My mother loves to tell the story
about my first glow-powered
model airplane. The blue-andyellow
PT-19 CL model was one of millions
sold during the 1960s. It was a World War II
basic trainer powered by a Cox .049, and
rubber bands held the plastic model together.
Mom embellishes the story with each
recounting, but at the prime age of 11 I
received this “real airplane” after years of
“toy airplanes” such as balsa throw gliders,
rubber-powered balsa airplanes, plastic static
models, and the ever-popular “plane-on-astring”
that I valiantly swung in circles until
I nearly passed out.
That PT-19 was the gift for Christmas
that year. Other boys were looking for a Red
Rider BB gun, but I was getting a real, gaspowered
airplane! (In mom’s mind, it was as
dangerous as the BB gun because of the
turning propeller!)
It was with great anticipation that I
opened the cardboard box. The soon-to-be
jewel of the sky would be breaking this
earthy grasp shortly, but there was one small
problem. How would I start the engine?
(This is where mom really gets going as she
describes the next three hours of my life.)
My dad was in the Navy stationed in San
Diego, California. In those days he was in
port for three months and out to wherever
for nine, and Christmas was part of the nine
months that year. Dad was not around to
help, but with the false confidence of an 11-
year-old I reasoned that he was a sailor
anyway—not a pilot!
I had dreamed of my first flight many
times—the stepping back to make sure the
strings were tight and the sound of the
screaming engine at full throttle pulling
against my sister’s hands. I would give the
nod to “let her go” and watch the short
rollout, the rotation of the airplane, and its
smooth climbout. The experience of a first
flight was to be savored and enjoyed, but I
still had one problem: how to start the engine.
Mom enjoys describing my many
frustrated attempts to get the engine started.
Scattered around were the 1-pint can of glow
fuel with the plastic filler hose sticking up
from the spout, the battery with the wires
and clip, and the instructions. “Open the
needle valve 21/2 turns, attach the battery to
the glow plug, and flip the propeller.” It
seemed simple enough according to the
instructions.
I flipped the propeller repeatedly, but
nothing happened. Sometimes the engine
would make a watery, slushy sound, but
usually it was only the sound of the piston
fighting against the compression of the
cylinder. At one time I was reaching back
into the propeller to get another flip in, and if
it had started I would have had my first
experience of man (or should I say boy) vs.
propeller, and we know who always wins
that game.
Mom always says that she was filled with
many feelings that day: amazement that after
more than three hours I was still trying to get
the engine started, pride that I was still at it,
and wonder—wondering whom she could
call in this Navy town to help her son.
By luck, divine intervention, or whatever
planets moved into the proper alignment, the
small engine finally made sounds of
combustion! A low burst of popping evolved
into a higher, constant wine. In amazement,
mom and I stared at the airplane. (My sister
had long since deserted us.)
The engine ran for what seemed an
eternity, but finally the rise and fall of the
rpm signaled that the tank was empty and
there was silence as the propeller sputtered
to a stop. A small wisp of smoke rose from
the hot cylinder head of the tiny .049.
So began my love affair with powered flight.
Don’t we all remember our first love? The
PT-19 didn’t fly that day because it was too
late, but it did go on to have many flights.
My journey with this love of flight has
included flying models and full-scale
aircraft.
This journey has now taken me down
another path. As I begin my tenure as
executive director of the Academy of Model
Aeronautics, I am honored to have been
selected to lead this great organization.
I am humbled and excited at the staff’s
dedication to serving the membership that I
have seen in my first few days. I look
forward to working with the Executive
Council, the membership, and the staff to
expand our ability to expose others to the
thrill, joy, excitement, and love of flying.
I extend a special thanks to Joyce Hager,
the interim executive director, for her
dedicated service during the selection
process.
It is only fitting and proper that one of
the first items I plan to bring to my new
office is an .049 engine! After all, it did start
me on this journey, and my mom would be
proud! MA
In the spirit of flight,
Jim Cherry
Executive Director
[email protected]
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/02
Page Numbers: 184