My View from the Clouds

An aviator’s
memories of the
first 100 years of
powered flight
November 2003 27
An aviator’s
of the
first 100 years of
powered flight
DEAR ROBERT,
I hope this letter finds you in good spirits. The recent
news of your brush with the hereafter has made me keenly
aware of my own mortality, all the while bringing back a
deluge of memories. Some are best forgotten, yet so many
others still bring a smile to my face and lift my soul to the
threshold of heaven itself.
If it were not for my diary, many such adventures, or
“calamities” as my dear Lucy liked to say, would have been
forever lost with the passage of time. Who could have known
that such simple scribbles in a tattered old book would bring
such joy to one this late in life? We have spent many hours
together, and I shall always cherish the times we had, both on
and above this spectacular planet of ours.
My latest, and possibly last, adventure at Kitty Hawk,
celebrating 100 years of flight, was taxing, yet about as
exciting as it can get for an old aviator. Can you believe it? I
was guest of honor at my grandson’s party. I thought I was
going to burn the batteries out on my pacemaker! What a
show! I wish you could have been there.
I am looking forward to our reunion when your health
improves. Until then, you can busy yourself with some photos
and writings from my diary that I am sending along with this
letter. I will see you soon, my dear friend. Best regards.
Frederick Mangold
May 17, 1912: It has been almost a week since grandpa
arrived from Germany, and I didn’t know if I was happy or
sad. Grandma died on the boat trip to America, and grandpa
Rudolf was so sad when ma and pa fetched him from the
train station. He looks so tired and old, but pa says he is only
46 and is ready to start a new life with us.
I told grandpa of my interest in the aeroplanes we keep
hearing about and how someday I want to fly high above our
fields. I even showed him the picture I keep of the Wright
brothers’ flying machine. Upon hearing this, he called me to
his room and took from a satchel a picture of a beautiful
aeroplane.
It looked so much like a bird, and I listened as he told me
of his ride in this beautiful machine. It is called a Taube, and
he said that to fly above the countryside is to leave his
sorrows behind and rise to meet the heavens themselves.
Though my pa and I must work the fields for the family, I
know someday I will find my way to those heavens.
Model featured: Professional model builder Dave Page’s 1⁄4-
scale Balsa USA Taube. It is powered by an O.S. 91 Surpass
four-stroke engine.
October 09, 1922: Pa, my brother Vincent, and I have been
busy with the harvest. The land has been good to us this
year, and ma, pa, and grandpa are in good spirits. I am now
An aviator’s
memories of the
first 100 years
of powered flight
Clouds From the
My View
by Ken Estes

28 MODEL AVIATION
18 years old and have fallen in love with the idea of flight.
I have managed to work some of the time in town at
Collins garage. In exchange for my labor, old man Collins has
introduced me to his friend who takes me up in his airplane
once or twice a month. He is an honest-to-goodness pilot
who goes around landing in farmers’ fields and giving people
airplane rides. They call it barnstorming, and folks from miles
around gather to see these amazing men and their machines.
Vincent and I were up with the roosters today, but we
were not in the fields. We were on our way to the Millers’
place for our next ride. I can’t wait until I am behind the stick
of my very own flying machine.
Model featured: Ken Estes’ Global Hobby Distributors Blue
Max, which is powered by a Magnum XL .46 engine. The
fuselage was re-covered to match the rest of the airplane, and
Ken built a fiberglass cowl to enclose the engine.
December 5, 1931: The calendar still says autumn, but
nearly a foot of new snow outside says otherwise. The hour is
late, yet as I gaze upon the beautiful face of Lucy, my wife of
nearly three years, I am reminded of how lucky I am during
these times of uncertainty. Even after 10 months we are both
still excited about the birth of our first child James, but the
past several years have played havoc with our emotions.
Grandpa has been dead almost two years, and ma and pa
have been living with us since the bank auctioned off their
farm a year ago. Most folks around us have fallen on hard
times, yet our faith in God and Lucy’s faith in me have
sustained us all.
As a machinist for nearly seven years, my skills have
carried us through the worst of times. I have now been flying
for five of those seven years, although the Jenny that served
me so well lies in the river, the victim of my latest foolishness.
With little to do during this cold snap, I sit by the fire and
marvel at the photos my good friend Robert sent me of our
trip to Springfield earlier this year. I’ll never forget that day.
He assured me that his friend “Granny,” as they call him, was
working on a new airplane I would not believe—and I was
not disappointed.
