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Fan Forces Parachute to Ascend with Jumper

Fan Forces Parachute to Ascend with Jumper, August 1937 Popular Mechanics - Airplanes and RocketsThis sort of cutting edge technology used to be the domain of military operations, but nowadays it can be found in amusement parks and even at backyard parties. The parachute training facility which appeared in a 1937 issue of Popular Mechanics magazine was real whiz-bang stuff at the time. Although Russia's system is featured here, I have to believe other countries were doing the same sort of thing. Using a high power fan to boost the paratrooper trainee in a simulated parachute descent was an excellent method of introducing men to the sensations and reactions to control inputs via shroud lines. The story noes not mention whether the fan was forceful enough to simulate a free-fall experience. Just today a saw a news item showing such recreational free-fall machine companies called Urban Air and iFall...

Wee -38 Lightning Article & Plans

Wee -38 Lightning Article & Plans, December 1959 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsSince first starting with control line model sin the late 1960s, I always intended to build a multi-engine model of some sort, but didn't get around to it until around 2016 when I began construction on a Douglas DC-3 (maiden flight occurred in 2023). With the plethora of ready-to-fly (RTF) and almost RTF (ARF) models on the market today at very reasonable prices, there is no real good excuse for not doing it; so I'll have to stick with my bad excuses. But I digress. This simple twin "Wee-38" Lightning which appeared in the December 1959 issue of American Modeler magazine, uses a pair of Cox .020 or .049 engines and solid balsa components. You could electrify the model with equivalent brushless motors, ESCs, and a LiPo battery pack. It would be nice if a series of ESCs would be marketed for twin motors, since unlike with brushed...

The Space Race

Space Race (ChatGPT-generated content) - Airplanes and RocketsThe Space Race was one of the most significant geopolitical and scientific competitions of the 20th century, driven by the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It spanned from the late 1940s through the 1970s, with a focus on achieving superiority in space exploration, a domain viewed as critical not only for scientific advancement but also for military and strategic dominance. Rooted in rocket technology developed during World War II, the Space Race transformed the world's understanding of science and technology, culminating in the most dramatic achievement: the landing of humans on the Moon in 1969. This treatise explores the key milestones, the countries and key players involved, technological developments, the interplay between military...

Model Rocketry Takes off in Oregon

Model Rocketry Takes off in Oregon - Airplanes and RocketsThis article appeared in the November 2024 issue of Astronomy magazine - not sure why. "Brothers is a place that has somehow slipped outside the passage of time. Located in a sea of sagebrush in central Oregon, this former stagecoach stopover once serviced horse-drawn migrants bound for the Willamette Valley. Thanks to the nonprofit organization OregonRocketry, Brothers has outlasted the surrounding ghost towns to find new purpose as one of the preeminent high-power rocket launch sites in America. The group has purchased land and established a site out here in coyote country for the advancement of amateur rocketry and education of future aerospace engineers. They have a waiver from the FAA that currently allows them to blast the things nearly four miles into the air..."

HAPS Aircraft for Stratospheric Comms

SoftBank Trials HAPS Aircraft for Stratospheric Communications - RF Cafe"Japanese operator SoftBank announced that the Sunglaider, its large-scale solar-powered uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) designed for High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) stratospheric telecommunications, was utilized in a field trial conducted by AeroVironment and the U.S. DoD in New Mexico, the U.S. During the trial, carried out in early August, Sunglider succeeded in achieving stratospheric flight, the Japanese operator said. With a wingspan of 78 meters and the capability to carry payloads weighing up to 75kg, the Sunglider is larger than other publicly announced HAPS UAS..."

Championship 336 Cessna Skymaster

Championship Winning 336 Cessna Skymaster Article & Plans, July/August 1964 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsThe Cessna Skymaster (336/337) has always been my favorite twin-engined civilian lightplane. A military version of it is designated as the O-2 Skymaster. For as long as I can remember, I have threatened to build a control-line model of one. Well, that time has finally arrived, and I began by ordering these plans from the AMA Plans Service. It will be powered by a pair of 480-sized brushless motors, and throttle will be controlled by a hand-held car/boat format transmitter, the one I use on my control-line Douglas DC-3. I am modifying the fuselage construction to accommodate the motors, and am adding formers to simplify the building process. Mr. Welch's original omitted formers in the cabin area...

Fox 15x Engine

Fox 15x Engine, November 1961 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsFox model airplane engines had a reputation for ruggedness and contest-winning performance, but were also notoriously difficult to get started - at least without an electric starter. In 1961, when this full-page advertisement appeared in American Modeler magazine, electric starters were not in many modelers' field boxes, and particularly those owned by youngsters whose modeling budget came from meager allowances and paper routes. Born in 1958, I was 15 or 16 years old before being able to afford the luxury, and I remember relentlessly flipping the propellers on my Fox 15 and Fox 35 control line engines. Half the time when they...

Airnocker Article & Plans

Airnocker Article & Plans, March 1957 Model Airplane News - Airplanes and RocketsIf you have ever wanted to try your hand (thumbs, to be more specific) at a floatplane, then this 1/2A size Aeronca Champion which appeared in the March 1957 issue of Model Airplane News magazine, is just the ticket. Although designed by Walt Mooney as a free flight ROW (rise-off-water) model that easily converts between wheels and floats, modifications to 3 or 4 channel radio control would be a snap, especially since the plans show separate construction for the control surfaces along the hinge line. With about a 46" wingspan and lightweight but strong construction, this model could easily have been designed with modern electric power...

Rebinding Damaged Books

Rebinding Damaged Books, February 1965 Popular Mechanics - Airplanes and RocketsI did a quick Web search on how to repair damaged book bindings, and as is typical, most of what is out there is a rewritten regurgitation of other pages. Tape and glue are the order of the day per those instructions, but that is really insufficient to effect a good repair on books - particularly older volumes - which use string and fabric along the spine to form a very rugged and durable binding for standing up to repeated use. When you desire to restore a book to as close to its original condition as possible, the more extensive method described in this 1965 Popular Mechanics magazine article is needed. All the tools and materials required are described, as is instructions for assembling a book...

