Biggest Little Airshow - 2012/03

Biggest
Little 24 Model Aviation March 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
Photos by the authorwww.ModelAviation.com March 2012 Model Aviation 25
As modelers, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to fl y our aircraft
at some historic sites. Places such as Piper Field in Pennsylvania, Torrey
Pines near San Diego, and the National Museum of the US Air Force in
Dayton, Ohio, are a few that come to mind.
For the last four years, a partnership between the Pacifi c Aviation Museum, the
Birds of Paradise Air Show Team, and the Paradise Flyers Radio Control Club has
made it possible to fl y RC models as part of the Biggest Little Air Show on Ford
Island, Hawaii. The island is located in the
middle of Pearl Harbor and was named after
Dr. Seth Porter Ford, a physician who owned
the island in the mid-1800s.
In 1917, the island became the home of
Luke Field, named in honor of World War I
pilot Frank Luke. The famous aviator, Amelia
Earhart, was on the island in March 1937.
While on her fi rst attempt to circumnavigate
the globe, Amelia ground-looped her
Lockheed Electra on takeoff at Luke Field,
delaying her attempt.
Ford Island is best known for being in the
center of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor,
December 7, 1941. Thirty-three of the 70
aircraft on the ground at Ford Island were
destroyed by the attack. Despite this, the air
base remained operational throughout the
fateful day.
Although Luke Field was deactivated as an air base in 1962, several buildings,
hangars, and the control tower still remain, many of which still bear the scars of the
attack. These landmarks can be seen in the movies Tora! Tora! Tora! and Pearl Harbor.
Hangars 37 and 79 and the control tower make up the Pacifi c Aviation Museum.
Its mission is to develop and maintain an internationally recognized aviation
museum on Ford Island that educates people of all ages, honor aviators and their
support personnel who defended freedom in the Pacifi c Region, and preserve Pacifi c
aviation history.
Opposite: RC and full-scale aircraft, military
vehicles, and several vendors were on hand
throughout the event. Hangar 79 houses
the restoration shop for the Pacifi c Aviation
Museum.
Above: Taken from the top of the 158-foot
control tower, the USS Missouri battleship and
the USS Arizona Memorial can be seen in the
distance.
Historic Ford Island provides a wonderful backdrop for this annual event
by Jay Smith
[email protected]
Airshow26 Model Aviation March 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
The museum houses some excellent
artifacts along with aircraft, photographs,
and a wealth of information about the
island. The only thing lacking was the
ability to hold an air show, because Ford
Island no longer has an active runway.
The partnership between the
modelers and the museum allows some
lucky modelers to fl y aircraft again from
this historic site, with the potential to
educate and entertain more than 2,500
spectators during the two-day event.
The 2011 Biggest Little Air Show,
held on Saturday and Sunday, August 20
and 21, was well-planned and staffed by
a large number of volunteers. Although
model fl ying was the main focus of the
event, the museum had a live band
performing and several vendors and
organizations were in attendance.
Mark Goodin and his team did an
excellent job handling all the fl ying and
displays. The event opened at 10 a.m.
and closed at 4 p.m., but participants
arrived early to ensure they were ready
to start on time and stayed late for wrap-
The partnership between the modelers and the
museum allows some lucky modelers to fl y aircraft
again from this historic site, with the potential to
educate and entertain more than 2,500 spectators
during the two-day event.
Left: Tim Chrismer and T.J. Gooden both fl ew
F-22 Raptors during the event’s jet segment.
Although T.J. has only been fl ying roughly fi ve
years, his jet-pilot skills are exceptional.
Below: The author had the opportunity to
meet three attendees from Japan. The two on
the right were in pilot training school when
World War II ended and all three enjoy RC
models.
Biggest Little Airshow
Andy Ruiz, fl ying the T-Rex 600EX, was
one of three pilots who put on helicopter
demos for the crowd.www.ModelAviation.com March 2012 Model Aviation 27
up meetings both days.
Pilots were provided a roster showing
pilot order and fl ight times. Mark made
sure everyone was aware that down time
between fl ights needed to be kept to a
minimum to keep the crowd’s attention.
