Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) Plans Service - Airplanes and Rockets

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Negro Pilots Get Wings at Tuskegee Institute

Negro Pilots Get Wings at Tuskegee Institute, March 23, 1942 Life - RF CafeAt Tuskegee, Alabama, March 7, Colonel Frederick V. H. Kimble, U. S. A., pinned wings on the blouses of five young Negro lieutenants, members of the first graduating class of the Army's first Negro air school. Since last July they had undergone all the primary and advanced training to which white Army cadets at Randolph and Kelly fields are subject. Now they are charter members of the Air Force's 99th (all Negro) Pursuit Squadron, established last summer at a $2,000,000 airdrome near Alabama's famed Tuskegee Institute and now developing into one of the Army's biggest training bases...

McMurtry Spéirling e-Hypercar Drives Upside Down

McMurtry Spéirling e-Hypercar Drives Upside Down - RF Cafe"Claimed to be a world first, the demonstration took place at Swinhay House. A McMurtry Spéirling PURE Validation Prototype 1 (VP1) was driven on to a custom-built platform which then rotated 180 degrees to invert the stationary vehicle. Relying on the huge 'Downforce on Demand' created by twin 23,000 RPM fans on the car's undercarriage, the Spéirling remained firmly attached to the platform and was driven a few feet forward before the rig rotated it back to ground. 'This demonstration was an exciting proof-of-concept using a small purpose-built rig, but is perhaps just the beginning of what's possible. With a longer inverted track or a suitable tunnel, we may be able to drive..."

Important Facts About Balsa Wood, Sig Catalog

Important Facts About Balsa Wood, Sig Catalog - Airplanes and RocketsBalsa wood was a special thing to me as a kid. To me, it represented the essence of model airplanes and model rockets. At the time - the 1960s and 70s - plastic and foam as model components were considered a sign of cheapness, low quality, amateurishness. It was like having "Made in Japan" stamped on it. Now, of course, it's a different world where Japan is renowned for some of the highest quality electronics and cars and the plastic and foam ARFs represent some of the highest-performing aircraft at the flying field. I have owned a few of those foamies, but still, at least for my tastes, nothing beats the look, feel and aroma of balsa. Somehow the tell-tale surface texture of foam, even with a nice paint job, ruins the authenticity of an otherwise beautifully factory-finished scale F4-U Corsair or P-38 Lightning. Sorry, that's just the way it is. Sig Manufacturing was...

TWA in a 1960 Saturday Evening Post

TWA - Trans World Airline, April 29, 1950 The Saturday Evening Post - RF CafeWhen this Trans World Airline (TWA) advertisement appeared in the April 29, 1950, issue of The Saturday Evening Post magazine , the airline industry was transitioning from relying on amphibious aircraft for long-distance overseas flights to using land-based planes. These new aircraft, like the 300-mph Skyliners mentioned in the ad, offered increased speed and comfort, revolutionizing air travel and making it more accessible to the general public. TWA capitalized on this newfound ability to fly customers quickly and comfortably to destinations across the U.S. and around the world, emphasizing the potential for adventure and leisure even within the constraints of a typical two-week vacation...

Lockheed P-38 Lightning

Lockheed Aircraft Corporation P-38 Lightning, April 6, 1942 Life - RF CafeAn April 1942 issue of Life magazine, just four months into WWII, carried this full-page advertisement celebrating the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, a revolutionary fighter aircraft hailed as the world' s fastest - nearing the speed of sound - with unmatched maneuverability, outclassing enemy planes in combat. Built by Lockheed for the U.S. Army and British RAF, the P-38 embodied American ingenuity and freedom, flown by daring pilots defending democracy. The ad positions the Lightning as a symbol of U.S. air supremacy, critical to Allied victory in WWII, while promoting Lockheed's role in advancing aviation for both wartime protection and postwar progress. The closing tagline, "Look to Lockheed for Leadership," reinforces the company's wartime prestige and vision for the future...

Death Flies the Equator

Death Flies the Equator, March 1937 Flying Aces - Airplanes and RocketsSome of the adventure stories in Flying Aces magazine were practically full-length novels. The May 1934 issue included one of Donald Keyhoe's pieces entitled, "Death Flies the Equator," featuring intrepid G-2 agent, Dick Knight, and his sidekick, Lothario Doyle, who team up to pit good against evil across the globe. The notorious "Four Faces" cabal fixed on achieving world domination are a constant challenge for the wits and wile of our heroic pair. Dick Knight supplies the brunt of required brainwork while ex-Marine Doyle breaks bones and faces when needed. Both are accomplished airborne dogfighters, avigators (archaic term for aviator / navigator), and mechanics. Many of these stories involve fantastic weapons and deception devices, sabotage, moles, traitors, and incredible feats of flying. They really are "page-turners," and the only things that keeps me from reading straight through is wanting to be able to spread the entertainment across t

