Kentucky Jets - 2007/11

November 2007 25
Bryce Watson’s F-16 uses lights to simulate afterburner action. The convincing bulb arrangement can be turned on when appropriate.
Photos by the author
BY
BEN LANTERMAN
Lebanon in early July offered a taste
of Americana and hot RC jet action
interruption of the model flying whenever a
full-scale airplane wanted to take off or land.
It was a surprise at times since the airport
was uncontrolled. A few handheld radios on
the airplane communication frequencies
allowed the fly-in flightline controllers to
get things running more smoothly.
A great feature of this fly-in was two
giant circus-type tents: one for the pilots and
one for the vendors. The fliers could set up
under their canopy, which provided a great
place to work on models or relax and cool
down after a flight.
THE KENTUCKY JETS fly-in
presented an opportunity for the Midwest
jet pilots to get together with fellow
modelers and experience 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!
The official contest days of Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday were perfect for any
kind of flying. There was no rain,
reasonable winds, and temperatures
hovering near the 90° point. Lower
temperatures in the mornings led to
remarkable flying conditions.
The facility featured a great runway,
which was long enough for full-scale jets to
take off of and land on. In fact, some people
did fly their full-scale airplanes to the airport
to see the gathering. (It would make a nice
day’s trip.)
More aircraft landed that weekend than
in a normal week, which resulted in an
11sig1.QXD 9/21/07 1:48 PM Page 25
26 MODEL AVIATION
A view from the flightline looking back toward the pit area at the Springfield Lebanon Airport. What a crowd!
Jetty Bowling wanted everyone to know his model was a Viper Jet. Unfortunately this
nice-looking configuration didn’t get much airtime at the fly-in.
Robert Kisner’s EuroSport was impressive
powered with an AMT AT-450 turbine. He
made the Harrier maneuver look easy.
After building speed on the runway,
William Hatcher applied up-elevon and
down canards on his EuroSport for liftoff.
11sig1.QXD 9/24/07 9:19 AM Page 26
November 2007 27
Bob Carlton put on a noon show flying
his modified Alisport Silent-J sailplane
powered by twin AMT USA AT-450
turbines.
Robert Hayes
supplemented his
EuroSport with
an R2-D2 figure.
The jet sports
Star Wars X-Wing
markings.
Patrick Frost’s BVM F-
4E won two awards:
Best Military Jet and
Pilots’ Choice.
Ron Ballard flew this Wren turboprop-powered Tucano,
which spanned 110 inches and weighed 34 pounds.
Jorge Escalona performs a
beautiful show pass with his F-
18. Its colors commemorate
the Wright brothers’ flight.
Robert Neal’s beautiful F-15 with the operating canopy in the open
position. The model also featured a functioning speed brake.
11sig1.QXD 9/21/07 1:53 PM Page 27
28 MODEL AVIATION
David Murray’s MB 339 Skymaster flew like a big trainer because of
its 98-inch wingspan.
Dennis Michael won the Best Craftsmanship
award with this EuroSport. It flew
frequently, powered by an AMT NL Pegasus
HP turbine.
Roger Shipley powered his
big 54-pound A-10 Warthog
with two AMT AT-280
turbines.
Bryce Watson’s F-18 featured a full lighting system, smoke
system, functional tailhook, drop tank, and simulated
afterburner effects.
11sig1.QXD 9/24/07 10:12 AM Page 28
November 2007 29
This large F-18’s landing gear works identical to that of the
full-scale jet and absorbs the landing shocks.
Sean Cassidy’s scratch-built F9F Panther weighs only 21
pounds and is powered by a FunSonic turbine.
Dwayne Woods’ MB 339, which weighs 45 pounds and uses an
AMT 400 turbine, handles easily on the ground.
Bryce Watson took three models to the Kentucky Jets event,
including this beautiful F-15 in a camouflage color scheme.
The daytime image of the moon
ended up in many photos with
several other jets, as shown in
this composite image made in
Photoshop.
