Pilot Projects

Model Airplane News, Jan 2006

1 Rair Puppeteer

Art LaPierre, Holland, MA

Powered by a .61 Magnum 4-stroke engine, this Puppeteer "... flies well off its wheels, but even better off its floats! It's smooth and stable in flight, with no surprises." according to Art. He has equipped his model with four Futaba 3151 digital servos, a Futaba 3003 throttle servo, a 14x5 Zinger prop, and he controls it all with a Futaba 7-channel transmitter. Art covered his plane with World Tex olive-drab fabric as well as cream, red, white and blue Coverite. He also used LustreKote flat clear spray. His only modification was adding dual wing-mounted aileron servos. Although Art admits that the plans were a little "challenging to navigate," you would never know it by looking at the result. Terrific build. Art!

2 Focke-Wulf 190

John Giles, Oklahoma City, OK

Built using both Dave Plan Plans and a short kit, John constructed a model that is "... a pure joy to fly." His Focke-Wulf features a Robart tailwheel and main retracts with custom-made RoboStruts (to achieve scale length), recessed flaps and a fully detailed cockpit and fuselage machine-gun set from J.D. Scale Models. He uses a Futaba T7CAP radio to control his 190's 9 servos and SuperTigre 3250 engine. This great-looking model weighs 22 pounds and is covered with Dove Gray MonoKote and sprayed with Rat Clear LuStreKote.

3 Hangar 9 Extra 330S

Matt & Greg Morehead, Crestview Hills, KY

Built by Sam Farhat for Greg Morehead and Greg's son, Matt (as seen in photo), this Extra 330S has a 97-inch wingspan and weighs 24.5 pounds. It is powered by a Cactus Aviation 3W-75 engine with a Sullivan smoke system. The Extra is also equipped with a Mejzlik 24x10 carbon-fiber prop. JR servos and a 8103 radio. The terrific Spiderman-theme graphics are from Kirby Kustom Graphics. Although Greg still finds the buddy box very useful, he says that Matt soloed when he was 3 years old and is becoming an "... excellent young pilot."

4 Extra Big John

Robert Gray, Layton, UT

Constructed from Bill Northrop plans, this Extra has a wingspan of 116 inches! Robert powers his 29-pound Big John with an O.S. BGX 3500 engine. He reports that it "... flies slow and is very majestic in the air. It is so easy to fly and surpnsmgly simple to land, too!" Robert covered his model with MonoKote.

5 Balsa USA Fokker DR-1 Triplane

Bud Trapp, Sycamore. IL

Bud took seven months to build this replica of Joseph Jacobs' WW I Black Baron. It is powered by a 2.4 Brison engine, has a wingspan of 72 inches, weighs 13 pounds and is guided by a JR radio. According to Bud, his Fokker "... is a neat plane that flies beautifully!" And how did he achieve that terrifically detailed finish? Bud devilishly designed his Triplane with UltraCote.

6 Curtis Helldiver SB2C

Arnold Rattner, Long Beach, NY

This WW II Navy dive-bomber, scratch-built by modeler Arnold Rattner, sports a 50-inch wingspan and a canopy made by Nick Ziroli Jr. Arnold controls his plane with a 6-channel Futaba radio. Although it took him one year to build his Helldiver, this modeler of 60 years is by no means out of practice. You can even find his Howard Hughes, Martin B-10 Bomber with a 6-foot wingspan on display at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.

7 Cap 10b

Dennis Chernick, Pontoka, Alberta, Canada

It took Dennis three months to scratch-build his Cap from enlarged Carl Layden plans. It's powered by a SuperTigre G61 engine spinning a 12x6 propeller. Dennis modified his model by adding 7 inches to the wingspanm giving his bird a 63-inch wingspan. His Cap is covered using Sig Koverall, nitrate and butyrate dope as well as Sig white. Fokker red and a clearcoat. He guides it with a Futaba radio. Dennis explains that 'it is a stable flyer that can practically land itself. It can do anything, including mild 3Ds."