Flettner-Type Rotor Wing-Control Line Model

Flettner-Type Rotor Wing-Control Line Model, March 1957 American Modeler Magazine - Airplanes and RocketsFlettner rotors were at one time believed to be the next big thing in air-driven propulsion. They would replace cloth sails on boats and fixed wings on aeroplanes. I remember seeing such fantastic contraptions in magazines like Mechanix Illustrated and Popular Mechanics back in the 1960's and 1970's. The nouveau sails and wings were actually built on experimental vehicles which can be found in a Google search on Flettner rotor. They operate on the Magnus effect, which is where a lifting force is generated by a spinning sphere or cylinder moving through the air (or water, or any fluid), thereby causing an unequal pressure to build on opposite sides. I had a Magnus rotor kite as a kid in the late 1960's that was made of thin, molded plastic...

The Fantastic Secret Weapons of Germany

Speaking of Pictures... These Are the Fantastic Secret Weapons of Germany, September 10, 1945 Life - RF CafeWithout a doubt, Germany has in the past far overestimated its ability to conquer the world by leveraging its undeniable history of innovation and determination. A success in the Franco-Prussian War gave it a sense of superiority and invincibility. WWI and WWII were lost primarily due to the blitzkrieg strategy later failing to overwhelm and subdue the enemy in short order, causing protracted wars and diminishing resources from within its domain. If Germany had instead exploited its technical prowess in world markets, it might have been an economic superpower today. The native population was/is brilliant. Today, Germany's leaders are, in acts of self-flagellation and penance...

Talking Them In

Talking Them In (February 1938 Boys' Life Article) - Airplanes and RocketsDuring the late 1930s, commercial air transportation experienced a significant boom, largely fueled by the introduction of the Douglas DC-3 in 1935. This aircraft, widely recognized for its efficiency and reliability, revolutionized air travel, making it more accessible and popular than ever before. The rapid growth of this sector placed an unprecedented demand on air traffic control services, as exemplified by the busy operations at Newark, the world's most active airport at the time. The article from the 1938 issue of Boys' Life magazine further illustrates this, detailing a trip from Newark to Pittsburgh, where Air Traffic Control, managed by the Bureau of Air Commerce, played a critical role in ensuring the safe and orderly movement of a burgeoning number of flights, underscoring the vita...

Televising the Moon

Televising the Moon, October 1964 Radio-Electronics - RF CafeIn this October 1964 issue of Radio-Electronics magazine, editor Hugo Gernsback writes about the historic feat on July 31 of that year, where NASA lunar probe Ranger 7's RCA-designed television cameras successfully transmitted the first close-up televised pictures of the moon's surface to Earth after six previous failed attempts. The unmanned spacecraft traveled 240,000 miles through space over 68 hours to capture 4,316 still images with its six high-resolution cameras. These images provided crucial information for future manned lunar explorations, revealing that the dust layer on the moon's surface is likely only 2 to 12 inches deep, and showing small craters down to sizes of three feet. The success of Ranger 7 marked a significant advancement in lunar exploration technology, paving the way for further unmanned missions and eventual manned expeditions to the moon...

Build the S.S.P. Helicopter

S.S.P. Helicopter from the August 1972 American Aircraft Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsImagine if your path to flying an R/C helicopter involved first designing, then building, and then troubleshooting the contraption. That was the burden of pioneers. We have people like S.S.P. Helicopter designer Gene Rock to thank for being able to enjoy the state-of-the-art models that are available today. This article from the August 1972 edition of American Aircraft Modeler magazine describes the process of machining all the metal parts for an Enya .45-powered craft. Mr. Rock even designed a very successful mechanical gyro for keeping the tail under control. If you have ever tried flying an R/C heli without any type of gyro (I have, on a DuBro Tristar), you will fully appreciate what a pleasure it is to not have to manually counter torque changes (throttle) with tail rotor stick input from the transmitter. Around 2008 I bought a Blade MCX2 coaxial rotor helicopter for flying inside, and the gyro is so good on that thing that you can put it in a full speed pirouette...

Heli-Taxis Are Here

Heli-Taxis Are Here, May 1946 Popular Science - Airplanes and RocketsIn 1946, Popular Science magazine highlighted the burgeoning potential of helicopters, detailing their versatility and the innovative ways people envisioned using them, from hunting expeditions and aerial orchestras to funeral services. The article underscored the helicopter's unique capabilities, such as vertical take-off and landing, and its proven utility during World War II in diverse environments. Commercial helicopters were on the cusp of becoming available, with initial deliveries set to start that year, though primarily for business and government use due to high costs and complexities in operation. The piece also discussed the challenges faced by manufacturers, including mechanical complexities like torque and the need for mass production to reduce costs...