The centerline fuel tank on Patrick Frost’s
F-4 is shown departing the aircraft.
Larry Kramer’s co-pilot, Kathleen, and his dad, Vern, carry his
BobCat to the start-up area.
11sig1.QXD 9/24/07 10:29 AM Page 29
Roger Shipley’s huge A-10 has Fowler flaps, aileron trim tabs, landing-gear
doors, retracts, and brakes. It won the Best Military Performance award.
30 MODEL AVIATION
Gary Jefferson finished this F-16 in a Thunderbirds color scheme and powers the
18-pound model with a JetCat P-60 turbine churning out 14 pounds of thrust.
Eric Meyers’ Wren turbine-powered
Raven is fully aerobatic and has a great
sound.
Perhaps a first for the jet-model pilot
community was a wedding at an event,
of Jim and Cheryl Widner.
11sig1.QXD 9/21/07 2:19 PM Page 30
November 2007 31
Bryce Watson’s Tuskegee Airmen Red Tail F-16
was constructed from a Skymaster kit and uses an
Artes Rhino turbine.
Patrick Frost’s F-4 taxis back to the pits showing its working drogue chute. Each
day the F-4, along with several other military jets, flew a military demonstration.
Jorge Escalona’s 1/5-scale AirWorld Cougar spans 85 inches
and weighs 40 pounds with a JetCat P160 turbine.
Larry Kramer’s BVM BobCat looks great as it makes
another pass in front of the flightline.
Ron Doctorick brought a HotSpot in a cool, wild color
scheme. The 21-pound model uses an AMT USA Mercury
HP turbine.
Joseph Hughes flew this Pilatus Porter
powered with a Wren Turboprop.
The model spans 144 inches and
weighs 36 pounds.
Robert Bush’s F-100 Super Sabre—the People’s Choice award
winner—features hydraulic flaps and weighs 43 pounds.
11sig1.QXD 9/24/07 11:04 AM Page 31
The tents’ large size meant you could
easily stay out of the sun instead of
following the little patch of shade that
moved around during the day! At night the
fliers could store their models in a big
hangar that was just a few feet away from
the tent.
A large generator provided power under
the tent for charging batteries and taking
care of other things for which electric power
was a necessity. It was certainly better than
the normal fly-in, at which no power exists.
There were scores of aircraft at the event.
Among them were a gaggle of smoothly
finished sport models, some extraordinary
scale jets, and a few turboprop airplanes.
They all represented the state of the art in
modeling science for jet-powered models. It
was impressive to watch a model make
flight after flight with no problems.
To the best of my knowledge, not a
single incident was caused by radioequipment
failure. That is remarkable to
those of us who have long memories of days
past. 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 and on.
32 MODEL AVIATION
No Flameouts!
Sullivan New Onboard Glow Driver will keep the plug hot at all
times. This unit features a quick and easy one button set point
programming or automatic operation, so the plug receives power
at any throttle setting. Ignition set point is permanently stored
in memory until changed. The LED indicates burned out plug by
flashing on the glow control panel. The Glow Control panel can
be mounted on the fuselage side or anywhere inside the plane.
Ready to use, just plug to receiver, throttle servo and any 1.2V
to 12V battery. No Y-Harness required. At Your Dealer Now!!!
Engine Quitting While Taxing or Down
Flight?
www.sullivanproducts.com
One North Haven St.
Baltimore, MD 21224
410-732-3500 Reliable By Design.
Visit Us At
2007
I Hobby Expo
If you are asking yourself why your
model didn’t make it into this article, it
comes down to one thing. If you make at
least one low, slow, banked-40°-toward-thecamera
pass, you will probably be in
contention to get into an article and possibly
on the cover. A straight-and-level 200 mph
pass is nearly impossible for a normal
human to photograph.
Halftime entertainment at the fly-in was
provided by the Silent Wings Airshows.
Bob Carlton has equipped an Alisport
Silent-J sailplane with two AMT-USA AT-
450 turbine engines, each of which delivers
approximately 90 pounds of thrust.