The show started each day with a
presentation of the colors. Flights began
with an aerobatic opening, followed by
several World War II fi ghter aircraft.
Scale and 3-D helicopters gave
attendees a break from the fi xed-wing
aircraft while the jets were prepared
for fl ight. Turbine jets never fail to
impress with their looks, incredible
fl ight characteristics, and sound, and this
weekend would be no different. Many
spectators stood and looked to the sky
in amazement.
The show closed with a candy drop
from airplanes and helicopters to the
delight of a large number of children
who scrambled to fi nd the sugary treats
that littered the ground.
Throughout the show, roughly 80
aircraft in attendance were on display.
Spectators were able to get a good look
at them and ask the pilots questions.
The announcers provided a wealth of
information about the aircraft fl own, as
well as biographies for each of the pilots.
I had the opportunity to meet the
Pacifi c Aviation Museum’s Executive
Director, Kenneth DeHoff. Ken is not
only a modeler but also a decorated
The pit area was fi lled with activity
as pilots readied their aircraft to
fl y when scheduled. Tim Chrismer
made sure the jets were fueled
and ready.
Pilot Jeremy Clay put on a nice aerial display with his 1/5-scale Ziroli P-47N.28 Model Aviation March 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
Herve Lejeune, owner
of Performance Aircraft
Unlimited (PAU), performs
smoke-on Scale Aerobatics
with his PAU Extra 300SP.
Right: The candy drop was a huge
hit with the kids. After the drop
airplanes and helicopter were safely
away, children scrambled to find the
sugary treats.
Hawaiian Airlines’ original Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker is the last flying CH-300 in the world.
It began making sight-seeing flights on October 6, 1929, above Oahu to and from Koko Head.
Biggest Little Airshowwww.ModelAviation.com March 2012 Model Aviation 29
combat veteran who fl ew Cobra
helicopters in Vietnam. He graciously
gave me a tour of the administrative
offi ces at the museum and the
opportunity to climb to the top of the
158-foot control tower to take some
photographs.
It was defi nitely a highlight of my trip
to be in the control tower, which was
undergoing a full restoration. It offered
an excellent view of the fl ying and the
island, not to mention the USS Arizona
Memorial and the battleship USS
Missouri, both of which I was fortunate
to visit before attending the air show.
Also at the event was Lawrence
Tougas, AMA’s District X vice president,
who has supported the event since
taking offi ce. Lawrence is a lifelong
modeler and full-scale pilot. The Biggest
Little Air Show was a great opportunity
to spend some time discussing modeling.
On Sunday afternoon, I took part
in an Aviator’s Tour of the museum
with a veteran docent who took me
on a journey through Hangar 37,
Hangar 79, and the Restoration Area.
During the tour, I had the chance
Mark Goodin’s 1/6-scale Bayou Baby makes a fi nal approach. The model was built from a Top
Flite kit with an estimated 1,500 hours spent on its construction and detailing.
Above: Duke Chung
fl ew several turbinepowered
jets during
the weekend,
including this
beautiful Aermacchi
MB 339. Flying since
age 11, Duke has been
heavily into jets since
1982.
See more pictures online!
You’ll fi nd them at www.ModelAviation.
com; simply click on “Exclusive Online
Features” and enjoy the show!
—MA Staffto see all of the aircraft on display,
and got an idea of what life was like
on the island before the war, but my
education didn’t end there. I was given
an overview of all of the major battles
of the Pacific.
Two hours later, I had a better
appreciation of Ford Island, Pearl
Harbor, and the war in the Pacific that
raged in the air and on the sea. A quick
trip through the museum store had me
wanting to buy more things than I could
fit in my suitcase for the flight home!
In three short days, I had the
opportunity to meet some great people
while in Hawaii. Ken DeHoff, Anne
Murata, and the staff and volunteers
of the Pacific Aviation Museum were
wonderful.
The Paradise Flyers Radio Control
Club provided me with a club hat,
which I proudly wore on Sunday. The
club members were as appreciativeto see all of the aircraft on display,
and got an idea of what life was like
on the island before the war, but my
education didn’t end there. I was given
an overview of all of the major battles
of the Pacific.
