Radio Control Giants

RADIO CONTROL GIANTS ALTHOUGH LEONARDO da Vinci credited inventing parachutes never tested same can probably said Giant Scale modelers Parachutes werent used lifesaving devices until German fighter pilots began wearing waning days World War British dismissed use parachutes feeling pilots would bail out flyable aircraft Its pity because British lives lost might have preserved parachutes available However during WW balloon observers both sides escape parachutes attached sides baskets used numerous occasions Between WW WW II airmail pilots others strapped parachutes posteriors ued dire straits thereby joining elite Caterpillar Club Parachutes common amongst barnstormers used spectacular effect Beginning war-surplus balloon parachutes often strapped landing gear crossbars daredevils thrilled crowds air shows Irving self-contained parachutes made available wingwalkers often used several single drop art slipping parachutes cutting operating canopy loose deploy another added excitement acts exception Charlie radiocontrolled parachutist Radio Control RC modelers have pretty well avoided parachutes form Powered parachutes available RCers have yet really catch Other being used lifesaving devices fighter pilots wear popular use parachutes todays prototype airplanes act drag chutes deployed after aircraft touches down slow airplane save brakes Although havent watched ducted fan model flights use drag chutes has almost entirely avoided Popping drag chute after touchdown would require another servo model doesnt seem too difficult construction operational problem Theres plenty room usual ducted-fan Giant drag chute installation would sure look sporty Ejection seats have also bypassed super-detail model builders Wouldnt great could blast Charlie nut models cockpit separate him seat deploy parachute same effect could achieved rolling Golden Age model upside down having Charlie fall out cockpit smoke would spectacular scale optionparticularly last option before landing presumed automatic pilot Giant Scale model builders such Bob Underwood Art Johnson Nick Ziroli Noel Hess Skip Mast Georg Volkesgang Ken Runestrand have yet another master add list superior RC builders Larry Klingberg Huntington Beach CA Larry unique individuals designs builds flies own creations seems favor early British biplane seaplanes produces masterpiece time sits down workbench have some photographs Larrys latest model its doozer Its Sopwith Pup seaplane done up Royal Navy colors Its 1A-scale powered Zenoah 62 sure good radio contact midst of scale bracing wires Larry has used vertical radio antenna airplane floats basically foam thin plywood covering further covered Solartex sealed RustOleumTM paint rest model covered RustOleumfM last Klingberg model grace pages Larrys Sopwith Schneider racer Pup certainly up impeccable standards Talk about going first-class Dayton Ohio Giant Scalers having its annual Fly scheduled September 3-5 WrightPatterson AFB near Dayton has good fortune meet correspond truly great August1999 97 Larry Klingbergs latest magnificent seaplane model /3-scale Sopwith Pup floats model done Royal Navy colors has Zenoah 62 As noted column floats Larry Klingbergs Sopwith basically foam covered thin plywood Note nifty Blackburn Automotive insignia flying will huge full-scale runway venue features unobstructed flying area will special evening tour Air Force Museum Saturday night will include showing IMAX theater club has scheduled antiques tour non-participants Saturday afternoon Pre-registration $15 make out checks Dayton Ohio Giant Scalers Box 14026 Dayton OH 45413 details meet contained full-color advertising folder can probably get event director Frank Noll Jr 6042 Norwell Dr Dayton OH 45449 Tel 937 435-9232 sure wish Ohio wasnt far Colorado surprised hear old friend Jim Messer Jim member STARS club Olean NY retired Sebring Florida learned have much common big RC model airplanes column describing difficulties landing C-123 brought back some vivid memories Jim engineer first flight X prototype aircraft took down data would ultimately show up Pilots Notes Jim working Chase Aircraft Co time design later sold Fairchild produced C-123 numbers surprised learn Jim fuel tanks jettisonable formed rear engines nacelles engines jettisonable well Jim great pioneers Giant Scale business noted retirement going still active STARS designed built flew two outstanding Giant Scale models kitted Ercoupe Piper Tomahawk flew great Jim found bit difficult get hobbyists Florida until designed V-scale version Piper J-4 12-foot model powered G-62 Jim volunteered cut kit anyone wanted build Three guys didnt know took him up offer local hobby shop owner Jim Hofer Although Jim Messer built model home Jim Hofer offered space back shop other Piper builders broke local ice Jim Messer accepted locals club members asked Jim Messer help him design clipped-wing Taylorcraft designed 1/5-scale version monoplane G-23 YS 120 Four builders constructed five Taylorcrafts J-4s excellent fliers going Jim designed built 40% J-3 Kitten scale Ercoupe According him latter flies like P-SI local fliers impressed Ercoupe 10 requested kits Jim obliged seven Ercoupes soon airborne Jims latest retirement project scale version old E-2 Piper Cub Power model Quadra 35141 Thirteen eager modelers signed up E-2 kits Jim operating vast store balsa acquired long time ago $750 ended up garage 114/ balsa purchased war surplus Before Jim retired sold model business Dave Reid Phelps NY still markets kits Jim designed suspect Jim retired looked forward Florida trip delight didnt have least intention going back kitmaking business however informal may everything Jim Messer designs flies like bird designs marvelously simple has touch certain very busy retirement luck Ill back next month Till have pleasant summer keep em flying odel Aviation Messer 1/5-scale Ercoupe designed built According him lies like Mustang Local modelers requested kits model lineup Messer-designed clipped-wing Taylorcraft Jim cut kits Florida buddies constructed models