Almost-ready-to-fly warbirds

Who among us hasn't dreamed of being an ace fighter pilot? The speed, drama and fierce looks of fighter aircraft easily inspire us all. Now, having your own dream warbird has never been easier. In this month's "Warbird Guide" on page 28, we've compiled information on more than 50 classic fighters, and the best part is that each high-quality model is almost ready to fly. Also included are tips on flying your warbird, personalizing it and competing with it in scale and racing events.

For those of you who are looking for a competitive edge in scale contests, George Leu offers tips on how to improve your flight score in his "Scale Techniques" column. A veteran scale judge himself, George shares exactly what judges look for and critique when they score your model's flight routine. Read his column and watch your flight scores soar.

MISS SAN BERNARDINO

If bigger is better, then Dan Santich's 1/2-scale Miss San Bernardino just may be the best plan we've ever offered. With a wingspan of 134 inches, this giant Formula One racer isn't for the faint of heart, but it's sure to turn heads wherever it flies. Dan piloted his model at this year's Joe Nall event and wowed the crowd with its aerobatic capabilities. In a separate how-to article, Dan details how he made the fiberglass wheel pants and cowl for Miss B.; use his proven technique to make custom parts for any size model.

ENGINE NEWS

On a smaller scale, this month's "Final Approach" features a miniature, functional 4-stroke. Created by George Luhrs, this 2 1/2-inch-- diameter engine runs on lantern fuel and was awarded first prize at this year's National Model Engineers Exposition.

Gerry Yarrish's review of the RCV 120-SP provides another look at an unconventional powerlant. just how much torque does this rotating-- cylinder-valve 4-stroke put out? See Gerry's findings on page 70.

WEST COAST ELECTRICS

At this year's San Diego Silent Electrics Fly-In, pilots showed off more than 350 RC aircraft. The popularity of electric power is skyrocketing, and models at this event ranged from large aerobats and scale planes to fun-- fly foamies and tiny indoor models. Model Airplane News contributor Thayer Syme was present to capture the excitement and magnitude of this event; check out his coverage on page 36. For electrics enthusiasts, this is one flyin you don't want to miss.

Copyright Air Age Publishing Sep 2001
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved