World Championships in Germany
Model Annual 1956 Air Trails

Annual Edition 1956 Air Trails

Table of Contents These pages from vintage modeling magazines like Flying Aces, Air Trails, American Modeler, American Aircraft Modeler, Young Men, Flying Models, Model Airplane News, R/C Modeler, captured the era. All copyrights acknowledged.

In 1955, as with today, if you want to see some of the most amazing aeroplane models - especially very large scale and/or unusual craft - look to Germany. The 1956 Air Trails magazine Annual Edition reported on the World Championships in Germany for the International Wakefield Cup, F.A.I Free Flight, and Nordic A/2 Glider events. The three '55 World Championships were held in September at the U.S. Air Force's Finthen Airfield, near Wiesbaden, Germany. Competition was fierce amongst European and American contenders. There were no control line or radio control events at this meeting. It is worthwhile to remember that 1955 was a mere eleven years after the end of World War II, and that former foes were gathered together for a sporting contest. There could easily have been men there who, without knowing it, were competing against military adversaries they met on the battlefield or in occupied towns a decade earlier.

World Championships in Germany

Championships Model Specifications

Biggest thing that ever happened in International contest flying was the 3-event '55 World Championships, held in Western Germany last September 3-5. Host was the USAF, who flew over the American teams, AMA Pres. Keith Storey and other contest officials from New York.

Never before have so many of the globe's top flyers gathered together at one Internationals - there being 80 in A/2 (Nordic) Glider; 74 in F.A.I. F/F Power and 70 in Wakefield, making a grand total of 224 from 23 countries. Top figures prior to this were 158 from 20 countries, at '53 meetings held in Britain (Wakefield & F/F) and Yugoslavia (A/2).

But it was not just sheer size that made the '55 Championships outstanding. In Wakefield, there were 7 men tying for first place - the fly-off being won by Gustav Samann of Germany; in F/F Gas, 3 tied with maximum scores - Britain's Michael Gaster winning this one; in Nordic, Germany again triumphed when '54 winner Rudolf Lindner took first with a total just 4 seconds short of the possible maximum of 900 seconds. Team event wins went to Sweden in Wakefield, Britain in Power and Italy in Glider.

Top U.S. places were 7th in A/2 by Herbert Kothe, 9th in F /F Gas by Otis Goss and team manager Bob Champine's 11/12th in Wakefield. In team results, U. S. made 3'rd in Rubber, 5th in Gas and 14th in Glider. Worth mentioning: at end of 3rd round in Wakefield, all U.S. team members had three 180 sec. maximums to their credit!

The three events were flown off at Finthen Airfield, near Wiesbaden, on separate days-each of the five (2-hour) rounds being split into 4 quarters, during which only one member of each team could fly. The 180 second "maximum" proved too Iowa figure, since 38% of all flights recorded (411 out of 1068) were maximums! Hence the fly-off in Wakefield and Power (and almost in Glider).

Winner - by Rudolf Lindner of Germany. Also flew In '53 and '54 A/2 Championships, winning latter with similar model Began building back in 1942. Model spans 74-1/4".

Winner - by Gustav Samann of Germany. Age 33, building since 1933. Member of 5 previous International teams. Design has won many German contests, including 3 Nats. Span is 49-3/4".

Wakefield winner Gustav Samann of Germany and his folding prop, "V" dihedral design. Note very steep take-off angle  - compromise with VTO.

U.S. Wakefield team was 3rd. Lt. to rt.: Herbert Kothe (13th): Gene Schapp (20th); Manuel Andrade (l8th) and team manager Bob Champine (front) who did best with 11/12th.

U.S. F/F Power team had widely assorted models, but all Torp .15 powered. Lt. to rt. from back are: Bill Hartin: team manager Bob Champine: Ernie Shailor: Harry Gould and Otis GOBS.

Third man in fly-off in F/F Power, was Canada's Bryant Jones, who also used Oliver Tiqer diesel like winner Gaster. Neat simple ship featured high aspect ratio wing and stab.

2nd (below-by Francisco Stajcer of Argentina. Simple straight-forward (but rather bulky) slabsider pylon, powered by Torp .15 (8" x 4" Tornado prop), with multi-spar wing and stab. Span 51~". Entire model silk covered, 6 coats of dope. Right/left trim.

Forward-fin VTO Austrian design (right) by Oskar Czepa was powered by E. D. 2.46, first seen at '53 Championships in England.

Marla Rudolph was only woman free flight contestant to fly. She placed in 8th for Germany, with this E.D. 2.46 twin-finned pylon. German team was 5th.

Scimuel Davila of Mexico placed 22nd with this unusual forward-fin F/F entry. Plenty of unorthodox ships flown at '55 Champion­ships with VTO take-offs a common sight.

High-thrust line Australian entry (left) by Bond Baker had beautifully clean lines, "fish-tall" stab fins and wing tip fins.

3rd-by Bryant Jones of Canada. Member of Avro model club. Holds Canadian Class B F/F and A speed records. Many different-size versions of some basic design built. Powered by tuned Oliver Tiger, span 65-1/2". "Skysail" covered. 4 coats dope, 1 of fuel proofer. Right/right.

German winner Rudolf Lindner (top, left) and his sleek pod and boom design. He won last year with similar model, using same pair of wings. (top, right):

Italy won team crown-highest scorer was Enzo Giusti (hiding at left!). Enzo flew another model in contest - without tip fins. Swedish team was 2nd, France 3rd and U.S.A. 14th. Herb Kothe (lower, left) was top scoring man in U.S. glider team, with 7th. Others in team were well down list, U.S.A. did best in F/F and

Wakefield. (lower, right): Italian flyer Enzo Giusti was just 10 seconds behind winner, which gave him 4th. Design was one of many unorthodox entries.

3rd - by Rolf Hagel of Sweden. Age 20, modeling since 1949. Member of 1 pre­vious A/2 team and 3 power teams. Design is 77" span, has hardwood wing spars, Gott. 417 wing airfoil and thin undercambered stab airfoil.

2nd - by Bob Gilroy of Gt. Britain. Age 34, started modeling in 1937. 71" span design has Hansen wing airfoil (spruce spars) and. Hacklinger stab airfoil. Unusual feature: stubby H4" nose for quick stall recovery. Modelspan tissue, with two coats of dope. Circles left.

Tip-Finned pylon stick A/2 glider entry by Laslo Pinter of Yugoslavia made pos­sible complete elimination of dihedral.

Forward-fin model by Britain's John O'Donnell of Wakefield fame, performed well; placed 19th in '53 Championships.