United Aircraft Corporation

United Aircraft Corporation, April 29, 1950 The Saturday Evening Post - RF CafeIf you do a lot of overseas air travel for work (or any other reason), this en route time map from a 1950 issue of The Saturday Evening Post magazine might give you a bit of cheering up. Compare the length of time in the air back during the day of propeller-driven airliners versus what you typically experience today. United Aircraft published that a trip from New York to London took 12-½ hours (with favorable winds). The same flight today takes around 7-½ hours, a 40% reduction. From Seattle to Tokyo was 28-½ hours, and is now 10-½ hours, for a 63% reduction! Those shorter flight times are due to both faster jet-powered airplanes and an ability to climb to and cruise at altitudes where jet stream winds are highly additive. Of course having to endure 10-½ hours crammed into a narrow seat with the back of the front...

Tiniest Flying Robot Soars Thanks to Magnets

Tiniest Flying Robot Soars Thanks to Magnets - Airplanes and Rockets"Like a bumblebee flitting from flower to flower, a new insect-inspired flying robot created by engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, can hover, change trajectory and even hit small targets. Less than 1 centimeter in diameter, the device weighs only 21 milligrams, making it the world's smallest wireless robot capable of controlled flight. For a robot to fly, it must be equipped with a power source, like a battery, and electronics for flight control, both of which can be challenging to integrate into very small, lightweight devices. To overcome this issue, Lin and the UC Berkeley team used an external magnetic field to power the device and control the flight path. The robot is shaped like a small propeller and includes two small magnets..."

Snoopy Wind-Up Alarm Clock Restoration

Snoopy Wind-Up Alarm Clock Restoration - Airplanes and RocketsBeing very far-sighted, having a modern alarm clock next to the bed with large LED numbers is a great convenience for seeing the time at night. However, I have always hated the electronic alarm sound and neither do I want music since it tends to put me back to sleep. The old fashioned wind-up mechanical alarm clocks did the job quite handily, and I missed having such a clock after many decades of doing without. So, I decided to look for a Peanuts-themed clock from the 1960s or 70s. This Snoop alarm clock came up for bid on eBay, and I picked it up for under $10, probably because the seller said it did not work. He was correct that it didn't work in its selling condition. However, I disassembled...

DX Hams Do Get Around

DX Hams Do Get Around (November 1940 Boys' Life Article) - Airplanes and RocketsIn this November 1940 issue of the Boy Scouts Boys' Life magazine, amateur radio operators, or "hams," are described as having the ability to communicate across vast distances, connecting far-flung locations such as Goulds, Florida, Cali, Colombia, Cairo, Kenilworth, England, Bombay, and Brisbane. These operators, licensed by the Federal Communications Commission, engage in various activities such as talking to distant stations, participating in contests, and providing emergency communication during natural disasters. With call letters assigned by international treaty, these stations use a combination of code and phone to make contact, exchanging reports and QSL cards. The Radio merit badge was first offered in 1918 and has been...

Cessna 150 3-View

Cessna 150 3-View from the May 1959 Model Aviation - Airplanes and RocketsThe venerable Cessna 150 first came on the scene in 1958. Per Wikipedia, "The Cessna 150 is a two-seat tricycle gear general aviation airplane, that was designed for flight training, touring and personal use. The Cessna 150 is the fourth most produced civilian plane ever, with 23,839 aircraft produced. The Cessna 150 was offered for sale in the 150 basic model, Commuter, Commuter II, Patroller and the aerobatic Aerobat models." The design has changed considerably since 1958, with two of the most notable changes being the vertical fin and the rear fuselage behind the cockpit. Note that a photo of the 1958 Cessna 150 is on the cover of this edition.

Airports: Biggest and Busiest

Airports: Biggest and Busiest (March 1940 Boys' Life Article) - Airplanes and RocketsLaGuardia Airport was dedicated on October 15, 1939 as the New York Municipal Airport, and opened for business on December 2 of that year. It was built on the site of the old Gala Amusement Park at a cost of $40 million. This aerial photograph shown here was taken within a couple months of when LaGuardia first opened since this "Airports: Biggest and Busiest" article appeared in the March 1940 issue of Boys' Life magazine. The recent Google map satellite view is below the page scan, and I superimposed the 1940 runways and taxiways on top of it for comparison. You can see where expansions were built into the water to accommodate longer runways...