Two hours later, I had a better
appreciation of Ford Island, Pearl
Harbor, and the war in the Pacific that
raged in the air and on the sea. A quick
trip through the museum store had me
wanting to buy more things than I could
fit in my suitcase for the flight home!
In three short days, I had the
opportunity to meet some great people
while in Hawaii. Ken DeHoff, Anne
Murata, and the staff and volunteers
of the Pacific Aviation Museum were
wonderful.
The Paradise Flyers Radio Control
Club provided me with a club hat,
which I proudly wore on Sunday. The
club members were as appreciativeof my attendance as I was of their
hospitality. Thank you to Mark Goodin,
Duke Chung, Mark Malczon, Wyatt
Heine, Herve Lejeune, and the rest of
the pilots who attended the event.
Before boarding the airline for the
long flight home to Indiana, I made a
stop at Hobbietat, the only hobby shop
left in Honolulu, and had a chance to
meet the owners, Butch and Paula Farm.
They have run the shop for 36 years.
Having worked in a hobby shop myself,
I can appreciate the challenges they
face and try to support hobby shops
whenever I can.
If you find yourself looking for
an event to attend in August that
combines airplanes, history, beautiful
beaches, nice weather, and friendly
people, I highly recommend the Biggest
Little Air Show and the Pacific Aviation
Museum. Aloha!
—Jay Smith

Biggest
Little 24 Model Aviation March 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
Photos by the authorwww.ModelAviation.com March 2012 Model Aviation 25
As modelers, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to fl y our aircraft
at some historic sites. Places such as Piper Field in Pennsylvania, Torrey
Pines near San Diego, and the National Museum of the US Air Force in
Dayton, Ohio, are a few that come to mind.
For the last four years, a partnership between the Pacifi c Aviation Museum, the
Birds of Paradise Air Show Team, and the Paradise Flyers Radio Control Club has
made it possible to fl y RC models as part of the Biggest Little Air Show on Ford
Island, Hawaii. The island is located in the
middle of Pearl Harbor and was named after
Dr. Seth Porter Ford, a physician who owned
the island in the mid-1800s.
In 1917, the island became the home of
Luke Field, named in honor of World War I
pilot Frank Luke. The famous aviator, Amelia
Earhart, was on the island in March 1937.
While on her fi rst attempt to circumnavigate
the globe, Amelia ground-looped her
Lockheed Electra on takeoff at Luke Field,
delaying her attempt.
Ford Island is best known for being in the
center of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor,
December 7, 1941. Thirty-three of the 70
aircraft on the ground at Ford Island were
destroyed by the attack. Despite this, the air
base remained operational throughout the
fateful day.
Although Luke Field was deactivated as an air base in 1962, several buildings,
hangars, and the control tower still remain, many of which still bear the scars of the
attack. These landmarks can be seen in the movies Tora! Tora! Tora! and Pearl Harbor.
Hangars 37 and 79 and the control tower make up the Pacifi c Aviation Museum.
Its mission is to develop and maintain an internationally recognized aviation
museum on Ford Island that educates people of all ages, honor aviators and their
support personnel who defended freedom in the Pacifi c Region, and preserve Pacifi c
aviation history.
Opposite: RC and full-scale aircraft, military
vehicles, and several vendors were on hand
throughout the event. Hangar 79 houses
the restoration shop for the Pacifi c Aviation
Museum.
Above: Taken from the top of the 158-foot
control tower, the USS Missouri battleship and
the USS Arizona Memorial can be seen in the
distance.
Historic Ford Island provides a wonderful backdrop for this annual event
by Jay Smith
[email protected]
Airshow26 Model Aviation March 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
The museum houses some excellent
artifacts along with aircraft, photographs,
and a wealth of information about the
island. The only thing lacking was the
ability to hold an air show, because Ford
Island no longer has an active runway.
The partnership between the
modelers and the museum allows some
lucky modelers to fl y aircraft again from
this historic site, with the potential to
educate and entertain more than 2,500
spectators during the two-day event.
