Focus on Competition - 2003/04

172 MODEL AVIATION
looked to make sure the rudder pedals
weren’t brake and clutch pedals from a
Model A.
“There aren’t any flaps (that machinery
would be a little sophisticated for this
airplane). All the pilot had to do was crank a
small crank mounted at the top of the
cockpit (about 36-38 inches wide) 14 turns
which set the marvelous adjustable stab for
take off.
“Sliding the window back on the copilot’s
side I watch the countryside around
Sun City Center slowly unroll. In a
considerable length of time and 5 miles later
the small lake extending from our property
came into view along with our house
complete with Betty waving from the back
yard.
“We passed just to the right of the house
at 900 feet. Shortly in the distance was
beautiful Tampa Bay, the Manatee River, a
bit further south the tall chimneys of the
potash plant 15 miles away. Then we were
passing over the cluster of houses where Hal
deBolt lives and then heading back east
toward the strip at Wimauma.
“At about 1⁄3 mile out we were still at
800 feet and I wondered how the heck we’d
bleed off enough speed and altitude to get
into the tiny field. Not to worry, just chop
the throttles and push the steering wheel
hard forward which resulted in a gentle
down attitude of the nose (really you only
knew you were descending by the field
becoming more into view). I now think I
found the use of that petcock butterfly nut
left of the throttles. The pilot opened it and I
bet that richened the fuel mixture.
Everything went into slow motion, there
was no noticeable flare, but the throttles
were blipped as we passed over the last
orange grove.
“Then wonder of wonders! The huge
barn door rudder came effectively into play
to adjust for a bit of a crosswind. It also
served to straighten her with the grass strip
just before the mains touched. I never did
feel the tail wheel come down. We just went
rumbling along the grass with perfect
forward visibility. I guess I realized the tail
was down when forward visibility became
difficult. The Model A gear shift lever was
hauled back. Working like an emergency
brake we slowed until the same lever was
hauled left and we reversed course instantly
(the only fast maneuver encountered).
“Just before I left home Betty had added
$10 to my $20 and told me to ride the
cockpit in the co-pilot position. I was
actually 5 pounds over (190) and a little
high for the 185 lb, 5 feet, 11 inches
limitation for a cockpit ride. I sucked in and
shrunk down a tad.
“I left the Ford Trimotor with the
thought I could more easily fly her than the
RC models I build. There was nothing
exciting or exhilarating about the flight. Just
comfortable forward movement at an
altitude from which a wife could be
recognized waving from a back yard
accompanied by the sweet drone of three
small engines. Lindberg supposedly flew
this crate. Had it been 1928 I might have
been sitting with my left shoulder 6 inches
from his right.
“An adventure. Yes, a quiet one I’ll
never forget along with the generosity of
Betty.”
Neat stuff!
One bit of official business. The Contest
Board has ratified the Scale Helicopter
safety proposal that was previously
published. This proposal will now remain in
effect.
’Til next time … MA
Key Dates
(Events attended by AMA HQ staff
and/or officers)
April 23 - 27
Top Gun 2003
Lakeland FL
F o c u s o n C o m p e t i t i o n
Technical
Director
Steve
Kaluf
[email protected]
RECENTLY MY mother, who has been
living just south of Tampa, Florida, since
my father passed away two years ago,
decided to move to Virginia. Mom and dad
lived in Virginia for a number of years
before moving to Florida. I attended Jr. high
school and high school in Virginia and some
college as well.
Dad’s shop had not had anything done to
it since he was last in it, so in early January
I went to see mom and pack up the shop.
Lots of great memories in that room, one I
thought I would share with you, as anyone
interested in aviation will appreciate it. It
was a letter dad copied to several people
(including myself) back in 1990.
“Right there in the middle of the metal
floor, just aft of the two sets of rudder
pedals sat three Model A Ford starter
buttons. Above them were three mag
switches of ancient design with all markings
long since worn off. A little higher a set of
three throttle levers of hand-smoothed
aluminum about as long as my middle
finger. Low of the left throttle was what
appeared to be a fuel shut-off butterfly nut
as installed under the dash of a Model A.
“The left throttle was moved slightly
forward, the left starter button mashed and
then the left mag switch was turned left.
Instantly the left 235 hp Wright Whirlwind
came to life and settled down to shaking the
left wing panel to life. Next the same was
applied to the middle engine and the
fuselage was alive. Then the starboard
engine and the right wing panel joined the
rest of the aircraft in shaking out of a metal
sleep.
“Advancing the throttles brought an
instant movement (as advertised something
like the waddle of a goose). Being necessary
to make a ground turn to the left the pilot
grabbed a shaft set into the floor with a
Model A gear shift lever knob and shoved
hard left. This obviously steered the tail
wheel and around she came in her own
length and lined up nicely with the grass
runway.
“Throttles were advanced and the huge
machine began roaring down the grass.
Instantly the tail came up! At about 200 yds
and 45 mph the main right wheel began to
lift and settle gently. A moment later we
were climbing. It took no time at all to reach
800 feet and going into a gentle climbing
turn I noted that no rudder was being used.
Realizing we had to be turning on aileron I
looked to the wheel and recognized the
wheel as being the same as I had on both my
28 and 30 Model As. I must admit I then
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