Bob put smoke generators on the
wingtips, which spoils all the aerodynamics
but makes for a great sight in the air. He and
the sailplane climb to altitude and then
perform looping and rolling maneuvers,
which are outlined with the smoke.
It is a neat show. If you look closely you
can see a neat aerodynamic phenomenon at
the wingtips: a vortex that keeps the smoke
trails compact.
This trip to Kentucky Jets was different for
me and my wife, Bonnie; we didn’t camp
out in our little van conversion motor home.
Instead we stayed at a beautiful bed-andbreakfast
that Chris Hamilton of the
Lebanon Tourists and Convention
Commission recommended.
The Hill House, located in nearby
Loretto, Kentucky, was only a 10-minute
drive, on a twisty road, from the airport. Jet
pilots would probably love the trip!
Kentucky Jets was fun for those who came
to fly and enjoy a great facility.
Approximately 60 pilots showed up with
roughly 80 models.
The few things that were bothersome to
some fliers have already been addressed.
Next year there will be no demonstrations or
anything else that interferes with the time the
pilots have to fly. The Saturday-evening
banquet will be held at the airport under a
tent to provide the pilots with a wider range
of food and beverages.
I recommend that 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 and
appreciating the models. The skill and
workmanship shown in them and the quality
of flying were amazing. 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

November 2007 25
Bryce Watson’s F-16 uses lights to simulate afterburner action. The convincing bulb arrangement can be turned on when appropriate.
Photos by the author
BY
BEN LANTERMAN
Lebanon in early July offered a taste
of Americana and hot RC jet action
interruption of the model flying whenever a
full-scale airplane wanted to take off or land.
It was a surprise at times since the airport
was uncontrolled. A few handheld radios on
the airplane communication frequencies
allowed the fly-in flightline controllers to
get things running more smoothly.
A great feature of this fly-in was two
giant circus-type tents: one for the pilots and
one for the vendors. The fliers could set up
under their canopy, which provided a great
place to work on models or relax and cool
down after a flight.
THE KENTUCKY JETS fly-in
presented an opportunity for the Midwest
jet pilots to get together with fellow
modelers and experience 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!
The official contest days of Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday were perfect for any
kind of flying. There was no rain,
reasonable winds, and temperatures
hovering near the 90° point. Lower
temperatures in the mornings led to
remarkable flying conditions.
The facility featured a great runway,
which was long enough for full-scale jets to
take off of and land on. In fact, some people
did fly their full-scale airplanes to the airport
to see the gathering. (It would make a nice
day’s trip.)
More aircraft landed that weekend than
in a normal week, which resulted in an
11sig1.QXD 9/21/07 1:48 PM Page 25
26 MODEL AVIATION
A view from the flightline looking back toward the pit area at the Springfield Lebanon Airport. What a crowd!
Jetty Bowling wanted everyone to know his model was a Viper Jet. Unfortunately this
nice-looking configuration didn’t get much airtime at the fly-in.
Robert Kisner’s EuroSport was impressive
powered with an AMT AT-450 turbine. He
made the Harrier maneuver look easy.
After building speed on the runway,
William Hatcher applied up-elevon and
down canards on his EuroSport for liftoff.
11sig1.QXD 9/24/07 9:19 AM Page 26
November 2007 27
Bob Carlton put on a noon show flying
his modified Alisport Silent-J sailplane
powered by twin AMT USA AT-450
turbines.
Robert Hayes
supplemented his
EuroSport with
an R2-D2 figure.
The jet sports
Star Wars X-Wing
markings.
Patrick Frost’s BVM F-
4E won two awards:
Best Military Jet and
Pilots’ Choice.
Ron Ballard flew this Wren turboprop-powered Tucano,
which spanned 110 inches and weighed 34 pounds.
Jorge Escalona performs a
beautiful show pass with his F-
18. Its colors commemorate
the Wright brothers’ flight.
