail surfaces shaped strip ailerons complete hardware pack SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TOVISA & MASTER CARD ACCEPTED HORIZON MODELS INC T-404 Kelly Ave Manchester NH 03103 603 627-9503 Lanzo remembers late Sunday after returning RC area FF Rubber events saw Schiffmans plane standing rain soaked wing water dripping bottom bamboo paper covering doped Further Chet remembers large B battery sitting bottom fuselage amazed tar chipped away 30 cells save weight Beyond meager information know very little except did fly RC plane scored sixth place Can anyone give us some help information B Schiffman 1937 RC plane writing qualifies mystery entry Ross Hull Thus far have related 1937 entries first National Con test RC model planes What about other pioneers RC did enter national event probably know experimented RC being recorded model magazines local news papers Without documented accounts pioneers may never known However group led Ross Hull Connecticut contri butions well-documented 1937 35 Hull associate editor QST magazine journal American Radio Relay League ARRL very skilled radio designer also skilled model planes experiences Australia home country Hart ford CT both countries pub lished series model plane construction local newspapers late 1920s team consisted some talented participants Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL Roland Bourne Byron Goodman Harner Selvidge active hams Hulls team planned RC project 10-ft-span gas-powered RC model dur ing spring 1937 However before construction started Hull Bourne attended Soaring Society America national sailplane meet early July 1937 Elmira NY met Carl W Thompson Jr Wilmington DE both active gas model competitor pilot full-scale gliders Carl brought 13-ft glider meet RC gear built HM Plummer W3DIA simple basic approach oft signal giving right rudder signal left rudder Hulls QST report said ship made several successful hops control working untimely crack-up ended experiment11 Perhaps Thompson/Plummer team deserves recog nition first public RC glider demon stration sure would like find moredetailed report Elmira demonstra tions Hull quickly acquired remains took back Hartford repair DeSoto writes about Hull weeks followed group did little eat sleep talk build radio-controlled model aircraft Success immediate did comeif present 1937 system crude comparison ultimate goal can called success2 Near end July first flights started hand launches down nearby slopethen madly steering glider avoid trees finally landing valley below Some flights have duration several minutes less . Guided simplicity keynote RC system consisted three-tube superregenerative receiver sensitive relay four-spoke escapement four feet twisted rubber strands furnished power turn rudder escapement wheel advanced one-quarter turn carrier pulse giving N L N R sequence action rapid nd posi tive fortunately rudder would cycle quickly through unwanted positions 10-lb glider barely twitched Remembering position came next hard part Bourne built rudder stick automatically sent correct number pulses rudder greatly reduced worry factor pilot October glider amassed over 100 flights 15 crashes equipment rebuilt over over Some crashes caused escapement getting out sync control stick caused microphonics tubes being excited clanking escape ment turn gave extra un wanted pulse During 1937 ARRL group made significant contributions invention RC along entered 1937 Nats 1938 second glider built wingspan 18 ft mono coque body formed plywood demonstrated Elmira slopes summer 1938 story told tried enter RC glider regular soaring competitionbut after hurried meeting rules committee stated must man cockpit glider survived several years RC experimentation 1980 res cued ARRL storage Laird Camp bell WiCUT help Pete Reed KiONG well-known New Eng land modeler glider restored now hangs prominent position ceiling ARRL Museum Newing ton CT Unfortunately ARRL RC project lost Ross Hull toe fatal accident August 1938 contacted 6000 volts during television receiver experiment con tributions RC expert pioneer DeSoto carried RC efforts will tell about next installment Continued page 148 April 1986 147 BENTOM BROWN JR CAMPBELL COMET COVERITE COX DUBRO EASY BUILT MODELS ENYA FAt FLYLI FOX GOLDBERG GOLDEN AGE REPRO GENE DUBOIS GUILLOW K&B K&S L R MRC OS MAX PACTRA PECK-POLYMER PERFECT R N MODELS SEAGLEN SIG STERLING- SULLIVAN SUPER TIGRE TAFFINDER TELCO TOP FLITE- TREXLER WILLIAMS & OTHERS ESTES MODEL ROCKETS Seed 5100 Cash Cheek oc Stmpn foe 44 page tabloid nice DISCOUNT Catalog 900 illustrations over 700 Kits choose MAILORDER PHONEORDER IN STORE FINN VALLEY ICIlY CENTER 357 WEaji St LansdalsPmJ9446 Summary first RC Nats 1937 provided definite step forward development controllable RC planes six planes demonstrated proper control movements radio ground tests air six showed potential control response during its brief ffight Two others crashed launch due tail-heavy trim might have prevented pre-contest test flights proper adjust ments least remaining three through dozen test flights stopped bad weather lessons learned clear keep system simpler get plenty practice flights use stable model keep system simple Reliability pilot skill also essential too early judge importance based limited flight time stage next section well review RC pioneers RC Nats 1938 through 1941 watch RC invention stumble less grow References B Porter P Sweeney Short Wave & TV Magazine August 1938 2P Zecchitella Flying Aces October 1937 Wasman Elmer Interview February 8 1985 4Weiss Leo Model Airplane News October 1937 5Lanzo Chester Interview March 23 1985 6Lanzo Chester Air Trails December 1937 January 1938 7HuIl Ross QST September 1933 8Kalamazoo Gazette January 13 1937 tWeiss Leo Interview December 1 1984 Weiss Leo Correspondence December 2 1984 Hull Ross Bourne Roland QST Octo ber 1937 DeSoto Clinton B Model Airplane News January 1938 3McEntee Howard G Air Trails Model An nual 1952 CL Aerobatics/Fancher Continued page 65 SB These heroes built finished ships appearance points mind wanted build finish plane well could also wanted develop cour age put line learn fly AMA pattern combination skills necessary best requires continually improve Like paint ing sculpture beautiful model tracts interest Interest develops questions Answers develop understanding Under standing basis participation subject Skill Classes Nats correspondents following say JT Im strong against skill classes Nats Nats just another con test opportunity AMA member see stacks up against best country cant understand argument shouldnt enter cant win TM I have never flown Stunt contest pilot although think tops CL have compete Open class AMA now defines wont its simple RM The initiation some program infuse some new blood event absolutely critical survival both Stunt organization PAMPA . way motivate new flier offer him some reasonable ex pectation least some small reward reasonable length time can mind-boggling neophyte attend first Nats see what really up against. provide up-and-com ing fliers forum can showcase abilities pay dues believe however best interest fly second class separate Expert class because whole reason having second class allow less-experienced fliers get barometer performance relative skilled fliers. addition some new entries think might see certain number less serious fliers dropping back class sent mat having top 20 fliers advance finals should maintained costs Making cut has come recognized important achievement can see no reason top two three advanced fliers could carried along. final thought has become obvious trying initiate rule mat changes submitting proposals PA MPA membership large cumbersome non-productive i feel should select committee 86 Nats charge coming up format 87 Thats gang have paraphrased comments letters Ive received today December 29 although Ill appreciate additional thoughts wont addressing subject again soon urge consider opinions expressed alert possibility rule changes Its event Lets make responsive needs New subject us Pro Stunt ersincluding yours trulytend get bogged down state-of-the-art technical minutia Nats procedures judging scratch-built original-design pieces art work like tend lose sight bigger perhaps ominous happenings about event tunnel vision brought clearly focus month ago visited local hobby dealer search some info up-to-date kits available budding Control Line 148 Model Aviation UUA BLAST FROM THE PAST JIM WALKERS CLASSIC GLIDERS 74 3 Pak5495 404 INTERCEPTOR Folding Wing Glider U-Build-It Kit5395 Add 53 postage handling first y Fly5795 3each additional P0 Box 68132 AIRCRAFT CO Portland OR 97268 rncaurn oau Heres equipment yes need glee props very best balgice--halance direct ions Carefully raffed top grade materials BUBBLE BALANCER accomodates 3/161/49/32 prop holes Other sizes available special order Dealers invited $1795 AMsisan HOWARD B HUEBL orpi ens pasSage hnndlhg Nina 6% nalen tx NoCOD/n Bos g2 Ru g Mankoto MN eeooi
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/04
Page Numbers: 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 141, 146, 147, 148
&RLEru5ELAGE O RRDIO CONTROL MoML fl4 fS_________________________________________________ Left Chet Lanzo holds RC model won 1937 NatIonal Contest copy artIcle December 1937 Air Trails reproduction model done Lahzo display AMA Museum Right Drawing modelS-ft span almost 6 lb i 5- cT flozsnsL Z TRGET SWRLUN0 1NI4 CONDEN5ER 00 THIS IS THE STORY Radio Control model aircraft got started US tells pioneers developed RC hobby combining knowl edge skills related experiences earlier inventors background prior invention hobby RC presented preceding issue gas model gas engine two essential ingredients ar rived during early 193 Os Ham radio its compact homemade receivers transmitters also came during same period Military commercial interests demonstrated feasibility RC large boats aircraft during 1920s ingredients theretechnically clever dedicated inspired mod elers invent hobby RC aircraft HOOO L-XMi[ IA0LllNOALIhArhi1LWfl Left Circuit diagram Lanzos three-tube receiver Right Lanzo 1976 version 1934 RC-1 plane 1934 radio equipment didnt work butthe plane flies well Antique RC modern RC system Below Drawing Lanzos 1937 motorized rudder actuator METHOD Acmxrnis DDF TAB An important stimulation came June ____________1936 announcement new m Win. FWiw CLinicly-formed AMA RC event would added 1936 National Contest Detroit no RC models made ap pearance 1936 event However rumors rampant RC ships _____________being secretly built 1937 AMA Nats different wiREstory Six RC models actually appeared PILAY 14r L7Z]causing great excitement expectations following account RC event 1937 Nats again Detroit first-ever RC contest US Whether first world known certainty point may covered r information available Perhaps article will stimulate some foreign responses 58 Model Aviation z-D ~ imI iAxJdImmY ~.44 U Iq41-46 re p t40 Awm 1I 0 RECEIWIG APPARKrU8 INSTAUI V IN PLANic Left PatSweeneyand 1937 Nats second-place RC plane rudder control 10-ft span 9-lb weight Right Drawing Sweeneys RC receiver actuator reproduced August1938 Short Wave TV Magazine 1937 Nets flight lasted five seconds Left Elmer Wasman holds 1 0-lb RC model won third place 1937 rudder/aileron elevatorcontrol also engine cutoff Right Rear view Wasmans piano shows air-driven four-biaded propeller mounted front fin powerfor moving control surfaces Photos Wasman Below Jacksonville FL paper clipping 1937 shows Wasman explaining White Mystery students Sunday July 11 dawned warm clearerat ion its constrols during pre-flight Detroit Wayne County Airportground tests made written notes promise afternoon showerswhat observed no RC Hundreds Free Flight modelers whoregulations judges novices competing week inand pioneers too six models various events already testing theiraccepted being eligible RC catmodels fieldegory Official flying attempts sched morning six RC models wereuled commence early afternoon being assembled hangar variety attempts related now concepts converted reality byorder actual flight sequence pioneersare based magazine reports Chester Lanzo Cleveland OHNats recent interviews between author Patrick Sweeney Chicago ILand living fliers small extent Elmer Wasman Jacksonville FLupon authors memory exciting Walter Good Kalamazoo MIday Leo Weiss Brooklyn NY B Schiffinan New York NY help radiomen tuning adjusting ready machines ground demonstrations control operation radio judges planes ranged eight 14 feet span weighed six 16 pounds Patrick J Sweeney first entrant attempt flight late thirties oldest pilot six own-design cabin plane 10-ft span 18-in chord Total weight 9 lb 3 lb radio gear Almost 2 lb batteries system April 1986 59 p OO0It0MoooIJ046.IIlGGI00.4jJ o-Thi-i Controls varied rudder full house rudder ailerons elevator en gine No two alike originals judges carefully observed plane pilot demonstrated remote op Left Wait Good 1936KG FF model converted RC 1937 RIght Goods 1937 RC plane big won fourth place Nats rudder elevator controls large box 50-watt transmitter email box contains two receivers relays batteries small FF Gas plane picture early version Guff thunderstorm prevented Goods 1937 Nats flight demo needed 90 volts meant two 45-volt B batteries Pat ran hobby store Chicago time plenty materials know-how build large plane carry payload also flying gas models competition placed 17th out 43 1936 Nats Leo Vartanian Chicago Aeronuts told recently Pat competed regularly days radioman Ben F Porter came up three-tube receiver using superregenerative detector 5-meter band 56 60 MHz controlling rudder control used old springwound alarm clock four-point cam switch give positions neutral right neutral left etc sequence pulse transmitter push button stepped rudder next position magazine article stated began finished entry about month complete radio equipment assumed probably no extra time pre-contest test flights trim plane shake out problems1 back meet Phil Zecchi tellas description2 Finally Pat Sweeney warmed en gine signalled ready official flight few picked officials Pat brought model deserted tract runway prepared launching transmitter established distant Schematic drawing Goods 1937 actu ator showing simple gears magnet point receiving set plane tested being done newsreel crew moved camera approximate location takeoff finally Sweeney raised arms radioman stand Soon engine roaring actually behold first official flight radio-controlled gas model Guiding model its wingtip Pat ran behind until started lift its wheels off ground newsreel men shooting rapidly Suddenly model pointed its nose sky high climb evident could recover Slipping over its left wing crashed ground entire flight lasted five seconds wing tip de molished slight injury sustained motor mount Insofar could judged would have swell flight except center gravity model too far back did make another attempt cause damage event Pat Sweeney credited first attempted RC flight National Contest Elmer Wasman next welldesigned system called White Mystery because wind-driven propeller front fin No knew what did except Elmer3 industrial arts degree teaching aeronautics Jacksonville ju nior high school time 28 middle group entries concern mg age 1 l-ft-span plane chord 18 weighed 14 lb including radio gear 165 sq ft area gives 136 oz/sq ft wing loading model really needed Forster 99 engine 16-in prop fly climb marginally slow safe4 third gas model plane provided controls rudder/aileron elevator ignition cutoff engines RC event ignition type requiring spark coil batteries Elmers control system elabo rate early days radio signal went first airborne receiver 60 Model Aviation Rudder elevator actuators 1937 model Bill Good 1937 50-watttransmitter push-button control right hand Note 110-volt AC power line running back hangar photo Glen Peterson closed relay contact selector switch sequential switch five positions give up down elevator left right rudder engine cutoff Absence signal gave neutral rudder elevator full engine selector contact arm driven air paddle wheelcould stopped five contacts sending correct number pulses Ex amples pulse would give left rudder two pulses right rudder three pulses up elevator four pulses down elevator Five pulses would cut off ignition stop engine Note control function available time control held long needed pilot proceeded next control characteristic sequential system does allow simultaneous operation various controls However desired single con trol could obtained quickly set three navigation lights mounted plane connected red left rudder green right white down elevator Thus visual indication activated control did signal activate control surface selector wiper connected signal five electromagnets engaged rotating shaft selected control surface rotating shaft powered four-bladed air propeller mounted front vertical fin Again air power motive force Very cleverand complex Perhaps plane called White Mys terybecause very few understcod complicated mechanism transmitter end used simple switch watching navigation lights keep track airborne selector position receiver three-tube regenerative detector 5-meter band whole control system weighed 35 lb big ship carried easily smaller model powered Brown Jr used test bed check out individual components before mounting big plane turn fly saw dark thunderstorm approaching tried hurry things along Roy Marquardt strained launched giant plane gusty air Elmer worked busily transmit ter control plane nosed up stall sagged ground ending its flight abruptlyand much too soon suit Elmer said later hadnt time test fly big ship before meet turned out tail-heavy caused stall Such happenings nor mal developing something new Hind sight says Elmer tells him should have entered smaller ship simpler con trol first meet scored third place Elmer has retired several years divides time between Florida Illinois still spends hours Free Flight models well RC power glider models Chester Lanzo lightest plane entries just under 6 lb including 2 lb radio gear flown radio several times obtain proper balance tail angle engine downthrust must fly well itself before adding radio reasoned very wise approach Design plane basic func tional wing 9-ft span 14-in chord generous dihedral 13 per tip body 5-ft tray 3 wide 1 deep 6-in-high wire cage hold wing well above body radio parts simply fastened tray location maintain proper balance pointand very good accessibility parts Lanzo told made cabintype gas model 1934 experimented RC using spark-gap transmitter coherer receiver5 said approach failure RC plane engine vibration interrupted radios function ing Furthermore spark ignition engine swamped nearby receiver coherer undesired instructions rudder blocking out desired signals Left Overhead view Leo 1937 RC piane Fergusson prototypetwln-cyiinderengine Weiss couidnt getaterted atthe Nata Right Leo Weiss Inspecting Fergusson engine John Lopus adjusting airborne receiver eeriy tuned reed system April 1986 61 Above Leo Weiss standing behind 1 4-ft BC plane 1937 Nets 12 kneeiing spectators Modei pienked eli over Picture cornea RC ModelAwcraft Engiend 1944 Right Leo kneeling behind tail piene three RC en tries making fiightetthe 1937 Nets itwes awarded fifth piace Left Leo Weiss arm front rudder working Denny Radio-Plane Wright Field 1939 Right Ground control unit used con trol CulverCadets larger RC drones GCU also carried communications gear Leo shown atthe controls 1939 design Below Oops professional RCers sometimes make hard landing see picture poor Cuiver Cadet Wright Field 1939 RC pilot called plane RC-l today flies replica Antique RC competitions 1937 radio receiver home-built using three vacuum tubes superregen erative detector circuit operated homemade relay turn caused small geared electric train motor move rudder control through cycle neutral right neutral left etc long transmitter key held down Straight flight obtained key-down position because slowly-re sponding plane would show slight snaking path rudder oscillated back forth make turn key would released moment full rudder deflection deflected rudder would become effective plane would bank itself circling path very simple required piloting practice develop skill precision flight path control scheme another advantage Lanzo said transmitter could tuned receiver air watching rudder wiggled Such tuning com mon days Batteries problem entrants heavy costly short-livedespecially 45-volt B bat tery vacuum tube plate supply Chet found source Cleveland tiny 2oz normal ones 11 oz battery made weather sondes Its life span maximum two hours shelf life just two weeks remember con tacting company back rec ommended battery ordered latest moment sent airmail stayed 1 l-oz units two-tube transmitter used 500 volts output tube required 110-volt AC line flying site organizers anticipated need long extension cord started lcoking transmitter needed too friendly spectator brought 200-ft cord camper plugged nearby hangar use Ready fly Lanzo walked off find judges stray Free Flight gas model spiraled nearby causing frightened spectator step backwards Chets plane rupturing few ribs wing quick repair made Pat Sweeneys help Lanzo ready fly weather getting windier due approach summer thunderstorm started hurry cranked up Baby Cyclone engine set needle valve medium speed started forward launch Before could release plane engine slowed touch needle valve speeded engine off went plane slowclimbing circle Chet raced back transmitter plane gently zigged zagged pilot tried coax Figure 8 maneuver Suddenly engine quit plane glided down parking lot edge airfield flight time around two minutes must have seemed much longer Chet Chester Lanzo used gas model Free Flight experienceas well radio knowledgeto pull off first place Thus attained historical honor being first winner first RC National Contest US Prior Nats made few RC test flights plane Cleveland fact flights made park next Dick Kordas house ran AC extension out Dicks bedrcom window transmitter Lanzos philosophy starting simplest plane radio combination wise approach would have happier much longer flight 62 Model Aviation duatrn9ma9iid J6rczpemeaLMnd Left Ross Hull Byron Goodman 1937 13-ft RC glider West Hartford CT Right Diagram radio components Installa tion glider Photo drawing reproduced January1938 ModelAirplane News Hull editor ARRLs QSTmagazlne Chetwas23atthe 1937 Natsandtoday still active models special izing FF Rubber Power RC assisted Old-Timers Hes retired NASA still very busy recent projects building replica 1937 RC winner donating AMA Museum November 1984 complete Baby Cyclone vintage wing working rudder control first three places awarded basis flight performance place ment last three entries based ground demonstration did attempt fly Walt Good 8-ft-span model build 1935 close copy Kovel-Grant KG-8 powered Brown Jr engine flew Free Flight Gas meets 1936 well-tuned stable flight end season 36th FF Gas 1936 Nats Twin brother Bill just 21 years old resident radio ham W8IFD family thinking about RC KG-8 talked placing receiver antenna wires wings built 1935 fall 1936 won approval Kala