June 2008 39
THERE ARE SO many first-time events in
human history that one could hardly name
them all while giving due credit to even a
few. Whether you feel that your relationship
with model airplanes is a hobby or a sport,
chances are that you remember many
inaugural events associated with your
modeling or flying history.
I remember the first time I flew and
successfully landed
my first scratchbuilt
aileron
airplane. While it
was in the air,
gracefully rolling
and looping over
the landscape in
front of me, part of
me was up in the
air with it. When it
landed without
incident, the smile
that spread across
my face couldn’t be
chipped away with
a hammer and
chisel.
I’m interested in
efforts to attempt
new and unusual
feats in the modelairplane
world. I
recently had the
privilege of being
present for an
occasion of huge
proportions.
A three-hour
drive north on the
interstate took me
to Brentwood, Tennessee, so I could
document what everyone hoped would be
one model’s successful flight. The story of a
man’s idea, dream, and hard work is one for
the file labeled “strength of an RC
modeler’s will.”
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Laine Stahr
(pronounced stay-er) is an Army
Blackhawk helicopter pilot and an avid
model-airplane pilot. Laine took an off-thewall
idea from thought to paper to flying
model in 115 days. That may seem like a lot
of time to build and test-fly a new model,
but this situation is different.
His favorite airplanes are flying wings.
Laine has many airplane and traditional
helicopter models he loves to fly, but the
by James “Bo” Lovell
One of America’s fighting men completes a modeling dream before serving his country
Laine Stahr (R)—the SRT 10’s designer and builder—with his professional consultant, Jason Cole, hold the
model for size comparison. It was awesome to see in person.
06sig2.QXD 4/24/08 12:01 PM Page 39
40 MODEL AVIATION
The dual 6S and 4S packs on either side of the wing run parallel
to each other to make a combined 37.0-volt, 10,000 mAh power
system.
Just kicking back and talking RC with the local boys. Laine and
Jason prepare to carry out the SRT 10 for its first flight.
Above: The two Atlas outrunner motors
swing huge APC 18-inch propellers.
Aluminum spars run the 13-foot length of
the wing.
Right: Laine built the massive flying wing
as a “see if I could do it” project. And he
did do it, before his deployment to the
Middle East.
Photos by the author
Laine closes the bottom of the SRT 10 and makes a quick inspection of the oleo strutsupported
fixed landing gear.
wings really get him pumped up. In late July
2007, while sitting in his garage, an idea (if
I had to condense it to just a few words)
came to his mind.
“I wonder how big ... ” Laine thought to
himself.
Immediately after getting the idea, Laine
called his friend Jeremy Knight at Ohio
Combat and said, “I want us to do a big
wing.” Jeremy guessed Laine was talking
about a 72-inch wingspan but was even
more enthusiastic when Laine said, “yes,
maybe 72 for each side; I’m talking about
13 or 14 feet.”
So the quest began. And I can relate to
this adventure because of some unfortunate
grandiosity issues in my character makeup.
Laine, a career Army helicopter pilot who
is trained to be confident, strong, and
effective, wanted to do something big before
he was called to do a tour of duty in
Afghanistan toward the end of 2007. I don’t
know many modelers who design and build
06sig2.QXD 4/24/08 11:52 AM Page 40
June 2008 41
Above left: After saying a little prayer
before the taxi to takeoff, Laine places
his hat back on his head.
Above: Laine conducts a final controlsystem
and range check of the Spektrum
DX7 radio system. The 2.4 GHz
technology solved many of the glitching
problems.
Left: Just inches off the ground on its first
takeoff, the SRT 10’s rotation angle is
similar to that of the Northrop flyingwing
bomber prototypes of the 1950s.
Above: Several flights were performed with the SRT 10. Most
were low and slow, to the pleasure of the many family and
friends who witnessed Laine Stahr’s modeling victory.
Left: Laine’s landings with the SRT 10 were greasers. He’ll take
the triumph of this day with him as he serves his family and
country as an Army officer.
