Author: Sal Calvagna

Edition: Model Aviation - 2021/12
Page Numbers: 68, 69, 70
Eric Lunger standing behind a large Klemm Kl 25 model aircraft on a grassy field.

RC GIANT SCALE

TRI-COUNTY SKY BARONS EVENT AT THE GOLDEN AGE AIR MUSEUM
By Sal Calvagna | rcgiants@optonline.net

Eric Lunger standing behind a large Klemm Kl 25 model aircraft on a grassy field.
Eric Lunger, who is president of the Tri-County Sky Barons, as well as a volunteer and pilot at the Golden Air Age Museum, is shown with his Klemm Kl 25.

WELCOME BACK! We’ve almost made it through 2021. Hang in there; the new year brings renewed hope for a better, safer, and healthier 2022, so have a wonderful holiday season with your family and friends.

Events were back in full force in 2021, and I’m happy to say that I was able to attend a few. This column features a few wonderful RC Giant Scale aircraft that I spotted at the Golden Age Air Museum in Bethel, Pennsylvania, during the Tri-County Sky Barons flying event in August.

The event is held at Grimes Airport, which is a privately owned, public-use airport located slightly off of Route 78 in Bethel. The airport and the Golden Age Air Museum are owned by American Airlines pilot Paul D. Dougherty Jr. If you ask him, he’ll tell you that the airport owns him.

Paul and a group of volunteers maintain, restore, build, and fly aircraft from aviation’s golden past. There are four hangars and a gift shop that house the collection and many interesting artifacts.

The Tri-County Sky Barons held the event August 12-14. Some of the members, including the club’s president, Eric Lunger, volunteer and pilot the full-scale aircraft at the museum. The gathering featured aircraft designs from the Pioneer era through 1941. Participants flew as often as they liked, and on Saturday, there was a touch-and-go contest for anyone who wanted to participate.

Breakfast, lunch, and a great barbecue dinner were available to all. Approximately 65 participants, with more than 120 model aircraft, were in attendance. What a great place to fly models and see full-scale classics. This is an event you should definitely put on the calendar for next year.

Mike Damiani sitting behind a green and white Art Chester Jeep model aircraft.
Mike Damiani, the director of maintenance for the museum, with his Art Chester Jeep.

Eric, of Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, is pictured with his Klemm Kl 25. The Kl 25 was a successful German leisure and training aircraft that was designed in 1928 by Hanns Klemm. Approximately 600 were built in Germany between 1929 and 1936, with 15 being sold to Britain before World War II. Some were built under license in Britain and the US.

This 1/3 scale model was built by Goetz Vogelsang of Vogelsang Aeroscale and is powered by a 70cc Kolm four-stroke gas engine. It spans 170 inches with a length of 98 inches. For more information, visit the Vogelsang Aeroscale website, listed in “Sources.”

Another photo is of Mike Damiani of Watsontown, Pennsylvania, with his 42% Art Chester Jeep that was built from Wendell Hostetler’s Plans.

The Malchione family standing with a large SPAD XIII model aircraft.
The Malchione family (L-R): Dakota the pup, Gwen, Pete, Dave Sr., Tony, and Dave Jr., with their Larry Alles-built 40% SPAD XIII.

The model is covered with Oratex material, painted with Rust-Oleum rattle can paint, and is powered by an EME 60 gas engine. The model spans 84 inches, with a length of approximately 75 inches. For more information, visit the Hostetler’s Plans website.

The full-scale Jeep was built by Art Chester for the 1932 National Air Races,

Three people with a large yellow RC Champ aircraft on a grass airfield
Jay Newler of Monroe NY, and his crew ready his enormous 50% Champ, powered by a 3W 342 twin-cylinder gas engine, for another flight.

a 39-inch propeller. Jay painted his model with Valspar paint that he purchased at Lowes.

The Aeronca Champ entered production in 1945 and was designed specifically to compete with the ubiquitous Piper Cub. It became one of the longest-produced light aircraft in the world.

Finally, the museum’s full-scale WACO biplane, shown in the photo, was busy all weekend, providing that Golden Age of Flight experience at a reasonable rate. For more information on the Golden Age Air Museum or its biplane rides, visit the museum’s website.

That’s all for now. Please have a safe and happy holiday season.

and at one time held the world’s speed record of 237 mph. The Jeep derived its name from the character Eugene the Jeep in early Popeye comics. As an interesting side note, Art Chester later designed the nose and cowling for the P-51 fighter of WW II fame.

Pete and Dave Malchione, of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, along with Dave Jr., of Warbirds Over Delaware fame, attended the event with their 40% Larry Alles-built SPAD XIII.

Jay Newler, of Monroe, New York, brought his 50% Aeronca Model 7 Champion (Champ). The Champ is scratch-built and covered with Ceconite (uncertified) material. The model is powered by a 3W 342 two-cylinder gas engine swinging

People preparing a blue-and-white RC Hempel Cub on a grass airfield
John Snyder, of Glenrock PA, prepares to start his Andy Kane-built 50% Hempel Cub as Jerry McCallum (facing the camera) assists.
Red WACO biplane on a grass field beside a cornfield
The Golden Age Air Museum’s WACO biplane provided thrills to its passengers throughout the event.

SOURCES:

Tri-County Sky Barons
www.tricountyskybarons.com

Vogelsang Aeroscale
info@aeroscale.shop
www.aeroscale.shop

Wendell Hostetler’s Plans
(330) 682-8896
www.hostetlersplans.com

Golden Age Air Museum
(717) 933-9566
www.goldenageair.org