As we stood in the cool morning air, this new machine,
the “Gee Bee,” flashed by, rattling my trusty ol’ Ford. As this
tiny powerhouse faded into the distance, we knew then that
we were witness to a new page of aviation history.
Model featured: Harold Jones’s Kyosho Gee Bee Z. It is
powered by an O.S. .50 SX engine. He added a pilot and did
extensive work on the dummy engine, which included adding
all of those beautiful pushrods.
June 14, 1940: It’s hard to believe the decade has come and
gone and how so many lives have been changed by that
unforgettable span of years. Our hopes were dashed when
my fledgling company succumbed to the chaos of the ’30s,
yet our life has been full since the birth of our son James a
little more than nine years ago.
In ’36 my good friend Robert and I decided to join up with
Uncle Sam. It was steady work, and with our skills we soon
found ourselves dancing among the clouds once again. They
must think we know what we are doing, for in spite of
ourselves we have both become flight instructors.
Although Robert is assigned to the East Coast, I have been
cavorting through the skies of California. It was a new group
today, and, as always, the fear and uncertainty of my charges
was short-lived. They were born to fly, and although it may
take some a bit longer to master their machines, by day’s end
everyone was wearing a smile.
Model featured: Steve Davis’s 1⁄4-scale Byron YPT-16 Control
Line Scale airplane, complete with rib stitching, cockpit detail,
rivets, brakes, and other scale touches. Dave Page later made
extensive modifications to adapt the YPT-16 to Radio Control.
He installed a SuperTigre 3000 engine, a custom spinner, and
a Futaba radio for guidance.
May 22, 1943: The war wages on, and even though I am not
in the heat of battle, some of my closest companions are aloft
at this very minute trying to end the horror of the last few
years. Our foes are skilled and determined, yet they seem to
have met their match in recent battles over the Pacific.
The tenacity and sheer determination of our servicemen
and -women to put this hellish game of life and death to an
end is having an effect, yet the end of a war never arrives
soon enough. We can only pray that someday soon this
conflict will give birth to a new day and a lasting peace.
Photos/artwork by the author
November 2003 29
Model featured: M.H. McCollum’s TopFlite Hollywood Zero,
which is finished with MonoKote and powered by a YS 91
four-stroke engine. He scratch-built the aircraft’s machine
guns. This model could be built as a Zero or an AT-6 Texan.
April 1, 1954: Lucy and I received another letter from our
son Jim today. Like so many who came before, it was a
welcome glimpse into the life of our only child, now half a
world away doing what he loves: serving his country.
Though few details of his current assignment are revealed, his
words reverberate with love of family and country.
Reading between the lines, at times we sense a bit of fear,
or perhaps uncertainty, yet in our heart of hearts we know he
is in his element. At times he writes of a future as a
commercial pilot, yet he writes with the zeal of a lifelong
military man who has found his future in service to his
country.
Time will chart his destiny. Until then, we welcome his
words and share with him his adventures on the other side of
the globe.
Model featured: Dan Avilla’s 34-pound F-100 constructed
from a Bob Violett Models kit, which uses an AMT Pegasus
turbine for power.
The F-100 was covered with individual sections of Coverite
Presto adhesive-backed aluminum film, then all of the
individual rivets were added. It has brakes, operating leadingedge
slats, and is controlled with a Futaba radio using 14
servos.
September 13, 1959: There is nothing like getting a little
R&R flying in one of my favorite airplanes. The summer
crowds have vanished, the grandkids are back in school, and
my friend Robert and I have joined several others from the
local flying club for some good, old-fashioned, seat-of-thepants
flying.
He finally received his floatplane ticket, and with the help
of a slight chop on the water, he rose from the lake and the
cool September breezes carried him skyward. I was already
aloft in a trusty J-3 Cub, and for more than an hour we flew
above the countryside, drinking in the sights that can be so
intoxicating to those who are in love with the miracle of
flight. Perhaps I should change my name to “Lucky”!
Models featured: Dave Page’s 1⁄3-scale J-3 Cub (right), which
is powered by a Kavan FK50 twin engine and covered with
Ceconite. It includes a handmade pilot, working bungees, rib
stitching, and cockpit detail. The Cub is a multiple-awardwinning
aircraft.