R&S Counter-UAS to Combat Autonomous Aerial Threats

Rohde & Schwarz Advances Counter-UAS Technology to Combat Autonomous Aerial Threats - RF Cafe"Rohde & Schwarz has been at the forefront of addressing the evolving threats posed by advanced drone technology to security, public safety, and critical infrastructure. As drones become more sophisticated and complex, malicious drones equipped with advanced capabilities present significant challenges. To counter these threats, Rohde & Schwarz has developed cutting-edge Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUAS) designed to detect, neutralize, and mitigate emerging drone risks effectively. In a recent interview, Martin Woywod, Product Manager for Counter-UAS Systems at Rohde & Schwarz, explained the urgency of counter-drone technology in today's world..."

Wind Flying

Wind Flying - September 1972 American Aircraft Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsAirplanes and Rockets website visitor Lars B. wrote from Sweden requesting that I scan this "Wind Flying" article from the September 1972 edition of American Aircraft Modeler magazine. It describes a method for replacing engines and motors with human power for preforming some pretty impressive C/L aerobatics on windy days. Basically, you drag the model airplane around on its control lines, which often required not just turning in a circle while standing in one place, but walking around a small circle in order to get more speed. If there is any wind, you need to put extra effort into the pulling when moving into the wind. I can remember doing this as a teenager, only I did it with the engine in place but not...

Aviation News Headlines <Archives>

• FCC Rules for 5 GHz Band Drone Operations

EAA Weighs in on MOSAIC

• Smithsonian Opens Hangar Doors to Pilots

• EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024 July 22-28

• The Smallest Air Force One

Model Boats More Popular Than Ever

Model Boats More Popular Than Ever, Model Annual 1956 Air Trails - Airplanes and RocketsPost World War II was a big time for model building and operating. Veterans and their families helped relieve the stress and anxieties of the era with both scale and original design model boats, cars, trains, submarines, motorcycles helicopters, airplanes, tanks, even oddities like bicycles, farm equipment, carnival layouts, animals, and historic buildings (of which many of those appeared in model train layouts). The level of artistry and craftsmanship was impressive, particularly considering the sparsity of pre-made miniature accoutrements like hardware fittings, mechanisms for operating control surfaces and mechanisms, and even appropriate finishes. Radio control was in its infancy, being largely the realm of modelers with knowledge...

Square Hare from Delaware Article and Plans

Square Hare from Delaware Article and Plans, September 1962 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsWebsite visitor Steve R. wrote requesting that I scan and post this "Square Hare" article from the September 1962 issue of American Modeler magazine. Says, Steve, "I built one of these back then on Galloping ghost and it went great till servo failed (modified mighty Midget motor). Later I built another for Class one Aerobatics fitted with OS 40 and Kraft Propo, this was very successful. Nostalgia strikes and I'd like to build another as a sport model." Square Hare from Delaware is a bit unique in that its wing has no spar and is constructed from diagonally arranged ribs sandwiched between 3/32" balsa sheeting. Looking at all the hardware required just for the elevator control really makes you appreciate modern radio gear with servos. Hopefully, Steve will grace us with a photo of his completed Square Hare.

House Passes Bill Restricting DJI Drone Use

House Passes Bill Restricting DJI Drone Use - Airplanes and Rockets"On September 9, the House of Representatives passed H.R.2864: the Countering CCP Drones Act. This would add future equipment made by DJI technologies to the FCC's Covered List on the premise that it poses a risk to U.S. national security. The Countering CCP Drones Act would essentially ban UAS and related tech produced by DJI from operating on U.S. telecommunications infrastructure. This trails several 'inaccurate and unsubstantiated' claims against the company regarding sensitive data sharing with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This would not directly affect customers, at least for now, though it is guaranteed to have a massive effect on DJI's..."

Tin Goose - She Led the Golden Age

Tin Goose - She Led the Golden Age, February 1962 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsI had no idea that there were multiple versions of the Ford Trimotor (aka Tin Goose). This article from an 1962 edition of American Modeler magazine provides a fairly in-depth look at the history of the airplane. If you follow politics at all, you know that Halliburton is a name that became a household word when George Bush chose Dick Cheney as his vice president. According to author Joe Christy, SAFE-way airline, which operated Ford Trimotors, was started by Oklahoma oilman Erle Halliburton, and was sold to TWA (Trans World Airline) in 1931. In an incredible stroke of good fortune, Melanie and I were able to take a ride in a Ford Trimotor in the summer of 2013, flying out of Erie International Airport (see my Ford Trimotor video)...

America's 1955 Modelplane Championships

America's Modelplane Championships, Model Annual 1956 Air Trails - Airplanes and RocketsThe 1955 Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) National Model Airplane Championships, held at the Los Alamitos, California, Naval Air Station was by all measures a smashing success - "the best run Nationals competition in history." Extensive coverage of the event appeared in the Annual Edition of Air Trails magazine. Free flight and control line model airplanes were there, but no radio control types attended; the technology was not yet within reach of enough hobbyists to warrant inclusion. A look at the photos makes evident the amazing quality and variation of models, both scale and non-scale. Take a look at the F4U Corsair with the folding wings, the Ford Trimotor, Fairchild C-119, and the Fokker DR-1 triplane. Speaking of quality models, two of the feminine kind were on-hand to award trophies. Hillevi Rombin, Miss Universe of 1955, and movie starlet Marla English, are pictured with two lucky winners..

Polaris Dawn's 1st Private Space Walk

Polaris Dawn's 1st Private Space Walk - RF CafeUmmm... was this really a "space walk?" If so, then I "sky walked" when I climbed to the top of my 6-foot wooden ladder yesterday. "The world's first commercial space walk, performed by billionaire Jared Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis, tested new technology and was practically flawless. It wasn't a small step - more a clamber, really - but as billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman climbed partway out of a SpaceX Dragon capsule located nearly 740 kilometers above Earth on early Thursday morning, he made a giant leap into spaceflight history. That's because Isaacman is a private citizen who is flying in a commercial spacecraft on a voyage he paid for - not a government-agency...

Boeing B&W 1916 Biplane

Boeing B&W 1916 Biplane March 1965 Model Airplane News - Airplanes and RocketsHere are plans for the Boeing B&W 1916 Biplane that I electronically scanned from my purchased copy of the March 1965 Model Airplane News magazine. When I have more time, I will dig the magazine out of storage and scan/OCR the rest of the article. For now you can at least review the plans. Click on the images for larger versions. I have even large files for them at the original 200 dpi resolution. Designed and built by Mr. Francis Reynolds. Plans for this fine model were drawn by Mr. Ray Vinup. All copyrights (if any) are hereby acknowledged. "The Boeing Model 1, also known as the B & W Seaplane, was a United States single-engine biplane seaplane aircraft. It was the first Boeing product and carried the initials..."