The 2011 Biggest Little Air Show,
held on Saturday and Sunday, August 20
and 21, was well-planned and staffed by
a large number of volunteers. Although
model fl ying was the main focus of the
event, the museum had a live band
performing and several vendors and
organizations were in attendance.
Mark Goodin and his team did an
excellent job handling all the fl ying and
displays. The event opened at 10 a.m.
and closed at 4 p.m., but participants
arrived early to ensure they were ready
to start on time and stayed late for wrap-
The partnership between the modelers and the
museum allows some lucky modelers to fl y aircraft
again from this historic site, with the potential to
educate and entertain more than 2,500 spectators
during the two-day event.
Left: Tim Chrismer and T.J. Gooden both fl ew
F-22 Raptors during the event’s jet segment.
Although T.J. has only been fl ying roughly fi ve
years, his jet-pilot skills are exceptional.
Below: The author had the opportunity to
meet three attendees from Japan. The two on
the right were in pilot training school when
World War II ended and all three enjoy RC
models.
Biggest Little Airshow
Andy Ruiz, fl ying the T-Rex 600EX, was
one of three pilots who put on helicopter
demos for the crowd.www.ModelAviation.com March 2012 Model Aviation 27
up meetings both days.
Pilots were provided a roster showing
pilot order and fl ight times. Mark made
sure everyone was aware that down time
between fl ights needed to be kept to a
minimum to keep the crowd’s attention.
The show started each day with a
presentation of the colors. Flights began
with an aerobatic opening, followed by
several World War II fi ghter aircraft.
Scale and 3-D helicopters gave
attendees a break from the fi xed-wing
aircraft while the jets were prepared
for fl ight. Turbine jets never fail to
impress with their looks, incredible
fl ight characteristics, and sound, and this
weekend would be no different. Many
spectators stood and looked to the sky
in amazement.
The show closed with a candy drop
from airplanes and helicopters to the
delight of a large number of children
who scrambled to fi nd the sugary treats
that littered the ground.
Throughout the show, roughly 80
aircraft in attendance were on display.
Spectators were able to get a good look
at them and ask the pilots questions.
The announcers provided a wealth of
information about the aircraft fl own, as
well as biographies for each of the pilots.
I had the opportunity to meet the
Pacifi c Aviation Museum’s Executive
Director, Kenneth DeHoff. Ken is not
only a modeler but also a decorated
The pit area was fi lled with activity
as pilots readied their aircraft to
fl y when scheduled. Tim Chrismer
made sure the jets were fueled
and ready.
Pilot Jeremy Clay put on a nice aerial display with his 1/5-scale Ziroli P-47N.28 Model Aviation March 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
Herve Lejeune, owner
of Performance Aircraft
Unlimited (PAU), performs
smoke-on Scale Aerobatics
with his PAU Extra 300SP.
Right: The candy drop was a huge
hit with the kids. After the drop
airplanes and helicopter were safely
away, children scrambled to find the
sugary treats.
Hawaiian Airlines’ original Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker is the last flying CH-300 in the world.
It began making sight-seeing flights on October 6, 1929, above Oahu to and from Koko Head.
Biggest Little Airshowwww.ModelAviation.com March 2012 Model Aviation 29
combat veteran who fl ew Cobra
helicopters in Vietnam. He graciously
gave me a tour of the administrative
offi ces at the museum and the
opportunity to climb to the top of the
158-foot control tower to take some
photographs.
It was defi nitely a highlight of my trip
to be in the control tower, which was
undergoing a full restoration. It offered
an excellent view of the fl ying and the
island, not to mention the USS Arizona
Memorial and the battleship USS
Missouri, both of which I was fortunate
to visit before attending the air show.
Also at the event was Lawrence
Tougas, AMA’s District X vice president,
who has supported the event since
taking offi ce. Lawrence is a lifelong
modeler and full-scale pilot. The Biggest
Little Air Show was a great opportunity
to spend some time discussing modeling.
On Sunday afternoon, I took part
in an Aviator’s Tour of the museum
with a veteran docent who took me
on a journey through Hangar 37,
Hangar 79, and the Restoration Area.
