From about age 12 or so, Grandfather has built and flown model airplanes. These were free-flight models, before technological progress made radio control inexpensive enough for anybody except the military.
In his teens, grandfather built more advanced free-flights. They were susceptible to capture by thermals — rising columns of hot air on sunny days — so “dethermalizers” were devised. They were controlled by a timer, usually a fuse which burned through a hold-down thread loop, which allowed a rubber band to pop the rear wing vertical. That caused the model to descend in a flat stall, but occasionally thermals were strong enough to carry the model up and away faster than the stall descent speed.
One time Grandfather lost a model that way at Fourteen Mile and Southfield Road in Detroit and it landed in Redford hours later, in the evening. Grandfather got it back because we modelers always tagged our planes with name, address and phone number. Most finders were kind enough to help us retrieve them.
In the mid-1930s, U-control appeared. The plane flew in a circle on the end of two wires which controlled the model’s pitch up or down. Grandfather built the fastest one he could devise; actually, a little missile sustained more by centrifugal force than its wings.
One day it broke loose and disappeared somewhere behind a Montgomery Wards store. Grandfather never did find out where it landed. Come to think of it, maybe it landed on the roof. Wonder if it’s still there?
Here are some later models, after radio control for modelers became affordable:
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About the Author: RD Blakeslee is an octogenarian in West Virginia who built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here.
Photos: Courtesy of the Blakeslee Family
You had some beauties, Dave.
For some reason, I never really got into planes when I was a kid. Maybe it’s because my Dad had the real thing for his business – a little Cessna – and anytime he’d brave taking me for a ride, I’d get airsick. 😊
Gee, Gee! We must live in parallel universes …
My dad took me for an airplane ride when I was about ten.
It was a hot day and the airplane floated on thermals over the runway and would not land!
It was a Tailorcraft with a long wingspan – very low wing loading.
The pilot eventually literally flew it down into the ground and fortunately it stopped rolling before it went off the runway – no reverse thrust or wheel brakes on those early tail-draggers.
Yowser! Glad that wasn’t me.
Then again, that might be better than riding the lawnmower to clear Dad’s airstrip (for about 8 hours to get it done), and having a business “friend” of his land his plane right over my head, about twenty feet ahead of me. My mother watched this from the house, so mister friend subsequently got a good tongue-lashing from Dad.
Wow!
I don’t build model planes but I have a story to share. A friend of mine was cleaning out his garage one weekend and had put his E-Flite PT-17 in the bed of his truck. Just temporary, you see, while he organized things. I think you can guess what happened. The next day he took his truck to work. He got on the freeway for the usual 25 mile drive and when he got back home, he couldn’t find his plane. That’s when the light bulb went on. He retraced his route, but he never found that plane, which cost him about $200. He laughs about it now.
Bill, Model airplanes have a way of getting lost, one way or another.
If they don’t get lost, they often come to a grievous end.
When I was in college, a group of us modelers got together and entered as a team in the Model Aircraft Association National contest in Akron, Ohio.
The contest consisted of each model staying aloft as long as possible, timed at up to 10 minutes maximum. Engine runs were 30 seconds maximum, to get the plane up to altitude, Well, my plane (airframe pictured 4th from the top, above) had to roll slightly to the left as it climbed, to counter the engine’s torque. If it rolled right, it turned and dove straight down.
To get the left roll, I breathed on the right wing and twisted its leading edge up, just prior to launch, but I had never let it climb for 30 seconds before and, sure enough, about half-way through the engine run, the plane turned right and, engine screaming, dove straight into the ground.
Nothing but small pieces left – even the engine was smashed!
Each team member entered two planes. My other one landed outside the airfield’s fence and somebody out there stole it.
No more “Nats” for me …
Wow … three great stories in the comment section. Thank you for sharing them Gee, Bill and Dave.
That was fun reading! Anybody else want to share? 😃
Thanks, Len – Seems like quite a few “grandfather Says” episodes bring to mind sequels and engaging conversations. Glad you like them!
I don’t fly anymore but I remember my first model airplane loss. I spent months building a trainer. Once I got it out there, there came a point where I got it over my head, and way too high up. Then, I tried to add input as it turned and it went straight inline to a set of buildings. Went to look for it, but I was never able to find my airplane after that. It’s all part of the hobby. If your not losing planes or crashing, then your not flying!
Spectators used to gather and watch us fly our free-flight models.
Unlike big airplanes, crashes galore, no gore.