Adjustable Throw Control Line Handle

Adjustable Throw Control Line Handle - Airplanes and RocketsWhen building my Enterprise-E control stunt airplane, I knew that the amount of control surface throw available for both flaps and elevator was extreme, but I wanted to have the reserve capability in case it was needed. It was definitely NOT needed! Fortunately, because of the way the top fuselage hatch is designed for removal there is easy access to the flap control horn, and thereby the ability to move pushrod clevises around to decrease throws. Even with doing that, however, the model is still very sensitive to control line handle movements. My only solution was to obtain a control line handle with line spacing less than the 4-1/4" on the stock Sullivan handle. That spacing has been a little too much for other models as well, so an alternate handle would be nice anyway...

How to Straighten Bowed and Cupped Laminated Countertops

How to Straighten Bowed and Cupped Laminated Countertops - Airplanes and RocketsI received a lot of feedback after first posting this piece on how to straighten cupped and/or bowed laminated countertops. That was a couple years ago. Since I continue to see severely deformed countertops in Lowes and Home Depot, it is worth brining attention to it again. You might be able to get a really good deal on the otherwise unsellable laminated countertops, then use my easy method for nearly perfectly flattening them. Al that is required is sawing a cross-hatch pattern part-way through the bottom surface, and then screwing, gluing, and clamping them whilst being held flat. The wood around the outside edge serves as the space normally placed between the top of the lower cabinet base and the countertop. Tyr it. You'll like it!

UAV SATCOM Terminal Flight Trials Succeed --- add to AAR

UAV SATCOM Terminal Flight Trials Succeed - RF Cafe"Gotonomi, a UAV satellite connectivity solutions provider, has announced the completion of further successful flight trials and the opening of orders for production units of all variants of its UAV satcom terminals at Commercial UAV Expo 2024 in Las Vegas. The launch marks a significant milestone, transitioning from pre-production flight development kits to type-approved, commercial terminals, enabling scalable beyond visual line of sight operations (BVLOS) for drone operators wishing to offer inspection, surveillance, and delivery services. Following extensive verification testing, including flight trials..."

U-Control Model Plane

U-Control Model Plane, October 1952 Popular Mechanics - Airplanes and RocketsWhen I first saw this "U-Control Model Plane" article in a 1952 issue of Popular Mechanics magazine, I expected it to have been written by one of the Stanzel brothers. Long after their entry into the model airplane manufacturing world, Joe and Victor created their line of battery-powered, electric motor-driven control line models in 1958. It eventually included a helicopter, a monoplane, and a flying saucer, amongst other craft. The Stanzels, BTW, invented the Monoline control line system which was adopted by U-control (aka control line) speed modelers because it created much less aerodynamic drag, facilitating higher airspeeds. Maybe this article was a motivation for the Stanzels...

Antique Clothes Chest Restoration

Antique Clothes Chest Restoration - Airplanes and RocketsAnother of Melanie's family's relics is this pine clothes chest. After more than 100 years of use and abuse, this chest was in dire need of restoration. Construction is very low density pine, with dovetailed corners. Finish was a clear varnish with no stain. The bottom, back, and inside had no finish at all. Restoration consisted of knocking apart and re-gluing most joints, sanding, and filling in the multiple dings and scratches where they were really deep. Minor imperfections were kept for the sake of character. Minwax dark walnut stain was used inside and out, and allowed to dry for a week. Then, two coats of Deft satin clear were brushed on with 320 sanding and 0000 steel wool between coats...

SETI Low-Frequency Search for Extraterrestrials

SETI Low-Frequency Search for Extraterrestrials"The SETI Institute, in collaboration with the Berkeley SETI Research Center and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, has initiated a pioneering study using the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) in Western Australia. Led by Dr. Chenoa Tremblay of the SETI Institute and Prof. Steven Tingay of Curtin University, this research marks the first search for alien technology in galaxies beyond our own, specifically targeting low radio frequencies (100 MHz). The MWA's extensive field of view (FOV) allowed the research team to examine approximately 2,800 galaxies in a single observation, with known distances for 1,300 of these galaxies..."

1962 British Nationals

British Nationals (1963 Annual Edition American Modeler) - Airplanes and RocketsThis report of the 1962 (16th) British Nationals appeared in the 1963 Annular edition of American Modeler modeler, which I believe was published in January of 1963. Just as back in the day, the U.S. Nationals were held on a military installation (U.S. Navy sponsorship), the British Nats were held at Barkston Heath R.A.F. station. Although technically it was an international event, it appears that Brits and Yanks were the only competitors - or at least the only ones mentioned. See anyone you know?

Baby V-1 Dyna-Jet Flies for Fun

Baby V-1 Dyna-Jet Flies for Fun, May 1946 Popular Science - Airplanes and RocketsWhen Dyna-Jet engine in new or like-new condition is listed for sale or auction on eBay, it usually sells for north of $500. Sometimes buyers get lucky and win an auction for less. This 1946 Popular Science magazine article entitled "Baby V-1 Flies for Fun" appeared just a year after Germany had surrendered unconditionally. Only a year before that, Londoners ran for cover in underground shelters when V-1 "Buzz Bombs" were heard making their tell-tale 45 Hz "buzz" noise as they made their way toward England. "V-1" was from the German Vergeltungswaffe 1 meaning "Vengeance Weapon 1." The only reference to a "robomb" I see other than this article is from a 1944 issue of Time magazines entitled, "Science: How the Robomb Works." As Paul Harvey would famously say, "Now you know... the Rest of the story."

