Aero Mail - 2010/10

October 2010 7
Aero Mail
Cover Cubs
Wow, seeing the cover of the Aug 2010 issue of
Model Aviation, a silver painted Piper Cub with license #
NC 37930, hey, that’s my first full sized aircraft.
Background, in early 1941, ten mostly model
airplane builders decided to form a flying club and
learn to fly. We purchased one of the 48 “Flitfire” cubs
that Piper built and donated the proceeds to the RAF
Benevolent Fund. We purchased the Cub for $1250.00,
costing each of us $125.00. We took delivery in early May 1941 and my
first flight in NC37930 “Flitfire Nevada” was from Newark Airport on 5/14/41. To
simplify operations we moved the Cub to Staten Island airport.
I flew “Flitfire Nevada” from 5/14/41 to 6/19/42, getting my private pilot
license in September 1941. I entered the aviation cadet program in the summer of
1942 and graduated in April 1943.
After approximately 50 years of flying as a
flight instructor, Corporate pilot, owner of a
seaplane air taxi, I retired at age 70 in 1990.
I resumed model building and my first R/C
model was a Sig Cub, of course it was finished in
silver like my original full size “Flitfire”. I am
currently 90 years old and I fly 30 percent ARFs.
My original model Cub was given to a good
friend “Skie” Godleski who lets me fly it on
occasion.
The photo of the Flitfire and I was taken in
1941. I don’t know what became of NC 37930 as
it was sold in 1942 as most of the partners entered
the military and served in WWII.
Harry Frank
Bayonne, New Jersey
What a pleasant surprise seeing the Flitfire on the cover [of the August 2010
MA]. Just a few days before I received my copy of MA, I had posted a link to this
very same bird to the Cub section at RCGroups. The restored NC1776 bird is
currently located at the North Carolina Aviation Museum at http://www.ncair
museum.org/war-birds.php.
North Carolina Aviation Museum, 2222-G Pilots View Road, Asheboro, NC
27205, Phone: (336) 625-0170, Fax: (336) 625-2984.
Some added info; New York’s Jack Krindler won the first J-3 “Flitfire”
(NC1776). He later sold the plane to a fixed base operator in Sunbury, Pa., where
it served the War Department in the U.S. Civilian Pilot Training Program,
although no record exists of the number of fledgling pilots who sat in its cockpit
during the war years.
After exchanging hands a few more times, NC1776 was bought by Henderson
Aviation in Felton, Del., with the understanding that it would be returned to its
original color and markings. The plane was completely restored.
Dan Deckert
Benton City, Washington
Having built several Cubs, I agree nothing flies quite like a Cub. Also, there is
no design more fun to build than a Cub. I am a long time AMA member and have
built many Cubs. My thanks to Pat Tritle for his outstanding article [in the August
issue] on building a Cub.
It has been a long time since I have done any building, but I might just order
the plans and start building another Cub. I am really sad that few people are
building anymore.
I am one of those who has, kicking and screaming, gone from glow to electric
flight. Pat’s Cub would be perfect to fly electric. Way to go Pat! Thanks!
Wally Barrus
Provo, Utah
Continued on page 82
A very young Harry Frank
with his Flitfire.
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