Why not Model . . .
Have you ever seen an airplane flying during an air show, fly-in, or sitting just inside a hangar at your local airport, that you would love to model? I have, many times. But sometimes I didn't know the name of the aircraft, or anything about it, other than it had a propeller or jet engine, and was military or civilian. These articles will explore specific aircraft that you don't see modeled that often - if at all. Hawker Hunter: Jet models fascinate most modelers, as well as the viewing public. They have a unique sound, powered by ducted fans
Why not Model: Grumman Widgeon
Some aircraft company names seem to stand out, such as Boeing and North American in civil or military aviation. Other company names are identified with historical events, such as Supermarine with the Schneider Cup Races or the Battle of Britain; or the Granville Brothers flying the Gee Bees in the National Air Races. Our subject this month was built by Grumman Aircraft Engineering Company - a firm that is immediately identified with US Naval Aviation.
Scale World Championships
The Scale Aeromodeling World Championships was held in Pretoria, South Africa. Held at Swartkop Air Force Base and Museum, the site featured a beautiful runway with taxiways and grass/dirt to fly from. At any FAI Scale competition, the pilot has the right to take off and land into the wind. This is especially useful for the multitude of WW I aircraft. This air base, where the second-oldest Air Force in the world is based, accommodated the modelers' every need.
Why Not Model . . .P47
AT A FLY-IN OR SCALE MEET, you usually see at least one P-47. Why? Look at the moments of the aircraft: a nice, long (if fat) fuselage; a longer nose than most WW II fighters; large wing and tail surfaces. In a word, P-47s "groove," even in rough air. It's a wonder we don't see more P-47 models. One of the best models of this type that I've had the pleasure to watch or judge was the Yellow Aircraft kit ("Little Demon") built and flown by Bill Carver. Top Flite, Yellow Aircraft, Roval, Jemco, and just about every other kit manufacturer has had at least one P-47 kit in their inventory over the years.
Sal's Dream: Test pilot and modeler share a piece of aviation history
AS PART of my duties as a District II Associate Vice President for Suffolk and Nassau (NY) counties, I attended a Fun-Fly at the Brookhaven Model Airplane Facility in Bellport NY, co-hosted by the Long Island Aero Radio Society (LIARS) and the Suffolk Wings. One of the participants, Sal Calvagna of Holbrook NY, approached me with photo album in hand and began to tell me about a late-summer meeting between a group of model enthusiasts and one of the last remaining test pilots for the fastest airplane of World War II. Sal is a Scale model devotee and a member of the International Miniature Aircraft Association (IMAA). He and a group of other local large-scale devotees travel the Northeast and attend as many events as their wives permit!
