Even during the busiest times of my life I have endeavored to maintain some
form of model building activity. This site has been created to help me chronicle
my journey through a lifelong involvement in model aviation, which
all began in Mayo, MD
...
All trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other rights of ownership to images
and text used on the Airplanes and Rockets website are hereby acknowledged.
A Complete Pictorial Rundown on the 1962 FAI World R/C Champs March-April 1963 American Modeler
Although
not mentioned in the article, the 1962 FAI R/C World Championships were
held at
Kenley
Airfield about 15 km south of London, England. This article from
a 1963 edition of American Modeler. If you had relatives who attended
the event, this might be one of the best places to look to see if you can
find him or her in the large number of photographs presented here. Flyers
from the USA, Great Britain, Germany, South Africa, Italy, Belgium, Sweden,
France, Switzerland, Japan, Holland, Norway, the USSR, and many other countries
were in attendance. I read elsewhere that none other than
Maynard Hill was one of the judges. It is interesting that at the time
the FAI did not award a 2nd-place spot, but two 1st-place spots instead;
was that one of the earliest examples of feel-good sports?
A Complete Pictorial Rundown on the 1962 FAI World R/C Champs
In addition to on-the-spot reports by FAI Champ Tom Brett and Marshall Two-Gun
McEntee, here's every entry in the International radioplane championships.
Note two "first" places and no second place .... that's the way
the FAI operates!
1 Joint Winner and World Champion·- Tom Brett, U.S.A.
Engine, K&B 45; Prop, Rev-Up 11 x 6; Model, Original "Perigee";
Span, 60 7/8"; Length, 50"; Weight, 84 ounces; Wing Area, 570 sq.
in.; Wing Thickness, 15%; Radio, Orbit Superhet 10 Channel. Helen
Brett cleans up model after its winning flight.
3 C. Olsen, Great Britain. Engine, Merco 49; Prop,
Tornado Nylon 11" x 6" (cut down from 12" dia.); Model, Original
"Uproar"; Span, 66"; Length, 50"; Weight, 94 ounces; Wing Area,
756 sq. in.; Wing Thickness, 12% (NACA 0012); Radio, Homebuilt 10
channel receiver (Super Regen with relays).
5 Don Brown; U.S.A. Engine, Merco 49 (deBolt clank
tank); Prop, 12 x 6 Tornado Nylon; Model, Original "Ambassador";
Span, 74"; Length, 50"; Weight, 103 ounces; Wing Area, 768 sq. in.;
Wing Thickness, 15% (semi-symmetrical); Radio, Original Quadruplex
proportional system (Dee Bee servos).
7 J. M. Malherbe, South Africa. Engine, Veco 45;
Prop, Top Flite 11 x 6; Model, Modified "Stormer" (flat-top type,
full span ailerons, tricycle); Span, 64"; Length, 52"; Weight, 84
ounces; Wing Area, 720 sq. in.; Wing Thickness, 15%; Radio, Orbit
10 Channel (Transistorized Superhet). Mechanic Bob Dunham is bundled
up against chilling wind. Malherbe built six similar models, all
weighed within 2-oz.! One of two at Kenley RAF air base seen in
action.
9 W. Robinson, U.S.A. Engine, K&B 45; Prop,
Rev-Up 1 x 6; Model, Original "Moody 2" (based on Jack Butler's
original Moody) has lower cabin and narrower fuselage; Span, 72";
Length, 56"; Weight, 100 ounces; Wing Area, 756 sq. in.; Wing Thickness,
17%; Radio, Orbit 10 channel all transistorized Superhet (all transistorized
transmitter, Transmite servos).
11 H. Gast, Germany. Engine, K&B 45; Prop,
Tornado Nylon 12 x 6; Model, "Stormer" (Flat-Top version), with
tricycle gear, no canopy, 1/2 span ailerons; Span, 71"; Length,
51"; Weight, 84 1/2 ounces; Wing Area, 720 sq. in.; Wing Thickness,
15%; Radio, Bellaphon, with tune filters.
13 T. Corghi, Italy. Engine, Super Tigre 56; Prop,
Super Record 11 x 6; Model, Original - by Corghi and R. Bacchi.
(Unique in having slight wing sweepback; low wing had half span
ailerons, tricycle landing gear); Span, 72"; Length, 56"; Weight,
98 3/4 ounces; Wing Area, 852 1/2 sq. in.; Wing Thickness, 17%;
Radio, Controlaire superhet relayless (cells taped to outside of
transmitter case). Mechanic Bacchi shown with model.
