B. O'Dwyer

WHEN I SAW the small (wooden) Christmas tree ornaments made by German whittlers, one piloted by a white-bearded Santa, without too much effort from flat wood scraps, the idea of a standard 2 1/2-in.-sq. solid, one-piece airplane resulted. I make mine out of rock maple. You might prefer to use walnut or pine. No matter. The result will still be the same: a handsome tree ornament for Christmas-or for other uses, such as a hanging mobile. Having personally spent the past 20 years researching the life and extensive work of Gustave Whitehead, the 1901 No. 21 monoplane and his hang gliders became the first of many miniature airplanes to dangle on a nylon thread found in Doris' sewing box. I made them with the idea of having duplicates produced in Germany to help raise money for the Whitehead Museum. Now, I find myself being urged to introduce them in the U.S.A., as well. Meanwhile, I thought you might want to get out your own saws, files, sandpaper, drills, and Dremel kits to convert some of your own wood scraps into solid aircraft miniatures. It is always more fun to hang up something you did yourself, anyway.