Cox Model 789-3, 1½-Volt Starting Battery

Cox Model 789-3, 1½-Volt Starting Battery - Airplanes and RocketsLong before rechargeable nickel-cadmium (NiCad) and nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries were used for starting model airplane engines, we used standard primary type (non-rechargeable) 1.5-volt dry cells. In fact, the nominal 1.2-volt-per-cell potential of NiCad and NiMH batteries were barely high enough to sufficiently light the ignition coils in the glow heads and/or glow plugs, which were designed for 1.5 volts. Today's glow plugs work just fine on 1.2 V or 1.5 V. I have written before about how as a kid on a very small modeling budget, I would often spend a long time flipping the propeller of my Cox .049 engines while using a single, worn-out D-cell battery (usually "borrowed" from my father's only flashlight). One Christmas my parents got me a field kit that included a can of 25% nitro Cox fuel, a glow head clip...

Planes That Didn't Make It

Planes That Didn't Make It, March 1937 Flying Aces - Airplanes and RocketsDuring World War I, the United States spent $1,500,000,000 on military aviation, resulting in the development of various advanced aircraft designs. This 1937 issue of Flying Aces magazine mentions a few of them. This was 19 years after the armistice. Although these planes did not see combat due to the war ending sooner than expected, they showcased American ingenuity and engineering prowess. Notable examples include the L.W.F.G.2, which had a top speed of 130 mph and carried seven guns; the Loening monoplane, which was the fastest two-seater fighter at the time with a speed of 146 mph; and the Curtiss single-seater fighter, capable of reaching 160 mph. These aircraft laid the foundation for modern American military aviation...

Paul Harvey Views

Paul Harvey Views, December 1974 American Aircraft Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsWhile looking through some old issues of American Aircraft Modeler magazine, I was quite surprised to find that none other than radio great Paul Harvey is (or was) a builder and flyer of radio controlled airplanes. There was a feature article done by Paul Harvey in one of the issues in the 1974 timeframe. Mr. Harvey then wrote a regular column titled "Paul Harvey Views." Understandably, the column only ran for a few months - probably because of his extremely busy schedule. This one is from the December 1974 edition...

A 4G Moon Suit

Axiom Space's 4G Moon Suit - RF Cafe"In August last year Nokia and Axiom Space announced they were working to equip the latter's next-generation lunar spacesuits with 4G/LTE connectivity for the for NASA's Artemis III mission to the moon. The idea is that arming the new spacesuit, called Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), with high-speed cellular-network capabilities means it can support HD video, telemetry data and voice transmission over multiple kilometers on the moon. This means the Artemis III crewmembers will then be able to capture real-time video and communications..."

Huffy 3 Timberline Men's Bicycle Restoration

Vintage Huffy 3 Timberline, 3-Speed Men's Bicycle Restoration, early 1980s - Airplanes and RocketsPreviously I posted the first part of a story about two 1980s-vintage bicycles I bought from a guy off craigslist. That was the complete teardown and restoration of Melanie's Columbia Commuter III, 3-speed women's model. This page has photos from doing the same thing to my Huffy 3 Timberline, 3-speed men's bicycle. One important aspect worth repeating is the use of Krud Kutter for removing all the oil and grease. The stuff is amazing. I soaked all the parts overnight that would fit in a bucket filled with a gallon of it. Upon removing even the grimiest and greasiest components like the gearbox, bearings, and the chain, I discovered they were squeaky clean. A toothbrush removed...

Calvin & Phineas Hamming It Up®™: The Phantom QRM

Calvin & Phineas Hamming It Up®™: The Phantom QRM - RF CafeBeing a long-time fan of John T. Frye's "Carl & Jerry" technodrama™ series, I have been intending to attempt a contemporary version which has a Ham radio theme. Its purpose, as with "Carl & Jerry," is to encourage young people to adopt electronics as a hobby and even as a career, while using Amateur Radio as an enticement. Ham radio offers practical experience in electronic theory, fabrication, and operation in an environment that encourages community service, mentorship, camaraderie, and self discipline. In the U.S., there are approximately 760,000 licensed amateur radio operators; worldwide, the estimated number is around 3,000,000. The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) track these statistics. This title of the series is, for now anyway, "Calvin & Phineas Hamming It Up," and the first adventure is called, "The Phantom QRM." Call signs are fictitious, chosen to hopefully not step on someone's real call sign. The boys' names derive from my grandson's name...

Winning the National Radio Control Meet

Winning the National Radio Control Meet, March 1940 QST - Airplanes and RocketsYou might wonder why an article entitled "Winning the National Radio Control Meet" for model airplanes would appear in the ARRL's QST magazine. The answer is that back in 1940 when it was published, a Ham license was required to operate a radio control (R/C) transmitter. There were no license-free bands for hobbyists as there are now. In fact, it wasn't until 1976 that the FCC suspended their requirement for registration as an operator, which has returned in the form of an FAA "drone" (aka USAS) pilot directive. The author, William (Bill) E. Good (W8IFD, W2CVI), was the twin brother of Walter (Walt) A. Good (W3NPS), both of whom held doctoral degrees in and physics, and were referred to as "the fathers of radio control." The photo of Bill shows his station...

