Ken Bonnema

Flown by Don Lowe, the basic Zlin was modified to make the most of the Vegas rules. The design team of Bonnema and Lowe worked out the configuration, Ken building the model - big, graceful, powerful, and a dream to fly. The origin of the Zlin 526 AS as an aerobatic, semi-scale model project dates back to the 1977 Tournament of Champions at Las Vegas. The competition and spectators at that event were treated to a demonstration of a new breed of model aircraft and a new and unique concept of competition. Ed Keck put his Spinks Akromaster through a series of maneuvers which very accurately represented a full-scale FAI Aerobatics Competition program.