10th annual SMALL Steps Fly-In

Model Airplane News, Jan 1998 by Sharp, Debra

Big fun in the heart of Texas

ON AUGUST 30TH AND 31 ST, members of the Small Model Airplane Lovers League reunited deep in the heart of Texas for their 10th annual SMALL Steps Fly-In, hosted by the Dallas RIC Club and sponsored by Model Airplane News. This Yankee associate editor nearly wilted in the 103degree temperatures, but I soon forgot the beads of perspiration on my brow and settled in to enjoy some easy, down-home camaraderie and conversation.

During my Texas sojourn, I realized that SMALL isn't just an organization; it's an attitude. SMALL Steppers don't come to this fly-in just to show off their latest models and their piloting skills, they come to sit in the shade under the shelter, drink something cold and relax and joke with old (and new) friends. Consider that this event has been held annually for 10 years, and you'll realize that these SMALL Steppers have a lot to talk about.!

That's not to say there wasn'tt plenty of flying over the weekend, however. Looking at the paved runway, you isere likely to see all number of Lazy Bees, Lady Bugs, Wasp Wings and Speedy Bees buzzing overhead. (Did I mention that there are a lot of insects in Texas?) I also counted a few sailplanes, a Russian Antonov AN2, a Spitfire, an ME262, float planes, a Stinson, a Blackburn, a Pieteapol. . . Because the SMALL Steps Fly--In is open to any airplanes powered by .25ci or smaller engines, the models it this fIls-in were as diverse as the lineup of songs on my rental car's radio-and believe me, that's a little bit of everything!

In a time when the word "small" has disappeared( from restairaint menus, and the mantra in business seems to be "bigger is better," why are these little airplanes so popular? Besides their obviously high "cute factor," small models don't take a lot of time, money or balsa to build. Small glow and diesel engines aren't very expensive and, especially with the advent of the Norvel glow-engine lineup, have become more user-friendly. If you don't want to mess around with fuel and glow plugs, small airplanes are also perfect vehicles for electric power. In other words, if you build 'em small, you can build more of 'em in less time and with less money, and spend more time at the field. And don't forget, you can fit those small models into your car without sticking their wings out the passenger-side window! As a matter of fact, most of the SMALL Steppers who came to this event brought at least three of their favorite models with them.

Bob Winn ("Pop" of Pop's Hobbies in Marshall, TX) brought along his dog, Peppy, a Lady Bug and a Speedy Bee-one of the many Andy Clancy designs in attendance. No one could miss Keith Tucker of Longview, TX, who dressed up in a bright-orange flight suit all weekend and showed off his impressive piloting skills with his Twin AR 20 powered by two O.S. 25s-possibly the fastest airplane at the fly-in. The Cub Scouts (whose parents provided us with refreshments during the fly-in) trailed at his heels all weekend, begging him to do "just one more" inverted pass only inches off the runway. Keith also flew two diesel-powered models, a silver Lady Bug with a PAW .03 in its nose and a silver Lazy Bee (PAW .09). Diesel engines are a good choice for powering small airplanes: they're quiet, can spin bigger props than their glow counterparts and don't need glow-plug paraphernalia for startup.

Ernie Harwood, a British transplant now living in Arlington, TX, attracted a lot of attention with his Blackburn monoplane-a beautiful vintage airplane from 1912-that was powered by an O.S. .20 FS engine. The Blackburn was a realistic, scale flyer and gracefully puttered across the field.

Steve Staples drove all the way from Little Rock, AR, with his Wasp Wings, Peitenpol and Rogallo Wing that he built from a crashed Ace Air Scout fuselage with a handmade kite "wing." Steve also entertained the Cub Scouts with a rubberpowered balsa plane that-of course!flew right onto the roof of the shelter and had to be "rescued" by the Scouts.

David Freeling of The Colony, TX, showed up with a Navy "S2F Tracker" submarine hunter-one of the many military models present. David scratchbuilt the Tracker from Squadron/Signal drawings and powers it with two Thunder Tiger .15 engines; the model features two dog dishes for cowls! David left Saturday evening because he had to go to work the next day, although he said that he tried to convince his employers that it was against his religion to work on Sundays (David is a Presbyterian minister!).

One of the most entertaining modelers at SMALL Steps, Howard Chevalier of Franklin, TX, brought his Astro Cobalt .15-powered, scratch-built Ercoupe, although "technical difficulties" kept it grounded for most of the event. A professor emeritus of Texas A&M's Aerospace Engineering department, he has written "Model Airplane Design and Performance for the Modeler" and another book on propellers that's awaiting publication. Howard, known affectionately as "the E-Pope" in electrics circles, says that when he dies he will become an electrics deitya claim supported by fellow SMALL Stepper Randy Randolph, who says yes, it must be true; Howard is indeed old enough to be God.