World's Toughest R/C Job - Guidance in Outer Space

World's Toughest R/C Job - Guidance in Outer Space, May 1967 Radio-Electronics - RF CafeSpaceX and Blue Origin have been in the news for the last decade for their efforts (some successful, some not) to autonomously land a spacecraft vertically under its own power. Love it or hate it, NASA has been doing that for nearly six decades. Granted, it was on celestial bodies with lower gravitational acceleration than on Earth, but the earliest craft (Surveyor 1, 1966) had relatively crude electronics aboard, including a Doppler radar, flight computer, and video camera. The now legendary Apollo Guidance Computer has been written about extensively, and is a testimony to the brilliance of the scientists, engineers, managers, operators, and technicians who built and flew it. Articles like this one in the May 1967 issue of Radio-Electronics magazine...

Model Filler and Finish Compatibility Matrix

Model Filler and Finish Compatibility Matrix - Airplanes and RocketsI am not aware of the origin of this matrix, but it is a very useful tool for determining whether certain filler materials and finish chemistries are compatible or, equally important, incompatible. It was included in the July 2012 edition of the Bean Hill Flyers control-line club newsletter. This might save somebody the grief and angst from applying a finish over a base that will cause it to bubble, peel, blister, or not ever dry. One important point this chart indicates is that you can apply butyrate dope over nitrate dope, but you CANNOT apply nitrate dope over butyrate dope. There might be other instances of one-way compatibilities, but if you are not sure, do a test first or avoid the deadly combination altogether. You also need to verify compatibility of the various rattle can...

Model Car Sets 128-m.p.h. Record

Model Racer Sets 128-m.p.h. Record, October 1948 Popular Science - Airplanes and RocketsAccording to Guiness World Records, the current holder of the record for the fastest model car is the "Radio Controlled Bullet," by Nic Case, having achieved a speed of 202.02 mph (325.12 km/h), in 2014. In 2019, Estonian Ando Rohtmets set the tethered model car speed record of 215.92 mph (347.490 kmph). All modern speed records are set using electric motor power, unlike these models reported on in a 1948 issue of Popular Science magazine which used liquid fuel and internal combustion engines (ICE). However, not all of those ICE powerplants had pistons. Mr. Frank Brennan showed up with a DynaJet-powered model car, purportedly fashioned after the Nazi V-1 "Buzz Bomb" (remember this was only a couple years past...

Eclipse Sailplane Article & Plans

Eclipse Sailplane Article & Plans, October 1974 American Aircraft Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsThe Eclipse is a gigantic radio-controlled sailplane model with a 16-foot wingspan, geodesic ribs construction, and "V" tail configuration. It is built up from balsa, plywood, spruce, and a fiberglass tail boom. I remember first seeing the model on the cover of the October 1974 issue of American Aircraft Modeler magazine, and really wanting to build one. Unfortunately, I was only 16 years old at the time and was barely able to afford control line models, let alone a huge RC sailplane. Of course with the cost of balsa today, it is no more affordable now as then. It probably takes four rolls of Monokote to cover! Here are plans for the Eclipse that I electronically scanned from my purchased copy AAM. You might be able to scale up the image...

Semroc Saturn 1B Model Rocket Kit

Supermodel Melanie with Semroc Saturn 1B Model Rocket Kit - Airplanes and RocketsThe Estes Saturn 1B rocket is another model that I really wanted to have as a kid, but just didn't have the money. In those days, I launched everything that I built, so I could not see spending a huge amount of my paper route money only to take the risk of destruction due to the parachutes not deploying properly or maybe an engine malfunction. I had launched enough rockets to know that the probability of something going wrong was directly proportional to the cost and time spent building. Instead, I stuck mostly with models that cost no more than about $3 (in 1960s-1970s dollars). This Saturn 1B model has long been in my rocket building queue, but decade passed before I felt justified spending the money and time to buy and build one. The Saturn 1B was one of the Saturn V's predecessors and was used as the launch vehicle for the first few Apollo missions...

American Telasco Limited Jet Propulsion Lab

American Telasco Limited Jet Propulsion Lab, Annual 1960 Air Trails - Airplanes and RocketsJetex "rocket" motors were quite popular during the 1940s through the 1970s. Their debut in the modeling world was in 1948, per the Jetex.org website. Unlike Estes rocket engines that used combustion to generate a high velocity ejection stream, Jetex fuel pellets merely "burned" at a constant rate while the exhaust was forced through a small orifice in the engine's metal housing (casing). Also unlike Estes engines, the Jetex casing was reusable and re-fuelable. Half a dozen or so sizes and thrust levels eventually were produced. I had a couple of the Jetex 50 engines that got strapped to Guillows balsa gliders and, to some degree, were made to fly in jet-like fashion...

Infographic: Greatest Turning Points in Aviation

Infographic: The Greatest Turning Points in Aviation (BBC) - Airplanes and RocketsInfographics are a big thing (literally) in the business and science world, although they do seem to have passed their prime. Well-done infographics typically have the form of a high aspect ratio drawing that presents a detailed timeline or process flow of events or concepts. The progress can run top to bottom or bottom to top, depending on the creator's intentions. This particular infographic, produced by the BBC's "Great Turning Points" series, outlines the major milestones in development of flying machines beginning with the Wright Flyer in 1903 and progressing through both manned and unmanned airplanes up through the U.S...

Tufnut Article & Plans

Tufnut Article & Plans, January 1955 Model Airplane News - Airplanes and RocketsThis Nufnut free flight model airplane article and plans came to being in response to laments from would-be model airplane builders who tried and failed at their first (and sometimes more) attempts to make and fly something even as simple as a rubber powered model. The author decided to present detailed instructions on building and covering an open frame stick and tissue model, being sure to detail areas that generally cause the most trouble. The most difficult task for most beginners is covering the airframe with tissue and then obtaining a warp-free structure after application of dope. If you are new to the hobby and either have experienced such disappointments or are considering getting into the fine hobby of model airplane building and flying and seek sage advice on how to avoid discouraging pitfalls, then you have come to the right place. Tufnut is a somewhat unique design with its solid balsa fuselage that has a slot cut in it for containing the rubber band, rather than just using a stick with the rubber hanging underneath...

The Insect Article & Plans

The Insect Article & Plans, April 1970 American Aircraft Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsHere is the article and plans for the "Insect" that I electronically scanned from my purchased copy of the April 1970 American Aircraft Modeler magazine. Rogallo Wings were all the rage in the 1970s as hang gliding was really gaining in popularity, so the modeling world joined in the fun. An article for the R/C Flexi-Flier, complete with a G.I. Joe pilot, was published four years after this free flight model. Plans for this fine model were drawn by Bill Warner. Because they spanned two pages, I had to adjust the size and alignment a bit to get the halves to line up properly. They were printed full-size in the magazine, so to get the right size when printing, you will need to do some trial and error. There really is no need to even print plans, because dimensions for the parasol components are shown, and the remaining few pieces can be scaled accordingly...

