High Flyer
AN OLD NAME, perhaps, but it still applies. Those who remember the High Flyer as a kite (I'm told they still make them) might be surprised to learn that the term was used, in the 1930s, for nonscale models too. In fact, just about every other nonscale model designed in the Thirties either bore the name High Flyer or featured the term somewhere in its advertisement.
Big Birds of Long Ago
MUCH HAS been written in recent issues of the model aircraft press about the "big birds." A writer or two has/have tried to pinpoint who first came up with the concept of the big, realistic flying miniature aircraft. I don't want to start an argument or take credit from anyone, but as the mean little kid said, "Let's open a new can of worms." Not too long ago a neighbor was cleaning out his attic and ran across a March 1930 issue of Aero Digest and let me borrow it for a day or two. It would appear that the old adage, "The more things change, the more they remain the same," hangs true-for in the magazine were photos and a drawing of a biplane miniature aircraft designed and constructed in 1929.
Chupp's Engine
IN THE AUGUST 1981 issue of Model Aviation, we presented the Chupp seven-foot Little Bitty biplane built in the late 1920s under the title, "Big Birds of Long Ago." A brief mention of the engine used to power the model was made. In spite of some research, we could not beg, borrow, or (heaven forbid) steal a copy of the April 1930 issue of Aero Digest that was supposed to have featured the engine. But, knowing how model builders are, a gentleman in Washington State wrote and mentioned where a copy might be found. It didn't take long to secure a Xerox copy of the article from Dick Seely of Aero Literature, P.O. Box 1441, Olympia, WA 98507.
Curtiss Goshawk
TOO MANY of the modern models we build today lack color and character. For some reason, we also have conned ourselves into believing that if big is better, huge must be best; then we try to fit these beasts into our little economy cars. The Peanut Scale model presented can be carried about even if a skateboard is your means of transportation. It will give much enjoyment with little investment. (After all, isn't our hobby to enjoy?) You must also admit that the planes of the era it represents had both color and character . . .
CO-2 Swatt
MILITARY AIRCRAFT are reaching astronomical costs per unit. They are very expensive to maintain. Recently, someone started to think that it might be better to have many relatively simple, low-cost aircraft instead of a few very expensive, supersophisticated planes for certain tactical situations. The concept of a low-cost, deep-penetration attack aircraft capable of operating from extremely poor airfields was born. These aircraft would differ from the COIN aircraft which, in most cases, were adaptions of existing commercial planes. The SWATT is actually a model of a design study model of this type of aircraft that the author has seen.
