Crash at Reno Air Races

[creekster]

Nice pic. That's really cool that the whole family was involved. How many have moms interested in rc airplanes?

Here's a picture I took the day I got home from my mission. It was the last frame left on the roll, and I figured it would be a good parting shot. Sorry that it's such a crappy scan of the slide. Who can name all the planes?

The only plane I am not sure about is the flying box car. I can't recall its actual designation. It is indeed a set of eclectic tastes that sees a kid build a flying box car.

I was a much bigger goober than you, I am afraid. I limited everything to a single scale (1/72) and I used to buy books about the planes I was building and then modify the models to be more accurate. Modifications included replacing pitot tubes and gun barrels with hypodermic needles (my dentist used to put his used ones, of various sizes, through the autoclave and give them to me upon my solemn representation that I was not using drugs; I dint think he could do that anymore). I also used to make custom parts using my own carved wooden forms and then heating cottage cheese containers over a flame until soft and molding the parts. The list goes on and on. And don't get me started on the paint schemes and color matches. Anyway, you can see what a nerd I was. It was the most important thing in my life until suddenly it wasn't. I don't think I have built a model since I was 15.

[mtnbiker]

The only plane I am not sure about is the flying box car. I can't recall its actual designation. It is indeed a set of eclectic tastes that sees a kid build a flying box car.

I was a much bigger goober than you, I am afraid. I limited everything to a single scale (1/72) and I used to buy books about the planes I was building and then modify the models to be more accurate. Modifications included replacing pitot tubes and gun barrels with hypodermic needles (my dentist used to put his used ones, of various sizes, through the autoclave and give them to me upon my solemn representation that I was not using drugs; I dint think he could do that anymore). I also used to make custom parts using my own carved wooden forms and then heating cottage cheese containers over a flame until soft and molding the parts. The list goes on and on. And don't get me started on the paint schemes and color matches. Anyway, you can see what a nerd I was. It was the most important thing in my life until suddenly it wasn't. I don't think I have built a model since I was 15.

You were pretty hard-core. There are a lot of grown men out there that are still that way and even more so. I am a member of several aviation mailing lists. In 2003 there was a guy named Pierre Greutert who did some amazing work with a 1/32 scale F-4 Phantom II. He sent a series of images over the months of construction showing how he totally redid everything, including photo etching little tiny bits out of copper, creating the cockpit, landing gear, several open panels, and entire engine bay. Here's a link to his page showing the model in various stages of construction. It's absolutely stunning.

As for my brother and me, I think the models were mostly what were carried in the local Ben Franklin. The picture shows less than half of what we had. There are a couple of wooden home-growns that don't actually represent any real aircraft. That flying boxcar is actually a Nord Noratlas, not a C-119. Check the airliner again it's not a DC-9 or 727. Can you id it?

[Surfah]

There was a guy in my ward growing up who reviewed kits for some RC magazine. His thing was boats though. His stuff was incredible. Dorky, but incredible.

[creekster]

You were pretty hard-core. There are a lot of grown men out there that are still that way and even more so. I am a member of several aviation mailing lists. In 2003 there was a guy named Pierre Greutert who did some amazing work with a 1/32 scale F-4 Phantom II. He sent a series of images over the months of construction showing how he totally redid everything, including photo etching little tiny bits out of copper, creating the cockpit, landing gear, several open panels, and entire engine bay. Here's a link to his page showing the model in various stages of construction. It's absolutely stunning.

As for my brother and me, I think the models were mostly what were carried in the local Ben Franklin. The picture shows less than half of what we had. There are a couple of wooden home-growns that don't actually represent any real aircraft. That flying boxcar is actually a Nord Noratlas, not a C-119. Check the airliner again it's not a DC-9 or 727. Can you id it?

Do you mean the one to the left of the B-47? I dont know. It reminds me of something Russian, an Ilyshuin perhaps? The wodden ones are the delta wing specials? They look like an F-102.

[old_gregg]

rc can get insane. i'd like to get back into it, but don't really have either the time or money. i do the simulator thing, though, and that is a lot of fun.


one of my favorite rc videos:

[youtube]c5FjTcctkC4[/youtube]

[mtnbiker]

Do you mean the one to the left of the B-47? I dont know. It reminds me of something Russian, an Ilyshuin perhaps? The wodden ones are the delta wing specials? They look like an F-102.

I guess anything delta winged looks like an F-102. Actually, the wooden one in the lower left corner is my bro's passable attempt at an F-106. The two in the middle-left were mine. The big one wasn't supposed to represent anything; just a generic design. The little one was funky; if you look closely, I drew in lines to make it look like a swing-wing design with horizontal stabilizer, and the intake wrapped all the way over the top. Twin engines stacked vertically, like a BAC Lightning. A real different look, not anything you'd see in real life. More like the product of a ménage à trois between an F-111, Lightning, and an F-107.

Oh, the airliner is a Sud Aviation Caravelle, possibly the first to have the engines mounted on the aft fuselage.

[mtnbiker]

rc can get insane. i'd like to get back into it, but don't really have either the time or money. i do the simulator thing, though, and that is a lot of fun.


one of my favorite rc videos:

[youtube]c5FjTcctkC4[/youtube]

Holy cow, that thing is huge! Do they truck it around on a flatbed? I wonder how much the handling changes when they fly with the ramp open.

I have to admit that every time I see a C-17 from the rear, with the main gear in the sponsons and everything sitting so close to the runway, it reminds me of a dog rubbing its rear end across the carpet.