mazoo College take lab course physics department design RC sys tem particularly transmitter re ceiver though professor specialist electronics offered great encouragementand three semester hours credit surprise receiver hurdle passed quickly converted onetube superregen circuit operate sensi tive relay rather its normal head phones7 trick placing variable resistor grid circuit adjusted give best current swing relay first relay constructed inexpensive meter movement No vember bread-board system working bench system mounted plane RC rudder control demonstrated Kalamazoo College Science Fair January 1937 During May six flights under radio control made Kalamazoo Air port using rudder control results tests showed necessary increase area rudder its deflection obtain effective turns also indication spiral stability KG very generous therefore very safe rudder-only control Once working RC plane given name Guff slang word college campus Very loosely trans lated meant thats lot nonsense Its impossible describe thrill first RC flights change path plane left right touch switch caused great shouts rise flights made dawn have still air get us back school eight oclock class mornings airport manager Try Woodhams awoke just time see Guff glide landing thought full-size plane landing outside airport organized search party find lost plane packed up driven back school several years later before found out what really happened now 80s lives Florida recently opportunity meet again reminisce about days rudder actuator rubberband driven gear train small electromagnet operated relay allowed gears turn whenever transmitter key held down fact result similar Lanzos cycling system because rudder would stop its current position transmitter off Cautious beeps push button would inch rudder toward sometimes yond desired position Looking back now realize control method too slowthree seconds neutral full-rudder addition pilot no knowledge rudder position except watching action plane did work rudder worked well enough con sider adding elevator control Bill added another push button another frequency transmitter operating 56 Continued page 141 Left Hulls second RC glider 18-footer ready launching slope thIs 1938 photo ARRL Right Hulls restored 1938 RC glider hangs museum Amateur Radio Relay League headquarters Newington CT photo taken July 1983 durIng Goods research visit L-R Wait Good Bill Good Laird Campbell Joel Kleinman Byron Goodman Pete Reed Note Byron Goodman inthis picture isthesame ByronGoodman shown Ross Hull inthe 1937 photo Next month RC atthe Natsfrom 1 938to1 941 April 1986 63 904 478-6745 Al Featuring fast service qualified eopIe latest equipment including SPECTRUM ANAL YZER AM FM SIGNAL GENERATOR Call Sam Leonard Tony Stiliman custom work competition needs stock complete hobby line specializing competition accessories discounted prices RADIO SOUTH-m AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER FOR Kruft Pro Line w Futeb 43 West Nine Mile Rd Pensacola FL 32514 * Sales Service er Inquiries Welcome * has seven channels receiver usually something think about install gives problems Im very happy tell has never given hint glitch Airtronics has wide range excellent servos system equipped 94554s servo features ball-bearingsupported output shaft careless motor 04-second transit time 900 735 inch-ounces output torque really like 94554s have lot luck over years So have youre market new radio dont check new Airtronics Module 7H out Let know what think think has capabilities bringing new dimension Heli-flying New LIMP Hughes 500 fuselage Also shown months photos new Hughes 500 shell 50160-size mechan ics fuselage epoxy-glass 43 long weighs 19 oz available D E matter C versions par ticular model shown photos built Jim Brandon Lakewood CA features OMP Cobra mechanics OS 50 FSR-H engine Quest gyro weighs 9 lb ready fly real hot rod fuselage designed Cobra mechanics mind has plenty room will take other kinds well Beginners corner con fusing things new Heli-flier set up throttle/rudder mixing function Helicopter radio Some Helicopter radios have very simple rudder/throttle mixing function consisting two rate knobs marked REV ACC slide switch marked LEFT/OFF/RIGHT task really very simple can dialed relatively quickly must first determine whether have left- righthanded main rotor Looking rotating disc above does rotate clockwise anti-clockwise have Schluter Hirobo Kalt Gorham product rotor spins clockwise right-handed rotor Set slide switch position marked RIGHT have diffearent-style radio adjust proper rotor rotation according its operating instructions tail-swinging problem trying overcame occurs because power added main rotor torque applied fuselage opposite direction rotation main rotor causes fuselage swing left machine right-handed rotor cure dial enough tail-rotor compensation fuselage stays straight Check adjustment holding machine steady hover giving quick blip throttle nose swings left compensation necessary nose swings right radio overcompensating radio must ad justed accordingly Once have mix set properly nose Helicopter will stay fairly stationary making climbs descending Now addition gyro nose will stable mother-in-law should able handle Good luck hope stops some twitchy tails months three-view 1960 US Department Defense issued Tech nical Specification 153 light Obser vation Helicopter Hughes submitted model 369 flying egg referring its shape 369 won campetition received its Army designation OH-6 code-named Cayuse Based Allison 250-series turbine engine Hughes product seemed ideal military service beginning Referred Hughes 500 commercial customers little machine has proved tough com petition Bell Jet Ranger Featuring fully-articulated rotor Hughes both nimble very fast Because 500s unique shape its appearance Magnum P1 TV series probably secand-most-recognized machine right hind Jet Ranger Model SOOs available Kalt Schluter Eberles Great Lakes Graup ner UMP Peka Have good month think about checking head screws engine once recently Heli show signs losing power found head leaking BCNU Lariy Jolly 5501 W Como Santa Ana CA 92703 RC History/Good Continued page 63 60 MHz built another receiver relay actuator end June six ffights made new dual control system definitely trickier control heard other entries plan ning use dual controls wanted prepared Gulls weight up 8 lb including 2 lb radio gear gave 13 oz/sq ft wing loading too much considering thick Grant wing section power Brown Jr its homemade 16-in-dia propeller Nats ground control demon stration went well sal waited turn fly Bill present since already gone job radio operator summer camp Another amateur Paul Kreiick W8QQE assisting After watching first three entries make attempts approaching storm finally arrived along rain judges scuffled hangar shelter flight attempted due Continued page 146 April 1986 141 DIN Lookfo u fa o e hobby shop send SASE free catalog Kin-Craft Mfg Inc 14323 TwIn Ridge Ashland Kentucky 41101 606-928-4763 use best Specializing Fiber-glass tape Fiber-glass cloth Polyester resin Resin Hardener Micro-Balloons Primers ner Paint filters Engine oil & Oil kits Engine cleaner Protective gloves Dust Masks Sponge & applic kits Contact cement F ROLLLU PLANS UT PARIS 1/2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT 3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX RC History/Good Continued page 141 rain lateness day both disappointed relieved Guff awarded fourth place background 12 test flights expect stable Guff would have come through OK official flight possible Looking back wish stuck rudder control beginning simplicity learning steps early RC Both Bill now retired very busy hobbies power boater live aboard cruiser ardent ham radio operator W2C VI Liverpool NY Im living Port Richey FL am active RC history articles RC Sailplanes few AMA committees several RC clubo some ham radio W3NPS/4 talk together least twice week stationssometimes about early RC days Hes part memory bank Leo Weiss youngest RC entry 18 largest most-sophisticated RC plane entries 14-ft wing planked sheet balsa stream lined monocoque body doped both sides balsa sheets stiffen shell construction weighed 16 lb cluding radio gear builtthat big wing college rooming house hard imagine sophomore aero engineering University Michigan happened9 6 lb high-tech radio gear Leos plane alone weighed slightly Lanzos complete 9-ft RC plane Power came prototype two-cylinder Fer gusson engine rated adio gear far ahead its time hobby RC three control channels rudder elevator engine op erated three electric motors Six tuned reeds selected desired commands respondinging six different audio tones reed system later became very popular inthe 1950s soLeowasontherighttrack John Lopus W8LUS electrical engineering student U M Leos radio specialist project 56 MHz transmitter battery-powered control box three lever-switches would cause selected airborne control move quickly appropriate direc tion true multi-channel system4 did Leo get far along model hobby young age First seasoned veteran Free Flight gas models RC ship fifth gas model third model won Texaco event 1935 St Louis National Con test beating Maxwell Bassett wide margin Leo 64 mm against Maxwells third-place time 36 min Leos secret tuning Brown Jr run over 10 min per ounce fuel took plane 2000 feet big thermals floated plane min utes lucky attend Nats field witness both flights wishing KG finished timewhich wasnt few weeks before 1935 Nats Leo graduated high school age 16 didnt attend graduation ceremonies because tco busy tuning engine trying different props Back 1937 Nats Leo sembled giant model hangar tried vain start special twin engine just wouldnt run give up thought flying Later Leo told beautiful giant plane never flown course several moves after graduation became lost0 scored fifth place should mentioned Leos first RC concepts originated during fresh man year MIT built fourth gas model small electric motors oper ating controls via wires intended tethered controllable flight still college took up flying got pilots license After graduating U M 1939 aeronautical engineer went directly Wright Field first job RC target dronesthe well-known Reginald Denny Radio-Plane Major George Holloman new boss read Leos RC articles cautioned him some material Leo written considered top secret around guess RC hobby ists advanced pro fessionals realized larger realistic RC drone Leo proposed full-scale Culver Cadet lightplane idea okayed compact unit gyros RC gear servos strapped place pilot steered radio ground control unit designed Leo RC Culver Cadets used target drones during WW II still remember some Navy shipboard tests proximity fuze helped develop anti-aircraft shells tests guns shot down number Culver Cadet drones proving effectiveness proximity fuze over conventional clock fuzes result surprising since proximity fuze contained miniature radar sensed nearness target plane triggered explosive time didnt know Leo involved really jumped profes sional RC hurry After WW II Leo started own busi ness manufacturing aeronautical instru ments became very successful An interesting afterthought Roy Marquardt modeler launched Elmer Wasmans plane later board member Leos company Leo now retired leading active life Alexandria VA writing books moderating business forums B Schlffman entered plane RC event strangely enough Ive found no published words pictures about believe first name Bernie 146 Model Aviation flEW PRAIRIE gIRD SO ELECTRIC0 GAS pGWERED / - REAL RIC TRAINER ORANDMA CAN FLY 2-3 CHANNEL RADIO 49 Inch SPAN 05 ELECTRIC 049 15 GAS CATALOG $200NIT $3995 619 442-4636 fGor 619 469-8675 W BOX 2498-MA LA MESA CA 92041 INNOA FUNCucS 7 A SASE FOR NEW CATALOG MARRY N MIGLEY & 801VS INC P o Box 532 GLINWOOD ILL 80425 . SSO EASY TO BUILD HANDCRAFTED KITS AT LOW PRICES F-15 EAGLESKY RAIDERNEPTUNE Wing Span 62 inWeight 4 lbsWing Span 60 inWeight 4 lbsMng Span 62 inWeight 4 lbs Length 53 inEngine 60 -90Length 45 inEngine 45 -60Length 48 inEngine 40 Kits include Pre-built fiberglass fuselage foam cores sheeted balsa machine cut balsa tail surfaces shaped strip ailerons complete hardware pack SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TOVISA & MASTER CARD ACCEPTED HORIZON MODELS INC T-404 Kelly Ave Manchester NH 03103 603 627-9503 Lanzo remembers late Sunday after returning RC area FF Rubber events saw Schiffmans plane standing rain soaked wing water dripping bottom bamboo paper covering doped Further Chet remembers large B battery sitting bottom fuselage amazed tar chipped away 30 cells save weight Beyond meager information know very little except did fly RC plane scored sixth place Can anyone give us some help information B Schiffman 1937 RC plane writing qualifies mystery entry Ross Hull Thus far have related 1937 entries first National Con test RC model planes What about other pioneers RC did enter national event probably know experimented RC being recorded model magazines local news papers Without documented accounts pioneers may never known However group led Ross Hull Connecticut contri butions well-documented 1937 35 Hull associate editor QST magazine journal American Radio Relay League ARRL very skilled radio designer also skilled model planes experiences Australia home country Hart ford CT both countries pub lished series model plane construction local newspapers late 1920s team consisted some talented participants Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL Roland Bourne Byron Goodman Harner Selvidge active hams Hulls team planned RC project 10-ft-span gas-powered RC model dur ing spring 1937 However before construction started Hull Bourne attended Soaring Society America national sailplane meet early July 1937 Elmira NY met Carl W Thompson Jr Wilmington DE both active gas model competitor pilot full-scale gliders Carl brought 13-ft glider meet RC gear built HM Plummer W3DIA simple basic approach oft signal giving right rudder signal left rudder Hulls QST report said ship made several successful hops control working untimely crack-up ended experiment11 Perhaps Thompson/Plummer team deserves recog nition first public RC glider demon stration sure would like find moredetailed report Elmira demonstra tions Hull quickly acquired remains took back Hartford repair DeSoto writes about Hull weeks followed group did little eat sleep talk build radio-controlled model aircraft Success immediate did comeif present 1937 system crude comparison ultimate goal can called success2 Near end July first flights started hand launches down nearby slopethen madly steering glider avoid trees finally landing valley below Some flights have duration several minutes less . Guided simplicity keynote RC system consisted three-tube superregenerative receiver sensitive relay four-spoke escapement four feet twisted rubber strands furnished power turn rudder escapement wheel advanced one-quarter turn carrier pulse giving N L N R sequence action rapid nd posi tive fortunately rudder would cycle quickly through unwanted positions 10-lb glider barely twitched Remembering position came next hard part Bourne built rudder stick automatically sent correct number pulses rudder greatly reduced worry factor pilot October glider amassed over 100 flights 15 crashes equipment rebuilt over over Some crashes caused escapement getting out sync control stick caused microphonics tubes being excited clanking escape ment turn gave extra un wanted pulse During 1937 ARRL group made significant contributions invention RC along entered 1937 Nats 1938 second glider built wingspan 18 ft mono coque body formed plywood demonstrated Elmira slopes summer 1938 story told tried enter RC glider regular soaring competitionbut after hurried meeting rules committee stated must man cockpit glider survived several years RC experimentation 1980 res cued ARRL storage Laird Camp bell WiCUT help Pete Reed KiONG well-known New Eng land modeler glider restored now hangs prominent position ceiling ARRL Museum Newing ton CT Unfortunately ARRL RC project lost Ross Hull toe fatal accident August 1938 contacted 6000 volts during television receiver experiment con tributions RC expert pioneer DeSoto carried RC efforts will tell about next installment Continued page 148 April 1986 147 BENTOM BROWN JR CAMPBELL COMET COVERITE COX DUBRO EASY BUILT MODELS ENYA FAt FLYLI FOX GOLDBERG GOLDEN AGE REPRO GENE DUBOIS GUILLOW K&B K&S L R MRC OS MAX PACTRA PECK-POLYMER PERFECT R N MODELS SEAGLEN SIG STERLING- SULLIVAN SUPER TIGRE TAFFINDER TELCO TOP FLITE- TREXLER WILLIAMS & OTHERS ESTES MODEL ROCKETS Seed 5100 Cash Cheek oc Stmpn foe 44 page tabloid nice DISCOUNT Catalog 900 illustrations over 700 Kits choose MAILORDER PHONEORDER IN STORE FINN VALLEY ICIlY CENTER 357 WEaji St LansdalsPmJ9446 Summary first RC Nats 1937 provided definite step forward development controllable RC planes six planes demonstrated proper control movements radio ground tests air six showed potential control response during its brief ffight Two others crashed launch due tail-heavy trim might have prevented pre-contest test flights proper adjust ments least remaining three through dozen test flights stopped bad weather lessons learned clear keep system simpler get plenty practice flights use stable model keep system simple Reliability pilot skill also essential too early judge importance based limited flight time stage next section well review RC pioneers RC Nats 1938 through 1941 watch RC invention stumble less grow References B Porter P Sweeney Short Wave & TV Magazine August 1938 2P Zecchitella Flying Aces October 1937 Wasman Elmer Interview February 8 1985 4Weiss Leo Model Airplane News October 1937 5Lanzo Chester Interview March 23 1985 6Lanzo Chester Air Trails December 1937 January 1938 7HuIl Ross QST September 1933 8Kalamazoo Gazette January 13 1937 tWeiss Leo Interview December 1 1984 Weiss Leo Correspondence December 2 1984 Hull Ross Bourne Roland QST Octo ber 1937 DeSoto Clinton B Model Airplane News January 1938 3McEntee Howard G Air Trails Model An nual 1952 CL Aerobatics/Fancher Continued page 65 SB These heroes built finished ships appearance points mind wanted build finish plane well could also wanted develop cour age put line learn fly AMA pattern combination skills necessary best requires continually improve Like paint ing sculpture beautiful model tracts interest Interest develops questions Answers develop understanding Under standing basis participation subject Skill Classes Nats correspondents following say JT Im strong against skill classes Nats Nats just another con test opportunity AMA member see stacks up against best country cant understand argument shouldnt enter cant win TM I have never flown Stunt contest pilot although think tops CL have compete Open class AMA now defines wont its simple RM The initiation some program infuse some new blood event absolutely critical survival both Stunt organization PAMPA . way motivate new flier offer him some reasonable ex pectation least some small reward reasonable length time can mind-boggling neophyte attend first Nats see what really up against. provide up-and-com ing fliers forum can showcase abilities pay dues believe however best interest fly second class separate Expert class because whole reason having second class allow less-experienced fliers get barometer performance relative skilled fliers. addition some new entries think might see certain number less serious fliers dropping back class sent mat having top 20 fliers advance finals should maintained costs Making cut has come recognized important achievement can see no reason top two three advanced fliers could carried along. final thought has become obvious trying initiate rule mat changes submitting proposals PA MPA membership large cumbersome non-productive i feel should select committee 86 Nats charge coming up format 87 Thats gang have paraphrased comments letters Ive received today December 29 although Ill appreciate additional thoughts wont addressing subject again soon urge consider opinions expressed alert possibility rule changes Its event Lets make responsive needs New subject us Pro Stunt ersincluding yours trulytend get bogged down state-of-the-art technical minutia Nats procedures judging scratch-built original-design pieces art work like tend lose sight bigger perhaps ominous happenings about event tunnel vision brought clearly focus month ago visited local hobby dealer search some info up-to-date kits available budding Control Line 148 Model Aviation UUA BLAST FROM THE PAST JIM WALKERS CLASSIC GLIDERS 74 3 Pak5495 404 INTERCEPTOR Folding Wing Glider U-Build-It Kit5395 Add 53 postage handling first y Fly5795 3each additional P0 Box 68132 AIRCRAFT CO Portland OR 97268 rncaurn oau Heres equipment yes need glee props very best balgice--halance direct ions Carefully raffed top grade materials BUBBLE BALANCER accomodates 3/161/49/32 prop holes Other sizes available special order Dealers invited $1795 AMsisan HOWARD B HUEBL orpi ens pasSage hnndlhg Nina 6% nalen tx NoCOD/n Bos g2 Ru g Mankoto MN eeooi
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/04
Page Numbers: 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 141, 146, 147, 148
