Free Flight: Old-Timers

FREE FLIGHT OLD-TIMERS SELECTING DESIGN build very personal multifactorial thing Sometimes want build something have roots such model built youth sometimes pick appealing appearance sometimes selection made basis having never built particular design last reason provides some explanation built Dakota Joe Wagners plans friends models 1950s too busy building Zeeks Fu-Bars bother mere sport model So fit going back time pulled out plan Joe gave some time ago built OK Cub 049 engines have become available again has fun project Dakota trims out right rudder working against left thrust forces balanced out climb tight spiral left glide right also tight turngood enough soft landing likely thermal Dakota great small-field flier used Texas Timer model help keep out downwind trees Joe gets unpacked new house will have plansupdated show Electric power alternativeand some other designs sale price list send Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope SASE Joe 927 Pine Ave Ozark AL 36360 visiting 1950s memories thought happy days flying Control Line decided build CL model fly time Thinking of models flew 50s could decide stood out above others remembered Nobler As Dakota never did build am building now Well no lam building two reproduction some cottage industry no name box plan Top Flite kit other Brodak reproduction 1957 Nobler original George Aldrich two Noblers differ mainly some structural detail believe have discovered secret Noblers competition success light Building wing serious challenge main spar /16 sheet bit fragile what am used However fun anyway nice find can still some things did 50 years ago used able run faster jump higher dive deeper stay under longer come up drier can now comes revisiting youth think Zeeks Fubars am currently building Campbells kits better kits original especially comes quality materials have 575-square-inch Zeek plan got years ago Harry Murphy might make Radio Control Assist dont have space Free Flight model performance level Harry has Zeek plans sale scaled nine sizes 144 575 square inchesto suit various power levels Send him SASE list other plans Murphy Models 3824 Oakwood Blvd Anderson IN 46011 An approach small field flying suggested OFB Old Flying Buddy Loren Dietrich scale models down favorite models mostly Earl Stahl designs Gypsy High Climber fly too well field Since cant make field larger reduced size models Send Loren large SASE buck copy half-size High Climber maybe will include Gypsy models fly very well about 30-40 secondsabout right schoolyard park Lorens address 192 West Palm Ave Reedley CA 93654 Speaking flying field problems piece Thumb Print newsletter Thermal Thumbers Metro Atlanta GA reported official warning about water buffaloes crocodiles assorted snakes 1997 Australian Nationals held 404square-mile site near Darwin Crocodile insurance reasonable rates offered fliers ember 1998 129 scratch-built Dakota model built Joe Wagners plans powered OK 049 engine model great flying small fields Bill Baker photo Earl Stahl designs Gypsy High Climber half-size small-field flyinggood size parks schoolyards Photo Loren Dietrich