Gary Moullet’s Balsa USA PA-18 Super Cub is powered by a
4.8 c.i. Brison twin engine. Guidance is by an Airtronics Stylus
PCM radio with eight channels and nine servos. The model is
covered with Signight (polyester) cloth and painted with
butyrate aircraft dope.
The Super Cub also features rib stitching, a McDaniel
lighting system, flaps, Edo floats with all rivets, hinged cowling
doors, and is set up for glider towing. It is also a multiple
award winner.
May 10, 1965: Even though I’m retired from the Air Force, I
find my time still full of adventure. Last week Lucy and I
joined Robert and his wife for some good, old-fashioned fun.
A good timin’, corkscrewin’, honest-to-goodness barnstormin’
kind of a day was had by all, and we weren’t just sittin’ in the
bleachers.
Our dyed-in-the-wool Air Force-captain son James has
traded it all for the life of a commercial pilot and part-time
barnstormer; 15 weekends a year he’s whippin’ up the clouds
with some of his buddies, just like his old man used to do.
Better yet, we were all invited for a ride, and one by one
we were strapped into that WACO and went for the flights of
our lives. Of course some of the aerial contortions were toned
down a bit on account of our ages and the fact that a corpse
can’t pull a ripcord in an emergency, but even then, what a
time it was. Heck, I think my dentures landed in downtown
Peoria!
The sight of those pilots twisting and turning their
machines through the air is a thing of beauty, and it took us
back to those days when we first saw that old Jenny at
Millers’ farm. The airplanes may have changed, but the
wonder remains.
30 MODEL AVIATION
Models featured: A Great Lakes Trainer biplane that Don
Brown’s son built from Model Airplane News plans. It is
powered by an O.S. .46 FX engine and is controlled with a JR
six-channel radio.
Gary Christensen’s 1⁄6-scale WACO YMF-3 that Gary Kolb
built from a Pica kit many years ago. It is powered by a Saito
70 four-stroke engine and features a Futaba radio.
Glen Bennett’s 1⁄4-scale Stearman that was built from Ziroli
plans to resemble the Stearman in the movie Pearl Harbor. The
parts were cut by Precision Models. Herschel Taylor assembled
the model, which is powered by a 3W-50 engine.
The Stearman has operating Robart landing gear and a
Williams Bros. simulated radial engine with individual spark
plugs and wires added. It is covered with five rolls of Coverite.
November 10, 1976: There was a hint of winter in the air as
my brother Vincent and his wife greeted us at the gate of their
small farm. We are out seeing America, and for two weeks,
until after Thanksgiving, we’ll be staying with them.
He still has the ol’ Winnebago that has served him so well
for the last five years, but he was ready to trade everything in
for a Pinto after the gas crunch of ’73. However, the lure of the
open road and the comfort you can only get at 5 miles per
gallon changed his mind.
It’s good to see him and Betty for the holidays, and we
always get a kick out of seeing the Veterans Day air show. So
after a good night’s rest, the four of us were off for a weekend
of food, fun, flying, and more food.
My brother has become quite adept at maneuvering his
rolling condo through traffic, and conversation jumped from
one thing to another as we barreled down the highway. Their
trip to the bicentennial, seven years since landing on the
moon, and the Mars landings were just a few topics of
discussion as we reminisced in air-conditioned comfort.
On the way home, however, all we talked about was how
incredible the day was. Uncle Sam always puts on a great
display, and the sight of that beautiful F-4 Phantom made
Vincent’s day.
Model featured: Dave Fusinato’s Bob Violett Models F-4
Phantom, which is powered by a JetCat P-120 turbine and
guided by a JR 10X radio. The bicentennial paint scheme was
authenticated by Charles Traweek, who painted the original.
Wing tanks were optional, but this design (number 211)
had them; others had belly tanks. This is a multiple awardwinning
jet, and it was painted with Testors Model Masters
paint, topped off with a PPG flat clear coat.
December 17, 1983: What a glorious day! The sun rose
above the plateau with blinding intensity, splattering the
countryside with a rainbow of red, orange, and gold. With
southern Utah as his canvas God has once again created a
masterpiece, and my son James, his wife, and Lucy and I will
be a part of this beauty in short order. We will be celebrating
my birthday frolicking in the skies above this beautiful land.
The three of them spent many hours searching for the
perfect gift for “dad.” I knew it would be difficult since I am
not one for most material things in life, so I dropped a few
hints along the way, and today I will become an octogenarian
in a most inspirational way: a helicopter tour through the
canyon lands.