15 P. Eliasson, Sweden. Engine, Merco 49;
Prop, Tornado Nylon 12 x 5; Model, "Mustfire" original, based on
Mustang and Spitfire, designed by mechanic J. von Segebaden, a wind
tunnel engineer, and fully worked out from design angle, not hit
and miss effort; Span, 69 1/2"; Length, 52"; Weight, 120 ounces;
Wing Area, 790 1/2 sq. in.; Wing Thickness, 12%; Radio, Ace-Kraft
10 channel custom superhet.
19 A. Matthey, Switzerland. Engine, O. S. Max 49;
Prop, Super Record (Italian) 11 x 6; Model, "Orion" with nose 3"
longer than standard; Span, 68"; Length, 51"; Weight, 120 ounces;
Wing Area, 700 sq. in.; Wing Thickness, 15%; Radio, F&M 10 channel
Hercules receiver with only 8 channels used. Midas transmitter .
Transmite servos.
21 A. Bickel, Switzerland. Engine, K&B 45;
Prop, Tornado Nylon 12 x 4; Model, Original - neat, straight tapered
surfaces - little dihedral, well cowled, side-mounted engine; Span,
74"; .Length, 51"; Weight 130 ounces; Wing Area, 821 1/2 sq. in.;
Wing Thickness, 14%; Radio, Nievergelt (original), pneumatic, home
made servos.
23 (top) F. Plessier, France. Engine, K&B 35;
Prop, Top Flite 10 x 6; Model, Original "Grrr!" (sharks teeth on
nose); Plessier is Major and test pilot in French Air Force, flies
Mirage, claims his "Grrr!" was dirtiest model at Championships!
Model slabsider, shoulder wing, dural landing gear (with axle);
flew fine; Span, 62"; Length, 45"; Weight, 80 ounces; Wing Area,
682 sq. in.; Wing Thickness, 15% (RAF 30); Radio,' Grauppner 10
channel Bellaphon, relay, triple proportional. 24 (bottom)
J. Levenstam, Sweden. Engine, Merco 49; Prop, Tornado Nylon
12 x 4; Model, "Sonic-Cruiser" (deBolt kit design); Span, 68"; Length,
50"; Weight, 110 ounces; Wing Area, 710 sq. in.; Wing Thickness,
12%; Radio, R.E.P. 8 Octon by Honest-Redlich, 8 channel, relay.
27 P. Marrot, France. Engine, K&B 45; Prop,
Power Prop 12 x 6; Model, Original; Span, 70"; Weight, 106 ounces;
Wing Area, 840 sq. in.; Wing Thickness, 12% (NACA 2412); Radio,
Original relayless 9 channel, with home-made reeds. Servo is transistor
amplified; relay fitted inside servo case neutralizes servo on "off."
29 P. Velichkovsky, USSR. Engine, Super Tigre
35; Prop, Rev-Up 11 x 6; Model, Original. Semi-scale low-wing, access
to R/C through large canopy (he also had another model, with Fox
59, which he crashed early in contest); Span, 74"; Length, 54";
Weight, 116 ounces; Wing Area, 775 sq. in.; Wing Thickness, 15%;
Radio, Home-made 10 channel. Team member Arler shown with model.
31 W. de Mulder, Holland. Engine, K&B
45; Prop, Tornado Nylon 12 x 6; Model, Orion modified; ailerons
had hinge point moved back to give aerodynamic balance; Span, 72";
Length, 49 1/2"; Weight, 113 ounces; Wing Area, 690 sq. in.;
Wing Thickness, 15%; Radio, Copy of Orbit 10 channel relayless.
1 Joint Winner - Harry Brooks, Great Britain. Engine, McCoy
60 (Rogers custom-rebuilt, Johnson Automix Throttle); Prop, Tornado
Nylon 12 x 6; Model, Original "Reb"; Span, 69"; Length, 50"; Weight,
122 ounces; Wing Area, 695 sq. in.; Wing Thickness, 15%; Radio,
F&M Superhet 10 Channel.
4 Frank Van den Bergh, Great Britain. Engine, Merco
49; Prop, Tornado Nylon 12 x 6; Model, Original "Sky Dancer"; Span,
60"; Length, 50"; Weight, 104 ounces; Wing Area, 690 sq. in.; Wing
Thickness, 12 1/2%; Radio, Orbit Superhet 10 Channel. Frank is seen
with Team Manager Stewart Uwins (at left).
6 F. Bosch, Germany. Engine, Super Tigre 56; Prop,
Tornado Nylon 11 x 6; Model, "Voltswagon"; Span, 70"; Length, 51";
Weight, 120 ounces; Wing Area, 650 sq. in.; Wing Thickness, 8%;
Radio, OMU·Multi-control (relayless, Transmite servos). Wife is
rated as Grade A mechanic!