Robert Neal’s beautiful F-15 with the operating canopy in the open
position. The model also featured a functioning speed brake.
11sig1.QXD 9/21/07 1:53 PM Page 27
28 MODEL AVIATION
David Murray’s MB 339 Skymaster flew like a big trainer because of
its 98-inch wingspan.
Dennis Michael won the Best Craftsmanship
award with this EuroSport. It flew
frequently, powered by an AMT NL Pegasus
HP turbine.
Roger Shipley powered his
big 54-pound A-10 Warthog
with two AMT AT-280
turbines.
Bryce Watson’s F-18 featured a full lighting system, smoke
system, functional tailhook, drop tank, and simulated
afterburner effects.
11sig1.QXD 9/24/07 10:12 AM Page 28
November 2007 29
This large F-18’s landing gear works identical to that of the
full-scale jet and absorbs the landing shocks.
Sean Cassidy’s scratch-built F9F Panther weighs only 21
pounds and is powered by a FunSonic turbine.
Dwayne Woods’ MB 339, which weighs 45 pounds and uses an
AMT 400 turbine, handles easily on the ground.
Bryce Watson took three models to the Kentucky Jets event,
including this beautiful F-15 in a camouflage color scheme.
The daytime image of the moon
ended up in many photos with
several other jets, as shown in
this composite image made in
Photoshop.
The centerline fuel tank on Patrick Frost’s
F-4 is shown departing the aircraft.
Larry Kramer’s co-pilot, Kathleen, and his dad, Vern, carry his
BobCat to the start-up area.
11sig1.QXD 9/24/07 10:29 AM Page 29
Roger Shipley’s huge A-10 has Fowler flaps, aileron trim tabs, landing-gear
doors, retracts, and brakes. It won the Best Military Performance award.
30 MODEL AVIATION
Gary Jefferson finished this F-16 in a Thunderbirds color scheme and powers the
18-pound model with a JetCat P-60 turbine churning out 14 pounds of thrust.
Eric Meyers’ Wren turbine-powered
Raven is fully aerobatic and has a great
sound.
Perhaps a first for the jet-model pilot
community was a wedding at an event,
of Jim and Cheryl Widner.
11sig1.QXD 9/21/07 2:19 PM Page 30
November 2007 31
Bryce Watson’s Tuskegee Airmen Red Tail F-16
was constructed from a Skymaster kit and uses an
Artes Rhino turbine.
Patrick Frost’s F-4 taxis back to the pits showing its working drogue chute. Each
day the F-4, along with several other military jets, flew a military demonstration.
Jorge Escalona’s 1/5-scale AirWorld Cougar spans 85 inches
and weighs 40 pounds with a JetCat P160 turbine.
Larry Kramer’s BVM BobCat looks great as it makes
another pass in front of the flightline.
Ron Doctorick brought a HotSpot in a cool, wild color
scheme. The 21-pound model uses an AMT USA Mercury
HP turbine.
Joseph Hughes flew this Pilatus Porter
powered with a Wren Turboprop.
The model spans 144 inches and
weighs 36 pounds.
Robert Bush’s F-100 Super Sabre—the People’s Choice award
winner—features hydraulic flaps and weighs 43 pounds.
11sig1.QXD 9/24/07 11:04 AM Page 31
The tents’ large size meant you could
easily stay out of the sun instead of
following the little patch of shade that
moved around during the day! At night the
fliers could store their models in a big
hangar that was just a few feet away from
the tent.
A large generator provided power under
the tent for charging batteries and taking
care of other things for which electric power
was a necessity. It was certainly better than
the normal fly-in, at which no power exists.
There were scores of aircraft at the event.
Among them were a gaggle of smoothly
finished sport models, some extraordinary
scale jets, and a few turboprop airplanes.
They all represented the state of the art in
modeling science for jet-powered models. It
was impressive to watch a model make
flight after flight with no problems.
To the best of my knowledge, not a
single incident was caused by radioequipment
failure. That is remarkable to
those of us who have long memories of days
past. 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 and on.