06sig2.QXD 4/24/08 12:01 PM Page 41
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/06
Page Numbers: 39,40,41
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/06
Page Numbers: 39,40,41
June 2008 39
THERE ARE SO many first-time events in
human history that one could hardly name
them all while giving due credit to even a
few. Whether you feel that your relationship
with model airplanes is a hobby or a sport,
chances are that you remember many
inaugural events associated with your
modeling or flying history.
I remember the first time I flew and
successfully landed
my first scratchbuilt
aileron
airplane. While it
was in the air,
gracefully rolling
and looping over
the landscape in
front of me, part of
me was up in the
air with it. When it
landed without
incident, the smile
that spread across
my face couldn’t be
chipped away with
a hammer and
chisel.
I’m interested in
efforts to attempt
new and unusual
feats in the modelairplane
world. I
recently had the
privilege of being
present for an
occasion of huge
proportions.
A three-hour
drive north on the
interstate took me
to Brentwood, Tennessee, so I could
document what everyone hoped would be
one model’s successful flight. The story of a
man’s idea, dream, and hard work is one for
the file labeled “strength of an RC
modeler’s will.”
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Laine Stahr
(pronounced stay-er) is an Army
Blackhawk helicopter pilot and an avid
model-airplane pilot. Laine took an off-thewall
idea from thought to paper to flying
model in 115 days. That may seem like a lot
of time to build and test-fly a new model,
but this situation is different.
His favorite airplanes are flying wings.
Laine has many airplane and traditional
helicopter models he loves to fly, but the
by James “Bo” Lovell
One of America’s fighting men completes a modeling dream before serving his country
Laine Stahr (R)—the SRT 10’s designer and builder—with his professional consultant, Jason Cole, hold the
model for size comparison. It was awesome to see in person.
06sig2.QXD 4/24/08 12:01 PM Page 39
40 MODEL AVIATION
The dual 6S and 4S packs on either side of the wing run parallel
to each other to make a combined 37.0-volt, 10,000 mAh power
system.
Just kicking back and talking RC with the local boys. Laine and
Jason prepare to carry out the SRT 10 for its first flight.
Above: The two Atlas outrunner motors
swing huge APC 18-inch propellers.
Aluminum spars run the 13-foot length of
the wing.
Right: Laine built the massive flying wing
as a “see if I could do it” project. And he
did do it, before his deployment to the
Middle East.
Photos by the author
Laine closes the bottom of the SRT 10 and makes a quick inspection of the oleo strutsupported
fixed landing gear.
wings really get him pumped up. In late July
2007, while sitting in his garage, an idea (if
I had to condense it to just a few words)
came to his mind.
“I wonder how big ... ” Laine thought to
himself.
Immediately after getting the idea, Laine
called his friend Jeremy Knight at Ohio
Combat and said, “I want us to do a big
wing.” Jeremy guessed Laine was talking
about a 72-inch wingspan but was even
more enthusiastic when Laine said, “yes,
maybe 72 for each side; I’m talking about
13 or 14 feet.”
So the quest began. And I can relate to
this adventure because of some unfortunate
grandiosity issues in my character makeup.
Laine, a career Army helicopter pilot who
is trained to be confident, strong, and
effective, wanted to do something big before
he was called to do a tour of duty in
Afghanistan toward the end of 2007. I don’t
know many modelers who design and build
06sig2.QXD 4/24/08 11:52 AM Page 40
June 2008 41
Above left: After saying a little prayer
before the taxi to takeoff, Laine places
his hat back on his head.
Above: Laine conducts a final controlsystem
and range check of the Spektrum
DX7 radio system. The 2.4 GHz
technology solved many of the glitching
problems.
Left: Just inches off the ground on its first
takeoff, the SRT 10’s rotation angle is
similar to that of the Northrop flyingwing
bomber prototypes of the 1950s.
Above: Several flights were performed with the SRT 10. Most
were low and slow, to the pleasure of the many family and
friends who witnessed Laine Stahr’s modeling victory.
Left: Laine’s landings with the SRT 10 were greasers. He’ll take
the triumph of this day with him as he serves his family and
country as an Army officer.
