Smitty's Commodore
In the 1930s, Holmes Airport was a petroleum-soaked dirt field in the Jackson Heights section of Queens, New York. After a good rain, you could really smell the stuff. With the opening of LaGuardia airport at nearby North Beach, Holmes was closed down. It quickly became a haven for free flighters and the hearth for many fledgling modelers. Louis Garami was one who helped youngsters build and fly their models. Frank Zaic, Henry Struck, Warren and Bill Fletcher, Don McGovern, and Bob Hatschek flew at Holmes. Many Holmes alumni are in the AMA Hall of Fame, and can recall how they braved the turnstiles and the menacing ceiling fans of the subway cars.
Dealing with the Challenges
THE STATE of sophistication in miniature aircraft appointments has grown phenomenally during the last decade. Those of us old enough to appreciate the evolution of hand-hewn propellers to the beautiful machine-carved variety of today are awed by the various accessories that keep appearing at shows such as the WRAM and Toledo. Despite the availability, we are often required to go back to the old "hammer and tong" method for creating the unavailable accessory.