32 MODEL AVIATION
No Flameouts!
Sullivan New Onboard Glow Driver will keep the plug hot at all
times. This unit features a quick and easy one button set point
programming or automatic operation, so the plug receives power
at any throttle setting. Ignition set point is permanently stored
in memory until changed. The LED indicates burned out plug by
flashing on the glow control panel. The Glow Control panel can
be mounted on the fuselage side or anywhere inside the plane.
Ready to use, just plug to receiver, throttle servo and any 1.2V
to 12V battery. No Y-Harness required. At Your Dealer Now!!!
Engine Quitting While Taxing or Down
Flight?
www.sullivanproducts.com
One North Haven St.
Baltimore, MD 21224
410-732-3500 Reliable By Design.
Visit Us At
2007
I Hobby Expo
If you are asking yourself why your
model didn’t make it into this article, it
comes down to one thing. If you make at
least one low, slow, banked-40°-toward-thecamera
pass, you will probably be in
contention to get into an article and possibly
on the cover. A straight-and-level 200 mph
pass is nearly impossible for a normal
human to photograph.
Halftime entertainment at the fly-in was
provided by the Silent Wings Airshows.
Bob Carlton has equipped an Alisport
Silent-J sailplane with two AMT-USA AT-
450 turbine engines, each of which delivers
approximately 90 pounds of thrust.
Bob put smoke generators on the
wingtips, which spoils all the aerodynamics
but makes for a great sight in the air. He and
the sailplane climb to altitude and then
perform looping and rolling maneuvers,
which are outlined with the smoke.
It is a neat show. If you look closely you
can see a neat aerodynamic phenomenon at
the wingtips: a vortex that keeps the smoke
trails compact.
This trip to Kentucky Jets was different for
me and my wife, Bonnie; we didn’t camp
out in our little van conversion motor home.
Instead we stayed at a beautiful bed-andbreakfast
that Chris Hamilton of the
Lebanon Tourists and Convention
Commission recommended.
The Hill House, located in nearby
Loretto, Kentucky, was only a 10-minute
drive, on a twisty road, from the airport. Jet
pilots would probably love the trip!
Kentucky Jets was fun for those who came
to fly and enjoy a great facility.
Approximately 60 pilots showed up with
roughly 80 models.
The few things that were bothersome to
some fliers have already been addressed.
Next year there will be no demonstrations or
anything else that interferes with the time the
pilots have to fly. The Saturday-evening
banquet will be held at the airport under a
tent to provide the pilots with a wider range
of food and beverages.
I recommend that 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 and
appreciating the models. The skill and
workmanship shown in them and the quality
of flying were amazing. 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

November 2007 25
Bryce Watson’s F-16 uses lights to simulate afterburner action. The convincing bulb arrangement can be turned on when appropriate.
Photos by the author
BY
BEN LANTERMAN
Lebanon in early July offered a taste
of Americana and hot RC jet action
interruption of the model flying whenever a
full-scale airplane wanted to take off or land.
It was a surprise at times since the airport
was uncontrolled. A few handheld radios on
the airplane communication frequencies
allowed the fly-in flightline controllers to
get things running more smoothly.
A great feature of this fly-in was two
giant circus-type tents: one for the pilots and
one for the vendors. The fliers could set up
under their canopy, which provided a great
place to work on models or relax and cool
down after a flight.
THE KENTUCKY JETS fly-in
presented an opportunity for the Midwest
jet pilots to get together with fellow
modelers and experience 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!
The official contest days of Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday were perfect for any
kind of flying. There was no rain,
reasonable winds, and temperatures
hovering near the 90° point. Lower
temperatures in the mornings led to
remarkable flying conditions.
The facility featured a great runway,
which was long enough for full-scale jets to
take off of and land on. In fact, some people
did fly their full-scale airplanes to the airport
to see the gathering. (It would make a nice
day’s trip.)