8 G. Samaan, Germany. Engine, Merco 49; Prop, Tornado
Nylon 11 x 6; Model, Original; Span, 74"; Length, 52"; Weight, 81
ounces; Wing Area, 806 sq. in.; Wing Thickness, 14%; Radio, Graupner
Belaphon 10 channel, simult. & proport. (Polyton transmitter
- fully tranisistorized, but Super Regen relays.) Samaan, wearing
Walt Good's AMA cap - a popular swap item, is former Wakefield champ.
10 C. Teuwen, Belgium. Engine, K&B 45; Prop,
Tornado Nylon 12 x 6; Model, "Valkyrie 2" based on Bill Bertrand's
design, but with 2" longer original fuselage. Stab area also increased
and 15% thick wing in place of 9%. Wing section changed to NACA
2415 and symmetrical at tip; Span, 71 1/2"; Length, 50"; Weight,
114 ounces; Wing Area, 720 sq. in.; Wing Thickness, 15%; Radio,
Orbit 10 channel Superhet (transistorized transmitter).
12 A. Bellochio, Italy. Engine, K&B 45;
Prop, Power Prop R/C 12 x 6; Model, Original design; Best of his
3 models was damaged due to broken aileron linkage during practice
landing; Span, 68"; Length, 50"; Weight, 113 ounces; Wing Area,
666 1/2 sq. in.; Wing Thickness, 16%; Radio, Orbit 10 channel Superhet,
Orbit transistorized transmitter, Transmite servos. Mechanic Scaglia
shown with model.
14 M. Kato, Japan. Engine, K&B 45; Prop, Top
Flite 11 x 6; Model, Original "Thunderchief" (showed Orion influence);
Span, 68"; Length, 49 1/2"; Weight, 80 ounces; Wing Area, 682 sq.
in.; Wing Thickness, 15% (NACA 2415); Radio, Orbit 10 channel Superhet
(with Kato's own M.K. servos).
16 A. Sauthier, Switzerland. Engine, K&B
45; Prop, Tornado Nylon 11 x 6; Model, Original; had hardly any
dihedral, (named "Horus");' Span, 69"; Weight, 109 ounces; Wing
Area, 772 sq. in.; Wing Thickness, 12%; Radio, C. G. Hercules 10
channel receiver; C. G. Midas transmitter; Transmites servos. Mechanic
Maret shown with plane
25 V. Miliani, Italy. Engine, Super Tigre 56; Prop,
Tornado Nylon 12 x 6; Model, Astro Hog (had vertical wire spike
on nose to slow model on landing); Span, 72 1/2"; Length, 53"; Weight,
134 ounces; Wing Thickness, 15%; Radio, Alletti relayless 10 channel;
Transmite servos.
26 F. Martens, Holland. Engine, K&B 45; Prop;
Tornado Nylon 12 x 6; Model, Orion; Span, 72"; Length, 50"; Weight,
113 ounces; Wing Area, 690 sq. in.; Wing Thickness, 15%; Radio,
Home-made Orbit 10 channel relayless (copied from production receiver).
28 A.A. Arler, USSR. Engine, Webra Twin F.6;
Prop, Hand carved 13 x 6; Model, Original (designer Alexander Arler,
40, is a model building teacher at Moscow Central Air Club, building
R/C models for 10 years. Model had tricycle gear, detachable wing
panels (from 4" stubs attached to fuselage, detachable tailsurfaces);
Span, 94"; Length, 58"; Weight, 135 ounces; Wing Area, 1080 sq.
in.; Wing Thickness, 11.5%; Radio, "Rum-1," produced by Soviet Aero
Club. 8 channels. Pneumatic, reed.
30 W. van de Hoek, Holland. Engine, Veco 29;
Prop, Tornado 9 x 4; Model, Original. Low-wing, Tricycle gear, brakes
on front leg, not steerable; Span, 60 1/2"; Length, 45 1/2"; Weight,
84 1/2 ounces; Wing Area, 600 sq. in.; Wing Thickness, 12%; Radio,
Orbit home-made 8 channel, 2 transistors, 1 tube. Vacuum system.
32 P. Stephansen, Norway. Engine, Enya 29; Prop,
Tornado Nylon 10 x 4; Model, Original; shoulder wing, dural gear;
Span, 57"; Length, 46"; Weight, 87 ounces; Wing Thickness, 17 1/2%;
Radio, Home-made, 3 channel proportional, all transistorized. Model
crashed due to temperature difference problems. It was cold when
tuned before contest, hot during most of contest.
