Welcome! This site
was created to chronicle my lifelong model aviation hobby, and to provide some valuable resources for visitors.
- Kirt Blattenberger
AMA 92498

My Models:
Airplanes, Boats,
Helicopters, Rockets

Modeling in Erie, PA

Airplanes & Rockets
Modeling Forums

Kirt Blattenberger with E-flight Taylorcraft on Snow Skis - Airplanes and Rockets

Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) | Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) | Int'l RC Helicopter Association (IRCHA)
League of Silent Flight (LSF) | National Association of Rocketry (NAR) | National Free Flight Society (NFFS) | Society of Antique Modelers (SAM)

652 Miles Per Gallon
November 1975 Model Aviation Article

November 1975 Model Aviation

[Table of Contents]
Aircraft modeling has undergone significant changes over the decades - both in technology and preferences. Magazines like American Aircraft Modeler, and American Modeler before that, were the best venues for capturing snapshots of the status quo of the day. Still, many things never change, so much of the old content is relevant to today's modeler.

Whether you are here to wax nostalgic, or are just interested in learning history, hopefully you will find what you are seeking. As time permits, I will be glad to scan articles for you. All copyrights (if any) are hereby acknowledged.

Way back in 1975, my friend, Jerry Flynn, and I (Kirt Blattenberger) assisted Dick Weber in his successful flight on June 14, 1975, that set a new FAI Closed Course Record of 225 miles in 5 hours and 38 minutes. See the credits on page 37. The Tortoise got its name by virtue of the craft having landed near a turtle on the runway. It was a long day, with everyone being sunburned by the end of it.
Note: This article on the Tortoise has now been OCR'ed (optical character recognition) so that all of the text is searchable.

FAI Closed Course Distance Record by Richard R. Weber - Airplanes and Rockets

652 Miles Per GallonNovember 1975 Model Aviation Article

652 Miles Per Gallon
November 1975 Model Aviation Article