post-box

GARY WRUCK of Goldsboro N.C., USA wrote:

. . . your site was listed on Yahoo as having a model of the Bell X-1. I thought that you had a kit or plans. If you know of any place I can get plans or a kit, would you please let me know.

This was the little Bell X-1 that was mentioned on ModelFlight #29. It is a 13" wingspan model designed to be flown with a Rapier 2 or JetX-50 one-shot motor. The model is by Aerographics and is distributed in the UK by Sams Models, cost £17.75.

After sending Gary the above information, he replied with this:

I am a retired pilot and have started to build models as a past time. I have not built one in over 43 years, but I wanted to build a r/c model of the X-1. I want to fly the finished model as a re-enactment of the Chuck Yeager flight of 1949, when they did a ground takeoff, climbed to about 25,000 feet and reached Mach 1·2. The flight lasted about 4 minutes. I have plenty of time as there are 4 years to get ready. I am not sure that's enough time to get every thing ready, but I want to try.

When I get the model built, and as I am building it, I will send you updates.

If you do get going on this project, Gary, I would love to feature it on 'work in progress'.

Does anyone know of other plans or kits of this aircraft, please?

STEPHEN BARROW wrote from Hobart, Tasmania

I manage the Hobart Model Aero Club website and thought you might like to see what we are up to. The url is www.southcom.com.au/~elecomp I hope you enjoy the tour.

Regards,

Stephen.

Thanks, Stephen - give me an URL and I'm away! Go to the club scene page and enjoy a visit to this very nice club.

An item of news from CARLOS GARCIA whose lovely aviation art was featured on the last ModelFlight:

I'm glad to announce that my web has been completely refreshed and you can find new arts, profiles, mail stamps and the new Sales section.

Thank you very much

Carlos A. Garcia

aviart@fibertel.com.ar
http://fly.to/carlosagarcia

I have had a look at Carlos' newly designed site and it looks great, as you can see from the above miniature of the opening screen.

Thanks, Carlos, for the nice-looking link to ModelFlight that appears on your site - much obliged!

GEOFF GRAHAM REPORTS ON RARE SIGHTING OF FALCON NESTING IN LINCOLNSHIRE WOODS

Great fun today Reg, as two "mature" gentlemen climbed this Willow to extricate Falcon. Lost power and as there is a river immediately below this tree, and no bridge for miles, I tried to get the aircraft into our flying field with this result. At least it was on the right side and we recovered it with little damage, flying again several times.

The only conceivable cause I can think of was one of scale. It is at least half as big again as anything I have flown for years and I reckon I made the mistake of believing it to be closer to me than in fact it was. The 10 feet or so of altitude attributable to that perception made the difference between in the tree or over it. I actually had loads of height, too much in fact and with a dead engine I was trying to unload altitude which makes the cock up even more ironic!

The very nice constituents of this story were the mobile phone and a fellow club member - the guy who owns the field actually. I fly at a 14-acre site deep, deep in countryside and literally so remote that there is no one on whom to call for help. If flying alone I regularly call my wife just to let her know I am OK. On this occasion I telephoned my modelling friend who turned out in his large camper-van carrying ladders, ropes and extendable grasp device. After we had extricated the aircraft we sat down in his van to a pleasant lunch watching nesting Kestrels, the first Swallows and listening to the Skylarks. That is how quiet it is there. The picture is of wild Cowslips on the bank of the drain adjacent to our site.

Had a good bit of flying recently or has the weather let you down?
Enjoyed visiting a show?
Learned something new and feeling chuffed about it?
Had a spectacular crash?
Bought a new model?
One of the kids started in the hobby?
How's that new kit progressing?
Got a question that someone might be able to answer?

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