Dayton Giant-Scale fly-in

Model Airplane News, Feb 2000 by Hastings, Bob

Imagine a three-day festival freaturing pilots straight from the rosters of Top Gun, Tournament of Champions, Competition Fun-Fly Nationals and the Quarter Scale Racing Association; the Best TC modelers gathering form around the nation to fly models ranging from kero-fired turbines courting 200mph to infinitely detailed warbirds with 20-foot wingspans. Hold this event at one of the most hallowed sites of aviation - Wright-Patterson Air Force Base-and you'll begin to understand why 10,000 plus spectators attend the Dayton, OH, Giant-Scale Fly-in that's billed as "one of American's premier events."

The fly-in is held on the runway that now exclusively serves the USAF Museum. You stand on the same asphalt as has seen so many aviation legends roll by. Myriad full-scale military 'aircraft continuously roar past,including F-lSs in tight formation. on their way to the active portion of the base. You can't help but be awed.

A well-organized impound and flightline led by event director Frank Noll Jr. allowed plenty of flight time for pilots at the six separate stations It was truly spectacular to watch the nation's top RC competitors fly without judges, scorekeepers or timers. These "big guns," while impressive were certainly not in the majority of pilots. They shared the skies with fellow giant-scale modelers Who were there solely for the enjoyment of the sport, to the delight of participants and spectators alike.

There were numerous highlights throughout the weekend. Indiana's Don Albright flew his enormous 20-foot B-29. The majestic flight not only caught the eye of museum director Maj. Gen. Charles D. Metcalf, but it also caused a stir when it showed up on radar screens across the base! Georgians Mac Hodges and Dan Stevens reenacted Chuck Yeager's supersonic first flight with incredible realism. just when you were convinced the XI-A was going to do a "glide only" flight, Dan fired off an onboard rocket, and the bright orange replica streaked skyward again. The crowd was wowed by several midday demos, including a massive, pyrotechniccharged WW II bombing raid, Jerry Smith of Kentucky Performed his "Hot Wings" aerobatic routine, giving everyone a glimpse of why he has so often been the NCFFA champion. Illinois hotshot Mike McConville put on an astounding performance with his big Carden plane. His incredible maneuvers could get him arrested for breaking the laws of physics and aerodynamics. Turbines were wellrepresented, as Louisville's George Thomas and Lewis Patton teamed for an F-15 versus MiG 15 jet sortie. With the choreography, grace and precision of a figure skater and the subtlety of a NASCAR race, Terry Nitsch of Columbus, OH, took the highly modified Yellow Aircraft F-18 owned by AMT's Jim Waigle up for a full-throttle demo of maneuverability, speed and precision. He ran the bright pink jet down on the deck, flew circles within a wingspan of the ground and then up again, using every inch of the Dayton sky.

On Saturday evening, pilots and families were treated to the opportunity of a lifetime. The Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Museum graciously welcomed modelers for an exclusive open-cockpit evening. How truly special it was to view, climb the ladders of and actually touch the single greatest collection of full-scale aircraft on earth. We still felt awed when we returned to the runway the next day. A special IMAX movie screening was held for those who could tear themselves away from all the splendid static aviation.

The Dayton Giant-Scale Fly-in offers so much that you should mark it on your calendar in indelible ink. For the aeronautically obsessed, there's enough full-scale and RC eve candy to make you grin and giggle for the better part of a week. Gather LIP your camcorder, airplane, family and club members, and head out to Dayton next Labor Day! For more information about the 2000 fly-in, email fnollir@alcompuserve.com.

*Addresses are listed alphabetically in the Index of Manafacturers on page 142.

United States Air Force Museum

The United States Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, OH, under the direction of retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles D, Metcalf, is internationally recognized as the largest and oldest aviation museum in the world. Its collection comprises more than 300 aircraft in addition to countless interactive displays, missiles, artifacts and memorabilia.

Partitioned into separate galleries, the museum's aircraft are organized chronologically. "The Early Years" covers aviation's pioneering efforts, which began right in Dayton, through the preparation for WW 11. The 1940s come alive within the "Air Power" gallery. Approximately 20 aircraft comprise the Vietnam/Korean War gallery, all standing in the shadow of the incredible Convair B-36J. One particularly intriguing display is an F-86H with its fuselage skin completely removed. Its internal structure and technological complexity will amaze you. The "Space" gallery is dominated by the Apollo Command module and the Gemini and Mercury spacecraft. It's remarkable to actually see historic items that have been the subject of newsreel memories.