[RobinFinderson]

The only plane I am not sure about is the flying box car. I can't recall its actual designation. It is indeed a set of eclectic tastes that sees a kid build a flying box car.

I was a much bigger goober than you, I am afraid. I limited everything to a single scale (1/72) and I used to buy books about the planes I was building and then modify the models to be more accurate. Modifications included replacing pitot tubes and gun barrels with hypodermic needles (my dentist used to put his used ones, of various sizes, through the autoclave and give them to me upon my solemn representation that I was not using drugs; I dint think he could do that anymore). I also used to make custom parts using my own carved wooden forms and then heating cottage cheese containers over a flame until soft and molding the parts. The list goes on and on. And don't get me started on the paint schemes and color matches. Anyway, you can see what a nerd I was. It was the most important thing in my life until suddenly it wasn't. I don't think I have built a model since I was 15.

Wow, to think that you were such an interesting child! (deserved cattiness)

That is a really cool photograph mtnbiker

[happyone]

The only plane I am not sure about is the flying box car. I can't recall its actual designation. It is indeed a set of eclectic tastes that sees a kid build a flying box car. ...

C-119

I could also name most of them

[mtnbiker]

C-119

I could also name most of them

Are you sure? Read the thread and you'll see that you missed that one.

[happyone]

I stand corrected

[NorthwestUteFan]

Nice pic. That's really cool that the whole family was involved. How many have moms interested in rc airplanes?

Mom likes hanging out with her boys, but doesn't fly models. It comes with the territory, although she does have her pilots license and is an AOPA member. They actually went to the Reno Races on their honeymoon, which was probably a bit of letdown for Mom...



Here is a great article on Galloping Ghost by one of my favorite aviation authors, Bud Davisson (the dude is a good writer and has flown literally EVERYTHING - 300+ types of aircraft).

ARTICLE LINK

Jimmy Leeward was using an innovative cooling system, and had eliminated the huge belly scoop. His system contains 150 gallons of coolant in the left wing to balance the 150 gallons of fuel in the right wing (burning 400 GPH at WOT). The cooling system was balanced to boil off the coolant from the left wing at the same rate as fuel burns from the right wing. Ingenious stuff.

Allegedly somebody got GG on a radar gun at 550-555 mph in the Valley of Speed, and some pictures show the fuselage skin actually rippling from the stress. This very well may have been his year to beat Strega in the Unlimited Gold race, and perhaps Jimmy would have retired as well. It is tragic all around.

[mtnbiker]

Mom likes hanging out with her boys, but doesn't fly models. It comes with the territory, although she does have her pilots license and is an AOPA member. They actually went to the Reno Races on their honeymoon, which was probably a bit of letdown for Mom...



Here is a great article on Galloping Ghost by one of my favorite aviation authors, Bud Davisson (the dude is a good writer and has flown literally EVERYTHING - 300+ types of aircraft).

ARTICLE LINK

Jimmy Leeward was using an innovative cooling system, and had eliminated the huge belly scoop. His system contains 150 gallons of coolant in the left wing to balance the 150 gallons of fuel in the right wing (burning 400 GPH at WOT). The cooling system was balanced to boil off the coolant from the left wing at the same rate as fuel burns from the right wing. Ingenious stuff.

Allegedly somebody got GG on a radar gun at 550-555 mph in the Valley of Speed, and some pictures show the fuselage skin actually rippling from the stress. This very well may have been his year to beat Strega in the Unlimited Gold race, and perhaps Jimmy would have retired as well. It is tragic all around.

Very interesting article. Thanks for posting the link. Some innovative thinking there on how to get GG faster. I remember seeing a pic where the fuselage skin was deformed just aft of the wing. Really is a tragedy.

Before the Provo airport got the tower and locked down the ramp for security, my wife and I used to ride down there on our bikes and go over to Dago Red's hangar. The mechanic (on the left) actually lived there in the back of the hangar, and could be pretty gruff, but we got to know him a bit, and got to look around the plane. They had done just about all they could think of to streamline the plane, and stopped racing it a few years ago. I'm not sure if it was because of the cost - they kept burning up engines - or because it was getting dangerous to keep clipping the wings and tweaking the aerodynamics. Taking away half the ailerons makes it really dicey to fly, especially at landing speeds.

[dabrockster]

I know we have some people who enjoy Air Racing so I thought I would post this trailer for a Movie called "Air Racers 3D".. It is about the Reno National Championship Air Races...

[YOUTUBE]10iDnQSwYZo[/YOUTUBE]

[NorthwestUteFan]

That looks like a fun movie, I will definitely need to check it out.

It is also sad to see Greg Poe. I talked to him last year at AirPower Over Hampton Roads in Langeley, VA, about 2 weeks before he passed away (heart attack). Greg was a great guy, and an advocate for troubled youth. He lost his own son in 2002 to drug addiction (suicide), and he set up a the 'Elevate Your Life' program to speak with students about following their dreams.

He was doing things that my RC planes are capable of, but that I have never seen a full-scale do. He told me he is pushing 420 hp out of his IO-540 because he ran ethanol (far higher compression ratios are possible than with gasoline because ethanol inhibits preignition). 420 hp in a 1200# plane = unbelievable thrust to weight ratio. I have never seen a FS complete a rolling harrier pass. Amazing.

Here is a pic of his MX2.


Also check out the F-22 Raptor, just so you know what a $378MM airplane looks like. It is one hell of a cool plane, but I believe Pres. Obama made the correct choice to cancel that unbelievably bloated program in favor of the JSF: