D.B. Mathsays

OLE RELIABLE was originally designed by Charles T. Marcy, of Syracuse, N.Y. and published in Zaic's Yearbook of 1938. The original had a span of 84 inches, a chord of 11 inches, was powered with a Baby Cyclone, and featured permanently attached wings! The airfoil was a Clark Y; however, he used internal spars (can you imagine threading 24 ribs per wing half onto two spars?). Marcy used much spruce in the fuselage and tail surfaces. The drawing in the 1938 year book states "over 200 flights over 1 1/2 years with only 3 crackups." Remember this monster was free flight. Also shown are 4" M&M airwheels (you old guys remember) and enough braces and turnbuckles to scare off all but the hardiest masochists. The wing center section cover was hinged at the front for access to the batteries. Needless to say, I have "slightly" modified the structure, and yet, if you're interested in free flight competition, you could build Ole Reliable very light and try to compete in the all-Buzzard-Bombshell event S.A.M. calls B-C Cabin.