&RLEru5ELAGE O RRDIO CONTROL MoML fl4 fS_________________________________________________ Left Chet Lanzo holds RC model won 1937 NatIonal Contest copy artIcle December 1937 Air Trails reproduction model done Lahzo display AMA Museum Right Drawing modelS-ft span almost 6 lb i 5- cT flozsnsL Z TRGET SWRLUN0 1NI4 CONDEN5ER 00 THIS IS THE STORY Radio Control model aircraft got started US tells pioneers developed RC hobby combining knowl edge skills related experiences earlier inventors background prior invention hobby RC presented preceding issue gas model gas engine two essential ingredients ar rived during early 193 Os Ham radio its compact homemade receivers transmitters also came during same period Military commercial interests demonstrated feasibility RC large boats aircraft during 1920s ingredients theretechnically clever dedicated inspired mod elers invent hobby RC aircraft HOOO L-XMi[ IA0LllNOALIhArhi1LWfl Left Circuit diagram Lanzos three-tube receiver Right Lanzo 1976 version 1934 RC-1 plane 1934 radio equipment didnt work butthe plane flies well Antique RC modern RC system Below Drawing Lanzos 1937 motorized rudder actuator METHOD Acmxrnis DDF TAB An important stimulation came June ____________1936 announcement new m Win. FWiw CLinicly-formed AMA RC event would added 1936 National Contest Detroit no RC models made ap pearance 1936 event However rumors rampant RC ships _____________being secretly built 1937 AMA Nats different wiREstory Six RC models actually appeared PILAY 14r L7Z]causing great excitement expectations following account RC event 1937 Nats again Detroit first-ever RC contest US Whether first world known certainty point may covered r information available Perhaps article will stimulate some foreign responses 58 Model Aviation z-D ~ imI iAxJdImmY ~.44 U Iq41-46 re p t40 Awm 1I 0 RECEIWIG APPARKrU8 INSTAUI V IN PLANic Left PatSweeneyand 1937 Nats second-place RC plane rudder control 10-ft span 9-lb weight Right Drawing Sweeneys RC receiver actuator reproduced August1938 Short Wave TV Magazine 1937 Nets flight lasted five seconds Left Elmer Wasman holds 1 0-lb RC model won third place 1937 rudder/aileron elevatorcontrol also engine cutoff Right Rear view Wasmans piano shows air-driven four-biaded propeller mounted front fin powerfor moving control surfaces Photos Wasman Below Jacksonville FL paper clipping 1937 shows Wasman explaining White Mystery students Sunday July 11 dawned warm clearerat ion its constrols during pre-flight Detroit Wayne County Airportground tests made written notes promise afternoon showerswhat observed no RC Hundreds Free Flight modelers whoregulations judges novices competing week inand pioneers too six models various events already testing theiraccepted being eligible RC catmodels fieldegory Official flying attempts sched morning six RC models wereuled commence early afternoon being assembled hangar variety attempts related now concepts converted reality byorder actual flight sequence pioneersare based magazine reports Chester Lanzo Cleveland OHNats recent interviews between author Patrick Sweeney Chicago ILand living fliers small extent Elmer Wasman Jacksonville FLupon authors memory exciting Walter Good Kalamazoo MIday Leo Weiss Brooklyn NY B Schiffinan New York NY help radiomen tuning adjusting ready machines ground demonstrations control operation radio judges planes ranged eight 14 feet span weighed six 16 pounds Patrick J Sweeney first entrant attempt flight late thirties oldest pilot six own-design cabin plane 10-ft span 18-in chord Total weight 9 lb 3 lb radio gear Almost 2 lb batteries system April 1986 59 p OO0It0MoooIJ046.IIlGGI00.4jJ o-Thi-i Controls varied rudder full house rudder ailerons elevator en gine No two alike originals judges carefully observed plane pilot demonstrated remote op Left Wait Good 1936KG FF model converted RC 1937 RIght Goods 1937 RC plane big won fourth place Nats rudder elevator controls large box 50-watt transmitter email box contains two receivers relays batteries small FF Gas plane picture early version Guff thunderstorm prevented Goods 1937 Nats flight demo needed 90 volts meant two 45-volt B batteries Pat ran hobby store Chicago time plenty materials know-how build large plane carry payload also flying gas models competition placed 17th out 43 1936 Nats Leo Vartanian Chicago Aeronuts told recently Pat competed regularly days radioman Ben F Porter came up three-tube receiver using superregenerative detector 5-meter band 56 60 MHz controlling rudder control used old springwound alarm clock four-point cam switch give positions neutral right neutral left etc sequence pulse transmitter push button stepped rudder next position magazine article stated began finished entry about month complete radio equipment assumed probably no extra time pre-contest test flights trim plane shake out problems1 back meet Phil Zecchi tellas description2 Finally Pat Sweeney warmed en gine signalled ready official flight few picked officials Pat brought model deserted tract runway prepared launching transmitter established distant Schematic drawing Goods 1937 actu ator showing simple gears magnet point receiving set plane tested being done newsreel crew moved camera approximate location takeoff finally Sweeney raised arms radioman stand Soon engine roaring actually behold first official flight radio-controlled gas model Guiding model its wingtip Pat ran behind until started lift its wheels off ground newsreel men shooting rapidly Suddenly model pointed its nose sky high climb evident could recover Slipping over its left wing crashed ground entire flight lasted five seconds wing tip de molished slight injury sustained motor mount Insofar could judged would have swell flight except center gravity model too far back did make another attempt cause damage event Pat Sweeney credited first attempted RC flight National Contest Elmer Wasman next welldesigned system called White Mystery because wind-driven propeller front fin No knew what did except Elmer3 industrial arts degree teaching aeronautics Jacksonville ju nior high school time 28 middle group entries concern mg age 1 l-ft-span plane chord 18 weighed 14 lb including radio gear 165 sq ft area gives 136 oz/sq ft wing loading model really needed Forster 99 engine 16-in prop fly climb marginally slow safe4 third gas model plane provided controls rudder/aileron elevator ignition cutoff engines RC event ignition type requiring spark coil batteries Elmers control system elabo rate early days radio signal went first airborne receiver 60 Model Aviation Rudder elevator actuators 1937 model Bill Good 1937 50-watttransmitter push-button control right hand Note 110-volt AC power line running back hangar photo Glen Peterson closed relay contact selector switch sequential switch five positions give up down elevator left right rudder engine cutoff Absence signal gave neutral rudder elevator full engine selector contact arm driven air paddle wheelcould stopped five contacts sending correct number pulses Ex amples pulse would give left rudder two pulses right rudder three pulses up elevator four pulses down elevator Five pulses would cut off ignition stop engine Note control function available time control held long needed pilot proceeded next control characteristic sequential system does allow simultaneous operation various controls However desired single con trol could obtained quickly set three navigation lights mounted plane connected red left rudder green right white down elevator Thus visual indication activated control did signal activate control surface selector wiper connected signal five electromagnets engaged rotating shaft selected control surface rotating shaft powered four-bladed air propeller mounted front vertical fin Again air power motive force Very cleverand complex Perhaps plane called White Mys terybecause very few understcod complicated mechanism transmitter end used simple switch watching navigation lights keep track airborne selector position receiver three-tube regenerative detector 5-meter band whole control system weighed 35 lb big ship carried easily smaller model powered Brown Jr used test bed check out individual components before mounting big plane turn fly saw dark thunderstorm approaching tried hurry things along Roy Marquardt strained launched giant plane gusty air Elmer worked busily transmit ter control plane nosed up stall sagged ground ending its flight abruptlyand much too soon suit Elmer said later hadnt time test fly big ship before meet turned out tail-heavy caused stall Such happenings nor mal developing something new Hind sight says Elmer tells him should have entered smaller ship simpler con trol first meet scored third place Elmer has retired several years divides time between Florida Illinois still spends hours Free Flight models well RC power glider models Chester Lanzo lightest plane entries just under 6 lb including 2 lb radio gear flown radio several times obtain proper balance tail angle engine downthrust must fly well itself before adding radio reasoned very wise approach Design plane basic func tional wing 9-ft span 14-in chord generous dihedral 13 per tip body 5-ft tray 3 wide 1 deep 6-in-high wire cage hold wing well above body radio parts simply fastened tray location maintain proper balance pointand very good accessibility parts Lanzo told made cabintype gas model 1934 experimented RC using spark-gap transmitter coherer receiver5 said approach failure RC plane engine vibration interrupted radios function ing Furthermore spark ignition engine swamped nearby receiver coherer undesired instructions rudder blocking out desired signals Left Overhead view Leo 1937 RC piane Fergusson prototypetwln-cyiinderengine Weiss couidnt getaterted atthe Nata Right Leo Weiss Inspecting Fergusson engine John Lopus adjusting airborne receiver eeriy tuned reed system April 1986 61 Above Leo Weiss standing behind 1 4-ft BC plane 1937 Nets 12 kneeiing spectators Modei pienked eli over Picture cornea RC ModelAwcraft Engiend 1944 Right Leo kneeling behind tail piene three RC en tries making fiightetthe 1937 Nets itwes awarded fifth piace Left Leo Weiss arm front rudder working Denny Radio-Plane Wright Field 1939 Right Ground control unit used con trol CulverCadets larger RC drones GCU also carried communications gear Leo shown atthe controls 1939 design Below Oops professional RCers sometimes make hard landing see picture poor Cuiver Cadet Wright Field 1939 RC pilot called plane RC-l today flies replica Antique RC competitions 1937 radio receiver home-built using three vacuum tubes superregen erative detector circuit operated homemade relay turn caused small geared electric train motor move rudder control through cycle neutral right neutral left etc long transmitter key held down Straight flight obtained key-down position because slowly-re sponding plane would show slight snaking path rudder oscillated back forth make turn key would released moment full rudder deflection deflected rudder would become effective plane would bank itself circling path very simple required piloting practice develop skill precision flight path control scheme another advantage Lanzo said transmitter could tuned receiver air watching rudder wiggled Such tuning com mon days Batteries problem entrants heavy costly short-livedespecially 45-volt B bat tery vacuum tube plate supply Chet found source Cleveland tiny 2oz normal ones 11 oz battery made weather sondes Its life span maximum two hours shelf life just two weeks remember con tacting company back rec ommended battery ordered latest moment sent airmail stayed 1 l-oz units two-tube transmitter used 500 volts output tube required 110-volt AC line flying site organizers anticipated need long extension cord started lcoking transmitter needed too friendly spectator brought 200-ft cord camper plugged nearby hangar use Ready fly Lanzo walked off find judges stray Free Flight gas model spiraled nearby causing frightened spectator step backwards Chets plane rupturing few ribs wing quick repair made Pat Sweeneys help Lanzo ready fly weather getting windier due approach summer thunderstorm started hurry cranked up Baby Cyclone engine set needle valve medium speed started forward launch Before could release plane engine slowed touch needle valve speeded engine off went plane slowclimbing circle Chet raced back transmitter plane gently zigged zagged pilot tried coax Figure 8 maneuver Suddenly engine quit plane glided down parking lot edge airfield flight time around two minutes must have seemed much longer Chet Chester Lanzo used gas model Free Flight experienceas well radio knowledgeto pull off first place Thus attained historical honor being first winner first RC National Contest US Prior Nats made few RC test flights plane Cleveland fact flights made park next Dick Kordas house ran AC extension out Dicks bedrcom window transmitter Lanzos philosophy starting simplest plane radio combination wise approach would have happier much longer flight 62 Model Aviation duatrn9ma9iid J6rczpemeaLMnd Left Ross Hull Byron Goodman 1937 13-ft RC glider West Hartford CT Right Diagram radio components Installa tion glider Photo drawing reproduced January1938 ModelAirplane News Hull editor ARRLs QSTmagazlne Chetwas23atthe 1937 Natsandtoday still active models special izing FF Rubber Power RC assisted Old-Timers Hes retired NASA still very busy recent projects building replica 1937 RC winner donating AMA Museum November 1984 complete Baby Cyclone vintage wing working rudder control first three places awarded basis flight performance place ment last three entries based ground demonstration did attempt fly Walt Good 8-ft-span model build 1935 close copy Kovel-Grant KG-8 powered Brown Jr engine flew Free Flight Gas meets 1936 well-tuned stable flight end season 36th FF Gas 1936 Nats Twin brother Bill just 21 years old resident radio ham W8IFD family thinking about RC KG-8 talked placing receiver antenna wires wings built 1935 fall 1936 won approval Kala mazoo College take lab course physics department design RC sys tem particularly transmitter re ceiver though professor specialist electronics offered great encouragementand three semester hours credit surprise receiver hurdle passed quickly converted onetube superregen circuit operate sensi tive relay rather its normal head phones7 trick placing variable resistor grid circuit adjusted give best current swing relay first relay constructed inexpensive meter movement No vember bread-board system working bench system mounted plane RC rudder control demonstrated Kalamazoo College Science Fair January 1937 During May six flights under radio control made Kalamazoo Air port using rudder control results tests showed necessary increase area rudder its deflection obtain effective turns also indication spiral stability KG very generous therefore very safe rudder-only control Once working RC plane given name Guff slang word college campus Very loosely trans lated meant thats lot nonsense Its impossible describe thrill first RC flights change path plane left right touch switch caused great shouts rise flights made dawn have still air get us back school eight oclock class mornings airport manager Try Woodhams awoke just time see Guff glide landing thought full-size plane landing outside airport organized search party find lost plane packed up driven back school several years later before found out what really happened now 80s lives Florida recently opportunity meet again reminisce about days rudder actuator rubberband driven gear train small electromagnet operated relay allowed gears turn whenever transmitter key held down fact result similar Lanzos cycling system because rudder would stop its current position transmitter off Cautious beeps push button would inch rudder toward sometimes yond desired position Looking back now realize control method too slowthree seconds neutral full-rudder addition pilot no knowledge rudder position except watching action plane did work rudder worked well enough con sider adding elevator control Bill added another push button another frequency transmitter operating 56 Continued page 141 Left Hulls second RC glider 18-footer ready launching slope thIs 1938 photo ARRL Right Hulls restored 1938 RC glider hangs museum Amateur Radio Relay League headquarters Newington CT photo taken July 1983 durIng Goods research visit L-R Wait Good Bill Good Laird Campbell Joel Kleinman Byron Goodman Pete Reed Note Byron Goodman inthis picture isthesame ByronGoodman shown Ross Hull inthe 1937 photo Next month RC atthe Natsfrom 1 938to1 941 April 1986 63 904 478-6745 Al Featuring fast service qualified eopIe latest equipment including SPECTRUM ANAL YZER AM FM SIGNAL GENERATOR Call Sam Leonard Tony Stiliman custom work competition needs stock complete hobby line specializing competition accessories discounted prices RADIO SOUTH-m AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER FOR Kruft Pro Line w Futeb 43 West Nine Mile Rd Pensacola FL 32514 * Sales Service er Inquiries Welcome * has seven channels receiver usually something think about install gives problems Im very happy tell has never given hint glitch Airtronics has wide range excellent servos system equipped 94554s servo features ball-bearingsupported output shaft careless motor 04-second transit time 900 735 inch-ounces output torque really like 94554s have lot luck over years So have youre market new radio dont check new Airtronics Module 7H out Let know what think think has capabilities bringing new dimension Heli-flying New LIMP Hughes 500 fuselage Also shown months photos new Hughes 500 shell 50160-size mechan ics fuselage epoxy-glass 43 long weighs 19 oz available D E matter C versions par ticular model shown photos built Jim Brandon Lakewood CA features OMP Cobra mechanics OS 50 FSR-H engine Quest gyro weighs 9 lb ready fly real hot rod fuselage designed Cobra mechanics mind has plenty room will take other kinds well Beginners corner con fusing things new Heli-flier set up throttle/rudder mixing function Helicopter radio Some Helicopter radios have very simple rudder/throttle mixing function consisting two rate knobs marked REV ACC slide switch marked LEFT/OFF/RIGHT task really very simple can dialed relatively quickly must first determine whether have left- righthanded main rotor Looking rotating disc above does rotate clockwise anti-clockwise have Schluter Hirobo Kalt Gorham product rotor spins clockwise right-handed rotor Set slide switch position marked RIGHT have diffearent-style radio adjust proper rotor rotation according its operating instructions tail-swinging problem trying overcame occurs because power added main rotor torque applied fuselage opposite direction rotation main rotor causes fuselage swing left machine right-handed rotor cure dial enough tail-rotor compensation fuselage stays straight Check adjustment holding machine steady hover giving quick blip throttle nose swings left compensation necessary nose swings right radio overcompensating radio must ad justed accordingly Once have mix set properly nose Helicopter will stay fairly stationary making climbs descending Now addition gyro nose will stable mother-in-law should able handle Good luck hope stops some twitchy tails months three-view 1960 US Department Defense issued Tech nical Specification 153 light Obser vation Helicopter Hughes submitted model 369 flying egg referring its shape 369 won campetition received its Army designation OH-6 code-named Cayuse Based Allison 250-series turbine engine Hughes product seemed ideal military service beginning Referred Hughes 500 commercial customers little machine has proved tough com petition Bell Jet Ranger Featuring fully-articulated rotor Hughes both nimble very fast Because 500s unique shape its appearance Magnum P1 TV series probably secand-most-recognized machine right hind Jet Ranger Model SOOs available Kalt Schluter Eberles Great Lakes Graup ner UMP Peka Have good month think about checking head screws engine once recently Heli show signs losing power found head leaking BCNU Lariy Jolly 5501 W Como Santa Ana CA 92703 RC History/Good Continued page 63 60 MHz built another receiver relay actuator end June six ffights made new dual control system definitely trickier control heard other entries plan ning use dual controls wanted prepared Gulls weight up 8 lb including 2 lb radio gear gave 13 oz/sq ft wing loading too much considering thick Grant wing section power Brown Jr its homemade 16-in-dia propeller Nats ground control demon stration went well sal waited turn fly Bill present since already gone job radio operator summer camp Another amateur Paul Kreiick W8QQE assisting After watching first three entries make attempts approaching storm finally arrived along rain judges scuffled hangar shelter flight attempted due Continued page 146 April 1986 141 DIN Lookfo u fa o e hobby shop send SASE free catalog Kin-Craft Mfg Inc 14323 TwIn Ridge Ashland Kentucky 41101 606-928-4763 use best Specializing Fiber-glass tape Fiber-glass cloth Polyester resin Resin Hardener Micro-Balloons Primers ner Paint filters Engine oil & Oil kits Engine cleaner Protective gloves Dust Masks Sponge & applic kits Contact cement F ROLLLU PLANS UT PARIS 1/2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT 3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX RC History/Good Continued page 141 rain lateness day both disappointed relieved Guff awarded fourth place background 12 test flights expect stable Guff would have come through OK official flight possible Looking back wish stuck rudder control beginning simplicity learning steps early RC Both Bill now retired very busy hobbies power boater live aboard cruiser ardent ham radio operator W2C VI Liverpool NY Im living Port Richey FL am active RC history articles RC Sailplanes few AMA committees several RC clubo some ham radio W3NPS/4 talk together least twice week stationssometimes about early RC days Hes part memory bank Leo Weiss youngest RC entry 18 largest most-sophisticated RC plane entries 14-ft wing planked sheet balsa stream lined monocoque body doped both sides balsa sheets stiffen shell construction weighed 16 lb cluding radio gear builtthat big wing college rooming house hard imagine sophomore aero engineering University Michigan happened9 6 lb high-tech radio gear Leos plane alone weighed slightly Lanzos complete 9-ft RC plane Power came prototype two-cylinder Fer gusson engine rated adio gear far ahead its time hobby RC three control channels rudder elevator engine op erated three electric motors Six tuned reeds selected desired commands respondinging six different audio tones reed system later became very popular inthe 1950s soLeowasontherighttrack John Lopus W8LUS electrical engineering student U M Leos radio specialist project 56 MHz transmitter battery-powered control box three lever-switches would cause selected airborne control move quickly appropriate direc tion true multi-channel system4 did Leo get far along model hobby young age First seasoned veteran Free Flight gas models RC ship fifth gas model third model won Texaco event 1935 St Louis National Con test beating Maxwell Bassett wide margin Leo 64 mm against Maxwells third-place time 36 min Leos secret tuning Brown Jr run over 10 min per ounce fuel took plane 2000 feet big thermals floated plane min utes lucky attend Nats field witness both flights wishing KG finished timewhich wasnt few weeks before 1935 Nats Leo graduated high school age 16 didnt attend graduation ceremonies because tco busy tuning engine trying different props Back 1937 Nats Leo sembled giant model hangar tried vain start special twin engine just wouldnt run give up thought flying Later Leo told beautiful giant plane never flown course several moves after graduation became lost0 scored fifth place should mentioned Leos first RC concepts originated during fresh man year MIT built fourth gas model small electric motors oper ating controls via wires intended tethered controllable flight still college took up flying got pilots license After graduating U M 1939 aeronautical engineer went directly Wright Field first job RC target dronesthe well-known Reginald Denny Radio-Plane Major George Holloman new boss read Leos RC articles cautioned him some material Leo written considered top secret around guess RC hobby ists advanced pro fessionals realized larger realistic RC drone Leo proposed full-scale Culver Cadet lightplane idea okayed compact unit gyros RC gear servos strapped place pilot steered radio ground control unit designed Leo RC Culver Cadets used target drones during WW II still remember some Navy shipboard tests proximity fuze helped develop anti-aircraft shells tests guns shot down number Culver Cadet drones proving effectiveness proximity fuze over conventional clock fuzes result surprising since proximity fuze contained miniature radar sensed nearness target plane triggered explosive time didnt know Leo involved really jumped profes sional RC hurry After WW II Leo started own busi ness