12 O’clock High

Author: Barry Vaught

Kenneth Hurtado standing beside his large Piper L-4 model on an airfield

12 O’CLOCK HIGH

WARbirds and classic aircraft log more than 600 flights

By Barry Vaught | Photos by the author

It is always exciting to see the Zap Glue flags and the Air Show Road street sign when approaching Paradise Field in Lakeland, Florida, for the annual 12 O’Clock High Warbirds & Classic’s RC air show, which was held October 19-21, 2017. You know you will be seeing your friends, making new ones, and seeing a wide selection of warbirds and classic aircraft.

This is a relaxing air show, with no pressure, and pilots can fly to their hearts’ content. There were many monster airplanes and jets present such as Kenny Hurtado’s 168-inch. 40% L-4 Cub, Arnold Marcus’ 114-inch P-38, and James Prive’s 144-inch Super Piper Cub, that all fly true to scale.

Fokker, L-4, P-47, F-16, T-33, and Cougar formations, as well as other individual airplanes, thrilled the fans at the 2017 12 O’Clock High for three days, with more than 600 flights. Watching the dogfighting was like taking a time-machine ride into the past. It provided real thrills.

It is always interesting to see how many models that are built from Nick Ziroli Plans designs are present, and because Nick attended, it was even more rewarding. We counted roughly a dozen Nick Ziroli-designed models; however, there were many more on-site.

Dana Thrasher had a chance to meet Nick and show him three of the models he had built from Nick’s designs. Dana’s Corsair was one of the first Ziroli Giant Scale designs from the 1970s. His Turbinator was designed as a 1950s-style sport jet. Nick still designs and flies, and his latest project is a Cessna 150.

During World War II, German submarines came close to the Florida coast and do you know what the submarine operators disliked the most? They hated the little yellow Civil Air Patrol spotter Piper Cubs that searched for German submarines and radioed their positions to larger airplanes so that they could drop bombs. Local modeler Bill Gottorf offered a nice display that helped educate visitors about aircraft history, and how the Civil Air Patrol served our country during WW II.

Many vendors were on-site, where you could see and purchase some of the latest model airplanes, parts, scale pilots, and radios. The food vendor did a great job of preparing a tasty selection of meals that everyone enjoyed.

The Manhattan Project gatherings that took place

Frank Alvarez’s SAAB J-35 Draken model flying at the event. — Frank Alvarez’s SAAB J-35 Draken was an impressive 1/5-scale model and flown using a SimJet Turbine.

Tom Smith’s Ziroli Skyraider model flying. — Tom Smith’s 10-year-old Ziroli Skyraider is powered by a DA-85 engine and he used a Futaba radio for guidance.

A group of modelers with a red F-16 model. — Back (L-R): Kirby Smith, Franco DiMauro, Henry Castellanos, Rob Lynch, Greg Arnette, and Roberto DiMauro; Roberto Zelaya in front of Henry’s new F-16.

A BVM F9F Cougar model flying toward the camera. — The new BVM 1:5.8-scale F9F Cougar garnered attention.

Don Muddiman’s B-17 model on the ground. — Don Muddiman’s B-17 sounded great with all four of the Magnum .91 engines running.

Frank Tiano standing behind his Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar model — Frank Tiano, with his Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar, won the Best Military award.

Frank Tiano, with his Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar, won the Best Military award.

CARF-Models P-47 flying overhead — Roberto Zelaya’s CARF-Models P-47 stood out in the air. It has a 110-inch wingspan, weighs 48 pounds, and uses a Moki 250 engine for power.

Roberto Zelaya’s CARF-Models P-47 stood out in the air. It has a 110-inch wingspan, weighs 48 pounds, and uses a Moki 250 engine for power.

Bill Toppa’s Fokker D.VII model in flight — Bill Toppa’s Fokker D.VII is a 1/3-scale Balsa USA model with a 118-inch wingspan and weighs 29 pounds.

Bill Toppa’s Fokker D.VII is a 1/3-scale Balsa USA model with a 118-inch wingspan and weighs 29 pounds.

Mike Zellers’s Balsa USA PT-17 model in flight — Mike Zellers flew this 1/3-scale Balsa USA PT-17. The model has a 116-inch wingspan and uses a Moki 250 engine.

Mike Zellers flew this 1/3-scale Balsa USA PT-17. The model has a 116-inch wingspan and uses a Moki 250 engine.

after flying were one of the most entertaining and camaraderie-building parts of the 12 O’Clock High event. Plan to visit the gatherings at next year’s show and see old friends and make new ones. When the flying ended, everyone wished their friends safe travels until the next edition of the event.

Congratulations to Frank Tiano and everyone involved for another exciting and memorable 12 O’Clock High. Do not miss an opportunity to attend one of Frank’s RC model airplane shows. For more information, visit www. franktiano.com.

—Barry Vaught
bvaught@cfl.rr.com

SOURCES:
12 O’Clock High
(863) 607-6611
www.franktiano.com/events/12-oclock-high

AWARDS

CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARD, SPONSORED BY ZAP GLUE
Tom Smith: Ziroli Midnight Cowboy Skyraider

BEST CRAFTSMANSHIP AWARD, SPONSORED BY HOUSE OF BALSA
Tom Smith: Ziroli Midnight Cowboy Skyraider

BEST JET AWARD, SPONSORED BY BAVARIAN DEMON
Henry Castellanos: Anniversary Edition F-16

CRITIC’S CHOICE RUNNER-UP AWARD, SPONSORED BY HORIZON HOBBY
Henry Castellanos: Anniversary Edition F-16

BEST WORLD WAR I AWARD, SPONSORED BY MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS
Bill Toppa: Fokker D.VII

BEST GOLDEN AGE AWARD, SPONSORED BY FLIGHT BROTHERS
David Dewitt: Monster Waco

BEST WORLD WAR II AWARD, SPONSORED BY ZIROLI PLANS
Franco DiMauro/Roberto Zelaya: P-47

BEST MILITARY AWARD, SPONSORED BY BALSA USA
Frank Tiano: Ki-43.

BEST CIVILIAN AWARD, SPONSORED BY METAL BUILDING SUPPLIES
Jimmy Privo: Super Cub

BEST BIPLANE AWARD, SPONSORED BY EZ BALANCER
Mike Zellers: Stearman PT-17

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD, SPONSORED BY FTE
Greg Arnette: T-45

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD, SPONSORED BY SPEKTRUM
Kenneth Hurtado: Piper L-4