Curt's Model Airplane Hangar - Retired
Fond memories of ...
For all the mishaps and unexpected flight terminations I've had
over the years I'm shocked every time I consider that I've only
completely destroyed 2 aircraft beyond recognition or repair. My
Sweet Stik has been chugging along (off and on) for almost 20
years. I'm in no way boasting, because that would be the quickest
way to end my current streak ... I'm just saying I'm shocked (and
grateful) when ever I think about it. And it gives me a little
more courage when I'm feeling uneasy about my flying. That said,
it was still pretty sad to see these two go down, faithfully
serving in the line of duty...
Ace High Mk II 049
Built Spring 1987 - Sold July 2004.
[ needs a radio to be flyable. ]
This is a powered glider. It's not the greatest flyer ... it
doesn't glide all that well and really mushes around the sky, but
can be fun diversion when I'm tired of punching holes in the sky
with my Sweet Stik. I built it as a cheap project in college when
funding was especially tight. (Pictures coming someday?)
Sweet Stik 40
(click on image for more pictures)
Built 1984 - Sold May, 2004
Ugly but flies great and lives up to it's classic reputation. Click
on the image above for some still shots and live action movies. I
successfully flew off of snow skis on Jan 29 2000 and have posted a
couple movies to prove it.
Sig Kadet Mk I
(click on image for larger version)
Built Summer 1982.
Destroyed sometime in 1983.
This was my very first R/C plane built back in the
Summer of '82. I don't even remember the specifics of it's demise, but
I have vague images of cart wheels down the runway on a windy day so
perhaps that was it.
Gene Gardner was a good and patient instructor. I guess you could call
him an "old timer". He had zillions of great model and real aviation
stories He could build and fly everything up to and including those tuned
pipe, retractable landing gear, pattern zingers. I never kept in touch
with him after I left AZ for college. I hope he's still building and flying
and teaching new students.
Sig Kadet Mk II
Built sometime in 1983.
Destroyed sometime in 1984.
Well, they say you usually learn by your second plane.
The Mk II added ailerons and on one fine day flying this aircraft I finally
"got the hang of it."
A few weeks later I was flying it when my throttle push rod
"failed" leaving the engine running wide open. Of course the solution was
to fly until it ran out of fuel, but apparently my on-board battery pack
was showing signs of age and ran out before the fuel did. The plane fought
valiently, but finally succumed to jitter and dropped out of sight, but wait,
it had one last gasp, but alas, it wasn't enough. It winged over and flew
full throttle into the rock hard Arizona earth.
Mental note: avoid splicing the throttle push rod just to conserve material.
Other Stuff
I don't really have any pictures to share, but growing up I put
together quite a few plastic models, Guillows balsa and tissue
models, and the occasional Estes rocket. These have all been lost
or destroyed along the way ... but they paved the way for the models
I do have now. :-)
I should also mention "Uncle Bart" who used to fly his many R/C
planes in the late afternoon when I was growing up in Peru.
Whatever we were doing after school, my friends and I would drop it
when we heard the little engine buzzing around in the sky. We would
run to the small airstrip to watch him fly (after we finished
gasping and wheezing from our sprint.) This is where I was first
introduced to the wonderful hobby of R/C aircraft.
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