manufacturing aeronautical instru ments became very successful An interesting afterthought Roy Marquardt modeler launched Elmer Wasmans plane later board member Leos company Leo now retired leading active life Alexandria VA writing books moderating business forums B Schlffman entered plane RC event strangely enough Ive found no published words pictures about believe first name Bernie 146 Model Aviation flEW PRAIRIE gIRD SO ELECTRIC0 GAS pGWERED / - REAL RIC TRAINER ORANDMA CAN FLY 2-3 CHANNEL RADIO 49 Inch SPAN 05 ELECTRIC 049 15 GAS CATALOG $200NIT $3995 619 442-4636 fGor 619 469-8675 W BOX 2498-MA LA MESA CA 92041 INNOA FUNCucS 7 A SASE FOR NEW CATALOG MARRY N MIGLEY & 801VS INC P o Box 532 GLINWOOD ILL 80425 . SSO EASY TO BUILD HANDCRAFTED KITS AT LOW PRICES F-15 EAGLESKY RAIDERNEPTUNE Wing Span 62 inWeight 4 lbsWing Span 60 inWeight 4 lbsMng Span 62 inWeight 4 lbs Length 53 inEngine 60 -90Length 45 inEngine 45 -60Length 48 inEngine 40 Kits include Pre-built fiberglass fuselage foam cores sheeted balsa machine cut balsa tail surfaces shaped strip ailerons complete hardware pack SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TOVISA & MASTER CARD ACCEPTED HORIZON MODELS INC T-404 Kelly Ave Manchester NH 03103 603 627-9503 Lanzo remembers late Sunday after returning RC area FF Rubber events saw Schiffmans plane standing rain soaked wing water dripping bottom bamboo paper covering doped Further Chet remembers large B battery sitting bottom fuselage amazed tar chipped away 30 cells save weight Beyond meager information know very little except did fly RC plane scored sixth place Can anyone give us some help information B Schiffman 1937 RC plane writing qualifies mystery entry Ross Hull Thus far have related 1937 entries first National Con test RC model planes What about other pioneers RC did enter national event probably know experimented RC being recorded model magazines local news papers Without documented accounts pioneers may never known However group led Ross Hull Connecticut contri butions well-documented 1937 35 Hull associate editor QST magazine journal American Radio Relay League ARRL very skilled radio designer also skilled model planes experiences Australia home country Hart ford CT both countries pub lished series model plane construction local newspapers late 1920s team consisted some talented participants Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL Roland Bourne Byron Goodman Harner Selvidge active hams Hulls team planned RC project 10-ft-span gas-powered RC model dur ing spring 1937 However before construction started Hull Bourne attended Soaring Society America national sailplane meet early July 1937 Elmira NY met Carl W Thompson Jr Wilmington DE both active gas model competitor pilot full-scale gliders Carl brought 13-ft glider meet RC gear built HM Plummer W3DIA simple basic approach oft signal giving right rudder signal left rudder Hulls QST report said ship made several successful hops control working untimely crack-up ended experiment11 Perhaps Thompson/Plummer team deserves recog nition first public RC glider demon stration sure would like find moredetailed report Elmira demonstra tions Hull quickly acquired remains took back Hartford repair DeSoto writes about Hull weeks followed group did little eat sleep talk build radio-controlled model aircraft Success immediate did comeif present 1937 system crude comparison ultimate goal can called success2 Near end July first flights started hand launches down nearby slopethen madly steering glider avoid trees finally landing valley below Some flights have duration several minutes less . Guided simplicity keynote RC system consisted three-tube superregenerative receiver sensitive relay four-spoke escapement four feet twisted rubber strands furnished power turn rudder escapement wheel advanced one-quarter turn carrier pulse giving N L N R sequence action rapid nd posi tive fortunately rudder would cycle quickly through unwanted positions 10-lb glider barely twitched Remembering position came next hard part Bourne built rudder stick automatically sent correct number pulses rudder greatly reduced worry factor pilot October glider amassed over 100 flights 15 crashes equipment rebuilt over over Some crashes caused escapement getting out sync control stick caused microphonics tubes being excited clanking escape ment turn gave extra un wanted pulse During 1937 ARRL group made significant contributions invention RC along entered 1937 Nats 1938 second glider built wingspan 18 ft mono coque body formed plywood demonstrated Elmira slopes summer 1938 story told tried enter RC glider regular soaring competitionbut after hurried meeting rules committee stated must man cockpit glider survived several years RC experimentation 1980 res cued ARRL storage Laird Camp bell WiCUT help Pete Reed KiONG well-known New Eng land modeler glider restored now hangs prominent position ceiling ARRL Museum Newing ton CT Unfortunately ARRL RC project lost Ross Hull toe fatal accident August 1938 contacted 6000 volts during television receiver experiment con tributions RC expert pioneer DeSoto carried RC efforts will tell about next installment Continued page 148 April 1986 147 BENTOM BROWN JR CAMPBELL COMET COVERITE COX DUBRO EASY BUILT MODELS ENYA FAt FLYLI FOX GOLDBERG GOLDEN AGE REPRO GENE DUBOIS GUILLOW K&B K&S L R MRC OS MAX PACTRA PECK-POLYMER PERFECT R N MODELS SEAGLEN SIG STERLING- SULLIVAN SUPER TIGRE TAFFINDER TELCO TOP FLITE- TREXLER WILLIAMS & OTHERS ESTES MODEL ROCKETS Seed 5100 Cash Cheek oc Stmpn foe 44 page tabloid nice DISCOUNT Catalog 900 illustrations over 700 Kits choose MAILORDER PHONEORDER IN STORE FINN VALLEY ICIlY CENTER 357 WEaji St LansdalsPmJ9446 Summary first RC Nats 1937 provided definite step forward development controllable RC planes six planes demonstrated proper control movements radio ground tests air six showed potential control response during its brief ffight Two others crashed launch due tail-heavy trim might have prevented pre-contest test flights proper adjust ments least remaining three through dozen test flights stopped bad weather lessons learned clear keep system simpler get plenty practice flights use stable model keep system simple Reliability pilot skill also essential too early judge importance based limited flight time stage next section well review RC pioneers RC Nats 1938 through 1941 watch RC invention stumble less grow References B Porter P Sweeney Short Wave & TV Magazine August 1938 2P Zecchitella Flying Aces October 1937 Wasman Elmer Interview February 8 1985 4Weiss Leo Model Airplane News October 1937 5Lanzo Chester Interview March 23 1985 6Lanzo Chester Air Trails December 1937 January 1938 7HuIl Ross QST September 1933 8Kalamazoo Gazette January 13 1937 tWeiss Leo Interview December 1 1984 Weiss Leo Correspondence December 2 1984 Hull Ross Bourne Roland QST Octo ber 1937 DeSoto Clinton B Model Airplane News January 1938 3McEntee Howard G Air Trails Model An nual 1952 CL Aerobatics/Fancher Continued page 65 SB These heroes built finished ships appearance points mind wanted build finish plane well could also wanted develop cour age put line learn fly AMA pattern combination skills necessary best requires continually improve Like paint ing sculpture beautiful model tracts interest Interest develops questions Answers develop understanding Under standing basis participation subject Skill Classes Nats correspondents following say JT Im strong against skill classes Nats Nats just another con test opportunity AMA member see stacks up against best country cant understand argument shouldnt enter cant win TM I have never flown Stunt contest pilot although think tops CL have compete Open class AMA now defines wont its simple RM The initiation some program infuse some new blood event absolutely critical survival both Stunt organization PAMPA . way motivate new flier offer him some reasonable ex pectation least some small reward reasonable length time can mind-boggling neophyte attend first Nats see what really up against. provide up-and-com ing fliers forum can showcase abilities pay dues believe however best interest fly second class separate Expert class because whole reason having second class allow less-experienced fliers get barometer performance relative skilled fliers. addition some new entries think might see certain number less serious fliers dropping back class sent mat having top 20 fliers advance finals should maintained costs Making cut has come recognized important achievement can see no reason top two three advanced fliers could carried along. final thought has become obvious trying initiate rule mat changes submitting proposals PA MPA membership large cumbersome non-productive i feel should select committee 86 Nats charge coming up format 87 Thats gang have paraphrased comments letters Ive received today December 29 although Ill appreciate additional thoughts wont addressing subject again soon urge consider opinions expressed alert possibility rule changes Its event Lets make responsive needs New subject us Pro Stunt ersincluding yours trulytend get bogged down state-of-the-art technical minutia Nats procedures judging scratch-built original-design pieces art work like tend lose sight bigger perhaps ominous happenings about event tunnel vision brought clearly focus month ago visited local hobby dealer search some info up-to-date kits available budding Control Line 148 Model Aviation UUA BLAST FROM THE PAST JIM WALKERS CLASSIC GLIDERS 74 3 Pak5495 404 INTERCEPTOR Folding Wing Glider U-Build-It Kit5395 Add 53 postage handling first y Fly5795 3each additional P0 Box 68132 AIRCRAFT CO Portland OR 97268 rncaurn oau Heres equipment yes need glee props very best balgice--halance direct ions Carefully raffed top grade materials BUBBLE BALANCER accomodates 3/161/49/32 prop holes Other sizes available special order Dealers invited $1795 AMsisan HOWARD B HUEBL orpi ens pasSage hnndlhg Nina 6% nalen tx NoCOD/n Bos g2 Ru g Mankoto MN eeooi
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/04
Page Numbers: 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 141, 146, 147, 148
&RLEru5ELAGE O RRDIO CONTROL MoML fl4 fS_________________________________________________ Left Chet Lanzo holds RC model won 1937 NatIonal Contest copy artIcle December 1937 Air Trails reproduction model done Lahzo display AMA Museum Right Drawing modelS-ft span almost 6 lb i 5- cT flozsnsL Z TRGET SWRLUN0 1NI4 CONDEN5ER 00 THIS IS THE STORY Radio Control model aircraft got started US tells pioneers developed RC hobby combining knowl edge skills related experiences earlier inventors background prior invention hobby RC presented preceding issue gas model gas engine two essential ingredients ar rived during early 193 Os Ham radio its compact homemade receivers transmitters also came during same period Military commercial interests demonstrated feasibility RC large boats aircraft during 1920s ingredients theretechnically clever dedicated inspired mod elers invent hobby RC aircraft HOOO L-XMi[ IA0LllNOALIhArhi1LWfl Left Circuit diagram Lanzos three-tube receiver Right Lanzo 1976 version 1934 RC-1 plane 1934 radio equipment didnt work butthe plane flies well Antique RC modern RC system Below Drawing Lanzos 1937 motorized rudder actuator METHOD Acmxrnis DDF TAB An important stimulation came June ____________1936 announcement new m Win. FWiw CLinicly-formed AMA RC event would added 1936 National Contest Detroit no RC models made ap pearance 1936 event However rumors rampant RC ships _____________being secretly built 1937 AMA Nats different wiREstory Six RC models actually appeared PILAY 14r L7Z]causing great excitement expectations following account RC event 1937 Nats again Detroit first-ever RC contest US Whether first world known certainty point may covered r information available Perhaps article will stimulate some foreign responses 58 Model Aviation z-D ~ imI iAxJdImmY ~.44 U Iq41-46 re p t40 Awm 1I 0 RECEIWIG APPARKrU8 INSTAUI V IN PLANic Left PatSweeneyand 1937 Nats second-place RC plane rudder control 10-ft span 9-lb weight Right Drawing Sweeneys RC receiver actuator reproduced August1938 Short Wave TV Magazine 1937 Nets flight lasted five seconds Left Elmer Wasman holds 1 0-lb RC model won third place 1937 rudder/aileron elevatorcontrol also engine cutoff Right Rear view Wasmans piano shows air-driven four-biaded propeller mounted front fin powerfor moving control surfaces Photos Wasman Below Jacksonville FL paper clipping 1937 shows Wasman explaining White Mystery students Sunday July 11 dawned warm clearerat ion its constrols during pre-flight Detroit Wayne County Airportground tests made written notes promise afternoon showerswhat observed no RC Hundreds Free Flight modelers whoregulations judges novices competing week inand pioneers too six models various events already testing theiraccepted being eligible RC catmodels fieldegory Official flying attempts sched morning six RC models wereuled commence early afternoon being assembled hangar variety attempts related now concepts converted reality byorder actual flight sequence pioneersare based magazine reports Chester Lanzo Cleveland OHNats recent interviews between author Patrick Sweeney Chicago ILand living fliers small extent Elmer Wasman Jacksonville FLupon authors memory exciting Walter Good Kalamazoo MIday Leo Weiss Brooklyn NY B Schiffinan New York NY help radiomen tuning adjusting ready machines ground demonstrations control operation radio judges planes ranged eight 14 feet span weighed six 16 pounds Patrick J Sweeney first entrant attempt flight late thirties oldest pilot six own-design cabin plane 10-ft span 18-in chord Total weight 9 lb 3 lb radio gear Almost 2 lb batteries system April 1986 59 p OO0It0MoooIJ046.IIlGGI00.4jJ o-Thi-i Controls varied rudder full house rudder ailerons elevator en gine No two alike originals judges carefully observed plane pilot demonstrated remote op Left Wait Good 1936KG FF model converted RC 1937 RIght Goods 1937 RC plane big won fourth place Nats rudder elevator controls large box 50-watt transmitter email box contains two receivers relays batteries small FF Gas plane picture early version Guff thunderstorm prevented Goods 1937 Nats flight demo needed 90 volts meant two 45-volt B batteries Pat ran hobby store Chicago time plenty materials know-how build large plane carry payload also flying gas models competition placed 17th out 43 1936 Nats Leo Vartanian Chicago Aeronuts told recently Pat competed regularly days radioman Ben F Porter came up three-tube receiver using superregenerative detector 5-meter band 56 60 MHz controlling rudder control used old springwound alarm clock four-point cam switch give positions neutral right neutral left etc sequence pulse transmitter push button stepped rudder next position magazine article stated began finished entry about month complete radio equipment assumed probably no extra time pre-contest test flights trim plane shake out problems1 back meet Phil Zecchi tellas description2 Finally Pat Sweeney warmed en gine signalled ready official flight few picked officials Pat brought model deserted tract runway prepared launching transmitter established distant Schematic drawing Goods 1937 actu ator showing simple gears magnet point receiving set plane tested being done newsreel crew moved camera approximate location takeoff finally Sweeney raised arms radioman stand Soon engine roaring actually behold first official flight radio-controlled gas model Guiding model its wingtip Pat ran behind until started lift its wheels off ground newsreel men shooting rapidly Suddenly model pointed its nose sky high climb evident could recover Slipping over its left wing crashed ground entire flight lasted five seconds wing tip de molished slight injury sustained motor mount Insofar could judged would have swell flight except center gravity model too far back did make another attempt cause damage event Pat Sweeney credited first attempted RC flight National Contest Elmer Wasman next welldesigned system called White Mystery because wind-driven propeller front fin No knew what did except Elmer3 industrial arts degree teaching aeronautics Jacksonville ju nior high school time 28 middle group entries concern mg age 1 l-ft-span plane chord 18 weighed 14 lb including radio gear 165 sq ft area gives 136 oz/sq ft wing loading model really needed Forster 99 engine 16-in prop fly climb marginally slow safe4 third gas model plane provided controls rudder/aileron elevator ignition cutoff engines RC event ignition type requiring spark coil batteries Elmers control system elabo rate early days radio signal went first airborne receiver 60 Model Aviation Rudder elevator actuators 1937 model Bill Good 1937 50-watttransmitter push-button control right hand Note 110-volt AC power line running back hangar photo Glen Peterson closed relay contact selector switch sequential switch five positions give up down elevator left right rudder engine cutoff Absence signal gave neutral rudder elevator full engine selector contact arm driven air paddle wheelcould stopped five contacts sending correct number pulses Ex amples pulse would give left rudder two pulses right rudder three pulses up elevator four pulses down elevator Five pulses would cut off ignition stop engine Note control function available time control held long needed pilot proceeded next control characteristic sequential system does allow simultaneous operation various controls However desired single con trol could obtained quickly set three navigation lights mounted plane connected red left rudder green right white down elevator Thus visual indication activated control did signal activate control surface selector wiper connected signal five electromagnets engaged rotating shaft selected control surface rotating shaft powered four-bladed air propeller mounted front vertical fin Again air power motive force Very cleverand complex Perhaps plane called White Mys terybecause very few understcod complicated mechanism transmitter end used simple switch watching navigation lights keep track airborne selector position receiver three-tube regenerative detector 5-meter band whole control system weighed 35 lb big ship carried easily smaller model powered Brown Jr used test bed check out individual components before mounting big plane turn fly saw dark thunderstorm approaching tried hurry things along Roy Marquardt strained launched giant plane gusty air Elmer worked busily transmit ter control plane nosed up stall sagged ground ending its flight abruptlyand much too soon suit Elmer said later hadnt time test fly big ship before meet turned out tail-heavy caused stall Such happenings nor mal developing something new Hind sight says Elmer tells him should have entered smaller ship simpler con trol first meet scored third place Elmer has retired several years divides time between Florida Illinois still spends hours Free Flight models well RC power glider models Chester Lanzo lightest plane entries just under 6 lb including 2 lb radio gear flown radio several times obtain proper balance tail angle engine downthrust must fly well itself before adding radio reasoned very wise approach Design plane basic func tional wing 9-ft span 14-in chord generous dihedral 13 per tip body 5-ft tray 3 wide 1 deep 6-in-high wire cage hold wing well above body radio parts simply fastened tray location maintain proper balance pointand very good accessibility parts Lanzo told made cabintype gas model 1934 experimented RC using spark-gap transmitter coherer receiver5 said approach failure RC plane engine vibration interrupted radios function ing Furthermore spark ignition engine swamped nearby receiver coherer undesired instructions rudder blocking out desired signals Left Overhead view Leo 1937 RC piane Fergusson prototypetwln-cyiinderengine Weiss couidnt getaterted atthe Nata Right Leo Weiss Inspecting Fergusson engine John Lopus adjusting airborne receiver eeriy tuned reed system April 1986 61 Above Leo Weiss standing behind 1 4-ft BC plane 1937 Nets 12 kneeiing spectators Modei pienked eli over Picture cornea RC ModelAwcraft Engiend 1944 Right Leo kneeling behind tail piene three RC en tries making fiightetthe 1937 Nets itwes awarded fifth piace Left Leo Weiss arm front rudder working Denny Radio-Plane Wright Field 1939 Right Ground control unit used con trol CulverCadets larger RC drones GCU also carried communications gear Leo shown atthe controls 1939 design Below Oops professional RCers sometimes make hard landing see picture poor Cuiver Cadet Wright Field 1939 RC pilot called plane RC-l today flies replica Antique RC competitions 1937 radio receiver home-built using three vacuum tubes superregen erative detector circuit operated homemade relay turn caused small geared electric train motor move rudder control through cycle neutral right neutral left etc long transmitter key held down Straight flight obtained key-down position because slowly-re sponding plane would show slight snaking path rudder oscillated back forth make turn key would released moment full rudder deflection deflected rudder would become effective plane would bank itself circling path very simple required piloting practice develop skill precision flight path control scheme another advantage Lanzo said transmitter could tuned receiver air watching rudder wiggled Such tuning com mon days Batteries problem entrants heavy costly short-livedespecially 45-volt B bat tery vacuum tube plate supply Chet found source Cleveland tiny 2oz normal ones 11 oz battery made weather sondes Its life span maximum two hours shelf life just two weeks remember con tacting company back rec ommended battery ordered latest moment sent airmail stayed 1 l-oz units two-tube transmitter used 500 volts output tube required 110-volt AC line flying site organizers anticipated need long extension cord started lcoking transmitter needed too friendly spectator brought 200-ft cord camper plugged nearby hangar use Ready fly Lanzo walked off find judges stray Free Flight gas model spiraled nearby causing frightened spectator step backwards Chets plane rupturing few ribs wing quick repair made Pat Sweeneys help Lanzo ready fly weather getting windier due approach summer thunderstorm started hurry cranked up Baby Cyclone engine set needle valve medium speed started forward launch Before could release plane engine slowed touch needle valve speeded engine off went plane slowclimbing circle Chet raced back transmitter plane gently zigged zagged pilot tried coax Figure 8 maneuver Suddenly engine quit plane glided down parking lot edge airfield flight time around two minutes must have seemed much longer Chet Chester Lanzo used gas model Free Flight experienceas well radio knowledgeto pull off first place Thus attained historical honor being first winner first RC National Contest US Prior Nats made few RC test flights plane Cleveland fact flights made park next Dick Kordas house ran AC extension out Dicks bedrcom window transmitter Lanzos philosophy starting simplest plane radio combination wise approach would have