They Had What It Takes: Wiley Post

They Had What It Takes: II - Wiley Post - Ace of World Girdlers, March 1937 Flying Aces - Airplanes and RocketsIn the 1930s, Flying Aces magazine ran a series highlighting aviation pioneers and heros called "They Had What It Takes." The March 1937 issue featured Wiley Post. He was famous for being the first man to circumnavigate the globe alone, but what really set him apart from other trail blazers was his having only one good eye. Mr. Post lost use of his left eye due to a metal shaving being thrown into it during a drilling procedure. He used the workman's compensation award to buy a Curtiss Jenney biplane, thus beginning his flying career. The FAA will issue special waivers for what is termed "monocular vision," when the corrected visual acuity in the worst eye is less than 20/200. Stereo vision (stereopsis) is considered lost at that point, but stereo vision is only effective a distances up to about 100 feet, so long distance depth perception is a matter of familiarity with how objects of known size would appear at various distances...

Covering Up - Tissue and Dope, by Peter Bowers

Covering Up - Tissue and Dope, May 1941 Flying Aces - Airplanes and RocketsPeter Bowers was a well-known designer and builder of both full-size and model airplanes. As an aeronautical engineer working for Boeing in Seattle, he was well qualified for his hobby pursuits of homebuilt airplanes and competition-class free flight airplanes. He was also an aviation photographer and historian with many books and magazine articles to his credit. Bowers' most famous creation is undoubtedly the Bowers Fly Baby monoplane, which won the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) contest in 1962 for the best low-cost, folding-wing plane that can be towed or trailered from home to and from the airport - the goal being to avoid expensive hanger or tie-down fees. The Fly Baby was much in the fashion of a large model as it was constructed almost entirely of wood...

Bombs of the World War

Bombs of the World War, May 1934 Flying Aces - Airplanes and RocketsThese are not your father's bombs; in fact, they're your great-grandfather's bombs. Note that per the title "Bombs of the World War," there was no "I" or "1" appended to it. That is because as we learned in grammar class in elementary school while being instructed on creating outlines, one does not assign a number "1" or a letter "a" or "A" if there will be no number "2" or letter "b" or B." Since what we now refer to as World War I was "the war to end all wars," there was no expectation that there would someday be a World War II. Hence, up until the end of 1941, people referred to the 28 July, 1914 through 11 November, 1918 conflict simply as the "the World War" or "the Great War." But I digress. Many of the bombs shown here were tossed out of the cockpit by either the pilot or back seat bomber/gunner. BTW, when I saw that the Whitehead Aircraft Torpedo supposedly had an 8,000 yard (24,000 feet, or 4.5 miles) range running on compressed air...

Air Progress: The Hawker Story

Air Progress: The Hawker Story, October 1950 Air Trails - Airplanes and RocketsEven when you are supremely talented as both an artist, researcher, and writer, as was Douglas Rolfe, producing the infographics, paintings, and articles like this 1950 Air Trails magazine piece for the "Air Progress: The Hawker Story" feature, requires an enormous amount of time and effort. Unlike today where most of the information (accurate or not) you want is available on the Internet, back in Rolfe's day, a library of books and magazines was needed to assimilate so much information on a single subject - in this case the lineage and evolution of the Hawker line of aircraft from its beginnings in 1912 under the name of Sopwith. In 1950, Hawker's newest airplane was the P-1050 jet (c1949), which followed Tempest (c1947) Typhoon (c1940), which became famous during World War II. Hawker merged with Siddeley (Hawker Siddeley Aircraft) in 1963. Their latest model is the Hawk (now BAE Systems), introduced in 1976...

Peanuts Stars in Ford Falcon TV Commercials

Peanuts Characters Star in Ford Falcon TV Commercials - Airplanes and Rocketshe first-ever appearance of animated Peanuts characters came in the form of television commercials for the 1960 Ford Falcon. I learned about them in a book titled Peanuts: The Art of Charles M. Schulz. To me, Peanuts represents a more innocent time in America, where neighborhood kids played together, were moral in their actions, and even "crabby" kids like Lucy were not evil. Cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, pirates and naval mariners did battle with makeshift weapons and only one ball team at a time won a trophy. My sisters and I rode in basic cars like the Ford Falcon, without the benefit of seat belts, crawling up onto the package shelf in the back to watch the world pass by, standing on our heads in the back seat, and thinking it a privilege to get to ride up front on the rare occasions when Mom was not in the car, too. It takes me back to my boyhood days in the 1960s and 70s when similar activities were a part of life, without all the computer-based activities...

Vintage Hobby Lobby Ad

Hobby Lobby Ad, August 1971 American Aircraft Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsOur grandparents used to tell us how one of the most disappointing aspects of growing older was having the lifelong familiar family, friends, and places disappear. Now that I'm in my sixties, hard as that is to believe, the scenario is unfolding before my eyes. Department stores like Montgomery Ward, Woolworth's, Britt's, and Sears & Roebuck are in the dustbin of history, as the saying goes. I really miss the garden and tool departments of Sears. Nearer and dearer to my heart are the missing hobby products and distributors. In the late 1960s when I first really was aware of radio control, a Kraft two-channel receiver/servo "brick" system was my objet de désir for a simple sailplane. I had to settle for a used three-channel OS Digital R/C system, and installed it in a Mark's Model Windward glider. Tower Hobbies, Hobby Lobby, Hobby Shack, Hobby People, and the like ran multi-page...

