ERNIE’S PROCTOR
JENNY AT VBT
Photo provided by David Shallenberg | greatlakes1@cox.net
DAVID SHALLENBERG (Rogers, Arkansas) wrote the following on behalf of his good friend, Ernest “Ernie” Fedde, who, now at age 99, was a lifelong modeler and AMA member. Ernie was a founding member of the Shawnee Mission RC Club, AMA 312, in Lenexa, Kansas, and a longtime member of the Benton County Flying Tigers RC Club, AMA 999, in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Ernie, a World War II veteran, took flying lessons in an Aeronca Champ shortly after his military service ended. At the time, airplane rentals cost $4 per hour wet, and the instructor received $3 per hour. His love of flying continued into model aviation.
His modeling started with Free Flight, Control Line, and single-channel RC with rubber band escapements. Ernie progressed to full-house proportional radios and sport/Pattern models, most of them plans-built. His Giant Scale models were things to behold and were also plans-built.
Ernie found himself needing to thin out his fleet of beautifully crafted Giant Scale models. The pride of the fleet was a Proctor Jenny that he built several years ago. The Jenny represented a significant investment of time and talent, and the finished result was amazing.
This Jenny included scale construction techniques and featured details such as rib stitching and rigging wires. It was powered by an electric motor and 6S LiPo battery, and it was controlled with a Spektrum radio. It was a very stable flyer and looked great in the air.
Ernie’s wish was that his Jenny could be displayed and shared instead of being sold off with the rest of his airplanes. The Fly Oz Club (https://club.flyoz.com), a full-scale flying club with a rental aircraft fleet based at Thaden Field (VBT; www.thadenfield.com) in Bentonville, Arkansas, was contacted to see whether there was interest in displaying the Jenny. The offer was enthusiastically received, and arrangements were made to hang it in the pilot’s lounge.
Thaden Field was recognized in 2022 by Flying magazine as being the coolest airport in the US. The Fly Oz Club promotes fly-out getaways to small grass runways all over Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Its goal is to make flying fun and more affordable. The booming population growth in Northwest Arkansas has brought in amenities that have made Bentonville a getaway destination, increasing activity at Thaden Field.
Ernie appreciates the staff of the Fly Oz Club for recognizing what the Jenny represents and their efforts to make it a display piece in their beautiful facility. If you make a trip to Bentonville, Arkansas, be sure to stop in to look at the beautiful model.
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