Author: Jay Smith and Lee McDuffee
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/07
Page Numbers: 18,19,20,21,22,23,24
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Dawn Patrol Rendezvous

by Jay Smith and Lee McDuffee

The World War I Dawn Patrol Rendezvous is a biennial fly-in hosted by the National Museum of the United States Air Force, just north of Dayton, Ohio. It features airplanes from 1903 through 1918—the Dawn of Aviation through the Great War. Full-scale airplanes of the era, radio-control models, re-enactors, vintage automobiles, artists, and vendors reported to Wright Field the fourth weekend of September 2009 (the 25th–27th). This marked the seventh Rendezvous since the initial event in 1996.

Essentially a three-day air show, the Rendezvous alternates full-scale (as well as 3/4- and 7/8-scale) replicas of the Great War Aeroplane Association with giant-scale RC models. The Air Force museum’s goal is to have aircraft in the air throughout the day, weather permitting.

Eight full-scale airplanes and 15 RC pilots attended the inaugural Rendezvous. It has grown since then, with the 2009 edition drawing approximately 30 full-scale aircraft and 60 RC pilots.

Lee McDuffee and Doug Cox ran the RC portion of the 2009 event, taking over from Dean Lukover who had handled it from the beginning. Lee said the goal was to continue the traditions Dean had established while putting their own signature on the gathering.

Weather and logistics

A major challenge for the fly-in was the weather. Thursday was rainy across the region. While Lee and Doug prepared for their RC pilots to arrive, full-scale Air Boss David Egner and museum staff coordinated other activities. A large tent was provided for modelers to store their aircraft and protect them from the rain; pilots appreciated not having to disassemble their airplanes each evening.

Full-scale aircraft were flown in small groups, making photo passes over the runway with the museum’s hangars as the backdrop. Even at 1/4 scale, a de Havilland D.H.4 belonging to Balsa USA had a 127-inch wingspan and was outfitted with a bomb rack and droppable bombs.

Full-scale flying was hampered by the weather, which gave RC pilots substantially more flying time to entertain the crowds. Pan-A-View photographed all participants and aircraft in a traditional panoramic shot that required everyone to remain completely still for nearly a minute.

Combining RC models with full-scale airplanes worked well at this event and kept attendees interested, with aircraft flying throughout the day. Lee McDuffee, the RC air boss, did an excellent job integrating RC with the other activities; his main goals were safety and getting pilots the most flying time possible.

A rare 1909 Gnome rotary engine was on display and was demonstrated and started for attendees.

Special Events coordinator David Thomas reported that several full-scale pilots were stranded across the country trying to make it through the weather. Thursday was quiet except for the sound of rain on the field, but the Thursday-evening icebreaker at the museum was appreciated by all who attended.

Friday

Friday brought an end to overnight rains but left much of the field muddy. Straw and woodchips were carted in throughout the weekend to cope with the conditions. The pre-event schedule was altered because full-scale airplanes arrived at various times during the day.

RC aircraft were flown continually on Friday; they were grounded only when full-scale aircraft needed the runway for landing. An average of six models were flown at once. Lee coordinated takeoffs and landings and kept pilots advised about runway usage. The full-scale air boss advised when the runway was needed for arriving or departing aircraft or when conditions improved enough for circuits; then RC pilots would relinquish the field to the full-scale Nieuports and Fokkers.

Once large aircraft returned from sorties they would swing by the RC compound with the command "Get Them Up," and the models would take to the sky for more airtime.

The museum remained open late Friday for the public. Re-enactors mingled with the crowd and among the aircraft, the movie The Blue Max was shown in the museum theater, and other activities took place.

Saturday

Saturday began with fog at 7 a.m., but RC pilots were already preparing to fly. Full-scale aircraft were grounded because of the low ceiling, yet many models flew all morning by keeping low to the ground.

One highlight was a visit by full-scale pilots to the RC area while Paul Westrich prepped and flew his 1/2-scale Fokker D.VII; the visitors were building a full-scale version and were curious to see how Paul's flew. Another highlight was a flight in Billy Thompson's 1/3-scale Fokker D.VII, finished in the candy-striped Ernst Udet scheme; the model has competed at Top Gun Invitational and the Scale Nats.

Pan-A-View took the traditional panoramic photo of all participants and aircraft. The weather cleared in the afternoon, allowing full-scale aircraft to fly in small groups on a racetrack pattern with long passes down the runway—perfect for spectators and photography.

Vendors sold WW I books, artwork, and real wartime surplus. Re-enactors set up encampments and staged air raids and small-arms firefights. RC judging was held, with each pilot receiving a ballot to select three airplanes for each category: best in glow or electric power, best in gas power, and grand champion. Balsa USA awarded kits to the winners, and Glenn Torrance Models provided trophies.

Later on Saturday two special sorties were flown: a "Flight of the Threes" (exclusively for 1/3-scale models, based on a mission flown annually at the Hoosier Dawn Patrol) and a barrage balloon attack. Word had leaked of a secret weapon developed by a team led by Fred Jungclaus; RC headquarters received word late Saturday that the barrage balloon had arrived and was being prepared. Volunteer pilots made multiple passes at a 1/10-scale kite balloon until it opened and released scores of orange, yellow, black, and white helium balloons—balloon busting proved to be a big hit with the public.

The Saturday-night banquet featured another great meal by the museum and entertainment by the museum’s Air Force band. Lee and Doug presented a plaque to Dean Lukover in appreciation of his efforts establishing the event. Winners of the pilots’ choice awards were announced, with Mark Enderby (Balsa USA) and Glenn Torrance (Glenn Torrance Models) presenting trophies.

Sunday

RC models started the show just after 7 a.m. Visibility was much better than Saturday and the sun even made an appearance, though it was cooler, breezier, and still wet from overnight rains. Door prizes and raffle prizes were awarded, thanks to generous donations from sponsors and supporters.

By 2 p.m., most full-scale and model pilots were ready to pack up and travel home.

Reflections

Lee McDuffee and his team did an excellent job coordinating the RC portion of the Rendezvous. Lee said:

"I think we accomplished many of our goals for the 2009 event. The main story of the weekend was a reaffirmation of the AMA Show Team motto, 'We fly when others can't.'

"I was told by several of the full-scale flight staff that we 'saved their bacon.' We managed to keep planes in the air all weekend long, even with very minimal visibility on Saturday and in spite of constant threats of rain all weekend.

"All of our pilots made it an easy event to manage, and they all did some spectacular flying in the sometimes challenging conditions; they couldn't have performed better. And it was also a pleasure working with all the pilots and support personnel from the Great War Aeroplane Association, as well as Dave Thomas and all his folks at the National Museum of the United States Air Force."

To learn more about the 2009 edition of this event, see The Aerodrome WW I website (see Sources).

The next Dawn Patrol Rendezvous will be held in late September 2011. It's not too early to start making plans to attend this amazing event!

MA

Jay Smith [email protected]

Lee McDuffee [email protected]

Sources

Sponsors and Donors

  • Balsa USA
  • Glenn Torrance Models
  • Hamilton Hobbies
  • Great Planes
  • Arizona Model Aircrafters
  • Mike Bealmear
  • Micro Fasteners
  • Dr. Mike Hawkins
  • Great War Aeroplanes Association
  • Great War Radio Modelers

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.