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Jack's Model Airplane Page
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| To Canby Dusters News Online |
Talk about fun! This has got to be the most
satisfying hobby in the world! Complete control of a precision flying
machine that you build with your own hands; an inanimate object that takes
on a life of its own; soaring in ever higher and unfettered flight and freedom
(until you push the buttons...how about that?)
Photos of the "Phoenix" plane on this page taken at our "Canby Dusters'
" flying field near Aurora, Oregon, by Lee Larson
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| Checking the radio | Re-fueling |
Watch out for that propeller! |
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"Reving" up, leaning it out |
"Phoenix" flyin' low and fast | Stressed out Pilot (now retired) |
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My First 4 -channel plane (Skylane) |
Anxious to fly |
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Fueling the engine for first time |
Jack, Kady |
Drawing by Kady - 6 yrs |
More model airplanes
Fun in Las Vegas - 1954 Our band played in Las Vegas for 9 months,
which gave me time to meet new friends, and to build and enjoy my airplane
hobby there. Photos here include my friends and me, flying at the Flamingo
club parking lot.
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My new plane (see photo, right), |
36 in.span freeflight plane,
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Jack, with new cessna built for a friend |
Steve Touhey, plane's owner |
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Friend Bob Shown |
Bob Shown's glider, and my tow plane |
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WW I Control line plane |
Perfect hand launch |
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Teeny flier |
Full throttle lift-off |
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| Up, up, and away, and...out of sight! | Gal Pal |
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Control-line stunt |
Circular speedster |
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Early RC favorite |
Rolling out |
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R.O.G. |
Payload? |
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1/2 A fun |
Jack, Bob, L-19 on 27 Mhz - |
Some pics from the McMinnville Fun Fly - June 5, 1999
Unfortunately, this is where my "Phoenix" expired,
due to gusty winds.
(It never got off the ground)
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| Pretty, and sleek | Patriotic Mickey |
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Amphibian beauty |
Spot landing start |
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Bomb drop |
Stable flyer |
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Next on the line |
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Peaking it up, with lots of help |
Dave Bibbee |
Cecil Mead |
A few of our club
members
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| Gary Worthington, with new "Zero" | Gary and other Dusters members | Earl Aune w/ Mustang |
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Earl, with Cutlass |
Ron Campbell & his "Blue Goose" |
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Kevin Cahill |
Some of my older engines
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K&B .020 |
Fuji .099 |
McCoy .049 Deisel |
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O&R Marine .29
Canby Dusters RC
Club
As a member of the "Canby Dusters" radio controlled airplane club (175 members),
Jack has two planes that he flies regularly, except for "down-time" due to
crashes, breakdowns, bad weather, etc. One plane is named "Phoenix",
after the mythical bird that rose from its own ashes after its death. That
is a fitting name for it (with a vengeance) since it has been crashed and
rebuilt more than a dozen times. This airplane will perform nearly
all aerobatics in the book, if flown by an expert (Jack is working on
this!) The "Phoenix" was originally built from a Japanese kit that was
then called the "Akromaster-20". The design has gradually changed
during rebuilding, to improve flying characteristics. Wingspan is 51
inches, with .40 cubic inch engine; speed is about 60 mph, weighs about 3-3/4
pounds with radio, and batteries.
The second, smaller plane, which has not been named, is a semi-scale model
of a "Citabria" ("Airbatic" spelled backwards.) Construction was started
on this model 15 years ago, then it was placed in the attic for 12 years
to gather dust. It was finally finished 3 years ago, and it now has
flown more than 1000 actual air miles. Though smaller and lighter than
the "Phoenix", it is more difficult to fly, as smaller planes are more unstable,
and require greater sensitivity of controls. This one has been rebuilt
extensively, a few times also, due to pilot error. Wingspan is
41 inches, with .10 cubic inch engine; speed is about 40 mph, weighs about
2-1/2 pounds, with radio, and batteries.
A typical airplane is constructed of mostly balsa wood , and covered with
a tough plastic film, which is heat-shrunk onto the frame, and makes a very
tough protective skin for it. They are powered by small efficient engines
that use a mixture of alcohol, nitromethane, and a lubricant for fuel.
Lubricants include castor oil, or a synthetic oil called "Klotz", after
the inventor of one of the synthetics. Engines range from .01 up to
4 or 5 cubic inch displacement. This is roughly equivalent to .01 to
7 horsepower. Radios are works of art, allowing full, proportional
control of up to 8 separate channels, and weigh only about .5 to 2 ounces.
The radio receives signals from the pilot's control transmitter, and
actuates "servo motors" which do the actual job of moving the control surfaces,
and the engine throttle. Maneuvers rival those of full size
aircraft, and sometimes outperform them. Some models are capable of
speeds to 180 mph.
Canby Dusters club members fly at a leased field near Woodburn, Oregon.