Craftsman 7-Drawer Machinist's Toolbox

Craftsman 7-Drawer Machinist's Toolbox - Airplanes and RocketsEarly in 1982, fresh out of the USAF as an Air Traffic Control Radar Repairman, I was fortunate to land a job as an electronics technician at the Oceanic Division of Westinghouse in Annapolis, MD. It turned out being more of a high level electronics assembly job building printed circuit boards, chassis, wire harnesses, sonar transducers, and integrated systems, mostly for the U.S. Navy. A fairly extensive collection of high quality hand tools were required in order to get results which would pass rigorous Navy inspection standards. Snap-On was the supplier of choice because at the time they made extremely high quality (and expensive) small pliers, wire cutters, screwdrivers, wrenches, nuts drivers, etc. I don't know whether there are still roaming Snap-On tool trucks visiting businesses anymore, but at the time we got a weekly visit. Onboard was a tool refiguring workbench for sharpening cutters, repairing screwdriver tips, and other things. Restored components of the c1976 Craftsman 7−Drawer Machinist's Tool Chest. Craftsman 7−Drawer Machinist's Toolbox - top open. Cleaned and groomed felt surfaces...

Lightness Is a Virtue

Lightness Is a Virtue, Annual 1960 Air Trails - Airplanes and RocketsThese tips for building lighter, more effective model airplanes were submitted by Air Trails magazine readers in time for the 1960 Annual edition. They are all as valid and useful today as they were six decades ago. Free flight in all forms - gliders, rubber power, and gas power - are still very popular, so if you are involved in the sport, you might pick up a good idea here. Even the suggestion for using a popsicle stick for a Jetex engine mounting pad might still come in handy since they can be found on eBay (although with ever-increasing difficulty). Believe it or not Pliobond is still sold, although by the Ruscoe Company and not Goodyear. I added a touch of color to the original B&W make everything a bit more interesting...

3 and 4 Finger R/C Escapements

3 and 4 Finger R/C Escapements, January 1955 Popular Electronics - Airplanes and RocketsIf you're still using the "old" one-arm escapements in your radio controlled model airplane, you're probably also still using that "greasy kid stuff" in your hair as well. Just like the hip guy has switched to Vitalis, the hip modeler has switched to multi-arm escapements that allow more than just full left/right or full up/down throw on the rudder or elevator, respectively. Today's equivalent would be advocating for the use of digital servos versus the "old" analog servos. The more things change, the more they stay the same. This article entitled, "3 and 4 Finger R/C Escapements," appeared in a 1955 issue of Popular Electronics magazine.

Sears Electric Hair Clipper Set

Sears Electric Hair Clipper Set 7934 - Airplanes and RocketsIn my zeal to procure some of the items I remember having or using as a kid in the 1960s and '70s, along with some of the things Melanie and I had when we first got married back in 1983, I ran across this Sears Electric Clipper Set (#7934) on eBay. The seller was only asking about $10 for it, so here it is. As you can see in the photos, it is in mint condition, and even the original box shows only minor wear and tear from sitting in someone's closet for more than half a century. I disassembled the clippers and did a thorough cleaning (not much there) and oiled the moving parts with a bit of 3-in-1. Everything seems to be in great condition. Even the power cord is supple and unscathed. One of the plastic blade attachments was included, although the instruction sheet shows four types. Judging from other similar clippers for sale on eBay, the set only came with one, and the other styles must have been available for purchase separately. If you have any you can bear to part with, please let me know...

How to Target AirplanesAndRockets.com for Your Google Ads

Google AdSense - it makes good sense - Airplanes and RocketsSome companies have expressed an interest in being able to target Airplanes and Rockets via the Google AdSense program. Yes, it is possible to do that. As you might expect, finding the exact information on the Google AdSense website is a bit difficult. This short video does a good job summarizing exactly how to implement the "Ad Targeting" option, then "Placements," and then add "Websites." Just enter   airplanesandrockets.com   . There are other settings to optimize your advertising campaign with keywords (both included and excluded), pricing, scheduling, statistical data collection and reporting, etc. If you are currently using Google AdSense, then please consider this method, and if you are not using AdSense, now would be a good time to look into it. I have had reports from some companies that experience great results using AdSense (not just on Airplanes and Rockets)...

Electric Flight Action

Electric Flight Action, January 1975 American Aircraft Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsThings were all so simple then; time has rewritten every line - to paraphrase a popular song from the mid-1970's. That was the era when this 1975 issue of American Aircraft Modeler magazine ran the Electric Flight Action column by Mitch Poling. Having just entered into the radio control (R/C) phase of aeromodeling at the time, I was not too overly interested in electric flight since my prior experience had been with glow fuel powered control line models. Electric propulsion systems were overly heavy, overly large, and underly (sic) powerful. Brushed motors with standard magnets, and usually without ball bearings on the shaft lacked the power of today's brushless motors. Nickel cadmium (NiCad) batteries have about a quarter the energy storage density as lithium types (Li-Ion or Li-Po, so combined with the low efficiency of the motors, flight times were very short. My first experience with an R/C e-powered model was a Great Plane Spectra sailplane, which was a powered version of their 2-Meter Spirit glider. a while later I tried a Carl Goldberg Mirage 550 e-powered model. Both were plagued with brush and commutator problems. All of those issues have been solved with modern brushless motors and Li-Po batteries - which have their own issues, primarily cost and fire hazards. I wonder whether modern material and methods...

Modern Planes Album, December 1939 Flying Aces

Modern Planes Album, December 1939 Flying Aces - Airplanes and Rockets"...the new World War has clamped down the screens of censorship, hence we shall be lucky to get anything much in the way of info and pictures on new equipment to be used by the warring nations." That appeared in the December 1939 issue of Flying Aces magazines. Most people here in America think of World War II beginning on December 7th, 1941, with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. In actuality, the war began much sooner with Hitler's and Hirohito's invasions in Europe (and North Africa) and Asia (South China and South Pacific), respectively. The accepted start date is September 1, 1939, following Hitler's invasion of Poland. Since a December magazine issue typically went to press in October or October, the war had only begun a month or two earlier. Of particular interest here (to me, anyway) is the Curtiss XP−42, obviously a modification of the P−40 Warhawk, but with a noticeably different cowl. Its shape suggests an inline type engine, but reportedly it housed a Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp radial...

Novel Field Kit for a Free Flighter 

Novel Field Kit for a Free Flighter from August 1970 American Modeler Magazine - Airplanes and RocketsHere is novel idea from well-known free flight modeler Bill Hannan and hobby shop owner Russ Barrera. It appeared in a 1970 issue of American Aircraft Modeler magazine. The pair converted an unused transmitter case into a handy field box for use with free flight models. In addition to adding a hinge and latch to the cover, the retractable antenna sports a small wind sock for judging launch times and even a compass in place of the RF power meter to note the direction of your model as it drifts off into the wild blue yonder when the dethermalizer fails to trigger. Without the convenience of eBay, finding an unused transmitter would have been a bit difficult for most free-flighters back in the day...