More aircraft landed that weekend than
in a normal week, which resulted in an
11sig1.QXD 9/21/07 1:48 PM Page 25
26 MODEL AVIATION
A view from the flightline looking back toward the pit area at the Springfield Lebanon Airport. What a crowd!
Jetty Bowling wanted everyone to know his model was a Viper Jet. Unfortunately this
nice-looking configuration didn’t get much airtime at the fly-in.
Robert Kisner’s EuroSport was impressive
powered with an AMT AT-450 turbine. He
made the Harrier maneuver look easy.
After building speed on the runway,
William Hatcher applied up-elevon and
down canards on his EuroSport for liftoff.
11sig1.QXD 9/24/07 9:19 AM Page 26
November 2007 27
Bob Carlton put on a noon show flying
his modified Alisport Silent-J sailplane
powered by twin AMT USA AT-450
turbines.
Robert Hayes
supplemented his
EuroSport with
an R2-D2 figure.
The jet sports
Star Wars X-Wing
markings.
Patrick Frost’s BVM F-
4E won two awards:
Best Military Jet and
Pilots’ Choice.
Ron Ballard flew this Wren turboprop-powered Tucano,
which spanned 110 inches and weighed 34 pounds.
Jorge Escalona performs a
beautiful show pass with his F-
18. Its colors commemorate
the Wright brothers’ flight.
Robert Neal’s beautiful F-15 with the operating canopy in the open
position. The model also featured a functioning speed brake.
11sig1.QXD 9/21/07 1:53 PM Page 27
28 MODEL AVIATION
David Murray’s MB 339 Skymaster flew like a big trainer because of
its 98-inch wingspan.
Dennis Michael won the Best Craftsmanship
award with this EuroSport. It flew
frequently, powered by an AMT NL Pegasus
HP turbine.
Roger Shipley powered his
big 54-pound A-10 Warthog
with two AMT AT-280
turbines.
Bryce Watson’s F-18 featured a full lighting system, smoke
system, functional tailhook, drop tank, and simulated
afterburner effects.
11sig1.QXD 9/24/07 10:12 AM Page 28
November 2007 29
This large F-18’s landing gear works identical to that of the
full-scale jet and absorbs the landing shocks.
Sean Cassidy’s scratch-built F9F Panther weighs only 21
pounds and is powered by a FunSonic turbine.
Dwayne Woods’ MB 339, which weighs 45 pounds and uses an
AMT 400 turbine, handles easily on the ground.
Bryce Watson took three models to the Kentucky Jets event,
including this beautiful F-15 in a camouflage color scheme.
The daytime image of the moon
ended up in many photos with
several other jets, as shown in
this composite image made in
Photoshop.
The centerline fuel tank on Patrick Frost’s
F-4 is shown departing the aircraft.
Larry Kramer’s co-pilot, Kathleen, and his dad, Vern, carry his
BobCat to the start-up area.
11sig1.QXD 9/24/07 10:29 AM Page 29
Roger Shipley’s huge A-10 has Fowler flaps, aileron trim tabs, landing-gear
doors, retracts, and brakes. It won the Best Military Performance award.
30 MODEL AVIATION
Gary Jefferson finished this F-16 in a Thunderbirds color scheme and powers the
18-pound model with a JetCat P-60 turbine churning out 14 pounds of thrust.
Eric Meyers’ Wren turbine-powered
Raven is fully aerobatic and has a great
sound.
Perhaps a first for the jet-model pilot
community was a wedding at an event,
of Jim and Cheryl Widner.
11sig1.QXD 9/21/07 2:19 PM Page 30
November 2007 31
Bryce Watson’s Tuskegee Airmen Red Tail F-16
was constructed from a Skymaster kit and uses an
Artes Rhino turbine.
Patrick Frost’s F-4 taxis back to the pits showing its working drogue chute. Each
day the F-4, along with several other military jets, flew a military demonstration.
Jorge Escalona’s 1/5-scale AirWorld Cougar spans 85 inches
and weighs 40 pounds with a JetCat P160 turbine.
