NEW RC SCALE EXHIBIT OPENS
IF YOU VISIT the National Model Aviation Museum in Muncie, Indiana, this summer, you might notice something dramatically different about one exhibit area.
The first change that you’ll see is the absence of the theater. In 2021, AMA employees demolished the theater area, creating space for a larger “Miniature Aircraft at Work” gallery. The space where some of these models had been displayed has been transformed into a new exhibit on Scale model aircraft.
Most of the aircraft displayed in this exhibit have won some type of award. Towering above the exhibit is Bret Becker’s 120-inch wingspan U-2C. The first airplane to be installed in the exhibit, this black, 1/8-scale model won Top Gun two years in a row. The first electric-powered aircraft to win the Top Gun award, it took top honors in 2020 and 2021 at the Lakeland, Florida, contest.
The scratch-built aircraft features panel lines, rivets, and weathering and is made of fiberglass, carbon fiber, and balsa wood.
Joining the U-2C in the exhibit are Andy Sheber’s Cessna Skyknight, an aircraft that competed in the inaugural Scale World Championships held in Cranfield, England, and Bob Wischer’s Piel Emeraude. Bob is the only American to ever win the RC Scale World Championships (in 1974).
Also in the exhibit is Charlie Bauer’s electric-powered Piper Cub. In 1989, it was the first electric-powered Control Line (CL) model to be flown at the AMA Nats. In 2004, it also became the first electric-powered CL airplane to compete in the Scale World Championships.
Bob Benjamin’s 1/4-scale Aeronca K, which is also part of the exhibit, was the first electric-powered model to compete in the F4C RC Scale World Championships in 2002. Additionally, there is a Scale model of the Wright Flyer that was built from Ideal Aeroplane Supply Company plans circa 1911; Pete MacZura’s Bearcat that won the first provisional CL Scale World Championships in 1966; and a Kavan Jet Ranger RC helicopter that is similar to those flown in RC Scale Helicopter at the 1974 and 1975 Nats.
There are more aircraft to come that you will want to check out in person. To find out more about the museum, visit www.modelaircraft.org/welcome-national-model-aviation-museum.
HOBBY EVENT ANNOUNCER PASSES
SAMUEL FRANCIS WRIGHT of Rancho Santa Margarita, California, age 83, passed into eternity April 1, 2022, at 12:15 a.m. He was born in Pittsburgh on May 14, 1939.
Sam lived a full, ideal life and was truly loved by family and friends. Raised by Italian parents on a farm in Mars, Pennsylvania, he learned about hard work and the reward of a job well done. The oldest of eight children, he helped harvest home-grown vegetables and fruits that his mother jarred for the winters. He was taught all things, from fixing a tractor on a cold winter night, to raising raccoons, training beagles to chase and catch rabbits, and plucking feathers from 100 chickens for weddings.
In 1958, he graduated from Mars High School. He joined the U.S. Navy Reserves his senior year and served the next three years on the battleship USS Saratoga in the Mediterranean. A few years later, he was wooed into the Air Force, where he worked on the U-2 bomber at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. After service, he began a career in sales in the television industry. He designed and sold the first mobile television truck to ESPN that was built by Sony.
He loved anything with an engine and wheels. Throughout his exhilarating life, he owned classic cars, hot rods, boats, and motorcycles. The bikes he had, including Moto Guzzis, Harleys, and Triumphs, were rebuilt with expertise, perfection, and loving care.
His passion for aviation was a thirst that was never quenched. If he was not flying, he was in his garage building RC airplanes, which are still hanging on pulleys from the ceiling. His collection of large tanks, half-tracks, and other World War I and II plastic kits fill the homemade shelves. He loved to entertain and chitchat with his friends about airplanes, motorcycles, and politics.
Sam was known as the “Golden Voice” throughout the RC world. Announcing at RC flying events from Hawaii to Florida and even Australia, for more than 25 years, was his passion. He was an icon; his voice and knowledge of the history of aviation made him one of the greats. His audiences loved him.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy; two daughters, Sherry Noah and Sharon Hubocan; two grandsons, Zachery and Trevor Byrd; ex-wife, Shelby Strickland; four brothers, Jim, Frank, Chuck, and Pete; sisters, Josephine and Tessie; and many nephews, nieces, and great-nephews and nieces.