Although I’m not a stranger to helicopter flight, the idea of
literally dipping below the horizon and exploring these desert
walls has my heart pounding a little bit faster this morning. A
lunch on the riverbank and a small party with loved ones at
home should prove to be the perfect reward for 80 years of
life on this spectacular planet.
Model featured: Don Brown’s Kyosho Twinstar—one of a
variety of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters that he flies. It is
powered by an O.S. .32 SX helicopter engine.
August 9, 1994: The day broke cool and clear, and my
grandson was out for some practice. Of course, he wanted
to show his dad and grandpa his latest routine, and, as
always, we were there at the crack of dawn.
Straining the airplane through a routine that would have
seen most pilots coating the canopy with the pancakes they
had for breakfast, he mesmerized us with the agility of his
aircraft and his sheer skill as an aerobatic pilot.
He has become not only an accomplished aviator, but a
spirited entertainer as well, and it showed. Some of his
aerial gymnastics left the women gasping for air, yet his dad
and I knew that he has what it takes. The smiles on our
faces said it all.
November 2003 31
Model featured: Ron Cash’s Hangar 9 Sukhoi, which is
powered by a BME 1.02 engine. Ron also builds and flies his
own designs.
October 23, 1999: As I write this, I am once again above the
canyons of the great Southwest. Even though a high ceiling
obscures the sun, the valley is alive with the warm, vibrant
hues of this magnificent land.
My grandson Sean is at the controls of a Gulfstream V,
flying for his employer of nearly 13 years, so I know I am in
capable hands. No longer able to sit behind the yoke, I realize
how lucky I am to still have numerous chances to be an aerial
spectator as I travel in such lavish
comfort.
It is a pleasure to share my tales of the
air with these corporate “bigwigs” who
have graciously allowed me to be their
guest on so many occasions. To my
delight, many of my fellow travelers have
recollections of their own adventures in
service for Uncle Sam, and many
engaging hours have been spent reliving
our aerial escapades.
The “right of embellishment,” as I call
it, has made some of these tales a bit
more dramatic, but as I near the ripe old
age of 96, I can blame it on my memory.
Model featured: Paul Moren’s 1/12-scale
Gulfstream V, which he built from factory
plans. It is powered by two O.S. .46 VR-DF
engines in Kress ducted-fan units and
features Spring Air retracts.
December 17, 2003: It is a grand
spectacle celebrating an invention like no
other, with aircraft of all types and
thousands of spectators.
Floating over the sands at what seems a snail’s pace, the
Wright Flyer replica is a thing of beauty. Unusually light
breezes have ushered in picture-perfect weather, and the
crowds hailing from around the globe are in awe of the sight
of this delicate contraption. This is an international event,
quite unlike that first flight that was witnessed by so few yet
affected so many.
As I sit here, a guest of honor surrounded by friends,
family, and well-wishers, I realize how lucky I have been in
this last century. To soar above the land, threading my craft
through the clouds as I dance above the quilted fields below
or marvel at the toylike shapes beneath my wings, is to feel a
freedom like no other.
To let my spirit soar as I rise from the tarmac and find
myself in the company of migrating geese is a joy never
forgotten. To gaze upon this planet and see beauty in
everything below is the wonder of flight.
It is my fondest wish that the budding aviators I see around
me will someday share that same excitement I felt my first
time aloft. So when the bug bites, and I know it will, they will
surely cherish their view from the clouds.
Models featured: Don Brown’s Hughes 500E helicopter by
Miniature Aircraft USA, which features Gas Graphite
mechanics and is powered by a Zenoah G-23 engine.
Mike Sheryak built the F-117 by Aviation Design. It is
powered by an O.S. .91 VR-DF engine mounted in a Ramtec
ducted-fan unit. It has Bob Violett Models wheels and brakes,
Spring Air retracts, and it is controlled with a JR radio.
The 1⁄6-scale Wright Flyer is from an Arizona Models kit. The
company offers several other types and scales, including the
1909 military version. The Wright Flyer has incredible detail; its
features include functional controls, laminated propellers,
optional motorized units, sprockets, chains, and even die-cast
brass and aluminum engine fittings, depending on the version
you select. A complete listing of models and features is on the
Web site at www.arizonamodels.com.