During the tour, I had the chance
Mark Goodin’s 1/6-scale Bayou Baby makes a fi nal approach. The model was built from a Top
Flite kit with an estimated 1,500 hours spent on its construction and detailing.
Above: Duke Chung
fl ew several turbinepowered
jets during
the weekend,
including this
beautiful Aermacchi
MB 339. Flying since
age 11, Duke has been
heavily into jets since
1982.
See more pictures online!
You’ll fi nd them at www.ModelAviation.
com; simply click on “Exclusive Online
Features” and enjoy the show!
—MA Staffto see all of the aircraft on display,
and got an idea of what life was like
on the island before the war, but my
education didn’t end there. I was given
an overview of all of the major battles
of the Pacific.
Two hours later, I had a better
appreciation of Ford Island, Pearl
Harbor, and the war in the Pacific that
raged in the air and on the sea. A quick
trip through the museum store had me
wanting to buy more things than I could
fit in my suitcase for the flight home!
In three short days, I had the
opportunity to meet some great people
while in Hawaii. Ken DeHoff, Anne
Murata, and the staff and volunteers
of the Pacific Aviation Museum were
wonderful.
The Paradise Flyers Radio Control
Club provided me with a club hat,
which I proudly wore on Sunday. The
club members were as appreciativeto see all of the aircraft on display,
and got an idea of what life was like
on the island before the war, but my
education didn’t end there. I was given
an overview of all of the major battles
of the Pacific.
Two hours later, I had a better
appreciation of Ford Island, Pearl
Harbor, and the war in the Pacific that
raged in the air and on the sea. A quick
trip through the museum store had me
wanting to buy more things than I could
fit in my suitcase for the flight home!
In three short days, I had the
opportunity to meet some great people
while in Hawaii. Ken DeHoff, Anne
Murata, and the staff and volunteers
of the Pacific Aviation Museum were
wonderful.
The Paradise Flyers Radio Control
Club provided me with a club hat,
which I proudly wore on Sunday. The
club members were as appreciativeof my attendance as I was of their
hospitality. Thank you to Mark Goodin,
Duke Chung, Mark Malczon, Wyatt
Heine, Herve Lejeune, and the rest of
the pilots who attended the event.
Before boarding the airline for the
long flight home to Indiana, I made a
stop at Hobbietat, the only hobby shop
left in Honolulu, and had a chance to
meet the owners, Butch and Paula Farm.
They have run the shop for 36 years.
Having worked in a hobby shop myself,
I can appreciate the challenges they
face and try to support hobby shops
whenever I can.
If you find yourself looking for
an event to attend in August that
combines airplanes, history, beautiful
beaches, nice weather, and friendly
people, I highly recommend the Biggest
Little Air Show and the Pacific Aviation
Museum. Aloha!
—Jay Smith

Biggest
Little 24 Model Aviation March 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
Photos by the authorwww.ModelAviation.com March 2012 Model Aviation 25
As modelers, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to fl y our aircraft
at some historic sites. Places such as Piper Field in Pennsylvania, Torrey
Pines near San Diego, and the National Museum of the US Air Force in
Dayton, Ohio, are a few that come to mind.
For the last four years, a partnership between the Pacifi c Aviation Museum, the
Birds of Paradise Air Show Team, and the Paradise Flyers Radio Control Club has
made it possible to fl y RC models as part of the Biggest Little Air Show on Ford
Island, Hawaii. The island is located in the
middle of Pearl Harbor and was named after
Dr. Seth Porter Ford, a physician who owned
the island in the mid-1800s.
In 1917, the island became the home of
Luke Field, named in honor of World War I
pilot Frank Luke. The famous aviator, Amelia
Earhart, was on the island in March 1937.
While on her fi rst attempt to circumnavigate
the globe, Amelia ground-looped her
Lockheed Electra on takeoff at Luke Field,
delaying her attempt.
Ford Island is best known for being in the
center of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor,
December 7, 1941. Thirty-three of the 70
aircraft on the ground at Ford Island were
destroyed by the attack. Despite this, the air
base remained operational throughout the
fateful day.