New Radio Control Gear for Model Airplanes

New Radio Control Gear for Model Airplanes, August 1940 QST - Airplanes and RocketsOften when I see photos of some of the early radio control gear for model airplanes, I have a simultaneous reaction of aghastness and marvel at the crudity and ingenuousness, respectively, of the electromechanical devices - the same kind of reaction I have to stories about early surgical procedures and equipment. In 1940, when this article appeared in the ARRL's QST magazine, successful takeoffs and landings were considered notable events not so much because of pilot ability (or inability), but because of the low reliability of available electronic and mechanical gear. Vacuum tubes with attendant heavy, high voltage power supplies, and heavy metal gears and shafts required large airframes to support...

Dope Can

Dope Can, from April 1957 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsAmerican Modeler magazine published stories on many forms of modeling including airplanes, cars, boats, and rockets. A lot of attention was paid to teenagers in order to encourage a pursuit of careers in engineering and science. In case you don't know, the U.S. Navy used to sponsor the AMA Nationals specifically to attract young modelers into the service. This 1957 edition reports on the activities of James M. Blackmon, Jr., who was the nation's youngest rocket builder to receive national recognition by the American Rocket Society. He built in his basement a 6' tall liquid-fueled rocket...

Build Me a Plane

Build Me a Plane, December 1945 Flying Aces - Airplanes and RocketsThe Douglas DC−3 (C−47 was the military version designation) has always been my favorite twin engined commercial airplane. Its nickname of "Gooney Bird" amongst troops is undeserved IMHO. The DC−3 is credited with launching the commercial airline industry, and its C−47 version was listed by Dwight D. Eisenhower as being on the most important tools for winning World War II. Edward F. Burton, Chief Engineer at Douglas Aircraft Company, runs through the evolution of the DC−3 and it predecessors and descendants in this December 1945 issue of Flying Age magazine. December of 1935 marked the maiden flight of the DC−2, was was a direct follow-on the the DC−2. A single DC−4 (4 engines) was built and delivered to Japan. Then a DC−5 was built (high-wing version of the DC−3) but never went into production. The 4-engine DC−6 entered commercial service in 1946, followed by the very popular DC−7. A coaxial, counter-rotating pusher prop model DC−8 (not to be confused with the 4-engine commercial DC−8 jet) never made it off the drawing board. The next iteration was the C−54, which...

Control-Line Aerodynamics Made Painless

Control-Line Aerodynamics Made Painless, July / August 1966 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsThe Academy of Model Aeronautics is granted tax-exempt status because part of its charter is for activity as an educational organization. I think as time goes on, it gets harder for the AMA for fulfill that part of its mission because presenting anything even vaguely resembling mathematics or science to kids (or to most adults for that matter), is the kiss of death for gaining or retaining interest. This article, "Control-Line Aerodynamics Made Painless," was printed in the July/August 1966 edition of American Modeler, when graphs, charts, and equations were not eschewed by modelers. It is awesome. On rare occasions a similar type article will appear nowadays in Model Aviation for topics like basic aerodynamics and battery / motor parameters. Nowadays, it seems, the most rigorous classroom material that the AMA can manage to slip into schools is a box of gliders and a PowerPoint presentation...

Ambroid Liquid Cement

Ambroid Liquid Cement, Annual 1960 Air Trails - Airplanes and RocketsAmbroid was probably the biggest name in model aircraft cement. It has been around in one form or another since the early 1900s. The name is a portmanteau of amber (its color) and celluloid. By the time I got into the balsa model building scene in the late 1960's, Duco cement was being fairly widely used, and since it is what was on the shelf of my local convenience store, that's what I used. A few years later when I was driving and could visit hobby shops, I tried Ambroid cement, but never really took to it, primarily because it seemed to get brittle quickly. There was never a joint failure I could attribute to Duco cement, so I stuck with it (pun intended). About ten years or so ago the price of Duco cement began going way up, so nowadays I use mostly Sigment*. I had used Sigment occasionally prior to that and had confidence in its integrity. It appears Ambroid cement is no longer being manufactured, but Sigment is, so I highly recommend it as a general purpose glue for balsa structures...

AAMCo Andrews Aeromaster Too Biplane Kit

AAMCo Andrews Aeromaster Too Biplane Kit - Airplanes and RocketsWhile I never had the pleasure of owning an AAMCo Lou Andrews Aeromaster Too biplane, it was one of the many kits I though someday I would build. After 61 years of existence, there still is no Aeromaster Too kit in my collection, and at this point likely never will be. The Aeromaster Too was a four-channel ("full-house" as it was known back in the day) aerobatic biplane with a 48" wingspan for .45 to .61 in3 displacement glow fuel engines. It used balsa, plywood, and hardwood construction along with music wire components for the landing gear and cabane struts. The photos presented here were downloaded from multiple Aeromaster Too kits listed on eBay. They typically sell in the $125 to $200 price range, which is very comparable to what a new kit of similar size and complexity would sell for today...