Ron Cash owns the skywriting biplane, which is a small
Electric model, and the ship anchored offshore is a fullscale
Ketch. MA
Ken Estes
2813 Centralia St.
Lakewood CA 90712

An aviator’s
memories of the
first 100 years of
powered flight
November 2003 27
An aviator’s
of the
first 100 years of
powered flight
DEAR ROBERT,
I hope this letter finds you in good spirits. The recent
news of your brush with the hereafter has made me keenly
aware of my own mortality, all the while bringing back a
deluge of memories. Some are best forgotten, yet so many
others still bring a smile to my face and lift my soul to the
threshold of heaven itself.
If it were not for my diary, many such adventures, or
“calamities” as my dear Lucy liked to say, would have been
forever lost with the passage of time. Who could have known
that such simple scribbles in a tattered old book would bring
such joy to one this late in life? We have spent many hours
together, and I shall always cherish the times we had, both on
and above this spectacular planet of ours.
My latest, and possibly last, adventure at Kitty Hawk,
celebrating 100 years of flight, was taxing, yet about as
exciting as it can get for an old aviator. Can you believe it? I
was guest of honor at my grandson’s party. I thought I was
going to burn the batteries out on my pacemaker! What a
show! I wish you could have been there.
I am looking forward to our reunion when your health
improves. Until then, you can busy yourself with some photos
and writings from my diary that I am sending along with this
letter. I will see you soon, my dear friend. Best regards.
Frederick Mangold
May 17, 1912: It has been almost a week since grandpa
arrived from Germany, and I didn’t know if I was happy or
sad. Grandma died on the boat trip to America, and grandpa
Rudolf was so sad when ma and pa fetched him from the
train station. He looks so tired and old, but pa says he is only
46 and is ready to start a new life with us.
I told grandpa of my interest in the aeroplanes we keep
hearing about and how someday I want to fly high above our
fields. I even showed him the picture I keep of the Wright
brothers’ flying machine. Upon hearing this, he called me to
his room and took from a satchel a picture of a beautiful
aeroplane.
It looked so much like a bird, and I listened as he told me
of his ride in this beautiful machine. It is called a Taube, and
he said that to fly above the countryside is to leave his
sorrows behind and rise to meet the heavens themselves.
Though my pa and I must work the fields for the family, I
know someday I will find my way to those heavens.
Model featured: Professional model builder Dave Page’s 1⁄4-
scale Balsa USA Taube. It is powered by an O.S. 91 Surpass
four-stroke engine.
October 09, 1922: Pa, my brother Vincent, and I have been
busy with the harvest. The land has been good to us this
year, and ma, pa, and grandpa are in good spirits. I am now
An aviator’s
memories of the
first 100 years
of powered flight
Clouds From the
My View
by Ken Estes

28 MODEL AVIATION
18 years old and have fallen in love with the idea of flight.
I have managed to work some of the time in town at
Collins garage. In exchange for my labor, old man Collins has
introduced me to his friend who takes me up in his airplane
once or twice a month. He is an honest-to-goodness pilot
who goes around landing in farmers’ fields and giving people
airplane rides. They call it barnstorming, and folks from miles
around gather to see these amazing men and their machines.
Vincent and I were up with the roosters today, but we
were not in the fields. We were on our way to the Millers’
place for our next ride. I can’t wait until I am behind the stick
of my very own flying machine.
Model featured: Ken Estes’ Global Hobby Distributors Blue
Max, which is powered by a Magnum XL .46 engine. The
fuselage was re-covered to match the rest of the airplane, and
Ken built a fiberglass cowl to enclose the engine.
December 5, 1931: The calendar still says autumn, but
nearly a foot of new snow outside says otherwise. The hour is
late, yet as I gaze upon the beautiful face of Lucy, my wife of
nearly three years, I am reminded of how lucky I am during
these times of uncertainty. Even after 10 months we are both
still excited about the birth of our first child James, but the
past several years have played havoc with our emotions.
Grandpa has been dead almost two years, and ma and pa
have been living with us since the bank auctioned off their
farm a year ago. Most folks around us have fallen on hard
times, yet our faith in God and Lucy’s faith in me have
sustained us all.
As a machinist for nearly seven years, my skills have
carried us through the worst of times. I have now been flying
for five of those seven years, although the Jenny that served
me so well lies in the river, the victim of my latest foolishness.
With little to do during this cold snap, I sit by the fire and
marvel at the photos my good friend Robert sent me of our
trip to Springfield earlier this year. I’ll never forget that day.
He assured me that his friend “Granny,” as they call him, was
working on a new airplane I would not believe—and I was
not disappointed.