Larry Kramer’s BVM BobCat looks great as it makes
another pass in front of the flightline.
Ron Doctorick brought a HotSpot in a cool, wild color
scheme. The 21-pound model uses an AMT USA Mercury
HP turbine.
Joseph Hughes flew this Pilatus Porter
powered with a Wren Turboprop.
The model spans 144 inches and
weighs 36 pounds.
Robert Bush’s F-100 Super Sabre—the People’s Choice award
winner—features hydraulic flaps and weighs 43 pounds.
11sig1.QXD 9/24/07 11:04 AM Page 31
The tents’ large size meant you could
easily stay out of the sun instead of
following the little patch of shade that
moved around during the day! At night the
fliers could store their models in a big
hangar that was just a few feet away from
the tent.
A large generator provided power under
the tent for charging batteries and taking
care of other things for which electric power
was a necessity. It was certainly better than
the normal fly-in, at which no power exists.
There were scores of aircraft at the event.
Among them were a gaggle of smoothly
finished sport models, some extraordinary
scale jets, and a few turboprop airplanes.
They all represented the state of the art in
modeling science for jet-powered models. It
was impressive to watch a model make
flight after flight with no problems.
To the best of my knowledge, not a
single incident was caused by radioequipment
failure. That is remarkable to
those of us who have long memories of days
past. 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 and on.
32 MODEL AVIATION
No Flameouts!
Sullivan New Onboard Glow Driver will keep the plug hot at all
times. This unit features a quick and easy one button set point
programming or automatic operation, so the plug receives power
at any throttle setting. Ignition set point is permanently stored
in memory until changed. The LED indicates burned out plug by
flashing on the glow control panel. The Glow Control panel can
be mounted on the fuselage side or anywhere inside the plane.
Ready to use, just plug to receiver, throttle servo and any 1.2V
to 12V battery. No Y-Harness required. At Your Dealer Now!!!
Engine Quitting While Taxing or Down
Flight?
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One North Haven St.
Baltimore, MD 21224
410-732-3500 Reliable By Design.
Visit Us At
2007
I Hobby Expo
If you are asking yourself why your
model didn’t make it into this article, it
comes down to one thing. If you make at
least one low, slow, banked-40°-toward-thecamera
pass, you will probably be in
contention to get into an article and possibly
on the cover. A straight-and-level 200 mph
pass is nearly impossible for a normal
human to photograph.
Halftime entertainment at the fly-in was
provided by the Silent Wings Airshows.
Bob Carlton has equipped an Alisport
Silent-J sailplane with two AMT-USA AT-
450 turbine engines, each of which delivers
approximately 90 pounds of thrust.
Bob put smoke generators on the
wingtips, which spoils all the aerodynamics
but makes for a great sight in the air. He and
the sailplane climb to altitude and then
perform looping and rolling maneuvers,
which are outlined with the smoke.
It is a neat show. If you look closely you
can see a neat aerodynamic phenomenon at
the wingtips: a vortex that keeps the smoke
trails compact.
This trip to Kentucky Jets was different for
me and my wife, Bonnie; we didn’t camp
out in our little van conversion motor home.
Instead we stayed at a beautiful bed-andbreakfast
that Chris Hamilton of the
Lebanon Tourists and Convention
Commission recommended.
The Hill House, located in nearby
Loretto, Kentucky, was only a 10-minute
drive, on a twisty road, from the airport. Jet
pilots would probably love the trip!
Kentucky Jets was fun for those who came
to fly and enjoy a great facility.
Approximately 60 pilots showed up with
roughly 80 models.
The few things that were bothersome to
some fliers have already been addressed.
Next year there will be no demonstrations or
anything else that interferes with the time the
pilots have to fly. The Saturday-evening
banquet will be held at the airport under a
tent to provide the pilots with a wider range
of food and beverages.
I recommend that 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 and
appreciating the models. The skill and
workmanship shown in them and the quality
of flying were amazing. 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