Flying into Focus

Flying into Focus, December 1945 Flying Aces - Airplanes and RocketsOne of the motivations for posting these photos from a 1945 issue of Flying Age magazine is the appearance of an F2G Corsair, of which I own a Cox control line model from back in the 1960's. Having been published shortly after the end of World War II, there are some things being shown that probably would not have been declassified a year earlier, like the De Havilland Vampire jet airplane. I have to admit to not knowing what the "pannier" was mounted to the belly of the converted Halifax bomber. A pannier is a basket, as most cyclists probably know. The word derives from the Old French "panier," meaning bread basket. Another bit of news to me was the "Lily" portable sea-drome that simulated aircraft carrier conditions to help train pilots for takeoffs and landings on the oceans. Another very interesting item is the "tube" which housed three Jake reconnaissance planes aboard a giant "Jap" submarine...

Race Cars in Your Living Room

Race Cars in Your Living Room, January 1962, American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsSurprisingly (or maybe not), electric slot car racing is still fairly popular amongst kids. I say surprisingly because with radio control electric cars being under $10 in some cases, it is a wonder that anyone these days wants anything that confines a car to a specific course or has to plug into the wall to work. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, slot car racing was very popular. I can remember even into the 1970s that some of the bigger hobby shops still had slot car tracks set up where you could rent time on the track for a buck or so an hour. If you didn't have your own car, you could rent one there. My good friend, Jerry Flynn, was a slot car aficionado and would lend me one of his spares. I think the hobby shop we went to was in either Bethesda or Rockville, Maryland. It was quite a drive from our neighborhood around Annapolis. While typing out these words I can remember the smell of the electrical arcing of the motor brushes heating the oil we put on the axels and motor bushings. Ah, those were the days...

Jetco E-Shark 15 C/L Airplane

Jetco E-Shark 15 C/L Airplane (electric-powered) - Airplanes and RocketsI have been wanting to build another Jetco Shark 15 control line model airplane for a long time and finally decided to take the dive into the project. Having sold all of my glow fuel engine support equipment (power panel, fuel pump, electric starter, etc.) in exchange for electric power equipment, it would be necessary to modify the airframe to accommodate a brushless outrunner motor, an electronic speed controller (ESC), a motor timer, and a LiPo battery. I dubbed it the "E-Shark 15." Without a whole lot of engineering calculations, I settled on one of the two ElectriFly Rimfire .10 motors I purchased to power my Douglas DC−3 / C−47 twin engine control line models. A 30 A ESC with a 3-cell (3S), 1300 mAH LiPo completed the package ...

Herr Engineering J-3 Cub on DuBro Park Flyer Snow Skis

Herr Engineering J-3 Cub on DuBro Park Flyer Snow Skis - Airplanes and RocketsSnow season has arrived here in Erie, Pennsylvania, already, and I didn't want to miss the chance to do some flying off of snow skis. Last winter I mounted a pair of DuBro snow skis to my Herr Engineering J-3 Cub and flew a couple times with them, but they were the standard model that are too big and heavy for this 1/2A-sized model. DuBro's Park Flyer Snow Skis seemed like they might be a better choice for the J-3, so I ordered a pair. The size is just about right, but the vacuum-formed plastic was a bit too thin for me to confidently install them on the J-3. I decided that they would be perfectly useable with a little sturdying up. As can be seen in the photos, there are two stiffening slots molded into the skis, so I epoxied a 3/32" x 1/4" spruce stick into each slot. Up inside the landing gear mount area is hollow, so I shaped a piece of hard balsa block to fit, and then drilled through-holes to accept ...

Alain Pons' Turbojet "Duck" Canard

Alain Pons' Turbojet "Duck" Canard - Airplanes and RocketsThe turbojet-power version of "Alain's Duck" canard has made its maiden flight. As you can see in the video (on the page), it handles as smoothly as the other versions. Of course Alain's piloting skills play at least a small part in how well she flies. More details will follow once Alain supplies them ...

Baby V-1 Dyna-Jet Flies for Fun

Baby V-1 Dyna-Jet Flies for Fun, May 1946 Popular Science - Airplanes and RocketsWhen Dyna-Jet engine in new or like-new condition is listed for sale or auction on eBay, it usually sells for north of $500. Sometimes buyers get lucky and win an auction for less. This 1946 Popular Science magazine article entitled "Baby V-1 Flies for Fun" appeared just a year after Germany had surrendered unconditionally. Only a year before that, Londoners ran for cover in underground shelters when V-1 "Buzz Bombs" were heard making their tell-tale 45 Hz "buzz" noise as they made their way toward England. "V-1" was from the German Vergeltungswaffe 1 meaning "Vengeance Weapon 1." The only reference to a "robomb" I see other than this article is from a 1944 issue of Time magazines entitled, "Science: How the Robomb Works." As Paul Harvey would famously say, "Now you know... the Rest of the story."

