Deelen Scale Meet

Dutch tribute to giant scale

Deelen Airbase is generally considered to be the best flying site in the Netherlands. Built by the Germans during WW II, Deelen still serves NATO and several Royal Netherlands Air Force chopper squadrons. It's also home to two glider clubs and an active model airplane club.

With an impressive two-mile concrete runway, Deelen is well suited to larger models. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better setting for the annual Deelen Scale Meet. In addition to the Dutch participants, this meet also routinely attracts many German and Belgian fliers, thanks to its close proximity to the German border.

DEELEN SCALE MEET

Now in its 11th year, this giant-scale meet takes place over the last weekend in August. Organized by the local De Brik flying club, the Deelen Scale Meet is not a competition; rather, it is known as an opportunity for modelers to get together, share their experiences and enjoy flying in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

The weather simply could not have been better; temperatures were in the upper 90s with a mild breeze. Though there were fewer entries than in years past, the flightline remained full throughout the two-day event.

Approximately 60 giant-scale models participated in this year's event, and each one represented high-quality craftsmanship. An entire spectrum of models was present ranging from the first "wind in the wires"-type all the way up to modern aircraft.

It was also nice to see the high level of skill displayed by all the pilots. Flights were expertly performed with a high regard for safety. In fact, there was only one crash caused by pilot error all weekend. Safety is a big concern in meets such as these; all of the planes had wingspans of at least 80 inches (60 inches for biplanes), and there were no limits on weight or engine capacity. To minimize any risk, no more than three models were allowed to fly at once.

My compliments to the De Brik flying club for planning such a well-organized and successful event. Both participants and organizers can look back on another great year for this annual "Dutch treat."

SCRATCH SIKORSKY

Roel van Harn's Sikorsky S-61N offered a nice diversion from all of the model airplanes at Deelen. Roel originally designed his heli in 1994 to participate in the PH Blue Foundation's celebration of the 75th anniversary of the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

Derived from the S-61 military helicopter, Sikorsky produced three commercial models of the full-size S-61: the S-611, S-61N and the Payloader. They used the same dynamic components as the military version but had longer fuselages. Two sponsors, into which the landing gear retract, distinguish the amphibious S-61N from its brothers. KLM continues to operate two examples of this type of helicopter: they're mainly used to transport personnel and equipment to and from the oil platforms in the North Sea, S-61N helicopters are also used in the U.S., Britain, Norway and Japan.

It took Roel two years to design and build his 22-pound model. A Zenoah engine drives his homemade mechanism. With its striking scheme. a flight demo of this model never fails to impress pilots and spectators.

Having designed and built several helicopter models, Roel is considered one of the best hell modelers in the Netherlands. He's currently working on a 1/5-scale Alouette Ill.

DUTCH AVIATION HISTORY

It's always good to see people take pride in Dutch aviation history, and a fine example of this is Theo Boot's Fokker S-IX trainer. In 1937, the Dutch army commissioned 20 of the full-size aircraft to serve as aerobatic trainers. They were powered by 165hp Genet Major radial engines. Later versions, powered by Menasco Buccaneer in-line engines, were produced in limited numbers for the navy, but Theo favored the bulky appearance of the original when he created his model.

Constructed of balsa and ply, Theo's S-IX has a 110-inch wingspan. It's powered by a 3cl King engine, which pulls the 30-pound model with ease. Theo finished his model with Solartex and then doped it and painted it the standard pale blue commonly used on pre-war trainers.

ROMMEL'S STORCH

This 1/4-scale Fieseler Storch, designed and built by Richard Sombroek, was certainly one of the most interesting models at Deelen. It's a giant-scale replica of the aircraft used by Gen. Erwin Rommel in his desert campaign. Richard scratch-built the Storch using three views, video footage and cutaway drawings of the full-size aircraft for documentation.

With a 142-inch wingspan and weighing 40 pounds, this aircraft can only be described as impressive. Richard powers his plane with a Zenoah 74cc engine, and an individual servo operates each of the flying surfaces. It's constructed entirely of balsa and ply with a fiberglass cowl. Most amazing of all is that Richard built his plane in only nine months. Retirement, he says, has its advantages.

Copyright Air Age Publishing Mar 2002
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