dios and uses their Walter A. Good Techni- cal Achievement Award for that purpose. Each year the VRCS Theme Plane Com- mittee selects a theme for the coming year. The Bill Winters Top Dawg was selected for the first theme plane ten years ago and the idea has continued each year. Some years expanded the builder’s choice by selecting a designer as it did when it selected any Hal deBolt design. A few years ago it selected any variation of Joe Bridi’s famous Kaos. The Ugly Stik or any derivation thereof is the theme selection for 2014. I never built an Ugly Stik because, well, it was ugly and I liked pretty planes. However, the Ugly Stik has turned out to be one of the most modeled and built R/C designs. Believe it or not, I am thinking of building a Sweet Stik for next year.
The original concept of the Ugly Stik was to design a radio controlled aircraft which could be built in an absolute minimum of time. Its purpose was towards a flying test bed for new proportional control develop- ments and an all around shop airplane which could be used as a loaner for visiting flyers, testing repaired equipment, and any use which required an airplane which could be considered as expendable.
I wonder if Phil Kraft ever thought that the airplane that took him three evenings to design and completely finish, would be one of the most built and flown designs in the history of R/C Aeromodeling.
VRCS planes are not all Class III or Multi as was their description in the past. A Class III plane is one that has all three axis con- trol plus throttle. A Class I plane has only rudder and throttle control and a Class II plane has only rudder, elevator and throttle control. While Class I planes are rare at VRCS gatherings, it is very impressive to watch a pilot guide a Class I plane with that limited amount of control.
The Spirit of Selinsgrove Reunion has Pattern competition for those three classes. Class I is designated the Jack Port Memori- al Event, named for one of the early and very successful rudder only pilots. Class II is des- ignated as the Howard McEntee Memorial Event to honor one of our early pioneers who excelled without the use of ailerons. Class III honors Ralph Brooke who excelled in “full house” Pattern competition. The Spirit of Selinsgrove Reunion also has Scale and Concours competition. In the scale event the pilot must present the plans from which his scale model was built. The Con-
John Haffner flew this rudder only Rudder Bird (above) in Class I and all eyes were on the plane as John guided it through maneuvers with only rudder and throttle control. An OS .20 powers this plane that was kitted by Sterling Models in 1963. Chad Hill and his dad, Austin, came with a variety of planes (below) including the popular 1954 LiveWire Champion. Chad is an archeologist and uses R/C planes in his work in the Far East. He gave a riveting presentation at the traditional Saturday evening banquet.
cours event is for recognizing the most accu- rate recreation of an early design and in- cludes judging of construction, authentic covering and paint scheme. Both Scale and Concours contestants must prove the planes airworthiness by making at least one flight. A separate Theme Plane Concours competi- tion is held for copies of the year’s Theme Plane.
I would like to mention that most of the flying that goes on at the reunion is what we call “Open” flying where no competition is required. However, competition is held for those who enjoy challenging themselves. Visit the Vintage Radio Control Society web site at
www.vintagercsociety.org to learn more about VRCS and its many events.
Ron Ogren won the scale event with his beautiful Rearwin Speedster (above). Ron scratchbuilt this classic plane. Scott Wallace won the Theme Plane Concours event with his beautiful Super 60. The plane (at right) was scratchbuilt and was originally kitted by Keil Kraft in the UK. The Super 60is a Class II plane and is powered by an OS .25.
FLYING MODELS 31
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