Plane Views - December 1945

Plane Views, December 1945 Flying Age Including Flying Aces - Airplanes and Rockets"Plane Views" was a monthly feature of Flying Age magazine, with this installment being from the December 1945 issue. Flying Aces changed its name to Flying Age in the middle of 1944, probably to focus on the rapidly advancing aeronautical technology prompted by World War II. Whereas Flying Aces was full of fictional stories of flying aces during World War I and the interim up though the middle of World War II - along with plans for airplane models - Flying Age was essentially an entirely new magazine with very little in the way of model aviation and none of the adventure stories. Many Flying Aces readers were highly upset at the extreme change, especially since it essentially abandoned the Flying Aces Club as well. The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) had no involvement with either the Flying Aces or the Flying Age magazines. In fact, I don't recall the AMA ever being mentioned. The AMA had its own magazine that went by various titles over the years, including American Modeler, American Aircraft Modeler, and its present incarnation, Model Aviation...

Stunting Vickers Wellesley

Stunting Vickers Wellesley, May 1957 American Modeler Magazine - Airplanes and RocketsI finally found the scanned file for this Stunting "Vickers Wellesley" article that appeared in the May 1957 issue of American Modeler magazine. Somehow the magazine disappeared and I had to dig back into an old hard drive from 2011 to find the file. Anyway, here is yet another fine Walter Musciano design of the British bomber of World War II fame. Designed for a .35-size engine, this 58" wingspan control line model with 420 cubic inch of wing area should be capable of basic stunting. An electric power setup could easily be adapted to the airframe, and some weight could be saved by thinning out the structural members a bit. Smooth-running brushless motors don't put anywhere near the vibratory strain on models as internal combustion engines do ...

They Really Can "Take It" - Douglas DC-2 and DC-3

They Really Can "Take It" - Douglas DC-2 and DC-3, February 1942 Flying Aces - Airplanes and RocketsIn yet another testament to the venerable Douglas DC-3 (and its predecessor DC-2), this 1942 article in Flying Aces magazine highlights the extreme extent of battle damage some of these planes suffered and still managed to fly to a safe landing. Of course not all flight crews were so fortunate, but the robustness of the airframe and engines are rightly credited for their endurance and reliability. During and long past the rigors of World War II service years, the DC-3 built upon its reputation as a work horse. It is no wonder that the DC-3 (and its military designation of C-47) has for going on a century been the all-time favorite transport type airplane of many aviation enthusiasts - including yours truly. If I had a bucket list, which I really do not, at or near the top of the list would be to take a ride in a DC-3 or a C-47. In all the places I have lived in the last many decades, there has never been one at an airshow that was offering rides for hire. Time is running out ...

Mathematical Puzzles, 1976 Old Farmer's Almanac

Mathematical Puzzles, 1976 Old Farmer's Almanac - RF Cafe1976 is the year I was emancipated (aka graduated) from high school, and this issue of The Old Farmer's Almanac (OFA) happens to be from that year. For as long as I can remember, the OFA has included a set of Mathematical Puzzles in its annual publication. They range in difficulty from 1 (very easy) to 5 (sometimes quite difficult). Having been a faithful buyer and reader of the OFA for as long as I can remember, I have spent many hours toiling with some of the more challenging examples. In fact, there were a lot which I never did figure out and needed to look up the answers in the back (come to think of it, I experienced the same dilemma with my college engineering textbooks). Because quite a few of the Mathematical Puzzles are worthy of an engineer's cerebration, contemplation, and deliberation, all I have will be eventually posted here on RF Cafe. Enjoy!

How to Target AirplanesAndRockets.com for Your Google Ads

Google AdSense - it makes good sense - Airplanes and RocketsSome companies have expressed an interest in being able to target Airplanes and Rockets via the Google AdSense program. Yes, it is possible to do that. As you might expect, finding the exact information on the Google AdSense website is a bit difficult. This short video does a good job summarizing exactly how to implement the "Ad Targeting" option, then "Placements," and then add "Websites." Just enter   airplanesandrockets.com   . There are other settings to optimize your advertising campaign with keywords (both included and excluded), pricing, scheduling, statistical data collection and reporting, etc. If you are currently using Google AdSense, then please consider this method, and if you are not using AdSense, now would be a good time to look into it. I have had reports from some companies that experience great results using AdSense (not just on Airplanes and Rockets)...

