Viewfinder — 2015/05
Olde Yellow becomes new
Photographer: Matthew Prachar ([email protected]; Instagram: @MatthewPrachar)
This photograph shows a Berkeley Buccaneer C Special originally built in the early 1970s by George Morgan. The original AMA model identification sticker indicates it was powered by a converted Torpedo .35 engine and had a flying weight of 5 pounds.
After Mr. Morgan passed away, the model came into the possession of William "Bill" Nichols, president of the Hilliard Model Airplane Club in Hilliard, Ohio. Bill restored the aircraft to flying condition in late 2012. The airplane is now powered by an O.S. FS-40 four-stroke engine and is controlled by a Futaba 6EX 2.4 GHz RC system.
Bill reports that the model handles wind well and is fun to fly around with the FS-40 at about half throttle. Its best feature is great touch-and-go landings. Club members have nicknamed the aircraft "Olde Yellow." Bill often lets other members "pass the transmitter," and it has quickly become a favorite plane to fly.
In 2014, Bill restored the aircraft again after his wife partially ran over it with her SUV while parking in the garage; she is occasionally reminded of the incident. This story highlights how much fun Old-Timer RC models can be and underscores the importance of preserving a model built by a former club member who is no longer around to fly it.
Camera and flight media
- Camera: Sony Alpha A100 DSLR
- Lens: Tamron 28–75 mm f/2.8, focal length used 40 mm
- Filter: Hoya Pro1 circular polarizer
- Exposure: f/2.8, shutter speed 1/1250 second
Related videos
- First flight after restoration: http://youtu.be/Co8AyWrN_uM
- Air-to-air FPV footage: http://youtu.be/EC1wvLlqN0w
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