Although Luke Field was deactivated as an air base in 1962, several buildings,
hangars, and the control tower still remain, many of which still bear the scars of the
attack. These landmarks can be seen in the movies Tora! Tora! Tora! and Pearl Harbor.
Hangars 37 and 79 and the control tower make up the Pacifi c Aviation Museum.
Its mission is to develop and maintain an internationally recognized aviation
museum on Ford Island that educates people of all ages, honor aviators and their
support personnel who defended freedom in the Pacifi c Region, and preserve Pacifi c
aviation history.
Opposite: RC and full-scale aircraft, military
vehicles, and several vendors were on hand
throughout the event. Hangar 79 houses
the restoration shop for the Pacifi c Aviation
Museum.
Above: Taken from the top of the 158-foot
control tower, the USS Missouri battleship and
the USS Arizona Memorial can be seen in the
distance.
Historic Ford Island provides a wonderful backdrop for this annual event
by Jay Smith
[email protected]
Airshow26 Model Aviation March 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
The museum houses some excellent
artifacts along with aircraft, photographs,
and a wealth of information about the
island. The only thing lacking was the
ability to hold an air show, because Ford
Island no longer has an active runway.
The partnership between the
modelers and the museum allows some
lucky modelers to fl y aircraft again from
this historic site, with the potential to
educate and entertain more than 2,500
spectators during the two-day event.
The 2011 Biggest Little Air Show,
held on Saturday and Sunday, August 20
and 21, was well-planned and staffed by
a large number of volunteers. Although
model fl ying was the main focus of the
event, the museum had a live band
performing and several vendors and
organizations were in attendance.
Mark Goodin and his team did an
excellent job handling all the fl ying and
displays. The event opened at 10 a.m.
and closed at 4 p.m., but participants
arrived early to ensure they were ready
to start on time and stayed late for wrap-
The partnership between the modelers and the
museum allows some lucky modelers to fl y aircraft
again from this historic site, with the potential to
educate and entertain more than 2,500 spectators
during the two-day event.
Left: Tim Chrismer and T.J. Gooden both fl ew
F-22 Raptors during the event’s jet segment.
Although T.J. has only been fl ying roughly fi ve
years, his jet-pilot skills are exceptional.
Below: The author had the opportunity to
meet three attendees from Japan. The two on
the right were in pilot training school when
World War II ended and all three enjoy RC
models.
Biggest Little Airshow
Andy Ruiz, fl ying the T-Rex 600EX, was
one of three pilots who put on helicopter
demos for the crowd.www.ModelAviation.com March 2012 Model Aviation 27
up meetings both days.
Pilots were provided a roster showing
pilot order and fl ight times. Mark made
sure everyone was aware that down time
between fl ights needed to be kept to a
minimum to keep the crowd’s attention.
The show started each day with a
presentation of the colors. Flights began
with an aerobatic opening, followed by
several World War II fi ghter aircraft.
Scale and 3-D helicopters gave
attendees a break from the fi xed-wing
aircraft while the jets were prepared
for fl ight. Turbine jets never fail to
impress with their looks, incredible
fl ight characteristics, and sound, and this
weekend would be no different. Many
spectators stood and looked to the sky
in amazement.
The show closed with a candy drop
from airplanes and helicopters to the
delight of a large number of children
who scrambled to fi nd the sugary treats
that littered the ground.
Throughout the show, roughly 80
aircraft in attendance were on display.
Spectators were able to get a good look
at them and ask the pilots questions.
The announcers provided a wealth of
information about the aircraft fl own, as
well as biographies for each of the pilots.
I had the opportunity to meet the
Pacifi c Aviation Museum’s Executive
Director, Kenneth DeHoff. Ken is not
only a modeler but also a decorated
The pit area was fi lled with activity
as pilots readied their aircraft to
fl y when scheduled. Tim Chrismer
made sure the jets were fueled
and ready.
Pilot Jeremy Clay put on a nice aerial display with his 1/5-scale Ziroli P-47N.28 Model Aviation March 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
Herve Lejeune, owner
of Performance Aircraft
Unlimited (PAU), performs
smoke-on Scale Aerobatics
with his PAU Extra 300SP.