"Simplex" Airfoil Templates

"Simplex" Airfoil Templates, Annual 1960 Air Trails - Airplanes and RocketsHere is an ingenious method for mechanically generating properly proportioned ribs for wings that are not rectangular - including sing and double straight tapers and even elliptical planforms. Of course today you can print out a perfectly dimensioned set of ribs to accommodate any planform and root-to-tip thickness taper profile. In 1960 when this "'Simplex' Airfoil Templates" article appeared in the 1960 Annual issue of Air Trails magazine, such conveniences were in the purview of universities and government research facilities. Even if you have no need of cutting ribs for tapered wings, it is worth your time to read this brief article about the mathematical principle - logarithmic (aka equiangular) spirals - behind the scheme. There are no formulas, so don't be scared off ;-)

Fairchild 22 C-7-F (1934) 4-View

Fairchild 22 C-7-F (1934) 4-View, July 1968 American Aircraft Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsThis 4-view drawing of the Fairchild 22 C-7-F (1934) was scanned from page 38B and 38C of my purchased edition of the July 1968 American Aircraft Modeler (AAM) magazine. It is another example of Björn Karlström's fine scale drawings. In the pre-Internet days, this sort of detailed documentation was harder to come by, so AAM provided a great service by publishing these. Per Wikipedia: "The aircraft was designed by Kreider-Reisner during negotiations by Sherman Fairchild to take a major share in the company. Marketed as the Fairchild 22 Model C7 the aircraft was certified in March 1931. The Fairchild 22 was a mixed-construction braced parasol-wing monoplane with a fixed tailwheel landing gear and a braced tail unit. It had two tandem open cockpits and was initially powered by a 80hp (60kW) Armstrong Siddeley Genet radial engine. After test flying the prototype the first production aircraft were re-engined with a 75hp (56kW) Michigan Rover inverted inline engine. The aircraft was fitted with both inline and radial piston engines...

Starting Free Flight

Starting Free Flight, Annual 1960 Air Trails - Airplanes and RocketsWhile credit is not explicitly given to a particular author for this "Starting Free Flight" article in the 1960 Annual issue of Air Trails magazine, Cal Smith's name is on the drawing, so it might be him. It was an era when many modelers were transitioning from gasoline-fueled ignition engines to the newer glow fuel type. Smaller and lighter engines and proportionally smaller and lighter models quickly became popular both because smaller fields could be used and the costs were lower, thereby providing greater affordability to no more people. The same change was true for other forms of modeling - control line and radio control airplanes, boats, and cars. An evolution in configurations of engine, fuselage, wing, and empennage was occurring as well based on decades of experimentation by the hobby's pioneers...

Eclipse Sailplane Article & Plans

Eclipse Sailplane Article & Plans, October 1974 American Aircraft Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsThe Eclipse is a gigantic radio-controlled sailplane model with a 16-foot wingspan, geodesic ribs construction, and "V" tail configuration. It is built up from balsa, plywood, spruce, and a fiberglass tail boom. I remember first seeing the model on the cover of the October 1974 issue of American Aircraft Modeler magazine, and really wanting to build one. Unfortunately, I was only 16 years old at the time and was barely able to afford control line models, let alone a huge RC sailplane. Of course with the cost of balsa today, it is no more affordable now as then. It probably takes four rolls of Monokote to cover! Here are plans for the Eclipse that I electronically scanned from my purchased copy AAM. You might be able to scale up the image...

Jetex-Powered "VTO" Article & Plans

Jetex-Powered "VTO" (Article & Plans) is Third in Series of Air Adventurers Models, March 1957 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsJetex rocket motors were a big deal to my friends and me in the early 1970s, although they had been around a lot longer than that. In fact, this article in the March 1957 edition of American Modeler magazine was printed a year before I was born. The motors did not product a whole lot of thrust, so light weight was an absolute necessity. Once I finally got the buggers lit, they worked well and made a really cool hissing noise as the fuel burned. However, the amount of fuse wire provided never was enough to use up all the pellets in the pack because the darn things kept going out as it tried to enter the nozzle. No doubt it was my ineptness that caused the problem, but my excuse was only being a dumb kid. Now, I have a whole lot of fuel pellets but no engines for them...

Bounty Hunter Article & Plans

Bounty Hunter Article & Plans, September/October 1965 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsAirplanes and Rockets website visitor Mel G. wrote to ask that I scan and post this article on Dick Mathis' famous Bounty Hunter 1/2A free flight airplane. It appeared in the September/October 1965 issue of American Modeler magazine. Mel says he built one from a kit bought at MAL Hobby (Model Aircraft Laboratories) back in the 1980s. According to their website MAL Hobby has been in business in Irving, Texas, since 1948, but according to Archive.org their website appears to have disappeared sometime about 2014. I could not find the Bounty Hunter kit listed on their website. If you are looking for an article or plans not already posted here, please send me an e-mail and I will be glad to do so if I happen to have the issue you need...

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