PHOTOGRAPHY: BRIAN MALIN


Bob Hunt, a perennial presence at Tucson, flies his Caprice(opposite page) during practice. He would take 2nd in Classic. Rodger Wildman flew this Caprice(above), with Thunder Tiger 36, in Classic as well.


Masaaru Hiki, who came all the way from Japan, flew his brightly trimmed Continental (above) to 3rd in Classic. Another entry in Classic, Gaylord Elling’s Shark 45(below), was powered by a PA-40.


M


any of us flew model airplanes as kids, and ventured away for many reasons, only to have something bring us back. In my


case, Grandpa bought my son a stick and tissue model for Christmas 1990. We learned of a freeflight club flying in Palm Bay, Florida and started to attend some meets. While in Ernie’s Hobby shop one day I spotted the July 1991 issue of FLYINGMOD- ELS with the striking photo of three Ares on the cover. Really caught my attention be- cause it was one of my favorite designs but one I never got a chance to build. This has to be one of the most recognized issues ofFM. I immediately bought the copy and ended up


FLYING MODELS


building the Sky Champ as my first R/C. Over the next decade my sons and I con-


tinued to fly F/F and some Park Flyer type R/C as one son grew up and another moved up the modeling ladder. Then a couple years ago I found myself at contests without a partner. This is about when Bob Whitney asked if I’d be interested in cutting some parts for Lloyd Curtis, the 1953 Internation- al Stunt Champ, for him to take to the VSC. Immediately I went and dug out the 1991 copy of FM, called him back and said sure. The next year he asked about a profile. We


kicked it around and the Profile Nobler was born, to be flown at the 2011 King Orange Meet in Stark, FL. The bug had bitten and


45


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68