As we stood in the cool morning air, this new machine,
the “Gee Bee,” flashed by, rattling my trusty ol’ Ford. As this
tiny powerhouse faded into the distance, we knew then that
we were witness to a new page of aviation history.
Model featured: Harold Jones’s Kyosho Gee Bee Z. It is
powered by an O.S. .50 SX engine. He added a pilot and did
extensive work on the dummy engine, which included adding
all of those beautiful pushrods.
June 14, 1940: It’s hard to believe the decade has come and
gone and how so many lives have been changed by that
unforgettable span of years. Our hopes were dashed when
my fledgling company succumbed to the chaos of the ’30s,
yet our life has been full since the birth of our son James a
little more than nine years ago.
In ’36 my good friend Robert and I decided to join up with
Uncle Sam. It was steady work, and with our skills we soon
found ourselves dancing among the clouds once again. They
must think we know what we are doing, for in spite of
ourselves we have both become flight instructors.
Although Robert is assigned to the East Coast, I have been
cavorting through the skies of California. It was a new group
today, and, as always, the fear and uncertainty of my charges
was short-lived. They were born to fly, and although it may
take some a bit longer to master their machines, by day’s end
everyone was wearing a smile.
Model featured: Steve Davis’s 1⁄4-scale Byron YPT-16 Control
Line Scale airplane, complete with rib stitching, cockpit detail,
rivets, brakes, and other scale touches. Dave Page later made
extensive modifications to adapt the YPT-16 to Radio Control.
He installed a SuperTigre 3000 engine, a custom spinner, and
a Futaba radio for guidance.
May 22, 1943: The war wages on, and even though I am not
in the heat of battle, some of my closest companions are aloft
at this very minute trying to end the horror of the last few
years. Our foes are skilled and determined, yet they seem to
have met their match in recent battles over the Pacific.
The tenacity and sheer determination of our servicemen
and -women to put this hellish game of life and death to an
end is having an effect, yet the end of a war never arrives
soon enough. We can only pray that someday soon this
conflict will give birth to a new day and a lasting peace.
Photos/artwork by the author
November 2003 29
Model featured: M.H. McCollum’s TopFlite Hollywood Zero,
which is finished with MonoKote and powered by a YS 91
four-stroke engine. He scratch-built the aircraft’s machine
guns. This model could be built as a Zero or an AT-6 Texan.
April 1, 1954: Lucy and I received another letter from our
son Jim today. Like so many who came before, it was a
welcome glimpse into the life of our only child, now half a
world away doing what he loves: serving his country.
Though few details of his current assignment are revealed, his
words reverberate with love of family and country.
Reading between the lines, at times we sense a bit of fear,
or perhaps uncertainty, yet in our heart of hearts we know he
is in his element. At times he writes of a future as a
commercial pilot, yet he writes with the zeal of a lifelong
military man who has found his future in service to his
country.
Time will chart his destiny. Until then, we welcome his
words and share with him his adventures on the other side of
the globe.
Model featured: Dan Avilla’s 34-pound F-100 constructed
from a Bob Violett Models kit, which uses an AMT Pegasus
turbine for power.
The F-100 was covered with individual sections of Coverite
Presto adhesive-backed aluminum film, then all of the
individual rivets were added. It has brakes, operating leadingedge
slats, and is controlled with a Futaba radio using 14
servos.
September 13, 1959: There is nothing like getting a little
R&R flying in one of my favorite airplanes. The summer
crowds have vanished, the grandkids are back in school, and
my friend Robert and I have joined several others from the
local flying club for some good, old-fashioned, seat-of-thepants
flying.
He finally received his floatplane ticket, and with the help
of a slight chop on the water, he rose from the lake and the
cool September breezes carried him skyward. I was already
aloft in a trusty J-3 Cub, and for more than an hour we flew
above the countryside, drinking in the sights that can be so
intoxicating to those who are in love with the miracle of
flight. Perhaps I should change my name to “Lucky”!
Models featured: Dave Page’s 1⁄3-scale J-3 Cub (right), which
is powered by a Kavan FK50 twin engine and covered with
Ceconite. It includes a handmade pilot, working bungees, rib
stitching, and cockpit detail. The Cub is a multiple-awardwinning
aircraft.
