Aero Mail
Cover Cubs
Wow — seeing the cover of the August 2010 issue of Model Aviation, a silver-painted Piper Cub with license No. NC 37930, hey, that's my first full‑size 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 $1,250.00, costing each of us $125.00. We took delivery in early May 1941 and my first flight in NC 37930 "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, and 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 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 me was taken in 1941. I don't know what became of NC 37930, as it was sold in 1942 when most of the partners entered the military and served in WWII.
Harry Frank Bayonne, New Jersey
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What a pleasant surprise seeing the Flitfire on the cover of the August 2010 Model Aviation. Just a few days before I received my copy of Model Aviation, I had posted a link to this very same bird in the Cub section at RCGroups. The restored NC1776 is currently located at the North Carolina Aviation Museum: http://www.ncairmuseum.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
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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
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
