Kentucky Jets - 2007/11
By Ben Lanterman
Lebanon in early July offered a taste of Americana and hot RC jet action. The Kentucky Jets fly-in presented an opportunity for Midwest jet pilots to get together with fellow modelers and enjoy three days of friendly flying fellowship. The event was held the weekend of July 5–8 at the Springfield Lebanon Airport under the capable management of CD Lewis "The General" Patton. And he needed to be an "officer" as things popped up—CDs earn their money!
Event overview
The official contest days of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were perfect for flying: no rain, reasonable winds, and temperatures near 90°F. Cooler mornings produced especially remarkable flying conditions. The facility featured a great runway, long enough for full-scale jets to take off and land; in fact, some people flew their full-scale airplanes to the airport to see the gathering.
More aircraft landed that weekend than in a normal week, which sometimes interrupted model flying whenever a full-scale airplane wanted to take off or land. Since the airport was uncontrolled, this was surprising at times. A few handheld radios on airplane frequencies helped the fly-in flightline controllers keep things running more smoothly.
Facilities and services
A great feature of the fly-in was two giant circus-style tents: one for pilots and one for vendors. Fliers could set up under the canopy, which provided a convenient place to work on models or relax and cool down after a flight.
They all represented the state of the art in modeling science for jet-powered models. It was impressive to watch models make flight after flight with no problems. To the best of my knowledge, not a single incident was caused by radio-equipment failure—remarkable to those of us with long memories. There were a few cases of "the landing gear won't come down" syndrome, and I believe one jet ran out of fuel; a successful landing was made nonetheless.
Almost all the flights started on the runway centerline and concluded at roughly the same place. The long runway allowed several extra-hot landings to run and bounce on and on.
If you’re wondering why your model didn't make it into photographs, it often comes down to one thing: make at least one low, slow, banked 40-degree-to-the-camera pass and you’ll likely be in contention for an article or even the cover. A straight-and-level 200 mph pass is nearly impossible for a normal human to photograph.
Halftime entertainment
Halftime entertainment was provided by Silent Wings Airshows. Bob Carlton equipped an Alisport Silent-J sailplane with two AMT-USA AT-450 turbine engines, each delivering approximately 90 pounds of thrust. He added smoke generators on the wingtips—this spoils some aerodynamics but makes for a spectacular sight. The sailplane climbed to altitude and then performed looping and rolling maneuvers outlined with smoke. If you look closely you can see a neat aerodynamic phenomenon at the wingtips: a vortex that keeps the smoke trails compact.
Lodging
This trip was different for my wife Bonnie and me; we didn’t camp in our van conversion motor home. Instead, we stayed at a beautiful bed-and-breakfast recommended by Chris Hamilton of the Lebanon Tourist and Convention Commission. The Hill House, located in nearby Loretto, Kentucky, was only a 10-minute drive on a twisty road from the airport—a pleasant option for visiting jet pilots.
Attendance and changes for next year
Kentucky Jets was fun for those who came to fly and enjoy a great facility. Approximately 60 pilots showed up with roughly 80 models. A few issues that bothered some fliers have already been addressed: next year there will be no demonstrations or other activities that interfere with pilots' flying time. The Saturday-evening banquet will be held at the airport under a tent to provide a wider range of food and beverages.
Recommendation
I recommend you visit this event if you are in the area. Next year should be bigger, better, and a pilot’s joy. I totally enjoyed watching the flying, appreciating the models, and admiring the skill and workmanship on display. If there is a jet event close to you, take a look—I don’t think you will be disappointed.
MA
Ben Lanterman [email protected]
Sources
- Silent Wings Airshows / Bob Carlton — (505) 275-5945 — www.silentwingsairshows.com
- The Hill House — (877) 280-2300 — www.thehillhouseky.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