New Balloons Explore Roof of the Airways

New Balloons Explore Roof of the Airways, May 1948 Popular Science - Airplanes and RocketsAs a kid living in Holly Hill Harbor, Maryland, I managed to find many uses for those thin plastic bags that protected garments returned from the dry cleaner. The two most often were for parachutes and for filling with hot air to use as a balloon. I'd tape my mother's sewing thread to a cut-out circle for a parachute, then tie a small rock to the ends of the "shroud lines." Then, I'd fold it and wrap the lines around it like with my Estes rockets, and chuck it as high into the air as possible. Only when my arm got sore did the repetitions stop. The hot air balloon exercises were not very impressive. Forming a two-dimensional piece of plastic into a three-dimensional sphere(oid) resulted in a less than optimal enclosure, with excess material that only added weight without adding volume for hot air. A hair dryer borrowed - usually without permission - provided the hot (more like warm) air for buoyancy. The thin plastic easily wrinkled if the end of the hair dyer touched it...

How to Target AirplanesAndRockets.com for Your Google Ads

Google AdSense - it makes good sense - Airplanes and RocketsSome companies have expressed an interest in being able to target Airplanes and Rockets via the Google AdSense program. Yes, it is possible to do that. As you might expect, finding the exact information on the Google AdSense website is a bit difficult. This short video does a good job summarizing exactly how to implement the "Ad Targeting" option, then "Placements," and then add "Websites." Just enter   airplanesandrockets.com   . There are other settings to optimize your advertising campaign with keywords (both included and excluded), pricing, scheduling, statistical data collection and reporting, etc. If you are currently using Google AdSense, then please consider this method, and if you are not using AdSense, now would be a good time to look into it. I have had reports from some companies that experience great results using AdSense (not just on Airplanes and Rockets)...

A Day in the Life of a Hobby Dealer

A Day in the Life of a Hobby Dealer (November 1962 American Modeler) - Airplanes and RocketsIt's a good bet that many modelers, myself included, have dreamed about owning a hobby shop. How nice it would be to spend our days amongst walls, shelves, and display cases filled with every type of modeling kit and accessory. Melanie and I actually looked into buying one when we lived in Colorado Springs in the early 1990s. It's a good thing we didn't in retrospect, given the way the local hobby shop (LHS) has suffered tremendously since Internet-based purchases have become so popular - especially being tax-free in most areas. There are still big hobby shops left, but they are few and far between. I'm as guilty as the next guy for not doing more to support my LHS, but usually it's for convenience sake more so than price and not paying sales tax. This article from the November 1962 edition of American Modeler magazine, a time when local hobby shops were still the rule rather than the exception, is a humorous "day in the life of a hobby dealer." You can just imagine how plausible the scenario might be...

Electrodrome: Fog and Poison Gas

Electrodrome: Fog and Poison Gas, May 1934 Flying Aces - Airplanes and Rockets1934 was still riding the back of the high voltage craze popularized by Nikola Tesla at the turn of the century. Super high voltage spark gap transmitters were still being used in long distance communications for special applications. William Haight was one of many people engaged in weather manipulation - both its creation and destruction. Transportation, agriculture, and recreation would greatly benefit from the ability to locally and temporarily control weather. This story of Mr. Haight's high-voltage "electrodrome" machine appeared in the May 1934 issue of Flying Aces magazine. Another version of this electrodrome article by author Mel Wharton, entitled "Eliminating the Peril of Fog," appeared in the April 1934 edition of Flying magazine. There he says, "Repeated tests have shown that the operations of dispersing fog is most effective at about 600,000 cycles - though work is done all the way on a range from 500,000 to 1,500,000 cycles. The machine is capable of developing 500,000 volts, but only a fraction of this voltage is found necessary." A 4½ horsepower gasoline engine-powered generator provides the voltage. A May 1935 issue of Popular Mechanics magazine reports on Mr. Haight's electrodrome work...

Race Car Clinic: Mercedes Benz G.P.

Race Car Clinic: Mercedes Benz G.P., October 1961 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsNow here's a term I had never heard before: "desmodromic valve." I thought it was something that Cox made up by borrowing the "drom" part of Thimble Drome. Not so. According to Wikipedia, "In general mechanical terms, the word desmodromic is used to refer to mechanisms that have different controls for their actuation in different directions." It describes the type of valve used in the full-scale Mercedes-Benz W196 Racer. The Cox model uses their famous .049 glow fuel engine. There is an ocean of information available on Cox engines, cars, helicopters, boats, and airplanes. The Cox Mercedes-Benz W196 was a scale model of the real Formula One car that ran in many European Grand Prix races. The mechanical features were quite sophisticated, including a flywheel with integrates fan for cooling the engine, spring-loaded suspension, and an adjustable muffler for desired quietness/power tradeoff, and careful engineering to assure compatibility of hot metal parts against molded plastic. The Cox Mercedes-Benz Racer on occasionally shows up on eBay, but be prepared for a shock price tag compared to the original $20 back in 1961 when this article appeared in American Modeler magazine...

Model Aviation Comics of Yore

Model Aviation Comics of Yore, April 1960 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsAs was the case with many magazines up through about the 1970's, comics reflecting the theme of the publication was often found within the pages of each issue. This 1960 edition of American Modeler magazine is a good example. It contained no fewer than six model aviation themed comics, one related to a particular advertisement for the Fox Glo−Master Battery and Plug, and five stand-alone comics. The Table of Contents (TOC) page often had a "silent" comic with no dialog or caption. In fact the comic that spanned both pages 42 and 43 is like typical TOC comic. The control line combat scenario on page 49 reminds me of something you'd see on the old BattleBots show (which I haven't seen in many years, but is evidently still running). Anyway, enjoy them all!