Gary Moullet’s Balsa USA PA-18 Super Cub is powered by a
4.8 c.i. Brison twin engine. Guidance is by an Airtronics Stylus
PCM radio with eight channels and nine servos. The model is
covered with Signight (polyester) cloth and painted with
butyrate aircraft dope.
The Super Cub also features rib stitching, a McDaniel
lighting system, flaps, Edo floats with all rivets, hinged cowling
doors, and is set up for glider towing. It is also a multiple
award winner.
May 10, 1965: Even though I’m retired from the Air Force, I
find my time still full of adventure. Last week Lucy and I
joined Robert and his wife for some good, old-fashioned fun.
A good timin’, corkscrewin’, honest-to-goodness barnstormin’
kind of a day was had by all, and we weren’t just sittin’ in the
bleachers.
Our dyed-in-the-wool Air Force-captain son James has
traded it all for the life of a commercial pilot and part-time
barnstormer; 15 weekends a year he’s whippin’ up the clouds
with some of his buddies, just like his old man used to do.
Better yet, we were all invited for a ride, and one by one
we were strapped into that WACO and went for the flights of
our lives. Of course some of the aerial contortions were toned
down a bit on account of our ages and the fact that a corpse
can’t pull a ripcord in an emergency, but even then, what a
time it was. Heck, I think my dentures landed in downtown
Peoria!
The sight of those pilots twisting and turning their
machines through the air is a thing of beauty, and it took us
back to those days when we first saw that old Jenny at
Millers’ farm. The airplanes may have changed, but the
wonder remains.
30 MODEL AVIATION
Models featured: A Great Lakes Trainer biplane that Don
Brown’s son built from Model Airplane News plans. It is
powered by an O.S. .46 FX engine and is controlled with a JR
six-channel radio.
Gary Christensen’s 1⁄6-scale WACO YMF-3 that Gary Kolb
built from a Pica kit many years ago. It is powered by a Saito
70 four-stroke engine and features a Futaba radio.
Glen Bennett’s 1⁄4-scale Stearman that was built from Ziroli
plans to resemble the Stearman in the movie Pearl Harbor. The
parts were cut by Precision Models. Herschel Taylor assembled
the model, which is powered by a 3W-50 engine.
The Stearman has operating Robart landing gear and a
Williams Bros. simulated radial engine with individual spark
plugs and wires added. It is covered with five rolls of Coverite.
November 10, 1976: There was a hint of winter in the air as
my brother Vincent and his wife greeted us at the gate of their
small farm. We are out seeing America, and for two weeks,
until after Thanksgiving, we’ll be staying with them.
He still has the ol’ Winnebago that has served him so well
for the last five years, but he was ready to trade everything in
for a Pinto after the gas crunch of ’73. However, the lure of the
open road and the comfort you can only get at 5 miles per
gallon changed his mind.
It’s good to see him and Betty for the holidays, and we
always get a kick out of seeing the Veterans Day air show. So
after a good night’s rest, the four of us were off for a weekend
of food, fun, flying, and more food.
My brother has become quite adept at maneuvering his
rolling condo through traffic, and conversation jumped from
one thing to another as we barreled down the highway. Their
trip to the bicentennial, seven years since landing on the
moon, and the Mars landings were just a few topics of
discussion as we reminisced in air-conditioned comfort.
On the way home, however, all we talked about was how
incredible the day was. Uncle Sam always puts on a great
display, and the sight of that beautiful F-4 Phantom made
Vincent’s day.
Model featured: Dave Fusinato’s Bob Violett Models F-4
Phantom, which is powered by a JetCat P-120 turbine and
guided by a JR 10X radio. The bicentennial paint scheme was
authenticated by Charles Traweek, who painted the original.
Wing tanks were optional, but this design (number 211)
had them; others had belly tanks. This is a multiple awardwinning
jet, and it was painted with Testors Model Masters
paint, topped off with a PPG flat clear coat.
December 17, 1983: What a glorious day! The sun rose
above the plateau with blinding intensity, splattering the
countryside with a rainbow of red, orange, and gold. With
southern Utah as his canvas God has once again created a
masterpiece, and my son James, his wife, and Lucy and I will
be a part of this beauty in short order. We will be celebrating
my birthday frolicking in the skies above this beautiful land.
The three of them spent many hours searching for the
perfect gift for “dad.” I knew it would be difficult since I am
not one for most material things in life, so I dropped a few
hints along the way, and today I will become an octogenarian
in a most inspirational way: a helicopter tour through the
canyon lands.
