Model World - On the International Scene
April 1969 American Aircraft Modeler

April 1969 American Aircraft Modeler Table of Contents Aeromodeling has seen significant changes over the decades both in technology and preferences. Magazines like American Aircraft Modeler, American Modeler, and Air Trails were the best venues for capturing snapshots of the status quo of the day. All copyrights are hereby acknowledged.

Most of us have seen R/C Snoopy dog houses, witches on brooms, and lawnmowers. Here from the April 1969 edition of American Aircraft Modeler are some zanier flying platforms that you probably have not seen at the local field. These contraptions were flown at a meet in Germany. They called it a "weirdo" contest. Weird is right!

model world ... on the international scene

Is modeling such a rut that a contest based on wild ideas is the coming thing? In Germany there was a recent R/C helicopter event. Now we want to show you a successful "weirdo" contest - all in fun, of course. The photos came from Germany model magazine FLUG without caption data, so we have  improvised accordingly. One may be tempted to say just anything will fly, but a look at each model shows all are aerodynamically sound.

Saucer - no visible means of support

This flying saucer stands on its edge to fly. It is an all-Styrofoam 60-powered winged disc. Controls are just rudder, elevator, motor using Simprop radio system. It was made by rasping, carving, and sanding blocks of foam; no finish or covering used. Landing this contraption is weird. It skips, hops, then rolls off into oblivion.

Mud in your eye! The joy-crate barrels along Wonder what Snoopy and his flying dog house would think of this in flight? An S.T. 60-powered beer barrel has full-house radio controls. Airfoil on barrel is symmetrical. Center-section is reflex lifting surface. Really shakes up the drinking crowd!
This is no flying barn door! Now just a minute, where's the outhouse door? Flying? Incredible! Complete with heavy brass hinges, "clever" flat airfoil. It does fly, though not too stably. Rudder, elevator, engine control.	Ever seen a flying umbrella? We think this powered umbrella is free-flight, stabilized by pendulum effect of the tail boom. Glide is like a parachute. Landing is easy - it poked into the ground and stuck.
Superman - or Wizard of Oz? While some of us consider our well-worn airplanes as scarecrows, this modeler seriously made one. Here the elevator control surface is located at the "hips." Should fly quite well.	Self-pushing wheelbarrows Here we find a real, honest-to-goodness wheel-barrow race. These things have rudder, motor, and elevator control. Note the "tail" wheel. Nothing impractical, it has been done before. Flies well.

Posted August 20, 2011