Sears "Discoverer" Model 6345 90 mm Equatorial Refractor Telescope

Sears "Discoverer" Model 6345 90 mm Equatorial Refractor Telescope - Airplanes and RocketsBeginning in the mid 1960s, Sears catalogs contained some pretty nice equatorial mount, refractor telescopes. The f15, 60 mm (2.3") "Discoverer" Model 6305 appeared in the 1967 catalog for $99.98, which in 2019 money is the equivalent of $763.49 (per the BLS CPI calculator). Then, in 1970 this f15.5, 90 mm (3.5") Model 6345 was offered for $499.95, or the equivalent of $3,401.88 (per the CPI calculator). Yow, I'm guessing not many of those were sold, especially as evidenced by the lack of available 6345 models that show up on astronomy forums and on eBay. Although not mentioned in the description, there appears to be a motor drive on the right ascension axis. Five oculars (0.975" ?) are included along with a special rotatable prism that holds all five - pretty convenient if it works well. Otherwise, it has the same set of accessories...

Graupner Weltmeister Cirrus R/C Sailplane Kit

Graupner Weltmeister Cirrus R/C Sailplane Kit - Airplanes and RocketsPeople are paying amazing prices for a piece of model aviation history. This 1968 era Graupner Weltmeister Cirrus sailplane kit recently sold at auction on eBay for $2,500. You might think for that price the seller would pick up the shipping cost, but evidently not. According the the BLS Inflation Calculator, that $2,500 in 2020 money is the equivalent of $505 in 1968. The Graupner Weltmeister Cirrus (kit #4229) has a wingspan of 3000 mm (3 meters). The box states, "True-to-scale R/C soarer for tow launching, slope soaring and conversion to powered glider. Accommodates multi-channel or proportional R/C equipment with 2 - 6 channels for rudder, elevator and aileron control. Wingspan is 118 1/8" " The fuselage appears to be constructed of four sections of molded ABS plastic. My guess is that packet of " A look at the kit contents shows lots of metal parts, including an aluminum main former for the power pod assembly. Lots of balsa and hardwood parts are required for the big wing and empennage components...

Revell Shows Production System - How Plastic Kits Are Made

Revell Shows Production System - How Plastic Kits Are Made, May 1957 American Modeler Magazine - Airplanes and RocketsFounded in 1943, in the midst of World War II, Revell's staff of talented artists, sculptors, machinists, chemists, engineers, researchers, instruction writers, and assembly line workers have tuned out multiple millions of highly detailed scale plastic models of every mode of transportation ever devised, from every country that devised said modes of transportation. Revell also made scale scenery and people to compliment the models. They even made model of things that never really existed, like star ships and submarines that could explore 20,000 leagues under the sea. I use images from the box tops of many Revell kits for the Airplanes and Rockets website daily logos. Monogram (founded in 1945) and Revell merged in 1986...

R/C Codes and Escapements

R/C Codes and Escapements, December 1954 Popular Electronics - Airplanes and RocketsThe evolution of radio control (R/C, or RC) systems has occurred at about the pace of most other electromechanical systems from the early part of the last century up through today. As with other technologies, credit for advancement is shared between professionals and amateurs. Of course the first transmitters and receivers used vacuum tubes for amplification and signal generation/detection; it wasn't until the 1960s that transistorized versions became available for public purchase. Integrated circuits for modulators and demodulators were introduced in the 1970s, synthesized oscillators hit the scene in the 1980s, and then spread spectrum changed the landscape in the mid 2000s. Actuators used to move control surfaces started out as rubber band-powered escapements and servomotors. Both were all or nothing displacement in neutral, left, or right. Galloping ghost actuators used constantly flapping control surfaces that would dwell longer in the left or right, up or down position to effect control. All were rather crude, but did the job. Proportional systems with feedback servos permitted control displacement in synchronization with transmitter gimbal stick position. Digital control eventually replaced analog, providing fine enough increments that it responded

How to Make Scale-Model Planes for Government Use

How to Make Scale-Model Planes for Government Use, May 1942 Popular Science - Airplanes and RocketsWith the entry of the United States into World War II came the need for service members to be trained on many new technologies - among them being airplanes and the ability to identify them quickly. Electronics technicians and airframe and powerplant mechanics were in need, of course, but everyone had to be able to tell friend from foe when airplanes were approaching. In order to assist the war effort, a call went out to civilians to begin producing thousands of models at a 1:72 scale so that at 35 feet away they appeared in size to be that of a full-scale version at about half a mile. Detailed paint jobs were not required - only that the profile from all angles look exactly like the real thing. In fact, the models were painted flat black so as to look like a distant airplane against the background sky. Both Allied and Axis airplane models were needed so that soldiers and sailors could quickly spot a potential danger and decide whether to take cover and prepare to fight, or to continue with business as usual. This article appeared in the May 1942 edition of Popular Science, meaning that it was probably written sometime around February, only a few months after the Japanese attacked our naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941...

Du-Bro Whirlybird 505 Helicopter Review

Du-Bro Whirlybird 505 Helicopter Review, March 1972 RC Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsThere is no doubt that Du−Bro set the stage for commercially produced radio controlled (R/C) helicopters with the Whirlybird 500. Its use of a top-mounted engine that relied on counter-torque to set the main rotor blades spinning was unique. There were a few published articles on homebrew free-flight helicopters that used the arrangement, and Cox even marketed a ready-to-fly model that had a Cox .020 engine mounted on top called the Sky Copter (I owned one as a kid in the late 1960s). To my knowledge all other R/C helicopter models used a gear or belt drive from the engine to the main rotor shaft. It is amazing that this quite top-heavy configuration flew at all. Du−Bro engineers deserve a lot of credit. Note extensive use of common Du−Bro products like wheel collars, pushrods...

Low-Drag Rocket Design

Low-Drag Rocket Design, May 1968 American Aircraft Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsG. Harry Stine was (and in some places still is) a household word (ok, a letter and two words) amongst people who engage in model rocketry. As a degreed physicist, he spent his professional years working in both civilian and government aerospace projects. In his spare time, Mr. Stine contributed mightily to the science, industry, and sport of model rocketry. His monthly columns in American Aircraft Modeler magazine were read and appreciated by enthusiasts hungry for a regular helping of the technical side of the craft, served in layman's terms. A typical article written by him reports on some happenings in the trade show and contest realms, while including a lesson in model rocket design and flight...

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Even during the busiest times of my life I have endeavored to maintain some form of model building activity. This site has been created to help me chronicle my journey through a lifelong involvement in model aviation, which all began in Mayo, MD ...

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