06sig2.QXD 4/24/08 12:01 PM Page 41
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/06
Page Numbers: 39,40,41
June 2008 39
THERE ARE SO many first-time events in
human history that one could hardly name
them all while giving due credit to even a
few. Whether you feel that your relationship
with model airplanes is a hobby or a sport,
chances are that you remember many
inaugural events associated with your
modeling or flying history.
I remember the first time I flew and
successfully landed
my first scratchbuilt
aileron
airplane. While it
was in the air,
gracefully rolling
and looping over
the landscape in
front of me, part of
me was up in the
air with it. When it
landed without
incident, the smile
that spread across
my face couldn’t be
chipped away with
a hammer and
chisel.
I’m interested in
efforts to attempt
new and unusual
feats in the modelairplane
world. I
recently had the
privilege of being
present for an
occasion of huge
proportions.
A three-hour
drive north on the
interstate took me
to Brentwood, Tennessee, so I could
document what everyone hoped would be
one model’s successful flight. The story of a
man’s idea, dream, and hard work is one for
the file labeled “strength of an RC
modeler’s will.”
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Laine Stahr
(pronounced stay-er) is an Army
Blackhawk helicopter pilot and an avid
model-airplane pilot. Laine took an off-thewall
idea from thought to paper to flying
model in 115 days. That may seem like a lot
of time to build and test-fly a new model,
but this situation is different.
His favorite airplanes are flying wings.
Laine has many airplane and traditional
helicopter models he loves to fly, but the
by James “Bo” Lovell
One of America’s fighting men completes a modeling dream before serving his country
Laine Stahr (R)—the SRT 10’s designer and builder—with his professional consultant, Jason Cole, hold the
model for size comparison. It was awesome to see in person.
06sig2.QXD 4/24/08 12:01 PM Page 39
40 MODEL AVIATION
The dual 6S and 4S packs on either side of the wing run parallel
to each other to make a combined 37.0-volt, 10,000 mAh power
system.
Just kicking back and talking RC with the local boys. Laine and
Jason prepare to carry out the SRT 10 for its first flight.
Above: The two Atlas outrunner motors
swing huge APC 18-inch propellers.
Aluminum spars run the 13-foot length of
the wing.
Right: Laine built the massive flying wing
as a “see if I could do it” project. And he
did do it, before his deployment to the
Middle East.
Photos by the author
Laine closes the bottom of the SRT 10 and makes a quick inspection of the oleo strutsupported
fixed landing gear.
wings really get him pumped up. In late July
2007, while sitting in his garage, an idea (if
I had to condense it to just a few words)
came to his mind.
“I wonder how big ... ” Laine thought to
himself.
Immediately after getting the idea, Laine
called his friend Jeremy Knight at Ohio
Combat and said, “I want us to do a big
wing.” Jeremy guessed Laine was talking
about a 72-inch wingspan but was even
more enthusiastic when Laine said, “yes,
maybe 72 for each side; I’m talking about
13 or 14 feet.”
So the quest began. And I can relate to
this adventure because of some unfortunate
grandiosity issues in my character makeup.
Laine, a career Army helicopter pilot who
is trained to be confident, strong, and
effective, wanted to do something big before
he was called to do a tour of duty in
Afghanistan toward the end of 2007. I don’t
know many modelers who design and build
06sig2.QXD 4/24/08 11:52 AM Page 40
June 2008 41
Above left: After saying a little prayer
before the taxi to takeoff, Laine places
his hat back on his head.
Above: Laine conducts a final controlsystem
and range check of the Spektrum
DX7 radio system. The 2.4 GHz
technology solved many of the glitching
problems.
Left: Just inches off the ground on its first
takeoff, the SRT 10’s rotation angle is
similar to that of the Northrop flyingwing
bomber prototypes of the 1950s.
Above: Several flights were performed with the SRT 10. Most
were low and slow, to the pleasure of the many family and
friends who witnessed Laine Stahr’s modeling victory.
Left: Laine’s landings with the SRT 10 were greasers. He’ll take
the triumph of this day with him as he serves his family and
country as an Army officer.
06sig2.QXD 4/24/08 12:01 PM Page 41
