Free Flight: Old-Timers
SCAVENGER HUNT: Where can I find an old ignition engine? This is a frequently asked question, and the answer is not always so simple. Of course, if the enquirer is after a specific make and model, he has his work cut out for him. The field is considerably narrower and he may expect to pay a top price for an example in good running condition. If, however, you are not quite so particular or do not have the time to acquire some "trading stock," you have a much better chance at getting just what you want. Literally thousands upon thousands of ignition engines were manufactured and sold. A large percentage of these engines is still around. Some were lost, a few worn out or destroyed, but most people are prone to stick things back in a corner, even if they are not personally interested, if the object has some apparent or implied value.
7th Annual United States Free Flight Championships
TAFT! A word guaranteed to excite the most composed of free-flight enthusiasts. The United States Free Flight Championships, an AAAA meet, is claimed by many to be the ultimate in free-flight competition. Preparation for the Memorial Day Classic begins months before the magic weekend. Very few winners have come to Taft with untested models. The majority of the models entered show "seasoning" in the form of patches, new paint spots contrasting with faded finishes, and "handling rash." Flight testing, design alteration, experimentation with fuels, props, rubber or towing techniques, must all be sorted out in advance so that all that remains is a couple of test hops in local air.
Pack in the Turns
How to make a first-class winder from an ordinary hand drill.
Free Flight: Old-Timers
SPECIAL AWARDS: All of us enjoy recognition for our efforts, be it in special competitions or in our everyday lives. More and more contests are featuring special awards as an added attraction or interest builder. The '77 SAM Champs in Las Vegas included special awards in Electric Power, Twin Pusher Rubber, and Hightime by a DeLong .30. Such awards are usually "special" in that they differ from the standard awards in the form of sculptures or prized merchandise, and are coveted by their recipients.
Free Flight: Old-Timers
THAT FABULOUS Brown Jr.: In a previous column we discussed the virtues of special events for a specific engine or model. Hardly sooner than that copy went to the editor, I received an announcement that Bud McNorgan was going to organize a "Brown-Powered" event for the coming season. Although not widely known, Bud was instrumental in activating the old-timer movement, and favors some of the old classics like the Dalliare Sportster. Flying a Brown-powered ship in this hopefully annual event would be great, but if you don't happen to own one of the 50,000 Brown Juniors produced during the later 1930's, you may be relegated to the role of a spectator. Of course, you could purchase a new Wahl-Brown Junior Custom Engine! I've been wanting to run an engine test and review on one of Herb's engines for some time, and Bud's contest announcement was all the encouragement I needed. I asked Herb for the loan of one of his engines for the test. The engine arrived promptly and from the very first moment I must say I was, and continued to be, highly impressed with what I saw and experienced.
