1941 Taylorcraft BC-12-65
Taylorcraft's 1941 model BC or BF-12-65 (the "C" means Continental engine, "F" means Franklin engine) has always been one of my favorite airplanes. It is only five years younger than I am, so you might say we grew up together. The first model of the Taylorcraft that I built was the 54-inch-span Comet rubber-powered model kit. Over the years I have built and flown many different kit versions of the Taylorcraft. None were true to scale, and most deviations included flat-bottomed or undercambered airfoils and enlarged tail surfaces.
What Junior Problem?
SORRY, I haven't been involved in the "Junior problem" - I've been too busy teaching nine- to 14-year-olds how to build and fly Radio Control Sailplanes. Not just one or two kids, but many. Here's the story from the beginning: Sandia Prep is a private school here in Albuquerque. The summer school program director is Thomas Weber, a man with a big heart. He and Alexander Scott, an involved parent, outlined the need for an instructor for the "Joy of Soaring" program.
Radio Control: Soaring
Planning for this event began in November 1974 with a personal visit by John Worth to the National Soaring Society (NSS) Board meeting in Washington, D.C. There he requested support from the NSS for this event, and accordingly NSS President Rod Smith sent me to Lake Charles, La. in January 1975 to help in the search for a site. After almost 8 hours of fruitless site search we found the DeQuincy Municipal Airport and negotiated its use with Mayor Buddy Henagan and airport operator Gene Allen. I was then invited to the Nats Planning Committee meeting in an advisory capacity where I estimated the requirements in terms of equipment and personnel for a suitable RC Soaring event. These requirements were included in the NATS budget which was later approved by the AMA executive committee and a team of soaring enthusiasts was assembled to convert a dream into reality!