Right: The candy drop was a huge
hit with the kids. After the drop
airplanes and helicopter were safely
away, children scrambled to find the
sugary treats.
Hawaiian Airlines’ original Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker is the last flying CH-300 in the world.
It began making sight-seeing flights on October 6, 1929, above Oahu to and from Koko Head.
Biggest Little Airshowwww.ModelAviation.com March 2012 Model Aviation 29
combat veteran who fl ew Cobra
helicopters in Vietnam. He graciously
gave me a tour of the administrative
offi ces at the museum and the
opportunity to climb to the top of the
158-foot control tower to take some
photographs.
It was defi nitely a highlight of my trip
to be in the control tower, which was
undergoing a full restoration. It offered
an excellent view of the fl ying and the
island, not to mention the USS Arizona
Memorial and the battleship USS
Missouri, both of which I was fortunate
to visit before attending the air show.
Also at the event was Lawrence
Tougas, AMA’s District X vice president,
who has supported the event since
taking offi ce. Lawrence is a lifelong
modeler and full-scale pilot. The Biggest
Little Air Show was a great opportunity
to spend some time discussing modeling.
On Sunday afternoon, I took part
in an Aviator’s Tour of the museum
with a veteran docent who took me
on a journey through Hangar 37,
Hangar 79, and the Restoration Area.
During the tour, I had the chance
Mark Goodin’s 1/6-scale Bayou Baby makes a fi nal approach. The model was built from a Top
Flite kit with an estimated 1,500 hours spent on its construction and detailing.
Above: Duke Chung
fl ew several turbinepowered
jets during
the weekend,
including this
beautiful Aermacchi
MB 339. Flying since
age 11, Duke has been
heavily into jets since
1982.
See more pictures online!
You’ll fi nd them at www.ModelAviation.
com; simply click on “Exclusive Online
Features” and enjoy the show!
—MA Staffto see all of the aircraft on display,
and got an idea of what life was like
on the island before the war, but my
education didn’t end there. I was given
an overview of all of the major battles
of the Pacific.
Two hours later, I had a better
appreciation of Ford Island, Pearl
Harbor, and the war in the Pacific that
raged in the air and on the sea. A quick
trip through the museum store had me
wanting to buy more things than I could
fit in my suitcase for the flight home!
In three short days, I had the
opportunity to meet some great people
while in Hawaii. Ken DeHoff, Anne
Murata, and the staff and volunteers
of the Pacific Aviation Museum were
wonderful.
The Paradise Flyers Radio Control
Club provided me with a club hat,
which I proudly wore on Sunday. The
club members were as appreciativeto see all of the aircraft on display,
and got an idea of what life was like
on the island before the war, but my
education didn’t end there. I was given
an overview of all of the major battles
of the Pacific.
Two hours later, I had a better
appreciation of Ford Island, Pearl
Harbor, and the war in the Pacific that
raged in the air and on the sea. A quick
trip through the museum store had me
wanting to buy more things than I could
fit in my suitcase for the flight home!
In three short days, I had the
opportunity to meet some great people
while in Hawaii. Ken DeHoff, Anne
Murata, and the staff and volunteers
of the Pacific Aviation Museum were
wonderful.
The Paradise Flyers Radio Control
Club provided me with a club hat,
which I proudly wore on Sunday. The
club members were as appreciativeof my attendance as I was of their
hospitality. Thank you to Mark Goodin,
Duke Chung, Mark Malczon, Wyatt
Heine, Herve Lejeune, and the rest of
the pilots who attended the event.
Before boarding the airline for the
long flight home to Indiana, I made a
stop at Hobbietat, the only hobby shop
left in Honolulu, and had a chance to
meet the owners, Butch and Paula Farm.
They have run the shop for 36 years.
Having worked in a hobby shop myself,
I can appreciate the challenges they
face and try to support hobby shops
whenever I can.
If you find yourself looking for
an event to attend in August that
combines airplanes, history, beautiful
beaches, nice weather, and friendly
people, I highly recommend the Biggest
Little Air Show and the Pacific Aviation
Museum. Aloha!
—Jay Smith