Although I’m not a stranger to helicopter flight, the idea of
literally dipping below the horizon and exploring these desert
walls has my heart pounding a little bit faster this morning. A
lunch on the riverbank and a small party with loved ones at
home should prove to be the perfect reward for 80 years of
life on this spectacular planet.
Model featured: Don Brown’s Kyosho Twinstar—one of a
variety of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters that he flies. It is
powered by an O.S. .32 SX helicopter engine.
August 9, 1994: The day broke cool and clear, and my
grandson was out for some practice. Of course, he wanted
to show his dad and grandpa his latest routine, and, as
always, we were there at the crack of dawn.
Straining the airplane through a routine that would have
seen most pilots coating the canopy with the pancakes they
had for breakfast, he mesmerized us with the agility of his
aircraft and his sheer skill as an aerobatic pilot.
He has become not only an accomplished aviator, but a
spirited entertainer as well, and it showed. Some of his
aerial gymnastics left the women gasping for air, yet his dad
and I knew that he has what it takes. The smiles on our
faces said it all.
November 2003 31
Model featured: Ron Cash’s Hangar 9 Sukhoi, which is
powered by a BME 1.02 engine. Ron also builds and flies his
own designs.
October 23, 1999: As I write this, I am once again above the
canyons of the great Southwest. Even though a high ceiling
obscures the sun, the valley is alive with the warm, vibrant
hues of this magnificent land.
My grandson Sean is at the controls of a Gulfstream V,
flying for his employer of nearly 13 years, so I know I am in
capable hands. No longer able to sit behind the yoke, I realize
how lucky I am to still have numerous chances to be an aerial
spectator as I travel in such lavish
comfort.
It is a pleasure to share my tales of the
air with these corporate “bigwigs” who
have graciously allowed me to be their
guest on so many occasions. To my
delight, many of my fellow travelers have
recollections of their own adventures in
service for Uncle Sam, and many
engaging hours have been spent reliving
our aerial escapades.
The “right of embellishment,” as I call
it, has made some of these tales a bit
more dramatic, but as I near the ripe old
age of 96, I can blame it on my memory.
Model featured: Paul Moren’s 1/12-scale
Gulfstream V, which he built from factory
plans. It is powered by two O.S. .46 VR-DF
engines in Kress ducted-fan units and
features Spring Air retracts.
December 17, 2003: It is a grand
spectacle celebrating an invention like no
other, with aircraft of all types and
thousands of spectators.
Floating over the sands at what seems a snail’s pace, the
Wright Flyer replica is a thing of beauty. Unusually light
breezes have ushered in picture-perfect weather, and the
crowds hailing from around the globe are in awe of the sight
of this delicate contraption. This is an international event,
quite unlike that first flight that was witnessed by so few yet
affected so many.
As I sit here, a guest of honor surrounded by friends,
family, and well-wishers, I realize how lucky I have been in
this last century. To soar above the land, threading my craft
through the clouds as I dance above the quilted fields below
or marvel at the toylike shapes beneath my wings, is to feel a
freedom like no other.
To let my spirit soar as I rise from the tarmac and find
myself in the company of migrating geese is a joy never
forgotten. To gaze upon this planet and see beauty in
everything below is the wonder of flight.
It is my fondest wish that the budding aviators I see around
me will someday share that same excitement I felt my first
time aloft. So when the bug bites, and I know it will, they will
surely cherish their view from the clouds.
Models featured: Don Brown’s Hughes 500E helicopter by
Miniature Aircraft USA, which features Gas Graphite
mechanics and is powered by a Zenoah G-23 engine.
Mike Sheryak built the F-117 by Aviation Design. It is
powered by an O.S. .91 VR-DF engine mounted in a Ramtec
ducted-fan unit. It has Bob Violett Models wheels and brakes,
Spring Air retracts, and it is controlled with a JR radio.
The 1⁄6-scale Wright Flyer is from an Arizona Models kit. The
company offers several other types and scales, including the
1909 military version. The Wright Flyer has incredible detail; its
features include functional controls, laminated propellers,
optional motorized units, sprockets, chains, and even die-cast
brass and aluminum engine fittings, depending on the version
you select. A complete listing of models and features is on the
Web site at www.arizonamodels.com.
Ron Cash owns the skywriting biplane, which is a small
Electric model, and the ship anchored offshore is a fullscale
Ketch. MA
Ken Estes
2813 Centralia St.
Lakewood CA 90712