happier much longer flight 62 Model Aviation duatrn9ma9iid J6rczpemeaLMnd Left Ross Hull Byron Goodman 1937 13-ft RC glider West Hartford CT Right Diagram radio components Installa tion glider Photo drawing reproduced January1938 ModelAirplane News Hull editor ARRLs QSTmagazlne Chetwas23atthe 1937 Natsandtoday still active models special izing FF Rubber Power RC assisted Old-Timers Hes retired NASA still very busy recent projects building replica 1937 RC winner donating AMA Museum November 1984 complete Baby Cyclone vintage wing working rudder control first three places awarded basis flight performance place ment last three entries based ground demonstration did attempt fly Walt Good 8-ft-span model build 1935 close copy Kovel-Grant KG-8 powered Brown Jr engine flew Free Flight Gas meets 1936 well-tuned stable flight end season 36th FF Gas 1936 Nats Twin brother Bill just 21 years old resident radio ham W8IFD family thinking about RC KG-8 talked placing receiver antenna wires wings built 1935 fall 1936 won approval Kala mazoo College take lab course physics department design RC sys tem particularly transmitter re ceiver though professor specialist electronics offered great encouragementand three semester hours credit surprise receiver hurdle passed quickly converted onetube superregen circuit operate sensi tive relay rather its normal head phones7 trick placing variable resistor grid circuit adjusted give best current swing relay first relay constructed inexpensive meter movement No vember bread-board system working bench system mounted plane RC rudder control demonstrated Kalamazoo College Science Fair January 1937 During May six flights under radio control made Kalamazoo Air port using rudder control results tests showed necessary increase area rudder its deflection obtain effective turns also indication spiral stability KG very generous therefore very safe rudder-only control Once working RC plane given name Guff slang word college campus Very loosely trans lated meant thats lot nonsense Its impossible describe thrill first RC flights change path plane left right touch switch caused great shouts rise flights made dawn have still air get us back school eight oclock class mornings airport manager Try Woodhams awoke just time see Guff glide landing thought full-size plane landing outside airport organized search party find lost plane packed up driven back school several years later before found out what really happened now 80s lives Florida recently opportunity meet again reminisce about days rudder actuator rubberband driven gear train small electromagnet operated relay allowed gears turn whenever transmitter key held down fact result similar Lanzos cycling system because rudder would stop its current position transmitter off Cautious beeps push button would inch rudder toward sometimes yond desired position Looking back now realize control method too slowthree seconds neutral full-rudder addition pilot no knowledge rudder position except watching action plane did work rudder worked well enough con sider adding elevator control Bill added another push button another frequency transmitter operating 56 Continued page 141 Left Hulls second RC glider 18-footer ready launching slope thIs 1938 photo ARRL Right Hulls restored 1938 RC glider hangs museum Amateur Radio Relay League headquarters Newington CT photo taken July 1983 durIng Goods research visit L-R Wait Good Bill Good Laird Campbell Joel Kleinman Byron Goodman Pete Reed Note Byron Goodman inthis picture isthesame ByronGoodman shown Ross Hull inthe 1937 photo Next month RC atthe Natsfrom 1 938to1 941 April 1986 63 904 478-6745 Al Featuring fast service qualified eopIe latest equipment including SPECTRUM ANAL YZER AM FM SIGNAL GENERATOR Call Sam Leonard Tony Stiliman custom work competition needs stock complete hobby line specializing competition accessories discounted prices RADIO SOUTH-m AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER FOR Kruft Pro Line w Futeb 43 West Nine Mile Rd Pensacola FL 32514 * Sales Service er Inquiries Welcome * has seven channels receiver usually something think about install gives problems Im very happy tell has never given hint glitch Airtronics has wide range excellent servos system equipped 94554s servo features ball-bearingsupported output shaft careless motor 04-second transit time 900 735 inch-ounces output torque really like 94554s have lot luck over years So have youre market new radio dont check new Airtronics Module 7H out Let know what think think has capabilities bringing new dimension Heli-flying New LIMP Hughes 500 fuselage Also shown months photos new Hughes 500 shell 50160-size mechan ics fuselage epoxy-glass 43 long weighs 19 oz available D E matter C versions par ticular model shown photos built Jim Brandon Lakewood CA features OMP Cobra mechanics OS 50 FSR-H engine Quest gyro weighs 9 lb ready fly real hot rod fuselage designed Cobra mechanics mind has plenty room will take other kinds well Beginners corner con fusing things new Heli-flier set up throttle/rudder mixing function Helicopter radio Some Helicopter radios have very simple rudder/throttle mixing function consisting two rate knobs marked REV ACC slide switch marked LEFT/OFF/RIGHT task really very simple can dialed relatively quickly must first determine whether have left- righthanded main rotor Looking rotating disc above does rotate clockwise anti-clockwise have Schluter Hirobo Kalt Gorham product rotor spins clockwise right-handed rotor Set slide switch position marked RIGHT have diffearent-style radio adjust proper rotor rotation according its operating instructions tail-swinging problem trying overcame occurs because power added main rotor torque applied fuselage opposite direction rotation main rotor causes fuselage swing left machine right-handed rotor cure dial enough tail-rotor compensation fuselage stays straight Check adjustment holding machine steady hover giving quick blip throttle nose swings left compensation necessary nose swings right radio overcompensating radio must ad justed accordingly Once have mix set properly nose Helicopter will stay fairly stationary making climbs descending Now addition gyro nose will stable mother-in-law should able handle Good luck hope stops some twitchy tails months three-view 1960 US Department Defense issued Tech nical Specification 153 light Obser vation Helicopter Hughes submitted model 369 flying egg referring its shape 369 won campetition received its Army designation OH-6 code-named Cayuse Based Allison 250-series turbine engine Hughes product seemed ideal military service beginning Referred Hughes 500 commercial customers little machine has proved tough com petition Bell Jet Ranger Featuring fully-articulated rotor Hughes both nimble very fast Because 500s unique shape its appearance Magnum P1 TV series probably secand-most-recognized machine right hind Jet Ranger Model SOOs available Kalt Schluter Eberles Great Lakes Graup ner UMP Peka Have good month think about checking head screws engine once recently Heli show signs losing power found head leaking BCNU Lariy Jolly 5501 W Como Santa Ana CA 92703 RC History/Good Continued page 63 60 MHz built another receiver relay actuator end June six ffights made new dual control system definitely trickier control heard other entries plan ning use dual controls wanted prepared Gulls weight up 8 lb including 2 lb radio gear gave 13 oz/sq ft wing loading too much considering thick Grant wing section power Brown Jr its homemade 16-in-dia propeller Nats ground control demon stration went well sal waited turn fly Bill present since already gone job radio operator summer camp Another amateur Paul Kreiick W8QQE assisting After watching first three entries make attempts approaching storm finally arrived along rain judges scuffled hangar shelter flight attempted due Continued page 146 April 1986 141 DIN Lookfo u fa o e hobby shop send SASE free catalog Kin-Craft Mfg Inc 14323 TwIn Ridge Ashland Kentucky 41101 606-928-4763 use best Specializing Fiber-glass tape Fiber-glass cloth Polyester resin Resin Hardener Micro-Balloons Primers ner Paint filters Engine oil & Oil kits Engine cleaner Protective gloves Dust Masks Sponge & applic kits Contact cement F ROLLLU PLANS UT PARIS 1/2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT 3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX RC History/Good Continued page 141 rain lateness day both disappointed relieved Guff awarded fourth place background 12 test flights expect stable Guff would have come through OK official flight possible Looking back wish stuck rudder control beginning simplicity learning steps early RC Both Bill now retired very busy hobbies power boater live aboard cruiser ardent ham radio operator W2C VI Liverpool NY Im living Port Richey FL am active RC history articles RC Sailplanes few AMA committees several RC clubo some ham radio W3NPS/4 talk together least twice week stationssometimes about early RC days Hes part memory bank Leo Weiss youngest RC entry 18 largest most-sophisticated RC plane entries 14-ft wing planked sheet balsa stream lined monocoque body doped both sides balsa sheets stiffen shell construction weighed 16 lb cluding radio gear builtthat big wing college rooming house hard imagine sophomore aero engineering University Michigan happened9 6 lb high-tech radio gear Leos plane alone weighed slightly Lanzos complete 9-ft RC plane Power came prototype two-cylinder Fer gusson engine rated adio gear far ahead its time hobby RC three control channels rudder elevator engine op erated three electric motors Six tuned reeds selected desired commands respondinging six different audio tones reed system later became very popular inthe 1950s soLeowasontherighttrack John Lopus W8LUS electrical engineering student U M Leos radio specialist project 56 MHz transmitter battery-powered control box three lever-switches would cause selected airborne control move quickly appropriate direc tion true multi-channel system4 did Leo get far along model hobby young age First seasoned veteran Free Flight gas models RC ship fifth gas model third model won Texaco event 1935 St Louis National Con test beating Maxwell Bassett wide margin Leo 64 mm against Maxwells third-place time 36 min Leos secret tuning Brown Jr run over 10 min per ounce fuel took plane 2000 feet big thermals floated plane min utes lucky attend Nats field witness both flights wishing KG finished timewhich wasnt few weeks before 1935 Nats Leo graduated high school age 16 didnt attend graduation ceremonies because tco busy tuning engine trying different props Back 1937 Nats Leo sembled giant model hangar tried vain start special twin engine just wouldnt run give up thought flying Later Leo told beautiful giant plane never flown course several moves after graduation became lost0 scored fifth place should mentioned Leos first RC concepts originated during fresh man year MIT built fourth gas model small electric motors oper ating controls via wires intended tethered controllable flight still college took up flying got pilots license After graduating U M 1939 aeronautical engineer went directly Wright Field first job RC target dronesthe well-known Reginald Denny Radio-Plane Major George Holloman new boss read Leos RC articles cautioned him some material Leo written considered top secret around guess RC hobby ists advanced pro fessionals realized larger realistic RC drone Leo proposed full-scale Culver Cadet lightplane idea okayed compact unit gyros RC gear servos strapped place pilot steered radio ground control unit designed Leo RC Culver Cadets used target drones during WW II still remember some Navy shipboard tests proximity fuze helped develop anti-aircraft shells tests guns shot down number Culver Cadet drones proving effectiveness proximity fuze over conventional clock fuzes result surprising since proximity fuze contained miniature radar sensed nearness target plane triggered explosive time didnt know Leo involved really jumped profes sional RC hurry After WW II Leo started own busi ness manufacturing aeronautical instru ments became very successful An interesting afterthought Roy Marquardt modeler launched Elmer Wasmans plane later board member Leos company Leo now retired leading active life Alexandria VA writing books moderating business forums B Schlffman entered plane RC event strangely enough Ive found no published words pictures about believe first name Bernie 146 Model Aviation flEW PRAIRIE gIRD SO ELECTRIC0 GAS pGWERED / - REAL RIC TRAINER ORANDMA CAN FLY 2-3 CHANNEL RADIO 49 Inch SPAN 05 ELECTRIC 049 15 GAS CATALOG $200NIT $3995 619 442-4636 fGor 619 469-8675 W BOX 2498-MA LA MESA CA 92041 INNOA FUNCucS 7 A SASE FOR NEW CATALOG MARRY N MIGLEY & 801VS INC P o Box 532 GLINWOOD ILL 80425 . SSO EASY TO BUILD HANDCRAFTED KITS AT LOW PRICES F-15 EAGLESKY RAIDERNEPTUNE Wing Span 62 inWeight 4 lbsWing Span 60 inWeight 4 lbsMng Span 62 inWeight 4 lbs Length 53 inEngine 60 -90Length 45 inEngine 45 -60Length 48 inEngine 40 Kits include Pre-built fiberglass fuselage foam cores sheeted balsa machine cut balsa tail surfaces shaped strip ailerons complete hardware pack SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TOVISA & MASTER CARD ACCEPTED HORIZON MODELS INC T-404 Kelly Ave Manchester NH 03103 603 627-9503 Lanzo remembers late Sunday after returning RC area FF Rubber events saw Schiffmans plane standing rain soaked wing water dripping bottom bamboo paper covering doped Further Chet remembers large B battery sitting bottom fuselage amazed tar chipped away 30 cells save weight Beyond meager information know very little except did fly RC plane scored sixth place Can anyone give us some help information B Schiffman 1937 RC plane writing qualifies mystery entry Ross Hull Thus far have related 1937 entries first National Con test RC model planes What about other pioneers RC did enter national event probably know experimented RC being recorded model magazines local news papers Without documented accounts pioneers may never known However group led Ross Hull Connecticut contri butions well-documented 1937 35 Hull associate editor QST magazine journal American Radio Relay League ARRL very skilled radio designer also skilled model planes experiences Australia home country Hart ford CT both countries pub lished series model plane construction local newspapers late 1920s team consisted some talented participants Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL Roland Bourne Byron Goodman Harner Selvidge active hams Hulls team planned RC project 10-ft-span gas-powered RC model dur ing spring 1937 However before construction started Hull Bourne attended Soaring Society America national sailplane meet early July 1937 Elmira NY met Carl W Thompson Jr Wilmington DE both active gas model competitor pilot full-scale gliders Carl brought 13-ft glider meet RC gear built HM Plummer W3DIA simple basic approach oft signal giving right rudder signal left rudder Hulls QST report said ship made several successful hops control working untimely crack-up ended experiment11 Perhaps Thompson/Plummer team deserves recog nition first public RC glider demon stration sure would like find moredetailed report Elmira demonstra tions Hull quickly acquired remains took back Hartford repair DeSoto writes about Hull weeks followed group did little eat sleep talk build radio-controlled model aircraft Success immediate did comeif present 1937 system crude comparison ultimate goal can called success2 Near end July first flights started hand launches down nearby slopethen madly steering glider avoid trees finally landing valley below Some flights have duration several minutes less . Guided simplicity keynote RC system consisted three-tube superregenerative receiver sensitive relay four-spoke escapement four feet twisted rubber strands furnished power turn rudder escapement wheel advanced one-quarter turn carrier pulse giving N L N R sequence action rapid nd posi tive fortunately rudder would cycle quickly through unwanted positions 10-lb glider barely twitched Remembering position came next hard part Bourne built rudder stick automatically sent correct number pulses rudder greatly reduced worry factor pilot October glider amassed over 100 flights 15 crashes equipment rebuilt over over Some crashes caused escapement getting out sync control stick caused microphonics tubes being excited clanking escape ment turn gave extra un wanted pulse During 1937 ARRL group made significant contributions invention RC along entered 1937 Nats 1938 second glider built wingspan 18 ft mono coque body formed plywood demonstrated Elmira slopes summer 1938 story told tried enter RC glider regular soaring competitionbut after hurried meeting rules committee stated must man cockpit glider survived several years RC experimentation 1980 res cued ARRL storage Laird Camp bell WiCUT help Pete Reed KiONG well-known New Eng land modeler glider restored now hangs prominent position ceiling ARRL Museum Newing ton CT Unfortunately ARRL RC project lost Ross Hull toe fatal accident August 1938 contacted 6000 volts during television receiver experiment con tributions RC expert pioneer DeSoto carried RC efforts will tell about next installment Continued page 148 April 1986 147 BENTOM BROWN JR CAMPBELL COMET COVERITE COX DUBRO EASY BUILT MODELS ENYA FAt FLYLI FOX GOLDBERG GOLDEN AGE REPRO GENE DUBOIS GUILLOW K&B K&S L R MRC OS MAX PACTRA PECK-POLYMER PERFECT R N MODELS SEAGLEN SIG STERLING- SULLIVAN SUPER TIGRE TAFFINDER TELCO TOP FLITE- TREXLER WILLIAMS & OTHERS ESTES MODEL ROCKETS Seed 5100 Cash Cheek oc Stmpn foe 44 page tabloid nice DISCOUNT Catalog 900 illustrations over 700 Kits choose MAILORDER PHONEORDER IN STORE FINN VALLEY ICIlY CENTER 357 WEaji St LansdalsPmJ9446 Summary first RC Nats 1937 provided definite step forward development controllable RC planes six planes demonstrated proper control movements radio ground tests air six showed potential control response during its brief ffight Two others crashed launch due tail-heavy trim might have prevented pre-contest test flights proper adjust ments least remaining three through dozen test flights stopped bad weather lessons learned clear keep system simpler get plenty practice flights use stable model keep system simple Reliability pilot skill also essential too early judge importance based limited flight time stage next section well review RC pioneers RC Nats 1938 through 1941 watch RC invention stumble less grow References B Porter P Sweeney Short Wave & TV Magazine August 1938 2P Zecchitella Flying Aces October 1937 Wasman Elmer Interview February 8 1985 4Weiss Leo Model Airplane News October 1937 5Lanzo Chester Interview March 23 1985 6Lanzo Chester Air Trails December 1937 January 1938 7HuIl Ross QST September 1933 8Kalamazoo Gazette January 13 1937 tWeiss Leo Interview December 1 1984 Weiss Leo Correspondence December 2 1984 Hull Ross Bourne Roland QST Octo ber 1937 DeSoto Clinton B Model Airplane News January 1938 3McEntee Howard G Air Trails Model An nual 1952 CL Aerobatics/Fancher Continued page 65 SB These heroes built finished ships appearance points mind wanted build finish plane well could also wanted develop cour age put line learn fly AMA pattern combination skills necessary best requires continually improve Like paint ing sculpture beautiful model tracts interest Interest develops questions Answers develop understanding Under standing basis participation subject Skill Classes Nats correspondents following say JT Im strong against skill classes Nats Nats just another con test opportunity AMA member see stacks up against best country cant understand argument shouldnt enter cant win TM I have never flown Stunt contest pilot although think tops CL have compete Open class AMA now defines wont its simple RM The initiation some program infuse some new blood event absolutely critical survival both Stunt organization PAMPA . way motivate new flier offer him some reasonable ex pectation least some small reward reasonable length time can mind-boggling neophyte attend first Nats see what really up against. provide up-and-com ing fliers forum can showcase abilities pay dues believe however best interest fly second class separate Expert class because whole reason having second class allow less-experienced fliers get barometer performance relative skilled fliers. addition some new entries think might see certain number less serious fliers dropping back class sent mat having top 20 fliers advance finals should maintained costs Making cut has come recognized important achievement can see no reason top two three advanced fliers could carried along. final thought has become obvious trying initiate rule mat changes submitting proposals PA MPA membership large cumbersome non-productive i feel should select committee 86 Nats charge coming up format 87 Thats gang have paraphrased comments letters Ive received today December 29 although Ill appreciate additional thoughts wont addressing subject again soon urge consider opinions expressed alert possibility rule changes Its event Lets make responsive needs New subject us Pro Stunt ersincluding yours trulytend get bogged down state-of-the-art technical minutia Nats procedures judging scratch-built original-design pieces art work like tend lose sight bigger perhaps ominous happenings about event tunnel vision brought clearly focus month ago visited local hobby dealer search some info up-to-date kits available budding Control Line 148 Model Aviation UUA BLAST FROM THE PAST JIM WALKERS CLASSIC GLIDERS 74 3 Pak5495 404 INTERCEPTOR Folding Wing Glider U-Build-It Kit5395 Add 53 postage handling first y Fly5795 3each additional P0 Box 68132 AIRCRAFT CO Portland OR 97268 rncaurn oau Heres equipment yes need glee props very best balgice--halance direct ions Carefully raffed top grade materials BUBBLE BALANCER accomodates 3/161/49/32 prop holes Other sizes available special order Dealers invited $1795 AMsisan HOWARD B HUEBL orpi ens pasSage hnndlhg Nina 6% nalen tx NoCOD/n Bos g2 Ru g Mankoto MN eeooi
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/04
Page Numbers: 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 141, 146, 147, 148
