P-6E flight brings smiles and memories
Joe Hass
joehass@gmail.com
Bill Shaffmaster is a World War II veteran. He was awarded the Bronze Star for action in Europe. [He is now] in hospice after a 10-year battle with bone cancer. The pictures are of Bill’s Great Planes Curtis P-6E Hawk. [He has] a history with the real aircraft.
“Bill got started on it before going into hospice. I finished assembling it [after] his daughter asked me to do an inventory of his modeling supplies and equipment. I saw the partially built P-6E, knew of Bill’s history with it, and took it home to finish for him. While he is in a [center] for hospice patients, he still visits his house when someone drives him over. He saw that the P-6E was missing and called his daughter to report it stolen! His daughter told him of the ‘surprise.’ We had a great day.
“We made the maiden flight on August 4, 2016, [with] no trim changes. It flew right off the board. It is powered by a three-cell 2,200 mAh LiPo driving a RimFire .32 controlled by a Spektrum radio. [The] all-up weight, with a fully charged battery, is 4.2 pounds. The wingspan is 43.5 inches.
“I purchased the partially assembled PT-19 in the picture and have been flying it for a number of years. Fellow modeler
Fred Engelman made the day possible. Bill enjoyed the flights of both aircraft.
“After flying, we were joined for lunch by John Hoover, of Flightline Hobby in Lake Orion, Michigan. John agreed to display the P-6E in his store. While at Flightline Hobby, Bill reminded us that the original P-6E had a three-blade propeller. Before it went on display, John changed the propeller and put on a hub for a more scalelike appearance.
“Bill is making plans for his 100th birthday.”
Do you have an airplane, helicopter, or multirotor photo that you are proud of, or a model aviation-related photo with a great story behind it? Email your high-resolution “Viewfinder” photo and a short note about it to jennifer@modelaircraft.org, or submit it online at www.ModelAviation.com/viewfinder.