AUTHOR, PROLIFIC BUILDER PASSES
AN AMA MODEL AVIATION Hall of Fame inductee, was known for his meticulous scale builds, has passed away. Lawrence “Larry” Klingberg, 91, died March 1, 2022. His large, scratch-built Scale models were displayed at the AMA Expo in California.
According to his AMA History Project biography, Larry began building model aircraft at the age of 7. He continued building large, gas-powered model aircraft with his father throughout World War II. He entered some of his builds in contests and won often.
During the Korean War, while serving in the U.S. Air Force, Larry began building airplanes in his communications van. He even got his commanding officer interested in the hobby.
After the war, Larry moved to Canyon Lake, California, and joined the Lake Elsinore RC Club. He served as club president for many years and as vice president of the Hemet Model Masters Club. He was also a founding member of the Gillman Springs RC Club. After moving to Huntington Beach, California, in 1998, he joined the Scale Squadron of Southern California, where he was the membership chairman. He also joined the Orange Coast RC Club, serving as vice president and program chairman for 12 years.
As a member of the Scale Squadron, Larry enjoyed having a monthly show-and-tell session of his latest building project for his fellow club members, according to the club’s Scale Dimensions newsletter. Larry also enjoyed writing articles for Model Aviation, Radio Control Modeler, and High Flight magazines. Survivors include his wife, Rose.
IF YOU PLAN to visit the National Model Aviation Museum in Muncie, Indiana, this summer, you can look forward to seeing additional new-to-us reading materials. In 2021, the museum received more than 1,000 books and periodicals for its library! In addition to complimentary subscriptions and internal transfers from AMA departments and staff, the museum received four outside library donations of note.
In addition to plans, instructions, and other items, a donation by Gary B. Fogel included 60 newsletters (21 titles) for the library, representing various modeling organizations including the Northwest Soaring Society, Eastern Iowa Soaring Society, and New Zealand Soaring Society. Silent flight aficionados will particularly enjoy these.
Along with items for the archives, Geoff Barrance and his brother, Jon Barrance, donated library items. Geoff
originally owned Nomographs for the Aeromodeller by R.H. Warring (1942) and The ABC of Model Aircraft Construction by Rev. F. Callon (1952). Jon was the owner of Aeromodeller Annual 1959-60, edited by D.J. Laidlaw-Dickson & C.S. Rushbrooke, F.S.M.A.E. (book format).
A hot-off-the-press book that is now on our shelves is Defying Gravity: How Victor & Joe Stanzel’s Dream Took Flight, by Ted Stanzel and Elaine Thomas (2021), which was donated in memory of Victor and Joe Stanzel.
The largest library donation that we received in 2021 contained more than 850 books from the estate of Dr. German Martinez-Eskenasy. The museum does not regularly review such large book donation offers, but we received highly detailed spreadsheets to review with this donation. We also had the benefit of time, taking approximately six months to review the lists. This allowed us to choose the books that we needed for the library efficiently and effectively. It was a model process (excuse the pun)!
This vast collection will be especially helpful for Scale modelers because there are many full-scale aviation books that are specific to particular aircraft, flying aces, and units. Although much of the collection is about World War II aircraft, materials span from World War I airplanes through modern air vehicles. There are books that are devoted specifically to models as well, including painting and detailing topics.
The museum staff is still including records for these books into the collections database, and records will be uploaded to the Digital Collections online in batches. If you visit the museum this summer, you might see progress in action as books are added to the shelves after processing.
We appreciate your patience. This process takes a lot of time, but it is worth it because we are so happy that these materials are here for our researchers. We hope that all books can be up on the shelves by the end of the year.
Do you want to learn more about donating to the museum? Check out our donation guide at www.modelaircraft.org/museum/donate/museum-donation-guide.
Mama Says “Build It”
AMA PLANS SERVICE houses all plans formerly sold through Model Builder magazine, Bill Northrop’s Plan Service, and the Scratch Builder’s Almanac. There are more than 18,000 plans in the collection.
If you like RC Aerobatics (Pattern) aircraft, consider making your mom proud by building the large Mama Mia. The all-wood, 65-inch RC Aerobatics aircraft was designed by Joe Bridi. It features a rear exhaust and has 975 sq.in. of wing area.
You can order plans for the Mama Mia, plans number 11801, at www.modelaircraft.org/plans for $27.