&RLEru5ELAGE O RRDIO CONTROL MoML fl4 fS_________________________________________________ Left Chet Lanzo holds RC model won 1937 NatIonal Contest copy artIcle December 1937 Air Trails reproduction model done Lahzo display AMA Museum Right Drawing modelS-ft span almost 6 lb i 5- cT flozsnsL Z TRGET SWRLUN0 1NI4 CONDEN5ER 00 THIS IS THE STORY Radio Control model aircraft got started US tells pioneers developed RC hobby combining knowl edge skills related experiences earlier inventors background prior invention hobby RC presented preceding issue gas model gas engine two essential ingredients ar rived during early 193 Os Ham radio its compact homemade receivers transmitters also came during same period Military commercial interests demonstrated feasibility RC large boats aircraft during 1920s ingredients theretechnically clever dedicated inspired mod elers invent hobby RC aircraft HOOO L-XMi[ IA0LllNOALIhArhi1LWfl Left Circuit diagram Lanzos three-tube receiver Right Lanzo 1976 version 1934 RC-1 plane 1934 radio equipment didnt work butthe plane flies well Antique RC modern RC system Below Drawing Lanzos 1937 motorized rudder actuator METHOD Acmxrnis DDF TAB An important stimulation came June ____________1936 announcement new m Win. FWiw CLinicly-formed AMA RC event would added 1936 National Contest Detroit no RC models made ap pearance 1936 event However rumors rampant RC ships _____________being secretly built 1937 AMA Nats different wiREstory Six RC models actually appeared PILAY 14r L7Z]causing great excitement expectations following account RC event 1937 Nats again Detroit first-ever RC contest US Whether first world known certainty point may covered r information available Perhaps article will stimulate some foreign responses 58 Model Aviation z-D ~ imI iAxJdImmY ~.44 U Iq41-46 re p t40 Awm 1I 0 RECEIWIG APPARKrU8 INSTAUI V IN PLANic Left PatSweeneyand 1937 Nats second-place RC plane rudder control 10-ft span 9-lb weight Right Drawing Sweeneys RC receiver actuator reproduced August1938 Short Wave TV Magazine 1937 Nets flight lasted five seconds Left Elmer Wasman holds 1 0-lb RC model won third place 1937 rudder/aileron elevatorcontrol also engine cutoff Right Rear view Wasmans piano shows air-driven four-biaded propeller mounted front fin powerfor moving control surfaces Photos Wasman Below Jacksonville FL paper clipping 1937 shows Wasman explaining White Mystery students Sunday July 11 dawned warm clearerat ion its constrols during pre-flight Detroit Wayne County Airportground tests made written notes promise afternoon showerswhat observed no RC Hundreds Free Flight modelers whoregulations judges novices competing week inand pioneers too six models various events already testing theiraccepted being eligible RC catmodels fieldegory Official flying attempts sched morning six RC models wereuled commence early afternoon being assembled hangar variety attempts related now concepts converted reality byorder actual flight sequence pioneersare based magazine reports Chester Lanzo Cleveland OHNats recent interviews between author Patrick Sweeney Chicago ILand living fliers small extent Elmer Wasman Jacksonville FLupon authors memory exciting Walter Good Kalamazoo MIday Leo Weiss Brooklyn NY B Schiffinan New York NY help radiomen tuning adjusting ready machines ground demonstrations control operation radio judges planes ranged eight 14 feet span weighed six 16 pounds Patrick J Sweeney first entrant attempt flight late thirties oldest pilot six own-design cabin plane 10-ft span 18-in chord Total weight 9 lb 3 lb radio gear Almost 2 lb batteries system April 1986 59 p OO0It0MoooIJ046.IIlGGI00.4jJ o-Thi-i Controls varied rudder full house rudder ailerons elevator en gine No two alike originals judges carefully observed plane pilot demonstrated remote op Left Wait Good 1936KG FF model converted RC 1937 RIght Goods 1937 RC plane big won fourth place Nats rudder elevator controls large box 50-watt transmitter email box contains two receivers relays batteries small FF Gas plane picture early version Guff thunderstorm prevented Goods 1937 Nats flight demo needed 90 volts meant two 45-volt B batteries Pat ran hobby store Chicago time plenty materials know-how build large plane carry payload also flying gas models competition placed 17th out 43 1936 Nats Leo Vartanian Chicago Aeronuts told recently Pat competed regularly days radioman Ben F Porter came up three-tube receiver using superregenerative detector 5-meter band 56 60 MHz controlling rudder control used old springwound alarm clock four-point cam switch give positions neutral right neutral left etc sequence pulse transmitter push button stepped rudder next position magazine article stated began finished entry about month complete radio equipment assumed probably no extra time pre-contest test flights trim plane shake out problems1 back meet Phil Zecchi tellas description2 Finally Pat Sweeney warmed en gine signalled ready official flight few picked officials Pat brought model deserted tract runway prepared launching transmitter established distant Schematic drawing Goods 1937 actu ator showing simple gears magnet point receiving set plane tested being done newsreel crew moved camera approximate location takeoff finally Sweeney raised arms radioman stand Soon engine roaring actually behold first official flight radio-controlled gas model Guiding model its wingtip Pat ran behind until started lift its wheels off ground newsreel men shooting rapidly Suddenly model pointed its nose sky high climb evident could recover Slipping over its left wing crashed ground entire flight lasted five seconds wing tip de molished slight injury sustained motor mount Insofar could judged would have swell flight except center gravity model too far back did make another attempt cause damage event Pat Sweeney credited first attempted RC flight National Contest Elmer Wasman next welldesigned system called White Mystery because wind-driven propeller front fin No knew what did except Elmer3 industrial arts degree teaching aeronautics Jacksonville ju nior high school time 28 middle group entries concern mg age 1 l-ft-span plane chord 18 weighed 14 lb including radio gear 165 sq ft area gives 136 oz/sq ft wing loading model really needed Forster 99 engine 16-in prop fly climb marginally slow safe4 third gas model plane provided controls rudder/aileron elevator ignition cutoff engines RC event ignition type requiring spark coil batteries Elmers control system elabo rate early days radio signal went first airborne receiver 60 Model Aviation Rudder elevator actuators 1937 model Bill Good 1937 50-watttransmitter push-button control right hand Note 110-volt AC power line running back hangar photo Glen Peterson closed relay contact selector switch sequential switch five positions give up down elevator left right rudder engine cutoff Absence signal gave neutral rudder elevator full engine selector contact arm driven air paddle wheelcould stopped five contacts sending correct number pulses Ex amples pulse would give left rudder two pulses right rudder three pulses up elevator four pulses down elevator Five pulses would cut off ignition stop engine Note control function available time control held long needed pilot proceeded next control characteristic sequential system does allow simultaneous operation various controls However desired single con trol could obtained quickly set three navigation lights mounted plane connected red left rudder green right white down elevator Thus visual indication activated control did signal activate control surface selector wiper connected signal five electromagnets engaged rotating shaft selected control surface rotating shaft powered four-bladed air propeller mounted front vertical fin Again air power motive force Very cleverand complex Perhaps plane called White Mys terybecause very few understcod complicated mechanism transmitter end used simple switch watching navigation lights keep track airborne selector position receiver three-tube regenerative detector 5-meter band whole control system weighed 35 lb big ship carried easily smaller model powered Brown Jr used test bed check out individual components before mounting big plane turn fly saw dark thunderstorm approaching tried hurry things along Roy Marquardt strained launched giant plane gusty air Elmer worked busily transmit ter control plane nosed up stall sagged ground ending its flight abruptlyand much too soon suit Elmer said later hadnt time test fly big ship before meet turned out tail-heavy caused stall Such happenings nor mal developing something new Hind sight says Elmer tells him should have entered smaller ship simpler con trol first meet scored third place Elmer has retired several years divides time between Florida Illinois still spends hours Free Flight models well RC power glider models Chester Lanzo lightest plane entries just under 6 lb including 2 lb radio gear flown radio several times obtain proper balance tail angle engine downthrust must fly well itself before adding radio reasoned very wise approach Design plane basic func tional wing 9-ft span 14-in chord generous dihedral 13 per tip body 5-ft tray 3 wide 1 deep 6-in-high wire cage hold wing well above body radio parts simply fastened tray location maintain proper balance pointand very good accessibility parts Lanzo told made cabintype gas model 1934 experimented RC using spark-gap transmitter coherer receiver5 said approach failure RC plane engine vibration interrupted radios function ing Furthermore spark ignition engine swamped nearby receiver coherer undesired instructions rudder blocking out desired signals Left Overhead view Leo 1937 RC piane Fergusson prototypetwln-cyiinderengine Weiss couidnt getaterted atthe Nata Right Leo Weiss Inspecting Fergusson engine John Lopus adjusting airborne receiver eeriy tuned reed system April 1986 61 Above Leo Weiss standing behind 1 4-ft BC plane 1937 Nets 12 kneeiing spectators Modei pienked eli over Picture cornea RC ModelAwcraft Engiend 1944 Right Leo kneeling behind tail piene three RC en tries making fiightetthe 1937 Nets itwes awarded fifth piace Left Leo Weiss arm front rudder working Denny Radio-Plane Wright Field 1939 Right Ground control unit used con trol CulverCadets larger RC drones GCU also carried communications gear Leo shown atthe controls 1939 design Below Oops professional RCers sometimes make hard landing see picture poor Cuiver Cadet Wright Field 1939 RC pilot called plane RC-l today flies replica Antique RC competitions 1937 radio receiver home-built using three vacuum tubes superregen erative detector circuit operated homemade relay turn caused small geared electric train motor move rudder control through cycle neutral right neutral left etc long transmitter key held down Straight flight obtained key-down position because slowly-re sponding plane would show slight snaking path rudder oscillated back forth make turn key would released moment full rudder deflection deflected rudder would become effective plane would bank itself circling path very simple required piloting practice develop skill precision flight path control scheme another advantage Lanzo said transmitter could tuned receiver air watching rudder wiggled Such tuning com mon days Batteries problem entrants heavy costly short-livedespecially 45-volt B bat tery vacuum tube plate supply Chet found source Cleveland tiny 2oz normal ones 11 oz battery made weather sondes Its life span maximum two hours shelf life just two weeks remember con tacting company back rec ommended battery ordered latest moment sent airmail stayed 1 l-oz units two-tube transmitter used 500 volts output tube required 110-volt AC line flying site organizers anticipated need long extension cord started lcoking transmitter needed too friendly spectator brought 200-ft cord camper plugged nearby hangar use Ready fly Lanzo walked off find judges stray Free Flight gas model spiraled nearby causing frightened spectator step backwards Chets plane rupturing few ribs wing quick repair made Pat Sweeneys help Lanzo ready fly weather getting windier due approach summer thunderstorm started hurry cranked up Baby Cyclone engine set needle valve medium speed started forward launch Before could release plane engine slowed touch needle valve speeded engine off went plane slowclimbing circle Chet raced back transmitter plane gently zigged zagged pilot tried coax Figure 8 maneuver Suddenly engine quit plane glided down parking lot edge airfield flight time around two minutes must have seemed much longer Chet Chester Lanzo used gas model Free Flight experienceas well radio knowledgeto pull off first place Thus attained historical honor being first winner first RC National Contest US Prior Nats made few RC test flights plane Cleveland fact flights made park next Dick Kordas house ran AC extension out Dicks bedrcom window transmitter Lanzos philosophy starting simplest plane radio combination wise approach would have happier much longer flight 62 Model Aviation duatrn9ma9iid J6rczpemeaLMnd Left Ross Hull Byron Goodman 1937 13-ft RC glider West Hartford CT Right Diagram radio components Installa tion glider Photo drawing reproduced January1938 ModelAirplane News Hull editor ARRLs QSTmagazlne Chetwas23atthe 1937 Natsandtoday still active models special izing FF Rubber Power RC assisted Old-Timers Hes retired NASA still very busy recent projects building replica 1937 RC winner donating AMA Museum November 1984 complete Baby Cyclone vintage wing working rudder control first three places awarded basis flight performance place ment last three entries based ground demonstration did attempt fly Walt Good 8-ft-span model build 1935 close copy Kovel-Grant KG-8 powered Brown Jr engine flew Free Flight Gas meets 1936 well-tuned stable flight end season 36th FF Gas 1936 Nats Twin brother Bill just 21 years old resident radio ham W8IFD family thinking about RC KG-8 talked placing receiver antenna wires wings built 1935 fall 1936 won approval Kala mazoo College take lab course physics department design RC sys tem particularly transmitter re ceiver though professor specialist electronics offered great encouragementand three semester hours credit surprise receiver hurdle passed quickly converted onetube superregen circuit operate sensi tive relay rather its normal head phones7 trick placing variable resistor grid circuit adjusted give best current swing relay first relay constructed inexpensive meter movement No vember bread-board system working bench system mounted plane RC rudder control demonstrated Kalamazoo College Science Fair January 1937 During May six flights under radio control made Kalamazoo Air port using rudder control results tests showed necessary increase area rudder its deflection obtain effective turns also indication spiral stability KG very generous therefore very safe rudder-only control Once working RC plane given name Guff slang word college campus Very loosely trans lated meant thats lot nonsense Its impossible describe thrill first RC flights change path plane left right touch switch caused great shouts rise flights made dawn have still air get us back school eight oclock class mornings airport manager Try Woodhams awoke just time see Guff glide landing thought full-size plane landing outside airport organized search party find lost plane packed up driven back school several years later before found out what really happened now 80s lives Florida recently opportunity meet again reminisce about days rudder actuator rubberband driven gear train small electromagnet operated relay allowed gears turn whenever transmitter key held down fact result similar Lanzos cycling system because rudder would stop its current position transmitter off Cautious beeps push button would inch rudder toward sometimes yond desired position Looking back now realize control method too slowthree seconds neutral full-rudder addition pilot no knowledge rudder position except watching action plane did work rudder worked well enough con sider adding elevator control Bill added another push button another frequency transmitter operating 56 Continued page 141 Left Hulls second RC glider 18-footer ready launching slope thIs 1938 photo ARRL Right Hulls restored 1938 RC glider hangs museum Amateur Radio Relay League headquarters Newington CT photo taken July 1983 durIng Goods research visit L-R Wait Good Bill Good Laird Campbell Joel Kleinman Byron Goodman Pete Reed Note Byron Goodman inthis picture isthesame ByronGoodman shown Ross Hull inthe 1937 photo Next month RC atthe Natsfrom 1 938to1 941 April 1986 63 904 478-6745 Al Featuring fast service qualified eopIe latest equipment including SPECTRUM ANAL YZER AM FM SIGNAL GENERATOR Call Sam Leonard Tony Stiliman custom work competition needs stock complete hobby line specializing competition accessories discounted prices RADIO SOUTH-m AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER FOR Kruft Pro Line w Futeb 43 West Nine Mile Rd Pensacola FL 32514 * Sales Service er Inquiries Welcome * has seven channels receiver usually something think about install gives problems Im very happy tell has never given hint glitch Airtronics has wide range excellent servos system equipped 94554s servo features ball-bearingsupported output shaft careless motor 04-second transit time 900 735 inch-ounces output torque really like 94554s have lot luck over years So have youre market new radio dont check new Airtronics Module 7H out Let know what think think has capabilities bringing new dimension Heli-flying New LIMP Hughes 500 fuselage Also shown months photos new Hughes 500 shell 50160-size mechan ics fuselage epoxy-glass 43 long weighs 19 oz available D E matter C versions par ticular model shown photos built Jim Brandon Lakewood CA features OMP Cobra mechanics OS 50 FSR-H engine Quest gyro weighs 9 lb ready fly real hot rod fuselage designed Cobra mechanics mind has plenty room will take other kinds well Beginners corner con fusing things new Heli-flier set up throttle/rudder mixing function Helicopter radio Some Helicopter radios have very simple rudder/throttle mixing function consisting two rate knobs marked REV ACC slide switch marked LEFT/OFF/RIGHT task really very simple can dialed relatively quickly must first determine whether have left- righthanded main rotor Looking rotating disc above does rotate clockwise anti-clockwise have Schluter Hirobo Kalt Gorham product rotor spins clockwise right-handed rotor Set slide switch position marked RIGHT have diffearent-style radio adjust proper rotor rotation according its operating instructions tail-swinging problem trying overcame occurs because power added main rotor torque applied fuselage opposite direction rotation main rotor causes fuselage swing left machine right-handed rotor cure dial enough tail-rotor compensation fuselage stays straight Check adjustment holding machine steady hover giving quick blip throttle nose swings left compensation necessary nose swings right radio overcompensating radio must ad justed accordingly Once have mix set properly nose Helicopter will stay fairly stationary making climbs descending Now addition gyro nose will stable mother-in-law should able handle Good luck hope stops some twitchy tails months three-view 1960 US Department Defense issued Tech nical Specification 153 light Obser vation Helicopter Hughes submitted model 369 flying egg referring its shape 369 won campetition received its Army designation OH-6 code-named Cayuse Based Allison 250-series turbine engine Hughes product seemed ideal military service beginning Referred Hughes 500 commercial customers little machine has proved tough com petition Bell Jet Ranger Featuring fully-articulated rotor Hughes both nimble very fast Because 500s unique shape its appearance Magnum P1 TV series probably secand-most-recognized machine right hind Jet Ranger Model SOOs available Kalt Schluter Eberles Great Lakes Graup ner UMP Peka Have good month think about checking head screws engine once recently Heli show signs losing power found head leaking BCNU Lariy Jolly 5501 W Como Santa Ana CA 92703 RC History/Good Continued page 63 60 MHz built another receiver relay actuator end June six ffights made new dual control system definitely trickier control heard other entries plan ning use dual controls wanted prepared Gulls weight up 8 lb including 2 lb radio gear gave 13 oz/sq ft wing loading too much considering thick Grant wing section power Brown Jr its homemade 16-in-dia propeller Nats ground control demon stration went well sal waited turn fly Bill present since already gone job radio operator summer camp Another amateur Paul Kreiick W8QQE assisting After watching first three entries make attempts approaching storm finally arrived along rain judges scuffled hangar shelter flight attempted due Continued page 146 April 1986 141 DIN Lookfo u fa o e hobby shop send SASE free catalog Kin-Craft Mfg Inc 14323 TwIn Ridge Ashland Kentucky 41101 606-928-4763 use best Specializing Fiber-glass tape Fiber-glass cloth Polyester resin Resin Hardener Micro-Balloons Primers ner Paint filters Engine oil & Oil kits Engine cleaner Protective gloves Dust Masks Sponge & applic kits Contact cement F ROLLLU PLANS UT PARIS 1/2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT 3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX RC History/Good Continued page 141 rain lateness day both disappointed relieved Guff awarded fourth place background 12 test flights expect stable Guff would have come through OK official flight possible Looking back wish stuck rudder control beginning simplicity learning steps early RC Both Bill now retired very busy hobbies power boater live aboard cruiser ardent ham radio operator W2C VI Liverpool NY Im living Port Richey FL am active RC history articles RC Sailplanes few AMA committees several RC clubo some ham radio W3NPS/4 talk together least twice week stationssometimes about early RC days Hes part memory bank Leo Weiss youngest RC entry 18 largest most-sophisticated RC plane entries 14-ft wing planked sheet balsa stream lined monocoque body doped both sides balsa sheets stiffen shell construction weighed 16 lb cluding radio gear builtthat big wing college rooming house hard imagine sophomore aero engineering University Michigan happened9 6 lb high-tech radio gear Leos plane alone weighed slightly Lanzos complete 9-ft RC plane Power came prototype two-cylinder Fer gusson engine rated adio gear far ahead its time hobby RC three control channels rudder elevator engine op erated three electric motors Six tuned reeds selected desired commands respondinging six different audio tones reed system later became very popular inthe 1950s soLeowasontherighttrack John Lopus W8LUS electrical engineering student U M Leos radio specialist project 56 MHz transmitter battery-powered control box three lever-switches would cause selected airborne control move quickly appropriate direc tion true multi-channel system4 did Leo get far along model hobby young age First seasoned veteran Free Flight gas models RC ship fifth gas model third model won Texaco event 1935 St Louis National Con test beating Maxwell Bassett wide margin Leo 64 mm against Maxwells third-place time 36 min Leos secret tuning Brown Jr run over 10 min per ounce fuel took plane 2000 feet big thermals floated plane min utes lucky attend Nats field witness both flights wishing KG finished timewhich wasnt few weeks before 1935 Nats Leo graduated high school age 16 didnt attend graduation ceremonies because tco busy tuning engine trying different props Back 1937 Nats Leo sembled giant model hangar tried vain start special twin engine just wouldnt run give up thought flying Later Leo told beautiful giant plane never flown course several moves after graduation became lost0 scored fifth place should mentioned Leos first RC concepts originated during fresh man year MIT built fourth gas model small electric motors oper ating controls via wires intended tethered controllable