Mr. Freeflight-- R.I.P.

https://www.modelaircraft.org/files/TaibiSal.pdf

Sal's Powerhouse climbs out with a PB-2 somewhere in Eastern Europe.

3rd Bi-annual OT MIDWEST CHAMPS

Can't do the drive to Vegas this year?   Consider the Midwest Champs held in conjunction with the Central Indiana Aeromodelers (CIA) and sponsored by MECA

More Vintage R/C YouTube Videos

The Majestic Major

Tandy Walker's Speed 400 model completed

As this construction project draws to a close tonight, this is the 92nd and final Cloudster's construction report. I began this Speed 400 project on October 27, 2009, over five months ago and completed it this evening. I truly hope you have enjoyed my efforts on this project as much as I have sharing them with you. There will be one more follow up report later on in the spring after the weather gets good to present the results of the Cloudster's flight testing. So for now, good night and goodbye............................Tandy

Bugaboo

Another ugly model (with a happy owner). This one spotted recently in Muncie, Indiana at the AMA's fabulous flying site.   More Bugaboo photos here.

Lanzo Record Breaker

Relegated to virtual obscurity following the discovery of the Lanzo Bomber and the Lanzo Airborn, the Lanzo Record Breaker was once a common sight at Old Timer events.

Latowski Nomad part I

Under construction for this year's Toledo Show is this Charles Hollinger Nomad being built from a Klarich Kit.

R/C assist Old Timer videos from Canada

Videos from the Jetwaco video channel on YouTube. Click blue text for more

Buzzard Bombshell


Lancer


Flying Quaker



Ubiquitous Bomber


Majestic Major


Powerhouse

More videos from Italian modelers

For those who couldn't get enough of the inimitable Ninetto, this is some of what google brought up.

Rock-it from GeKo on Vimeo.

Rock-It trailer 3 from GeKo on Vimeo.

Looking for more? Try this link

Foxacoy Powerhouse part 2

Hi Guys,

The wing took a little longer than I planned on. Covered the center section with 1/64 ply.

The wing as is weighs 12 ounces

The first photo shows the dihedral jig I made.

The wing is hanging up waiting to be covered.

I ran the Fox 35 with the APC 10.5 dia by 4.5 pitch prop. It tacked out about 11,500 rpm. Installed the Tongue muffler and the prop tacked out at 12,000 rpm.

But the engine was running a little hot. I backed off the needle valve and it ran cooler at 11,500 rpm.

The stab is the next thing to build.

Bucky

George Reich's Albatross prototype

One day, George showed up at the flying field with some photos of the prototype to his famous Albatross gas model of 1940. He was strongly influenced by the theories of Charles Hampson Grant, particularly when it came to the importance of a low Center of Lateral Area for spiral stability. The photos bear this out. Note the faired in landing gear.

After starting the process that got the prototype of the Kerswap approved (twin finned model published in SAM Speaks), I hinted at doing the same for this model. The self-effacing George would have none of it and said he wouldn't show the pictures again as he feared my plans might embarrass him if he was credited with such an "ugly" design especially when compared with the final model.

I was sure the photos were lost forever when they didn't turn up after his death in his album. But, after much searching, his daughter Kathy Shank has found them.

In this last photo, George shows off an old design that is not his own--
a fossilized fish at Bucky Walter's annual Modelers Show & Tell (2007)

1940 Albatross by George A. Reich

A Story of Way Back When and Now

This story started way back when in the year of 1940. Gil Morris at the age of fifteen years old entered a model airplane contest in Cleveland, Ohio. Gil entered Class A Gas and won first place. Gil flew two models of his own design; both of which flew out of sight and were lost. Gil's flight times entitled him to first place. Gil had a choice of a bicycle or a cash prize. He chose the cash prize so he could buy engines for the ones he lost that day. Another young man, George Reich, at the age of twenty years old also entered that contest. George entered Class C Gas and won first place. George flew a model of his own design called the Albatross. George chose the bicycle for his prize, which was later stolen from his home. Gil remembered how beautiful the Albatross flew and so did the news photographer. The first place contestants were gather together behind George Reich and his Albatross for a photo. Gil had the newspaper article in his scrape book and a copy is attached.

Gil Morris always wanted to build the George Reich Albatross and so he did, sixty seven years later! Gil flew the Albatross for George on September 4, 2007 at the Shelby Airport in Ohio. Sorry, the only photo of the Albatross in flight by your author captured the Monarch butterfly in flight. That little red dot above the butterfly is the Albatross. The Albatross climbed out briskly under half power and went in to a beautiful glide. The Albatross DT into a corn field and was quickly retrieved, George Reich was thrilled by the flight as were all the on lookers. Gil Morris was thrilled to have photos taken with George and the Albatross.

Gil powered the Albatross with an O&R large front rotor and large exhaust engine swinging a Top Flight 14- 6 prop. The engine was mounted inverted as was the Dennymite engine George used in his Albatross back in 1938. The inverted O&R would not run properly inverted. Gil had to rotate the intake so it was sixty degrees above the horizontal, as you can see from the photos, and install a crankshaft with the proper timing. Gene Bowers an old time free flight flyer and a very good friend of Gil had the crankshaft. What are friends for anyways. Also from the photos you can see the gas tank Gil made to fit around the crankcase to keep the weight up front; pretty neat. Gil built a duct to exhaust the hot air from the cooling fins of the engine out the bottom of the fuselage. The wing was built in two pieces for easier transportation. Gil is going to fly the Albatross at the 2007 SAM Champs in Las Vegas.

It was a great day for all that attended Gil's flight of his Albatross, everybody had a smile on their face.

What is George Reich doing now a days? Well as you can see from the photos, George just completed a Gollywock and is getting ready for a checkout flight.

Your Author and Snap Shot Photographer,

Bucky Walter

Original color scheme (according to my conversation with George)