flight still college took up flying got pilots license After graduating U M 1939 aeronautical engineer went directly Wright Field first job RC target dronesthe well-known Reginald Denny Radio-Plane Major George Holloman new boss read Leos RC articles cautioned him some material Leo written considered top secret around guess RC hobby ists advanced pro fessionals realized larger realistic RC drone Leo proposed full-scale Culver Cadet lightplane idea okayed compact unit gyros RC gear servos strapped place pilot steered radio ground control unit designed Leo RC Culver Cadets used target drones during WW II still remember some Navy shipboard tests proximity fuze helped develop anti-aircraft shells tests guns shot down number Culver Cadet drones proving effectiveness proximity fuze over conventional clock fuzes result surprising since proximity fuze contained miniature radar sensed nearness target plane triggered explosive time didnt know Leo involved really jumped profes sional RC hurry After WW II Leo started own busi ness manufacturing aeronautical instru ments became very successful An interesting afterthought Roy Marquardt modeler launched Elmer Wasmans plane later board member Leos company Leo now retired leading active life Alexandria VA writing books moderating business forums B Schlffman entered plane RC event strangely enough Ive found no published words pictures about believe first name Bernie 146 Model Aviation flEW PRAIRIE gIRD SO ELECTRIC0 GAS pGWERED / - REAL RIC TRAINER ORANDMA CAN FLY 2-3 CHANNEL RADIO 49 Inch SPAN 05 ELECTRIC 049 15 GAS CATALOG $200NIT $3995 619 442-4636 fGor 619 469-8675 W BOX 2498-MA LA MESA CA 92041 INNOA FUNCucS 7 A SASE FOR NEW CATALOG MARRY N MIGLEY & 801VS INC P o Box 532 GLINWOOD ILL 80425 . SSO EASY TO BUILD HANDCRAFTED KITS AT LOW PRICES F-15 EAGLESKY RAIDERNEPTUNE Wing Span 62 inWeight 4 lbsWing Span 60 inWeight 4 lbsMng Span 62 inWeight 4 lbs Length 53 inEngine 60 -90Length 45 inEngine 45 -60Length 48 inEngine 40 Kits include Pre-built fiberglass fuselage foam cores sheeted balsa machine cut balsa tail surfaces shaped strip ailerons complete hardware pack SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TOVISA & MASTER CARD ACCEPTED HORIZON MODELS INC T-404 Kelly Ave Manchester NH 03103 603 627-9503 Lanzo remembers late Sunday after returning RC area FF Rubber events saw Schiffmans plane standing rain soaked wing water dripping bottom bamboo paper covering doped Further Chet remembers large B battery sitting bottom fuselage amazed tar chipped away 30 cells save weight Beyond meager information know very little except did fly RC plane scored sixth place Can anyone give us some help information B Schiffman 1937 RC plane writing qualifies mystery entry Ross Hull Thus far have related 1937 entries first National Con test RC model planes What about other pioneers RC did enter national event probably know experimented RC being recorded model magazines local news papers Without documented accounts pioneers may never known However group led Ross Hull Connecticut contri butions well-documented 1937 35 Hull associate editor QST magazine journal American Radio Relay League ARRL very skilled radio designer also skilled model planes experiences Australia home country Hart ford CT both countries pub lished series model plane construction local newspapers late 1920s team consisted some talented participants Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL Roland Bourne Byron Goodman Harner Selvidge active hams Hulls team planned RC project 10-ft-span gas-powered RC model dur ing spring 1937 However before construction started Hull Bourne attended Soaring Society America national sailplane meet early July 1937 Elmira NY met Carl W Thompson Jr Wilmington DE both active gas model competitor pilot full-scale gliders Carl brought 13-ft glider meet RC gear built HM Plummer W3DIA simple basic approach oft signal giving right rudder signal left rudder Hulls QST report said ship made several successful hops control working untimely crack-up ended experiment11 Perhaps Thompson/Plummer team deserves recog nition first public RC glider demon stration sure would like find moredetailed report Elmira demonstra tions Hull quickly acquired remains took back Hartford repair DeSoto writes about Hull weeks followed group did little eat sleep talk build radio-controlled model aircraft Success immediate did comeif present 1937 system crude comparison ultimate goal can called success2 Near end July first flights started hand launches down nearby slopethen madly steering glider avoid trees finally landing valley below Some flights have duration several minutes less . Guided simplicity keynote RC system consisted three-tube superregenerative receiver sensitive relay four-spoke escapement four feet twisted rubber strands furnished power turn rudder escapement wheel advanced one-quarter turn carrier pulse giving N L N R sequence action rapid nd posi tive fortunately rudder would cycle quickly through unwanted positions 10-lb glider barely twitched Remembering position came next hard part Bourne built rudder stick automatically sent correct number pulses rudder greatly reduced worry factor pilot October glider amassed over 100 flights 15 crashes equipment rebuilt over over Some crashes caused escapement getting out sync control stick caused microphonics tubes being excited clanking escape ment turn gave extra un wanted pulse During 1937 ARRL group made significant contributions invention RC along entered 1937 Nats 1938 second glider built wingspan 18 ft mono coque body formed plywood demonstrated Elmira slopes summer 1938 story told tried enter RC glider regular soaring competitionbut after hurried meeting rules committee stated must man cockpit glider survived several years RC experimentation 1980 res cued ARRL storage Laird Camp bell WiCUT help Pete Reed KiONG well-known New Eng land modeler glider restored now hangs prominent position ceiling ARRL Museum Newing ton CT Unfortunately ARRL RC project lost Ross Hull toe fatal accident August 1938 contacted 6000 volts during television receiver experiment con tributions RC expert pioneer DeSoto carried RC efforts will tell about next installment Continued page 148 April 1986 147 BENTOM BROWN JR CAMPBELL COMET COVERITE COX DUBRO EASY BUILT MODELS ENYA FAt FLYLI FOX GOLDBERG GOLDEN AGE REPRO GENE DUBOIS GUILLOW K&B K&S L R MRC OS MAX PACTRA PECK-POLYMER PERFECT R N MODELS SEAGLEN SIG STERLING- SULLIVAN SUPER TIGRE TAFFINDER TELCO TOP FLITE- TREXLER WILLIAMS & OTHERS ESTES MODEL ROCKETS Seed 5100 Cash Cheek oc Stmpn foe 44 page tabloid nice DISCOUNT Catalog 900 illustrations over 700 Kits choose MAILORDER PHONEORDER IN STORE FINN VALLEY ICIlY CENTER 357 WEaji St LansdalsPmJ9446 Summary first RC Nats 1937 provided definite step forward development controllable RC planes six planes demonstrated proper control movements radio ground tests air six showed potential control response during its brief ffight Two others crashed launch due tail-heavy trim might have prevented pre-contest test flights proper adjust ments least remaining three through dozen test flights stopped bad weather lessons learned clear keep system simpler get plenty practice flights use stable model keep system simple Reliability pilot skill also essential too early judge importance based limited flight time stage next section well review RC pioneers RC Nats 1938 through 1941 watch RC invention stumble less grow References B Porter P Sweeney Short Wave & TV Magazine August 1938 2P Zecchitella Flying Aces October 1937 Wasman Elmer Interview February 8 1985 4Weiss Leo Model Airplane News October 1937 5Lanzo Chester Interview March 23 1985 6Lanzo Chester Air Trails December 1937 January 1938 7HuIl Ross QST September 1933 8Kalamazoo Gazette January 13 1937 tWeiss Leo Interview December 1 1984 Weiss Leo Correspondence December 2 1984 Hull Ross Bourne Roland QST Octo ber 1937 DeSoto Clinton B Model Airplane News January 1938 3McEntee Howard G Air Trails Model An nual 1952 CL Aerobatics/Fancher Continued page 65 SB These heroes built finished ships appearance points mind wanted build finish plane well could also wanted develop cour age put line learn fly AMA pattern combination skills necessary best requires continually improve Like paint ing sculpture beautiful model tracts interest Interest develops questions Answers develop understanding Under standing basis participation subject Skill Classes Nats correspondents following say JT Im strong against skill classes Nats Nats just another con test opportunity AMA member see stacks up against best country cant understand argument shouldnt enter cant win TM I have never flown Stunt contest pilot although think tops CL have compete Open class AMA now defines wont its simple RM The initiation some program infuse some new blood event absolutely critical survival both Stunt organization PAMPA . way motivate new flier offer him some reasonable ex pectation least some small reward reasonable length time can mind-boggling neophyte attend first Nats see what really up against. provide up-and-com ing fliers forum can showcase abilities pay dues believe however best interest fly second class separate Expert class because whole reason having second class allow less-experienced fliers get barometer performance relative skilled fliers. addition some new entries think might see certain number less serious fliers dropping back class sent mat having top 20 fliers advance finals should maintained costs Making cut has come recognized important achievement can see no reason top two three advanced fliers could carried along. final thought has become obvious trying initiate rule mat changes submitting proposals PA MPA membership large cumbersome non-productive i feel should select committee 86 Nats charge coming up format 87 Thats gang have paraphrased comments letters Ive received today December 29 although Ill appreciate additional thoughts wont addressing subject again soon urge consider opinions expressed alert possibility rule changes Its event Lets make responsive needs New subject us Pro Stunt ersincluding yours trulytend get bogged down state-of-the-art technical minutia Nats procedures judging scratch-built original-design pieces art work like tend lose sight bigger perhaps ominous happenings about event tunnel vision brought clearly focus month ago visited local hobby dealer search some info up-to-date kits available budding Control Line 148 Model Aviation UUA BLAST FROM THE PAST JIM WALKERS CLASSIC GLIDERS 74 3 Pak5495 404 INTERCEPTOR Folding Wing Glider U-Build-It Kit5395 Add 53 postage handling first y Fly5795 3each additional P0 Box 68132 AIRCRAFT CO Portland OR 97268 rncaurn oau Heres equipment yes need glee props very best balgice--halance direct ions Carefully raffed top grade materials BUBBLE BALANCER accomodates 3/161/49/32 prop holes Other sizes available special order Dealers invited $1795 AMsisan HOWARD B HUEBL orpi ens pasSage hnndlhg Nina 6% nalen tx NoCOD/n Bos g2 Ru g Mankoto MN eeooi
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/04
Page Numbers: 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 141, 146, 147, 148
&RLEru5ELAGE O RRDIO CONTROL MoML fl4 fS_________________________________________________ Left Chet Lanzo holds RC model won 1937 NatIonal Contest copy artIcle December 1937 Air Trails reproduction model done Lahzo display AMA Museum Right Drawing modelS-ft span almost 6 lb i 5- cT flozsnsL Z TRGET SWRLUN0 1NI4 CONDEN5ER 00 THIS IS THE STORY Radio Control model aircraft got started US tells pioneers developed RC hobby combining knowl edge skills related experiences earlier inventors background prior invention hobby RC presented preceding issue gas model gas engine two essential ingredients ar rived during early 193 Os Ham radio its compact homemade receivers transmitters also came during same period Military commercial interests demonstrated feasibility RC large boats aircraft during 1920s ingredients theretechnically clever dedicated inspired mod elers invent hobby RC aircraft HOOO L-XMi[ IA0LllNOALIhArhi1LWfl Left Circuit diagram Lanzos three-tube receiver Right Lanzo 1976 version 1934 RC-1 plane 1934 radio equipment didnt work butthe plane flies well Antique RC modern RC system Below Drawing Lanzos 1937 motorized rudder actuator METHOD Acmxrnis DDF TAB An important stimulation came June ____________1936 announcement new m Win. FWiw CLinicly-formed AMA RC event would added 1936 National Contest Detroit no RC models made ap pearance 1936 event However rumors rampant RC ships _____________being secretly built 1937 AMA Nats different wiREstory Six RC models actually appeared PILAY 14r L7Z]causing great excitement expectations following account RC event 1937 Nats again Detroit first-ever RC contest US Whether first world known certainty point may covered r information available Perhaps article will stimulate some foreign responses 58 Model Aviation z-D ~ imI iAxJdImmY ~.44 U Iq41-46 re p t40 Awm 1I 0 RECEIWIG APPARKrU8 INSTAUI V IN PLANic Left PatSweeneyand 1937 Nats second-place RC plane rudder control 10-ft span 9-lb weight Right Drawing Sweeneys RC receiver actuator reproduced August1938 Short Wave TV Magazine 1937 Nets flight lasted five seconds Left Elmer Wasman holds 1 0-lb RC model won third place 1937 rudder/aileron elevatorcontrol also engine cutoff Right Rear view Wasmans piano shows air-driven four-biaded propeller mounted front fin powerfor moving control surfaces Photos Wasman Below Jacksonville FL paper clipping 1937 shows Wasman explaining White Mystery students Sunday July 11 dawned warm clearerat ion its constrols during pre-flight Detroit Wayne County Airportground tests made written notes promise afternoon showerswhat observed no RC Hundreds Free Flight modelers whoregulations judges novices competing week inand pioneers too six models various events already testing theiraccepted being eligible RC catmodels fieldegory Official flying attempts sched morning six RC models wereuled commence early afternoon being assembled hangar variety attempts related now concepts converted reality byorder actual flight sequence pioneersare based magazine reports Chester Lanzo Cleveland OHNats recent interviews between author Patrick Sweeney Chicago ILand living fliers small extent Elmer Wasman Jacksonville FLupon authors memory exciting Walter Good Kalamazoo MIday Leo Weiss Brooklyn NY B Schiffinan New York NY help radiomen tuning adjusting ready machines ground demonstrations control operation radio judges planes ranged eight 14 feet span weighed six 16 pounds Patrick J Sweeney first entrant attempt flight late thirties oldest pilot six own-design cabin plane 10-ft span 18-in chord Total weight 9 lb 3 lb radio gear Almost 2 lb batteries system April 1986 59 p OO0It0MoooIJ046.IIlGGI00.4jJ o-Thi-i Controls varied rudder full house rudder ailerons elevator en gine No two alike originals judges carefully observed plane pilot demonstrated remote op Left Wait Good 1936KG FF model converted RC 1937 RIght Goods 1937 RC plane big won fourth place Nats rudder elevator controls large box 50-watt transmitter email box contains two receivers relays batteries small FF Gas plane picture early version Guff thunderstorm prevented Goods 1937 Nats flight demo needed 90 volts meant two 45-volt B batteries Pat ran hobby store Chicago time plenty materials know-how build large plane carry payload also flying gas models competition placed 17th out 43 1936 Nats Leo Vartanian Chicago Aeronuts told recently Pat competed regularly days radioman Ben F Porter came up three-tube receiver using superregenerative detector 5-meter band 56 60 MHz controlling rudder control used old springwound alarm clock four-point cam switch give positions neutral right neutral left etc sequence pulse transmitter push button stepped rudder next position magazine article stated began finished entry about month complete radio equipment assumed probably no extra time pre-contest test flights trim plane shake out problems1 back meet Phil Zecchi tellas description2 Finally Pat Sweeney warmed en gine signalled ready official flight few picked officials Pat brought model deserted tract runway prepared launching transmitter established distant Schematic drawing Goods 1937 actu ator showing simple gears magnet point receiving set plane tested being done newsreel crew moved camera approximate location takeoff finally Sweeney raised arms radioman stand Soon engine roaring actually behold first official flight radio-controlled gas model Guiding model its wingtip Pat ran behind until started lift its wheels off ground newsreel men shooting rapidly Suddenly model pointed its nose sky high climb evident could recover Slipping over its left wing crashed ground entire flight lasted five seconds wing tip de molished slight injury sustained motor mount Insofar could judged would have swell flight except center gravity model too far back did make another attempt cause damage event Pat Sweeney credited first attempted RC flight National Contest Elmer Wasman next welldesigned system called White Mystery because wind-driven propeller front fin No knew what did except Elmer3 industrial arts degree teaching aeronautics Jacksonville ju nior high school time 28 middle group entries concern mg age 1 l-ft-span plane chord 18 weighed 14 lb including radio gear 165 sq ft area gives 136 oz/sq ft wing loading model really needed Forster 99 engine 16-in prop fly climb marginally slow safe4 third gas model plane provided controls rudder/aileron elevator ignition cutoff engines RC event ignition type requiring spark coil batteries Elmers control system elabo rate early days radio signal went first airborne receiver 60 Model Aviation Rudder elevator actuators 1937 model Bill Good 1937 50-watttransmitter push-button control right hand Note 110-volt AC power line running back hangar photo Glen Peterson closed relay contact selector switch sequential switch five positions give up down elevator left right rudder engine cutoff Absence signal gave neutral rudder elevator full engine selector contact arm driven air paddle wheelcould stopped five contacts sending correct number pulses Ex amples pulse would give left rudder two pulses right rudder three pulses up elevator four pulses down elevator Five pulses would cut off ignition stop engine Note control function available time control held long needed pilot proceeded next control characteristic sequential system does allow simultaneous operation various controls However desired single con trol could obtained quickly set three navigation lights mounted plane connected red left rudder green right white down elevator Thus visual indication activated control did signal activate control surface selector wiper connected signal five electromagnets engaged rotating shaft selected control surface rotating shaft powered four-bladed air propeller mounted front vertical fin Again air power motive force Very cleverand complex Perhaps plane called White Mys terybecause very few understcod complicated mechanism transmitter end used simple switch watching navigation lights keep track airborne selector position receiver three-tube regenerative detector 5-meter band whole control system weighed 35 lb big ship carried easily smaller model powered Brown Jr used test bed check out individual components before mounting big plane turn fly saw dark thunderstorm approaching tried hurry things along Roy Marquardt strained launched giant plane gusty air Elmer worked busily transmit ter control plane nosed up stall sagged ground ending its flight abruptlyand much too soon suit Elmer said later hadnt time test fly big ship before meet turned out tail-heavy caused stall Such happenings nor mal developing something new Hind sight says Elmer tells him should have entered smaller ship simpler con trol first meet scored third place Elmer has retired several years divides time between Florida Illinois still spends hours Free Flight models well RC power glider models Chester Lanzo lightest plane entries just under 6 lb including 2 lb radio gear flown radio several times obtain proper balance tail angle engine downthrust must fly well itself before adding radio reasoned very wise approach Design plane basic func tional wing 9-ft span 14-in chord generous dihedral 13 per tip body 5-ft tray 3 wide 1 deep 6-in-high wire cage hold wing well above body radio parts simply fastened tray location maintain proper balance pointand very good accessibility parts Lanzo told made cabintype gas model 1934 experimented RC using spark-gap transmitter coherer receiver5 said approach failure RC plane engine vibration interrupted radios function ing Furthermore spark ignition engine swamped nearby receiver coherer undesired instructions rudder blocking out desired signals Left Overhead view Leo 1937 RC piane Fergusson prototypetwln-cyiinderengine Weiss couidnt getaterted atthe Nata Right Leo Weiss Inspecting Fergusson engine John Lopus adjusting airborne receiver eeriy tuned reed system April 1986 61 Above Leo Weiss standing behind 1 4-ft BC plane 1937 Nets 12 kneeiing spectators Modei pienked eli over Picture cornea RC ModelAwcraft Engiend 1944 Right Leo kneeling behind tail piene three RC en tries making fiightetthe 1937 Nets itwes awarded fifth piace Left Leo Weiss arm front rudder working Denny Radio-Plane Wright Field 1939 Right Ground control unit used con trol CulverCadets larger RC drones GCU also carried communications gear Leo shown atthe controls 1939 design Below Oops professional RCers sometimes make hard landing see picture poor Cuiver Cadet Wright Field 1939 RC pilot called plane RC-l today flies replica Antique RC competitions 1937 radio receiver home-built using three vacuum tubes superregen erative detector circuit operated homemade relay turn caused small geared electric train motor move rudder control through cycle neutral right neutral left etc long transmitter key held down Straight flight obtained key-down position because slowly-re sponding plane would show slight snaking path rudder oscillated back forth make turn key would released moment full rudder deflection deflected rudder would become effective plane would bank itself circling path very simple required piloting practice develop skill precision flight path control scheme another advantage Lanzo said transmitter could tuned receiver air watching rudder wiggled Such tuning com mon days Batteries problem entrants heavy costly short-livedespecially 45-volt B bat tery vacuum tube plate supply Chet found source Cleveland tiny 2oz normal ones 11 oz battery made weather sondes Its life span maximum two hours shelf life just two weeks remember con tacting company back rec ommended battery ordered latest moment sent airmail stayed 1 l-oz units two-tube transmitter used 500 volts output tube required 110-volt AC line flying site organizers anticipated need long extension cord started lcoking transmitter needed too friendly spectator brought 200-ft cord camper plugged nearby hangar use Ready fly Lanzo walked off find judges stray Free Flight gas model spiraled nearby causing frightened spectator step backwards Chets plane rupturing few ribs wing quick repair made Pat Sweeneys help Lanzo ready fly weather getting windier due approach summer thunderstorm started hurry cranked up Baby Cyclone engine set needle valve medium speed started forward launch Before could release plane engine slowed touch needle valve speeded engine off went plane slowclimbing circle Chet raced back transmitter plane gently zigged zagged pilot tried coax Figure 8 maneuver Suddenly engine quit plane glided down parking lot edge airfield flight time around two minutes must have seemed much longer Chet Chester Lanzo used gas model Free Flight experienceas well radio knowledgeto pull off first place Thus attained historical honor being first winner first RC National Contest US Prior Nats made few RC test flights plane Cleveland fact flights made park next Dick Kordas house ran AC extension out Dicks bedrcom window transmitter Lanzos philosophy starting simplest plane radio combination wise approach would have happier much longer flight 62 Model Aviation duatrn9ma9iid J6rczpemeaLMnd Left Ross Hull Byron Goodman 1937 13-ft RC glider West Hartford CT Right Diagram radio components Installa tion glider Photo drawing reproduced January1938 ModelAirplane News Hull editor ARRLs QSTmagazlne Chetwas23atthe 1937 Natsandtoday still active models special izing FF Rubber Power RC assisted Old-Timers Hes retired NASA still very busy recent projects building replica 1937 RC winner donating AMA Museum November 1984 complete Baby Cyclone vintage wing working rudder control first three places awarded basis flight performance place ment last three entries based ground demonstration did attempt fly Walt Good 8-ft-span model build 1935 close copy Kovel-Grant KG-8 powered Brown Jr engine flew Free Flight Gas meets 1936 well-tuned stable flight end season 36th FF Gas 1936 Nats Twin brother Bill just 21 years old resident radio ham W8IFD family thinking about RC KG-8 talked placing receiver antenna wires wings built 1935 fall 1936 won approval Kala mazoo College take lab course physics department design RC sys tem particularly transmitter re ceiver though professor specialist electronics offered great encouragementand three semester hours credit surprise receiver hurdle passed quickly converted onetube superregen circuit operate sensi tive relay rather its normal head phones7 trick placing variable resistor grid circuit adjusted give best current swing relay first relay constructed inexpensive meter movement No vember bread-board system working bench system mounted plane RC rudder control demonstrated Kalamazoo College Science Fair January 1937 During May six flights under radio control made Kalamazoo Air port using rudder control results tests showed necessary increase area rudder its deflection obtain effective turns also indication spiral stability KG very generous therefore very safe rudder-only control Once working RC plane given name Guff slang word college campus Very loosely trans lated meant thats lot nonsense Its impossible describe thrill first RC flights change path plane left right touch switch caused great shouts rise flights made dawn have still air get us back school eight oclock class mornings airport manager Try Woodhams awoke just time see Guff glide landing thought full-size plane landing outside airport organized search party find lost plane packed up driven back school several years later before found out what really happened now 80s lives Florida recently opportunity meet again reminisce about days rudder actuator rubberband driven gear train small electromagnet operated relay allowed gears turn whenever transmitter key held down fact result similar Lanzos cycling system because rudder would stop its current position transmitter off Cautious beeps push button would inch rudder toward sometimes yond desired position Looking back now realize control method too slowthree seconds neutral full-rudder addition pilot no knowledge rudder position except watching action plane did work rudder worked well enough con sider adding elevator control Bill added another push button another frequency transmitter operating 56 Continued page 141 Left Hulls second RC glider 18-footer ready launching slope thIs 1938 photo ARRL Right Hulls restored 1938 RC glider hangs museum Amateur Radio Relay League headquarters Newington CT photo taken July 1983 durIng Goods research visit L-R Wait Good Bill Good Laird Campbell Joel Kleinman Byron Goodman Pete Reed Note Byron Goodman inthis picture isthesame ByronGoodman shown Ross Hull inthe 1937 photo Next month RC atthe Natsfrom 1 938to1 941 April 1986 63 904 478-6745 Al Featuring fast service qualified eopIe latest equipment including SPECTRUM ANAL YZER AM FM SIGNAL GENERATOR Call Sam Leonard Tony Stiliman custom work competition needs stock complete hobby line specializing competition accessories discounted prices RADIO SOUTH-m AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER FOR Kruft Pro Line w Futeb 43 West Nine Mile Rd Pensacola FL 32514 * Sales Service er Inquiries Welcome * has seven channels receiver usually something think about install gives problems Im very happy tell has never given hint glitch Airtronics has wide range excellent servos system equipped 94554s servo features ball-bearingsupported output shaft careless motor 04-second transit time 900 735 inch-ounces output torque really like 94554s have lot luck over years So have youre market new radio dont check new Airtronics Module 7H out Let know what think think has capabilities bringing new dimension Heli-flying New LIMP Hughes 500 fuselage Also shown months photos new Hughes 500 shell 50160-size mechan ics fuselage epoxy-glass 43 long weighs 19 oz available D E matter C versions par ticular model shown photos built Jim Brandon Lakewood CA features OMP Cobra mechanics OS 50 FSR-H engine Quest gyro weighs 9 lb ready fly real hot rod fuselage designed Cobra mechanics mind has plenty room will take other kinds well Beginners corner con fusing things new Heli-flier set up throttle/rudder mixing function Helicopter radio Some Helicopter radios have very simple rudder/throttle mixing function consisting two rate knobs marked REV ACC slide switch marked LEFT/OFF/RIGHT task really very simple can dialed relatively quickly must first determine whether have left- righthanded main rotor Looking rotating disc above does rotate clockwise anti-clockwise have Schluter Hirobo Kalt Gorham product rotor spins clockwise right-handed rotor Set slide switch position marked RIGHT have diffearent-style radio adjust proper rotor rotation according its operating instructions tail-swinging problem trying overcame occurs because power added main rotor torque applied fuselage opposite direction rotation main rotor causes fuselage swing left machine right-handed rotor cure dial enough tail-rotor compensation fuselage stays straight Check adjustment holding machine steady hover giving quick blip throttle nose swings left compensation necessary nose swings right radio overcompensating radio must ad justed accordingly Once have mix set properly nose Helicopter will stay fairly stationary making climbs descending Now addition gyro nose will stable mother-in-law should able handle Good luck hope stops some twitchy tails months three-view 1960 US Department Defense issued Tech nical Specification 153 light Obser vation Helicopter Hughes submitted model 369 flying egg referring its shape 369 won campetition received its Army designation OH-6 code-named Cayuse Based Allison 250-series turbine engine Hughes product seemed ideal military service beginning Referred Hughes 500 commercial customers little machine has proved tough com petition Bell Jet Ranger Featuring fully-articulated rotor Hughes both nimble very fast Because 500s unique shape its appearance Magnum P1 TV series probably secand-most-recognized machine right hind Jet Ranger Model SOOs available Kalt Schluter Eberles Great Lakes Graup ner UMP Peka Have good month think about checking head screws engine once recently Heli show signs losing power found head leaking BCNU Lariy Jolly 5501 W Como Santa Ana CA 92703 RC History/Good Continued page 63 60 MHz built another receiver relay actuator end June six ffights made new dual control system definitely trickier control heard other entries plan ning use dual controls wanted prepared Gulls weight up 8 lb including 2 lb radio gear gave 13 oz/sq ft wing loading too much considering thick Grant wing section power Brown Jr its homemade 16-in-dia propeller Nats ground control demon stration went well sal waited turn fly Bill present since already gone job radio operator summer camp Another amateur Paul Kreiick W8QQE assisting After watching first three entries make attempts approaching storm finally arrived along rain judges scuffled hangar shelter flight attempted due Continued page 146 April 1986 141 DIN Lookfo u fa o e hobby shop send SASE free catalog Kin-Craft Mfg Inc 14323 TwIn Ridge Ashland Kentucky 41101 606-928-4763 use best Specializing Fiber-glass tape Fiber-glass cloth Polyester resin Resin Hardener Micro-Balloons Primers ner Paint filters Engine oil & Oil kits Engine cleaner Protective gloves Dust Masks Sponge & applic kits Contact cement F ROLLLU PLANS UT PARIS 1/2A FULL KIT $2795 A-B FULL KIT 3995 B-C-B PRO KIT 4495 B-C-B FULL KIT 5995 SHIPPING $250 EA KIT PRE-PAY OR COD/CA RES ADD 6-1/2% TAX RC History/Good Continued page 141 rain lateness day both disappointed relieved Guff awarded fourth place background 12 test flights expect stable Guff would have come through OK official flight possible Looking back wish stuck rudder control beginning simplicity learning steps early RC Both Bill now retired very busy hobbies power boater live aboard cruiser ardent ham radio operator W2C VI Liverpool NY Im living Port Richey FL am active RC history articles RC Sailplanes few AMA committees several RC clubo some ham radio W3NPS/4 talk together least twice week stationssometimes about early RC days Hes part memory bank Leo Weiss youngest RC entry 18 largest most-sophisticated RC plane entries 14-ft wing planked sheet balsa stream lined monocoque body doped both sides balsa sheets stiffen shell construction weighed 16 lb cluding radio gear builtthat big wing college rooming house hard imagine sophomore aero engineering University Michigan happened9 6 lb high-tech radio gear Leos plane alone weighed slightly Lanzos complete 9-ft RC plane Power came prototype two-cylinder Fer gusson engine rated adio gear far ahead its time hobby RC three control channels rudder elevator engine op erated three electric motors Six tuned reeds selected desired commands respondinging six different audio tones reed system later became very popular inthe 1950s soLeowasontherighttrack John Lopus W8LUS electrical engineering student U M Leos radio specialist project 56 MHz transmitter battery-powered control box three lever-switches would cause selected airborne control move quickly appropriate direc tion true multi-channel system4 did Leo get far along model hobby young age First seasoned veteran Free Flight gas models RC ship fifth gas model third model won Texaco event 1935 St Louis National Con test beating Maxwell Bassett wide margin Leo 64 mm against Maxwells third-place time 36 min Leos secret tuning Brown Jr run over 10 min per ounce fuel took plane 2000 feet big thermals floated plane min utes lucky attend Nats field witness both flights wishing KG finished timewhich wasnt few weeks before 1935 Nats Leo graduated high school age 16 didnt attend graduation ceremonies because tco busy tuning engine trying different props Back 1937 Nats Leo sembled giant model hangar tried vain start special twin engine just wouldnt run give up thought flying Later Leo told beautiful giant plane never flown course several moves after graduation became lost0 scored fifth place should mentioned Leos first RC concepts originated during fresh man year MIT built fourth gas model small electric motors oper ating controls via wires intended tethered controllable flight still college took up flying got pilots license After graduating U M 1939 aeronautical engineer went directly Wright Field first job RC target dronesthe well-known Reginald Denny Radio-Plane Major George Holloman new boss read Leos RC articles cautioned him some material Leo written considered top secret around guess RC hobby ists advanced pro fessionals realized larger realistic RC drone Leo proposed full-scale Culver Cadet lightplane idea okayed compact unit gyros RC gear servos strapped place pilot steered radio ground control unit designed Leo RC Culver Cadets used target drones during WW II still remember some Navy shipboard tests proximity fuze helped develop anti-aircraft shells tests guns shot down number Culver Cadet drones proving effectiveness proximity fuze over conventional clock fuzes result surprising since proximity fuze contained miniature radar sensed nearness target plane triggered explosive time didnt know Leo involved really jumped profes sional RC hurry After WW II Leo started own busi ness manufacturing aeronautical instru ments became very successful An interesting afterthought Roy Marquardt modeler launched Elmer Wasmans plane later board member Leos company Leo now retired leading active life Alexandria VA writing books moderating business forums B Schlffman entered plane RC event strangely enough Ive found no published words pictures about believe first name Bernie 146 Model Aviation flEW PRAIRIE gIRD SO ELECTRIC0 GAS pGWERED / - REAL RIC TRAINER ORANDMA CAN FLY 2-3 CHANNEL RADIO 49 Inch SPAN 05 ELECTRIC 049 15 GAS CATALOG $200NIT $3995 619 442-4636 fGor 619 469-8675 W BOX 2498-MA LA MESA CA 92041 INNOA FUNCucS 7 A SASE FOR NEW CATALOG MARRY N MIGLEY & 801VS INC P o Box 532 GLINWOOD ILL 80425 . SSO EASY TO BUILD HANDCRAFTED KITS AT LOW PRICES F-15 EAGLESKY RAIDERNEPTUNE Wing Span 62 inWeight 4 lbsWing Span 60 inWeight 4 lbsMng Span 62 inWeight 4 lbs Length 53 inEngine 60 -90Length 45 inEngine 45 -60Length 48 inEngine 40 Kits include Pre-built fiberglass fuselage foam cores sheeted balsa machine cut balsa tail surfaces shaped strip ailerons complete hardware pack SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TOVISA & MASTER CARD ACCEPTED HORIZON MODELS INC T-404 Kelly Ave Manchester NH 03103 603 627-9503 Lanzo remembers late Sunday after returning RC area FF Rubber events saw Schiffmans plane standing rain soaked wing water dripping bottom bamboo paper covering doped Further Chet remembers large B battery sitting bottom fuselage amazed tar chipped away 30 cells save weight Beyond meager information know very little except did fly RC plane scored sixth place Can anyone give us some help information B Schiffman 1937 RC plane writing qualifies mystery entry Ross Hull Thus far have related 1937 entries first National Con test RC model planes What about other pioneers RC did enter national event probably know experimented RC being recorded model magazines local news papers Without documented accounts pioneers may never known However group led Ross Hull Connecticut contri butions well-documented 1937 35 Hull associate editor QST magazine journal American Radio Relay League ARRL very skilled radio designer also skilled model planes experiences Australia home country Hart ford CT both countries pub lished series model plane construction local newspapers late 1920s team consisted some talented participants Clinton B DeSoto assistant secretary ARRL Roland Bourne Byron Goodman Harner Selvidge active hams Hulls team planned RC project 10-ft-span gas-powered RC model dur ing spring 1937 However before construction started Hull Bourne attended Soaring Society America national sailplane meet early July 1937 Elmira NY met Carl W Thompson Jr Wilmington DE both active gas model competitor pilot full-scale gliders Carl brought 13-ft glider meet RC gear built HM Plummer W3DIA simple basic approach oft signal giving right rudder signal left rudder Hulls QST report said ship made several successful hops control working untimely crack-up ended experiment11 Perhaps Thompson/Plummer team deserves recog nition first public RC glider demon stration sure would like find moredetailed report Elmira demonstra tions Hull quickly acquired remains took back Hartford repair DeSoto writes about Hull weeks followed group did little eat sleep talk build radio-controlled model aircraft Success immediate did comeif present 1937 system crude comparison ultimate goal can called success2 Near end July first flights started hand launches down nearby slopethen madly steering glider avoid trees finally landing valley below Some flights have duration several minutes less . Guided simplicity keynote RC system consisted three-tube superregenerative receiver sensitive relay four-spoke escapement four feet twisted rubber strands furnished power turn rudder escapement wheel advanced one-quarter turn carrier pulse giving N L N R sequence action rapid nd posi tive fortunately rudder would cycle quickly through unwanted positions 10-lb glider barely twitched Remembering position came next hard part Bourne built rudder stick automatically sent correct number pulses rudder greatly reduced worry factor pilot October glider amassed over 100 flights 15 crashes equipment rebuilt over over Some crashes caused escapement getting out sync control stick caused microphonics tubes being excited clanking escape ment turn gave extra un wanted pulse During 1937 ARRL group made significant contributions invention RC along entered 1937 Nats 1938 second glider built wingspan 18 ft mono coque body formed plywood demonstrated Elmira slopes summer 1938 story told tried enter RC glider regular soaring competitionbut after hurried meeting rules committee stated must man cockpit glider survived several years RC experimentation 1980 res cued ARRL storage Laird Camp bell WiCUT help Pete Reed KiONG well-known New Eng land modeler glider restored now hangs prominent position ceiling ARRL Museum Newing ton CT Unfortunately ARRL RC project lost Ross Hull toe fatal accident August 1938 contacted 6000 volts during television receiver experiment con tributions RC expert pioneer DeSoto carried RC efforts will tell about next installment Continued page 148 April 1986 147 BENTOM BROWN JR CAMPBELL COMET COVERITE COX DUBRO EASY BUILT MODELS ENYA FAt FLYLI FOX GOLDBERG GOLDEN AGE REPRO GENE DUBOIS GUILLOW K&B K&S L R MRC OS MAX PACTRA PECK-POLYMER PERFECT R N MODELS SEAGLEN SIG STERLING- SULLIVAN SUPER TIGRE TAFFINDER TELCO TOP FLITE- TREXLER WILLIAMS & OTHERS ESTES MODEL ROCKETS Seed 5100 Cash Cheek oc Stmpn foe 44 page tabloid nice DISCOUNT Catalog 900 illustrations over 700 Kits choose MAILORDER PHONEORDER IN STORE FINN VALLEY ICIlY CENTER 357 WEaji St LansdalsPmJ9446 Summary first RC Nats 1937 provided definite step forward development controllable RC planes six planes demonstrated proper control movements radio ground tests air six showed potential control response during its brief ffight Two others crashed launch due tail-heavy trim might have prevented pre-contest test flights proper adjust ments least remaining three through dozen test flights stopped bad weather lessons learned clear keep system simpler get plenty practice flights use stable model keep system simple Reliability pilot skill also essential too early judge importance based limited flight time stage next section well review RC pioneers RC Nats 1938 through 1941 watch RC invention stumble less grow References B Porter P Sweeney Short Wave & TV Magazine August 1938 2P Zecchitella Flying Aces October 1937 Wasman Elmer Interview February 8 1985 4Weiss Leo Model Airplane News October 1937 5Lanzo Chester Interview March 23 1985 6Lanzo Chester Air Trails December 1937 January 1938 7HuIl Ross QST September 1933 8Kalamazoo Gazette January 13 1937 tWeiss Leo Interview December 1 1984 Weiss Leo Correspondence December 2 1984 Hull Ross Bourne Roland QST Octo ber 1937 DeSoto Clinton B Model Airplane News January 1938 3McEntee Howard G Air Trails Model An nual 1952 CL Aerobatics/Fancher Continued page 65 SB These heroes built finished ships appearance points mind wanted build finish plane well could also wanted develop cour age put line learn fly AMA pattern combination skills necessary best requires continually improve Like paint ing sculpture beautiful model tracts interest Interest develops questions Answers develop understanding Under standing basis participation subject Skill Classes Nats correspondents following say JT Im strong against skill classes Nats Nats just another con test opportunity AMA member see stacks up against best country cant understand argument shouldnt enter cant win TM I have never flown Stunt contest pilot although think tops CL have compete Open class AMA now defines wont its simple RM The initiation some program infuse some new blood event absolutely critical survival both Stunt organization PAMPA . way motivate new flier offer him some reasonable ex pectation least some small reward reasonable length time can mind-boggling neophyte attend first Nats see what really up against. provide up-and-com ing fliers forum can showcase abilities pay dues believe however best interest fly second class separate Expert class because whole reason having second class allow less-experienced fliers get barometer performance relative skilled fliers. addition some new entries think might see certain number less serious fliers dropping back class sent mat having top 20 fliers advance finals should maintained costs Making cut has come recognized important achievement can see no reason top two three advanced fliers could carried along. final thought has become obvious trying initiate rule mat changes submitting proposals PA MPA membership large cumbersome non-productive i feel should select committee 86 Nats charge coming up format 87 Thats gang have paraphrased comments letters Ive received today December 29 although Ill appreciate additional thoughts wont addressing subject again soon urge consider opinions expressed alert possibility rule changes Its event Lets make responsive needs New subject us Pro Stunt ersincluding yours trulytend get bogged down state-of-the-art technical minutia Nats procedures judging scratch-built original-design pieces art work like tend lose sight bigger perhaps ominous happenings about event tunnel vision brought clearly focus month ago visited local hobby dealer search some info up-to-date kits available budding Control Line 148 Model Aviation UUA BLAST FROM THE PAST JIM WALKERS CLASSIC GLIDERS 74 3 Pak5495 404 INTERCEPTOR Folding Wing Glider U-Build-It Kit5395 Add 53 postage handling first y Fly5795 3each additional P0 Box 68132 AIRCRAFT CO Portland OR 97268 rncaurn oau Heres equipment yes need glee props very best balgice--halance direct ions Carefully raffed top grade materials BUBBLE BALANCER accomodates 3/161/49/32 prop holes Other sizes available special order Dealers invited $1795 AMsisan HOWARD B HUEBL orpi ens pasSage hnndlhg Nina 6% nalen tx NoCOD/n Bos g2 Ru g Mankoto MN eeooi